Introduction

I have always been intrigued about the idea of making custom keyboards, designing it the way you would like it to look and sound. However, there are some creativity limitations due to a small selection of keyboard designs readily available with barebones kits running out of stock quickly.

The purpose of this project is to apply my engineering skills into my own personal project, especially in a product that I would be able to use in my everyday life (I play too much Valorant 🙃). In order to do this, I will be making a mechanical keyboard by scratch, modeling my own keyboard chassis for manufacturability, taking into consideration of design constraints due to weight and dimensions of the PCB/other components in the keyboard. I will also be designing my own PCB and implementing the firmware, in order to understand the ins and outs of circuit design. In the end, I hope that I will be able to create a functioning mechanical keyboard that I can use for my own personal setup.

Keyboard Chassis

Brainstorming process

As many keyboard enthusiasts know from the list of specifications, I am going for a thocky sounding keyboard build. After researching different types of materials for the chassis, plate, foams, types of PCBS, etc., I came up with the list of components to include for my keyboard to achieve a deep, thocky sound. I chose the Gummy O-ring mount because it requires only one piece for the chassis in order to make the manufacturing process easier and cost effective. Otherwise, popular choices such as the gasket mount and the top mount would require two pieces of aluminum to manufactured in comparison to one.

Different types of keyboard mounting styles

The taro60 is based of an existing keyboard, the Tofu60, due to the similar dimensions in the schematic and specifications. However, in the actual modeling process, the dimensions had to change due to the model's geometry that would not allow the original Tofu60 dimensions. Therefore, the new dimensions had to be tweaked in order for the chassis to be symmetrical. During the modeling process, I decided to include a steel plate at the bottom to give the keyboard a more premium look and adding a weight will affect the sound slightly. This is because adding the weight will affect the resonance and vibration characteristics of the entire assembly.

3D Modeling in SolidWorks

3D model of keyboard chassis in SolidWorks

Steel plate including engraving of milk tea design

Bottom view of taro60 assembly including steel plate

Polycarbonate taro60 final assembly exploded view

WIP: PCB Design, Manufacturing

stay tuned (˶˃ o ˂˶)𐭩🧋

[COMING SOON] taro60