Design68: A 65% replacement keyboard using AppleDesign controllers

[CC_333]

I've been following this with some interest, but I'm not clear on one thing:

Is ANSI the layout used in the US?

If so, I think I have an ADK somewhere which is soo disgustingly filthy that I don't think it's worth the effort to clean. I think it would be worthwhile to harvest its controller IC for something like this, though.

But I'm in no hurry, as I have a nice AEK II that I'm using on my daily driver via a Drakware adapter (it's not even too badly yellowed, although it now has some wear and tear from my fairly undemanding usage that it didn't have when I first got it).

c

 

[Daniël]

Is ANSI the layout used in the US?

Given ANSI is an acronym for American National Standards Institute, I'd think so ;-)
Joking aside, yes, this is the layout with the "straight" enter/return key.

ISO generally uses the "upside-down L" enter/return key, which also causes some differences in the layout around this key.
So ANSI would be best if that's what you're used to.

Do make sure the keycap set you get is also ANSI, and skip the ISO modification of the keyboard plate, it shouldn't be necessary.

 

[wottle]

@demik , Can you provide details in the GitHub repo on the connections for the ADB wires. The wires labeled are GVAPE. In one of your pictures, it's not quite clear which color wire from and ADB cable goes where, but it appears maybe

G -green
V - red
A - blue
P - white
E - black

Is that correct if re-using the ADB cable from the donor Apple keyboard?

 

[demik]

Is that correct if re-using the ADB cable from the donor Apple keyboard?

If you are reusing the old cable, the colours are indeed as follow:

I'm not 100% sure all cables are the same for everyone, so the letters stand for :
- G = ground (green)
- V = VCC / +5V (red)
- A = ADB (blue)
- P = Power Trickle (white)
- E = Earth / Shield (thick black)

 

[jmacz]

I assume this chip won't work?



Looks like my second ADK has a completely different board/chip.

 

[demik]

Nope sorry, that's the other one (NMB)

 

[jmacz]

Nope sorry, that's the other one (NMB)

Ok. I guess I'll keep an eye open for another ADK.

 

[obsolete]

I finally found a 3-screw donor keyboard! It seems that the 4-screw/8-screw versions are a lot more common, at least in the USA.

 

[demik]

There is a way to tell without opening: ALPS ones do have 3 or 6 screw in the back, NMB ones do have 4 or 8 screws

 

[jmacz]

There is a way to tell without opening: ALPS ones do have 3 or 6 screw in the back, NMB ones do have 4 or 8 screws

Was just about to ask. Perfect. You're going to cause a run on these ADKs @demik

 

[obsolete]

Luckily, for now, the 3-screw keyboards are the same (cheap) price as any other ADK

 

[jmacz]

Just posting this to help people find the right keyboard that has the proper 341-0001 chip in it that's required.



At least from looking at various pictures, the ADK you want has 3 or 6 screws (previously mentioned) but also has a couple other subtle differences. The one you want has the corner screw holes at the same level as the keyboard feet. Also the one you want has the bar code partially in the indented section of the bottom and centered, whereas the bad one (ie. wrong chip) has the bar code lower down and off center.

I'm not 100% on this but I think it was previously mentioned that the one we're looking for has 3 or 6 screws, and looking at all the listings on eBay, the 3/6 screw ones also seem to have the traits mentioned above.

 

[jmacz]

Thought it would be cool to post pictures of keyboards people have built. Here's mine:



Also working on building a second now.

 

[demik]

@jmacz Thanks. Build on jmacz journey here.

What keycap did you use ? I remember someone else mentioning them but can't put a name on them

 

[jmacz]

What keycap did you use ? I remember someone else mentioning them but can't put a name on them

I went with the Mairyya Minimalist White key caps.

 

[jmacz]

Finished my second one.. black semi-transparent case with white keycaps.

Cut outs for the cable and pass through ADB port:



Fully assembled:



and with my HHKB (top), first Design68 (middle), and the latest one (bottom):

 

[wottle]

Here's the 5 I made (5 PCB minimum order, why not spend a ton on key switches, and key caps?!?). 4 of the 5 are functional, and the 5th is waiting to find another ADK that has the ALPS controller in it. I really like the black case, with dark keycaps from keychain (https://www.keychron.com/products/double-shot-pbt-osa-full-set-keycap-set?variant=40561986732121), especially when set up with one of my black Macs.

 

[demik]

Damn you build a whole team ! The black is very nice indeed

How did you do these corded cables ? S-Video ?

 

[jmacz]

Very nice!!!

 

[jmacz]

Hmm, I still have 2 boards left....................