Restomod’ed M0110A (WIP)

[dv-]

Started with a busted M0110A.

Replaced the controller chip. (Socketed the replacement.) Hard wired a replacement cable. Cherry Blues plus Kailh style switch sockets and short wires.

Now I just have a top case to remodel and a bunch of 3D printer work to do.

It works though!

 

[dv-]

I think my New Year’s resolution may be trying to reverse engineering the controller chip.

 

[Durosity]

I have two with dead controller chips.. was the replacement just a part from another dead keyboard or can you buy them NOS?

 

[LaPorta]

No good until it has command and option keys!

 

[dv-]

I have two with dead controller chips.. was the replacement just a part from another dead keyboard or can you buy them NOS?

It was a pull I got on eBay.

I’ve been reading and I think I can hack together a replacement chip with a Pi2040. I think. I’ll definitely post here if I figure that out, even in part - I’m not a great programmer, but if I get stuck maybe somebody else can bring it over the finish line.

No good until it has command and option keys!

Agreed. Dug out my disused resin printer to make key caps and am waiting for some new goop.

Replacing the shell plastics is going to be my first next project though.

 

[dv-]

Resin key caps (at least using the resin I had on hand) ended up being kind of brittle, although they LOOKED great. Printing in PLA w/ ultra-high quality settings instead. It's fine, and the stems don't explode when you try to push them onto a switch.

Option/Command and Delete keys were easy. (Off the shelf designs were fine.) The interesting thing to me is that the aliexpress key cap set are a lot lighter and it effects the sound; they make sort of a light "click" while the heavier 3D printed keys result in a nice old-school sounding "thunk." So I may end up reprinting all the key caps to get that.

Attaching a FreeCAD & 3mf file for the space bar (had to design my own with the offset stem to match the switch placement on the keyboard.)

I may edit this some more, depending on how I end up supporting the RHS of the space bar.

Printing the first draft of the new top-case now. I'll post that when I have something I'm happy with.