As a long time HHKB user, I feel like to have number of copies of the same keyboard. One for Lab, one for home, one for carrying, etc.. However, as I am a poor student, I don’t have enough budget to do such a thing. What a rediculously expensive keyboard!

I thought about making one myself. And It seemed to be able to reduce the cost under $100 by making hardwares using 3D printer. Most mechanical keyboards has a metal plate made of aluminum or steel where switches fits in. Usually it is the most expensive part if you try DIY. The key idea to make a cheap keyboard is to use 3D printed case itself as a plate. The standard thickness of the plate, 1.5mm was too thin for PLA, So I had to maximized it to 5mm and make some lips to reinforce it.

Acually, I did it last year. I designed it with OpenJSCAD , and printed it with my 3DR-simple copy. I had to split it in 3 parts, due to size of the printer, and glued them. I used teensy as controller, and hand wired the switches. It worked perfectly. I used it for a while. Unfortunately, I started to hate its ugliness, but also it was too tall and loud. I didn’t expected gateron blue switchs are that loud!

So I decided to try just one more time. Basic concept is the same, but I chose a walnut block this time rather than fused plastic so It looks gorgeous. Max Keyboard made fully printed set of keycaps for me. I’ve also designed the PCB myself, because handwiring was too tedious.

Below are pictures only. See github repo for more detailed explanation.

carving..