07 Aug 2012, 23:34

After discovering that the Razer Blackwidow is only 2KRO I was fairly disappointed with it, but after taking it apart and reading a lot of the projects here, I want to mod it into a tenkeyless (maybe keeping the macro row), NKRO (or at least 6KRO over USB) keyboard with backlighting. Since I am new to this and considering the amount of changes, I think it is a very ambitious project and I would appreciate any help I can get. Some of the parts I am not even sure if they are feasible.The first step would be cutting the pcb, plate and bridging the traces which are cut and still have some required function. In case of the Blackwidow this might be problematic, since the controller sits in the corner of the numpad and all traces lead there. It might be difficult to separate the traces since they are very close together. If it is successful though, I would like to connect them to teensy to enable the other mods like making the keyboard NKRO. Programming the teensy shouldn't be that hard since plenty of people have done this before, plus I do know how to program fairly well. Is the smaller teensy enough for a tenkeyless (+ maybe 5 macro keys)?At this point the board should be "operational" but without a proper case, NKRO or backlighting.I figure the backlighting should be the easiest since the PCB already had the traces and soldering points for the LEDs, it's just missing the actual LEDs. Which leads me to my next question: What kind of LEDs do I need to use? These look promising (3mm and 5mm):My guess is that the controller might also need to be changed to enable the backlighting, but it's got to go anyhow.Next would be making the keyboard NKRO/6KRO by adding diodes. Since I am new to this stuff, I am not sure if it will really work the way I think it should but here it goes: I would drill 3 small holes into each trace leading to a switch from a column. The two outer ones would be bridged by the diode and the third would cut the connection of the original trace.If all of this works I would tackle the case next and try to shorten the original blackwidow case, sand and paint to round out the mod. If this fails, I would try and create a case from wood and or acrylic glass.Of course during all this I would also swap out all the keys (I am thinking panda or ergo clears for most of it) and maybe buy some nice doubleshots to round it out (but that is if everything else works out).Any input/help is very appreciated!!!