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Author Topic: Steampunk Keyboard  (Read 8511 times)

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Offline Deimos

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Steampunk Keyboard
« on: Thu, 17 August 2017, 16:04:42 »
OK, so I've seen some pretty cool Steampunk/Victorian type keyboards, and want to make one.

I'm starting with a Rosewill RK-9000V2 (full keyboard), with Cherry MX Blues.
I need to change the keycaps ---no problem with that part.. made a few trial ones and they work OK.

Making the wood overlay is OK too, since I've been woodworking and have access to a professional woodworking shop.

The only part that I'm stuck on is that I have to move the status lights a little farther from the numbers keypad , like about another 3/8 " up because I want to put the larger jewel lenses over the leds.

Also the LEDS ( 3mm) are blue, not bright white with a bluish tint, but actually blue.
So I want to change those  to a warm white because bright white LEDs  don't look good shining through red and amber jewel lenses. 

I'm not looking to attach the new LEDs  on the board.
For one thing, the NUM LOCK light's new postion is already taken.

What I'm thinking of doing is just cutting away the nylon support on each led, then cutting off the the led but leaving the leads.
Then I would solder wire leads (26 ga?) from the old leads to  the replacement leds which will be mounted inside the jewel lenses (Lenses to be mounted to the wood overlay, obviously)

So, would this work? Yes? No?
Any suggestions/advice /warnings would be appreciated.

176132-0176130-1




 
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Offline pixelpusher

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Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 17 August 2017, 21:15:05 »
That should work fine.  You could just leave the nylon posts and keep the LED legs long enough to just bend twice to move it all up a bit
« Last Edit: Thu, 17 August 2017, 21:17:17 by reececonrad »
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Offline Deimos

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Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 17 August 2017, 23:16:05 »
 Good idea... I think I'll do exactly that. Thanks.   :thumb:
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Offline 0100010

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Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 18 August 2017, 23:07:01 »
No worries about tracking polarity by not cutting the legs as well.
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Offline Deimos

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Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 20 August 2017, 04:10:57 »
No worries for sure on that count....keyboard trace/ insertion points are clearly marked with the diode symbol .
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Offline Deimos

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Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 26 June 2018, 22:06:39 »
It took me a while (life gets in the way) but I finished the keyboard this week.

I call it "The Nautilus Keyboard" aka "The keyboard Captain Nemo might have used" ;-)

199010-0

199012-1

199014-2

199016-3

199027-4

199029-5

199561-6

Better pics (I think)...and a connector pic







« Last Edit: Fri, 06 July 2018, 14:40:25 by Deimos »
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 27 June 2018, 06:55:53 »
Very nice!

You should enter it in competition if you go to a con, or at least display it somewhere.
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"The Trump campaign announced in a letter that Republican candidates and committees are now expected to pay “a minimum of 5% of all fundraising solicitations to Trump National Committee JFC” for using his “name, image, and likeness in fundraising solicitations.”
“Any split that is higher than 5%,” the letter states, “will be seen favorably by the RNC and President Trump's campaign and is routinely reported to the highest levels of leadership within both organizations.”"

Offline Deimos

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Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 27 June 2018, 08:09:38 »
Your compliment is very nice, too (and a good idea). Thank You!  :thumb:

I forgot to mention that it is fully functional, and pretty sturdy...but you can't pound on the keys  (they are fabricated and not off-the-[Chinese]-shelf.)  They can take normal typing pressure.   
« Last Edit: Wed, 27 June 2018, 08:17:13 by Deimos »
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 27 June 2018, 09:15:35 »
What are the labels on the switches at the front corners?
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"The Trump campaign announced in a letter that Republican candidates and committees are now expected to pay “a minimum of 5% of all fundraising solicitations to Trump National Committee JFC” for using his “name, image, and likeness in fundraising solicitations.”
“Any split that is higher than 5%,” the letter states, “will be seen favorably by the RNC and President Trump's campaign and is routinely reported to the highest levels of leadership within both organizations.”"

Offline Deimos

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Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #9 on: Wed, 27 June 2018, 09:30:59 »
Uhhhh...OK....don't anybody laugh....

Left one indicates Primary Lighting  (which turns on the horiz glow tubes in back)  and the right one indicates Auxiliary lighting which turns on the (blue)vac tubes and the front  "porthole" lights.

Except that the labels are in Latin (hey...it's VICTORIAN steampunk after all :rolleyes:, and Capt Nemo without doubt knew Latin...I read Verne's book before I saw the movie, and in the book he knows latin)

And in case you are wondering what the label specifically say, left label says "Illuminatio Prima" and the right one says "Illuminatio Auxiliaris"   
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Offline TomBodet

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Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 27 June 2018, 12:09:55 »
It's the little details that make them special.  Well done.

The horizontal tubes, how are those done?  They look great!
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Offline Deimos

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Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #11 on: Wed, 27 June 2018, 12:54:19 »
Thank you.

So I have to admit I stole the idea for those lights....but really improved on the original.

I first saw them here:http://gadgetsin.com/make-your-own-steampunk-keyboard.htm
The guy used clear Bic pen tubes (w/ LEDs stuck in the ends) and clear hair gel as a diffuser.

The standoffs are lamp parts.

I got the lamp parts (mine are a bit fancier, also more $$) measured the opening (9mm O.D.) and bought glass tubes (ebay) to fit the openings.  (And a glass tube cutter --$6)

Then I got some clear hair gel and TRIED to get it inside the tube.
omg...what a mess, plus there are bubbles you can't get rid of.
OK, scratch the hair gel idea. 

Then I thought that if there were such a thing as Side Glow fiber optic filament, that would work,
but I didn't think there was such a thing.
But I googled it, and lo and behold, there it was.

I got mine from www.wiedamark.com...you can get it by the foot.

So here is the result:
198738-0

The glass tube and fiber optic filament (slightly curved) are circled.
LEDs are Aqua from SuperbrightLEDs.
The Aqua wire coiled around the glass tube is 18Ga jewelry/beading wire. 

Slight Edit:  the guy used clear caulk/RTV for the diffuser...someone else making a Steampunk Keyboard used the hair gel.
I tried both; they both made a godawful mess, and both had bubbles, which led me to search for the side-glow fiber optic.

« Last Edit: Fri, 06 July 2018, 14:36:31 by Deimos »
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Offline TomBodet

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Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #12 on: Wed, 27 June 2018, 13:01:23 »
Killer!  Thx for the explanation. 
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Offline Nlight

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  • Location: France
Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #13 on: Wed, 27 June 2018, 16:16:15 »
Wow, that's a nice piece of art you have here, congratulations  :thumb:
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Offline absyrd

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Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #14 on: Wed, 27 June 2018, 16:38:37 »
Awesome!
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Quote from: specw4r on Sun, 06 March 2016, 05:30:12
My wife I a also push her button . But now she have her button push by a different men. So I buy a keyboard a mechanicale, she a reliable like a Fiat.

Offline Deimos

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Re: Steampunk Keyboard
« Reply #15 on: Wed, 27 June 2018, 20:26:05 »
Thanks everyone for the nice comments.
It was a lot of work to make, but a lot of fun, too.
I learned a lot more about woodworking (especially jig making and staining/finishing), and working with metal like jewelers do, e.g, making intricate/fine cuts.

Going to do the monitor next...probably take another 9 months, or so.
(But I'll have to find a "Monitor Forum" to show it off.  :)))
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