Altoids Macropad
.The idea for the Altoids Macropad spawned from the want for a macropad. I wanted something like the Elgato Streamdeck, but could not justify the $80 price tag for the smallest version, which has 6 keys. I also wanted something more portable, as while the streamdeck is portable, it wasn't as portable as I wanted it to be. The cable also isn't removable, which lowers the portability. The Altoids macropad isn't anything new in the mechanical keyboard community, though mine is a bit different than most that I have seen. I thought that the maximum amount of keys would be 8, as that was the most that I saw online. However, some measuring revealed that a 3x4 matrix was possible with a bit of modification to the original model that I made. The original plate was 90x55mm, and a single key requires 14mm for the switch and another 2.5mm per side to accommodate the keycap, for a total of 19mm. So, I expanded it from 55mm to 57mm to accommodate another row of switches. The switch plate now just barely fits, bit because of the increase size it actually does not require any glue to hold it in: the inside piece is still fully removable, though the tin itself cannot be used for any more altoids due to the usb-c hole in the back. The unit comprises of 2 parts, a top plate and a bottom plate, and is held together by 4 m2 screws. Due to height constraints, it does not use standard MX style switches. Instead, it uses low profile Outemu switches of the blue variety (clicky), which are ~4mm lower than the standard MX style switches. It uses a software called QMK, which is a staple in the mechanical keyboard community, as well as another software called AutoHotkey to open websites, applications, etc.
|
|
Tech Specs
Microcontroller: BIT-C (basically an Arduino Pro Micro with usb-c)
Switches: Outemu Low Profile Blue switches (x12)
Keycaps: X-Keys relegendable keycaps (x10), Blank Gray DSA keycaps (x2)
Filament: Hatchbox Red PLA
Software: QMK for the microcontroller, AutoHotkey on the PC side
Switches: Outemu Low Profile Blue switches (x12)
Keycaps: X-Keys relegendable keycaps (x10), Blank Gray DSA keycaps (x2)
Filament: Hatchbox Red PLA
Software: QMK for the microcontroller, AutoHotkey on the PC side
Interested in making your own?
| altoids.7z |
