Sinclair ZX80 / ZX81 / Z88 Forums

I've been getting into the TS 1000 over the past year and one the things that I absolutely wanted was a mechanical keyboard for the system. Looking around I couldn't really find any available PCBs for building such a keyboard (ZX-Key is nice but isn't available). Thus, I figured I'd work out a design for one.

This is the result of my work. The keyboard consists of three PCBs (top plate, bottom plate, and the actual matrix). Sitting next to my hand-wired prototype (also a different set of caps I was trying out). Right now the keyboard is connected directly the lines on the board, however I am planning on building a simple expansion card so that it doesn't require any modification to the system.

I'm still working on some minor revisions, but once that's all done I will be releasing the Gerber files along with design files to the public so anyone can produce it and/or modify it to their liking. At some point I'll probably sell them too as the minimum order is 5 when getting them manufactured (by JLCPCB).

Welcome to our forum

Your keyboard looks great

Thanks for posting.

Mark

Welcome on board.

The keyboard looks really nice!

Beautiful!!
I like the transparent keycaps with the black labels on it. How did you print and attached them?

benthepoet wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 7:57 pm I'm still working on some minor revisions, but once that's all done I will be releasing the Gerber files along with design files to the public so anyone can produce it and/or modify it to their liking. At some point I'll probably sell them too as the minimum order is 5 when getting them manufactured (by JLCPCB).

Are you planning to release the files into the public?
Or the possibility to order batches at JLCPCB?
I might be interested to make a ZX81 Laptop Kit with a Cherry keyboard
Nowadays postage is so expensive that paying it twice seems outdated

marste wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 9:16 pm Beautiful!!
I like the transparent keycaps with the black labels on it. How did you print and attached them?

Thanks, this is the set of stickers I used for the keycaps.
https://www.4keyboard.com/commodore-key ... olor-black

Eventually I'd like to figure out a means of printing the legends directly on the keycap but that'll take some time and experimentation.

Paul wrote: ↑Wed Sep 28, 2022 2:29 pm

benthepoet wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 7:57 pm I'm still working on some minor revisions, but once that's all done I will be releasing the Gerber files along with design files to the public so anyone can produce it and/or modify it to their liking. At some point I'll probably sell them too as the minimum order is 5 when getting them manufactured (by JLCPCB).

Are you planning to release the files into the public?
Or the possibility to order batches at JLCPCB?
I might be interested to make a ZX81 Laptop Kit with a Cherry keyboard
Nowadays postage is so expensive that paying it twice seems outdated

Yes, I am planning on releasing the files to the public. Right now I'm working on a revision to the main PCB, but once I'm happy with that I'll make them available.

benthepoet wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 9:14 pm Yes, I am planning on releasing the files to the public. Right now I'm working on a revision to the main PCB, but once I'm happy with that I'll make them available.

That's great news!

If you look at this post, you can paint on the key caps with laser printer toner, and a low power laser.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4824

Here a very nice video on how to build the perfect keyboard for the ZX81!
It will be better than anything else you have and you'll start to write on ZX81 and then copy the text to the PC LOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1G5rX_YvCA
PS: this is the third part of a video building the entire system starting from the ZX81+38