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3D printing movable & electrical parts (keyboard, for example)

Former Member

Hello,

You can skip to the second paragraph, there is the main point image

I am enthusiast in learning 3D printing and I have been researching it for a long time but almost every tutorial on internet are based on immovable and nonelectrical parts such as sculptures. On the Ben Heck Show, 3D designs are usually made with Autodesk 123D Design which does not have any feature about electronics as far as I know, and there are a lot of 123D models that refer to moving parts but are empty inside, so I'm not sure if they are really movable. Because of my desire to create electrical devices using 3D printing, I started to use Designspark Mechanical -since it provides the opportunity to use electrical components in 3D printing- but it is far less user friendly than most of the 3D design applications and is poor in some designing features. I was amazed when I saw the Solidworks but it seems far more professional so I am not sure if I should use it for 3D printing. It's purpose is more likely to design projects for manufacturing.

 

What I want to know is just how to build a device that has moving parts in the first place, and then electrical parts. Electrical parts don't have to be 3D printed (I don't know if makerbot can 3D print electrical components anyway), my point is that I didn't understand the key to make objects movable and which 3D designing application to use for this desire. Let's say I want to make a keyboard where buttons are movable of course, and there is a pcb that communicates with computer in order to say "hey I clicked "K" button". Can you do this, and which app do you advice?

 

Thanks in advance,

Regards

  • muhsinfatih

      I would suggest to take an old keyboard apart to "see" how it works. That way you can design yours based on that.

    Clem

  • in reply to clem57

    Hello,

    Thanks for your answer, but I already did that and still I don't know how to make it. Which type of material should I use for making a button, will the makerbot print objects that are not in contact? I mean, what I know about making a movable part is that I should leave some empty space between the device and moving part to prevent them stick together. Furthermore, will it be flexible? I don't want to make a keyboard that I have to apply 500g pressure to click on it..

  • First let me clear up by saying, I don't have a 3D printer myself. The more I watch videos on it, the more I wish I had one, but my budget won't currently allow it.

     

    That being said. Let me first off suggest to not think of the 3D printer making your finished product with all parts moving in harmony. I don't think it works that way anyways. This is going to take some planning and design. You will have to design your individual components separately, print them separately, and assemble them. I would probably start from the inside out, being first a PCB with the circuitry to interface between your keystrokes to the device you need the keyboard for. E.G. a Microcontroller or a PC. May I suggest you watch the Ben Heck episodes where he replicates an Apple One. You can see where he designed his keyboard for it with tactile switches he wired up in a multiplexing fashion to communicate thru a Micro to the 6502's PID. He also 3D printed the keys for this project as well, should give you a great start on it. Once you have your inner workings you then design your case and your keys around that. Make sure you design it completely and make sure your measurements are correct before you start so you don't waste time redoing. Your key design is going to have to be determined by whatever key input you decide to use in the circuitry. Tactile switches are going to be your easiest route. But not all tactile switches are the same. Whichever ones you choose, You would need to design your case for the PCB to secure in, and design your keys to fit in the holes of the case and around the tactile switches they will be operating. The underside of the key should be resting on top of the tactile switches push button so when you press the key, it will actuate the push button allowing your circuit to recognize the key press. Ben also showed in a later episode ( I can't remember which one ) where he used a square foam that fit on top of the tactile switches around the push button to give the key some spring to pop back up. a weak spring will also achieve this. Just make sure it rests on top of the switch and extrude a center piece to fit in the spring as well, this will keep it in place and push the key back up. I'd also recommend a lip on the outside of the keys for them to catch on the case so they don't fall out of the keyboard should you tip it upside down.

     

    Hopefully this will help you out. Fair warning if you watch the Apple One Replica series. I was jealous when I saw him create it. It inspired me to want to do the same for a C128/C64, however, I don't quite have the toys he has to accomplish it easy. Kudos for that Ben Heck.

  • in reply to kouruu

    Thanks a lot! This is absolutely going to be my guide for not only the project that I am currently working on, but also for my future projects. I appreciate your step by step explanation. I am absolutely going to watch the episodes you told. You gave me the idea to see the project as a whole and to start from inside, which will shape the outer design.

     

    Thanks again for your time.