How to Build an Open Source Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard -- Episode 619

Clem uses KiCad to design a custom PCB. Bluetooth connectivity is achieved by utilizing an ESP32-S3 as the main MCU. USB-C acts as the charging port and Serial output. 4 colorful LEDs provide feedback about the current state of the Keyboard and visually indicate if SHIFT-Alt/AltGr or SUPER/FN/GUI are pressed. The keyboard therefore has 4 freely programmable layers available for heavy customization.

To ensure modularity, Clem integrates a flexible interconnect system between two PCBs, one holding the keyboard switches and the other housing the LiPo charging circuit. Both PCBs are interconnected via a universal bus, broken out on a Molex Premo-Flex connector and connected with a simple flat flex ribbon cable. The Premo-Flex connectors break out all power traces and UART connections so the keyboard can easily be used in future projects. He even offers the option for hot-swappable switches, making it adaptable to various preferences.

The keycaps of this keyboard are unique, designed in FreeCAD to accommodate the low-profile switches. Clem prints them with raised letters and symbols on the inside for durability and visibility, even after extensive use.

Finally, Clem dives into the firmware, which he codes from scratch using the Arduino IDE, with the help of the ESP32-BLE keyboard library and the Adafruit keypad library. The code allows for easy customization of the keyboard layout, providing a personalized typing experience. He also adds LED indicators for modifier keys, enhancing the user experience.

One of the distinctive features of Clem's keyboard is its low-profile design, akin to laptop keys, resulting in a compact layout of around 60 keys. He also combines elements from both English and German keyboard layouts to suit his daily needs. The keyboard is powered by a LiPo battery with onboard charging circuit.

Despite facing challenges, like voltage drop issues with LEDs, Clem perseveres and successfully creates an open-source Bluetooth keyboard with a custom layout, 3D-printed keycaps, and unique lighting features.

Bonus Content:

GitHub: https://github.com/mayermakes/00Keyboard
Download Code, ECAD and CAD

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
MULTICOMP PRO Zero Ohm Resistor, Jumper, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, 100 mW, 1 A, Surface Mount Device	Multicomp pro	60	Buy Now
BOURNS Small Signal Schottky Diode, Single, 40 V, 300 mA, 500 mV, 2 A, 125 °C	BOURNS	60	Buy Now
MOLEX USB Connector, USB Type C, USB 3.1, Receptacle, 24 Ways, Surface Mount, Right Angle	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
STMICROELECTRONICS ESD Protection Device, 17 V, SOT-23, 6 Pins, USBLC	STMICROELECTRONICS	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 6 ", 152 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 2 ", 51 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52207, Surface Mount, Top	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, ZIF, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52271, Surface Mount, Bottom	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MIKROELEKTRONIKA Rechargeable Battery, 3.7 V, Lithium Polymer, 2 Ah, JST	MIKROELEKTRONIKA	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

ESP32-S3-Wroom1

Keycaps 3d printed with MAYER MAKES ENGINEERING RESIN + Blue Dye

PCB provided by Aisler.net use code „thanks_mayermakes_23“ for a discount.

Switches used are Gateron Blue KS27, sockets are random parts i found by searching for the switches.

Tags: Low-profile keyboard, firmware development, Personalized typing experience, no qmk, keyboard, Keycap customization, ESP32 S3 microcontroller, Wireless keyboard project, Maker's journey, 3D-printed keycaps, Keyboard layout customization, diy bluetooth keyboard, Mechanical switches, Electronics project tutorial, DIY form scratch, mechanical keyboard, mechanical keyboard diy, friday release, DIY keyboard, Custom PCB design, friday_release, eps32s3, Open-source Bluetooth keyboard, Keyboard enthusiast, keyboard firmware, e14p_CMM

Episode 619: How to Build an Open Source Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard

cstanton — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 15:25:32 GMT

Revision 13 posted to Documents by cstanton on 9/8/2023 3:25:32 PM

Watch the Video:

Bonus Content:

GitHub: https://github.com/mayermakes/00Keyboard
Download Code, ECAD and CAD

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
MULTICOMP PRO Zero Ohm Resistor, Jumper, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, 100 mW, 1 A, Surface Mount Device	Multicomp pro	60	Buy Now
BOURNS Small Signal Schottky Diode, Single, 40 V, 300 mA, 500 mV, 2 A, 125 °C	BOURNS	60	Buy Now
MOLEX USB Connector, USB Type C, USB 3.1, Receptacle, 24 Ways, Surface Mount, Right Angle	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
STMICROELECTRONICS ESD Protection Device, 17 V, SOT-23, 6 Pins, USBLC	STMICROELECTRONICS	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 6 ", 152 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 2 ", 51 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52207, Surface Mount, Top	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, ZIF, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52271, Surface Mount, Bottom	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MIKROELEKTRONIKA Rechargeable Battery, 3.7 V, Lithium Polymer, 2 Ah, JST	MIKROELEKTRONIKA	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

ESP32-S3-Wroom1

Keycaps 3d printed with MAYER MAKES ENGINEERING RESIN + Blue Dye

PCB provided by Aisler.net use code „thanks_mayermakes_23“ for a discount.

Switches used are Gateron Blue KS27, sockets are random parts i found by searching for the switches.

Episode 619: How to Build an Open Source Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard

tariq.ahmad — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 13:49:29 GMT

Revision 12 posted to Documents by tariq.ahmad on 9/8/2023 1:49:29 PM

Watch the Video:

Bonus Content:

GitHub: https://github.com/mayermakes/00Keyboard
Download Code

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
MULTICOMP PRO Zero Ohm Resistor, Jumper, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, 100 mW, 1 A, Surface Mount Device	Multicomp pro	60	Buy Now
BOURNS Small Signal Schottky Diode, Single, 40 V, 300 mA, 500 mV, 2 A, 125 °C	BOURNS	60	Buy Now
MOLEX USB Connector, USB Type C, USB 3.1, Receptacle, 24 Ways, Surface Mount, Right Angle	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
STMICROELECTRONICS ESD Protection Device, 17 V, SOT-23, 6 Pins, USBLC	STMICROELECTRONICS	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 6 ", 152 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 2 ", 51 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52207, Surface Mount, Top	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, ZIF, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52271, Surface Mount, Bottom	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MIKROELEKTRONIKA Rechargeable Battery, 3.7 V, Lithium Polymer, 2 Ah, JST	MIKROELEKTRONIKA	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

ESP32-S3-Wroom1

Keycaps 3d printed with MAYER MAKES ENGINEERING RESIN + Blue Dye

PCB provided by Aisler.net use code „thanks_mayermakes_23“ for a discount.

Switches used are Gateron Blue KS27, sockets are random parts i found by searching for the switches.

Episode 619: How to Build an Open Source Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard

pchan — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 13:39:17 GMT

Revision 11 posted to Documents by pchan on 9/8/2023 1:39:17 PM

In this video, Clem embarks on a captivating journey to craft an open-source Bluetooth keyboard entirely from the ground up, showcasing his passion for keyboard customization. Starting with the choice of clicky mechanical switches and a low-profile design, Clem combines elements from both English and German layouts to create a compact and highly personalized keyboard. He meticulously designs a custom PCB, integrating an ESP32 S3 microcontroller for wireless connectivity, and delves into coding the firmware from scratch. The uniqueness of his creation extends to 3D-printed keycaps with raised, durable symbols on the inside, ensuring a lasting, tailored typing experience. Despite encountering technical challenges, Clem's determination prevails, resulting in an open-source Bluetooth keyboard with a distinctive layout and innovative features, ready for fellow enthusiasts to explore.

Watch the Video:

Keyboards. An everyday item for the average computer user and praised possession for the enthusiast. Building a mechanical keyboard from a kit is a very popular project. As Clem spends most of his time in front of his PC, he is an avid user of mechanical keyboards, but not an enthusiast, so his daily driver can be described as the "cheapest thing that has mechanical switches“. Since he coined the phrase „there should be an open-source variant of everything“, a keyboard went on the list. But not a normal one. An ortholinear, Bluetooth connected, modular keyboard with a weird mashup of keys comprised of US style QWERTY and German QWERTZ layout. The only way to build such a monstrosity is to start from scratch and even write the firmware from scratch.

Clem decided on a 60-button compact ortholinear layout, coincidentally the exact same size as the Blackmagic Speed Editor keyboard. The two are perfect for side-by-side usage on his editing workstation. The Bluetooth connectivity is achieved by utilizing an ESP32-S3 as the main MCU. USB-C acts as the charging port and Serial output. 4 colorful LEDs provide feedback about the current state of the Keyboard and visually indicate if SHIFT-Alt/AltGr or SUPER/FN/GUI are pressed.

The keyboard therefore has 4 freely programmable layers available for heavy customization. A BLE Keyboard on a cord does not make much sense, so Clem made a second PCB bringing the aforementioned modularity into play. The second PCB fits right above the uppermost row of keys; it has a convenient copperless window which is illuminated by the LEDs on the main PCB, a LiPo with its specific charging and protection circuitry and LDO. Both PCBs are interconnected via a universal bus, broken out on a Molex Premo-Flex connector and connected with a simple flat flex ribbon cable. This allows for variable heights and tolerates slight misalignments. The Premo-Flex connectors break out all power traces and UART connections so the keyboard can easily be used in future projects (foreshadowing) *wink *wink.

The whole layout was done in KiCad and features hot-swappable Keyboard switches. The flat low profile KS27 Gateron Blue switches were chosen for clickiness (and availability). The footprints should also fit the sockets of other brands and/or switches, but they have not been tested yet. Builders should print out the board files to check if the holes line up for the chosen switches before committing to a particular model. All PCBs were manufactured by Aisler with ENIG finish, and had to be assembled with a hot air gun and soldering iron, as the PCB was too big to fit in Clem’s reflow oven.

Of course, for such a weird keyboard, there are no ready-made injection-molded keycaps available. Blank keycaps would also make the board unusable to Clem, as he actually looks down a lot while typing to find the right keys. The only choice was to design and 3D-print custom keycaps. Clem designed his set of keycaps in FreeCAD and utilizes the ShapeString function of the Draft workbench to make easy modifications to the writing for each key. He also extrudes the writing to the inside of each keycap and paints the letter with a permanent marker. This results in a flat keycap without any raised portions that can be printed very quickly while laying flat on the bed of a resin printer. The lettering will never rub off, because it never actually comes in contact with the fingers. Of course, this only works with transparent keycaps, so Clem prints them with his super durable MAYER MAKES Engineering Resin. The full keyset and the source files are available for download and are easily customized (as demonstrated in the video).

The firmware was written in Arduino with the help of the ESP32-BLE keyboard library and the Adafruit keypad library. To get the BLE keyboard output working on the ESP32-S3, Clem was required to enable NIMBLE in the librariess files and install the NIMBLE library. These changes enable more efficient usage of the memory of the ESP32-S3 and should in theory also make the library work on the ESP32 S2 and C3. The firmware first tries to identify which layer the user is trying to use and then sends the corresponding key of the active layer. It took a lot of shuffling around with the code until the output was snappy enough for real keyboard usage. Additionally, a DEBUG option can be enabled that outputs the KEYCODE of each pressed key via USB-Serial to identify any mishaps.

Clem also designed a backshell for the keyboard., The original intention was to mill it from aluminum, but this could not be done in time for the video release. He 3D-printed a shell in PETG; however, it turned out that the keyboard with the secondary PCB-mounted LiPo was so stiff and sturdy that a back shell is not really necessary, though would be a nice upgrade. At 15mm total thickness, this also might be one of the flattest DIY mechanical keyboards out there.

Bonus Content:

GitHub: https://github.com/mayermakes/00Keyboard
Download Code

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
MULTICOMP PRO Zero Ohm Resistor, Jumper, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, 100 mW, 1 A, Surface Mount Device	Multicomp pro	60	Buy Now
BOURNS Small Signal Schottky Diode, Single, 40 V, 300 mA, 500 mV, 2 A, 125 °C	BOURNS	60	Buy Now
MOLEX USB Connector, USB Type C, USB 3.1, Receptacle, 24 Ways, Surface Mount, Right Angle	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
STMICROELECTRONICS ESD Protection Device, 17 V, SOT-23, 6 Pins, USBLC	STMICROELECTRONICS	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 6 ", 152 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 2 ", 51 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52207, Surface Mount, Top	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, ZIF, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52271, Surface Mount, Bottom	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MIKROELEKTRONIKA Rechargeable Battery, 3.7 V, Lithium Polymer, 2 Ah, JST	MIKROELEKTRONIKA	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

ESP32-S3-Wroom1

Keycaps 3d printed with MAYER MAKES ENGINEERING RESIN + Blue Dye

PCB provided by Aisler.net use code „thanks_mayermakes_23“ for a discount.

Switches used are Gateron Blue KS27, sockets are random parts i found by searching for the switches.

Episode 619: How to Build an Open Source Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard

tariq.ahmad — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 18:53:14 GMT

Revision 9 posted to Documents by tariq.ahmad on 9/7/2023 6:53:14 PM

Watch the Video:

Bonus Content:

GitHub: https://github.com/mayermakes/00Keyboard
Download Code

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
MULTICOMP PRO Zero Ohm Resistor, Jumper, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, 100 mW, 1 A, Surface Mount Device	Multicomp pro	60	Buy Now
BOURNS Small Signal Schottky Diode, Single, 40 V, 300 mA, 500 mV, 2 A, 125 °C	BOURNS	60	Buy Now
MOLEX USB Connector, USB Type C, USB 3.1, Receptacle, 24 Ways, Surface Mount, Right Angle	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
STMICROELECTRONICS ESD Protection Device, 17 V, SOT-23, 6 Pins, USBLC	STMICROELECTRONICS	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 6 ", 152 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 2 ", 51 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52207, Surface Mount, Top	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, ZIF, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52271, Surface Mount, Bottom	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MIKROELEKTRONIKA Rechargeable Battery, 3.7 V, Lithium Polymer, 2 Ah, JST	MIKROELEKTRONIKA	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

ESP32-S3-Wroom1

Keycaps 3d printed with MAYER MAKES ENGINEERING RESIN + Blue Dye

PCB provided by Aisler.net use code „thanks_mayermakes_23“ for a discount.

Switches used are Gateron Blue KS27, sockets are random parts i found by searching for the switches.

Tags: Low-profile keyboard, firmware development, Personalized typing experience, no qmk, keyboard, Keycap customization, ESP32 S3 microcontroller, Wireless keyboard project, Maker's journey, 3D-printed keycaps, Keyboard layout customization, diy bluetooth keyboard, Mechanical switches, Electronics project tutorial, DIY form scratch, mechanical keyboard, mechanical keyboard diy, DIY keyboard, Custom PCB design, friday_release, eps32s3, Open-source Bluetooth keyboard, Keyboard enthusiast, keyboard firmware, e14p_CMM

Episode 619: How to Build an Open Source Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard

pchan — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 18:53:14 GMT

Revision 10 posted to Documents by pchan on 9/7/2023 6:53:14 PM

Watch the Video:

Bonus Content:

GitHub: https://github.com/mayermakes/00Keyboard
Download Code

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
MULTICOMP PRO Zero Ohm Resistor, Jumper, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, 100 mW, 1 A, Surface Mount Device	Multicomp pro	60	Buy Now
BOURNS Small Signal Schottky Diode, Single, 40 V, 300 mA, 500 mV, 2 A, 125 °C	BOURNS	60	Buy Now
MOLEX USB Connector, USB Type C, USB 3.1, Receptacle, 24 Ways, Surface Mount, Right Angle	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
STMICROELECTRONICS ESD Protection Device, 17 V, SOT-23, 6 Pins, USBLC	STMICROELECTRONICS	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 6 ", 152 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 2 ", 51 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52207, Surface Mount, Top	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, ZIF, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52271, Surface Mount, Bottom	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MIKROELEKTRONIKA Rechargeable Battery, 3.7 V, Lithium Polymer, 2 Ah, JST	MIKROELEKTRONIKA	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

ESP32-S3-Wroom1

Keycaps 3d printed with MAYER MAKES ENGINEERING RESIN + Blue Dye

PCB provided by Aisler.net use code „thanks_mayermakes_23“ for a discount.

Switches used are Gateron Blue KS27, sockets are random parts i found by searching for the switches.

Tags: Low-profile keyboard, firmware development, Personalized typing experience, no qmk, keyboard, Keycap customization, ESP32 S3 microcontroller, Wireless keyboard project, Maker's journey, 3D-printed keycaps, Keyboard layout customization, diy bluetooth keyboard, Mechanical switches, Electronics project tutorial, DIY form scratch, mechanical keyboard, mechanical keyboard diy, DIY keyboard, Custom PCB design, friday_release, eps32s3, Open-source Bluetooth keyboard, Keyboard enthusiast, keyboard firmware, e14p_CMM

Episode 619: How to Build an Open Source Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard

tariq.ahmad — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:28:20 GMT

Revision 8 posted to Documents by tariq.ahmad on 9/7/2023 4:28:20 PM

Watch the Video:

Bonus Content:

GitHub: https://github.com/mayermakes/00Keyboard
Download Code

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
MULTICOMP PRO Zero Ohm Resistor, Jumper, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, 100 mW, 1 A, Surface Mount Device	Multicomp pro	60	Buy Now
BOURNS Small Signal Schottky Diode, Single, 40 V, 300 mA, 500 mV, 2 A, 125 °C	BOURNS	60	Buy Now
MOLEX USB Connector, USB Type C, USB 3.1, Receptacle, 24 Ways, Surface Mount, Right Angle	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
STMICROELECTRONICS ESD Protection Device, 17 V, SOT-23, 6 Pins, USBLC	STMICROELECTRONICS	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 6 ", 152 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 2 ", 51 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52207, Surface Mount, Top	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, ZIF, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52271, Surface Mount, Bottom	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MIKROELEKTRONIKA Rechargeable Battery, 3.7 V, Lithium Polymer, 2 Ah, JST	MIKROELEKTRONIKA	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

ESP32-S3-Wroom1

Keycaps 3d printed with MAYER MAKES ENGINEERING RESIN + Blue Dye

PCB provided by Aisler.net use code „thanks_mayermakes_23“ for a discount.

Switches used are Gateron Blue KS27, sockets are random parts i found by searching for the switches.

Tags: Low-profile keyboard, firmware development, Personalized typing experience, no qmk, keyboard, Keycap customization, ESP32 S3 microcontroller, Wireless keyboard project, Maker's journey, 3D-printed keycaps, Keyboard layout customization, diy bluetooth keyboard, Mechanical switches, Electronics project tutorial, DIY form scratch, mechanical keyboard, mechanical keyboard diy, DIY keyboard, Custom PCB design, friday_release, eps32s3, Open-source Bluetooth keyboard, Keyboard enthusiast, keyboard firmware, e14p_CMM

Episode 619: How to Build an Open Source Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard

tariq.ahmad — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:23:30 GMT

Revision 7 posted to Documents by tariq.ahmad on 9/7/2023 4:23:30 PM

Watch the Video:

Bonus Content:

GitHub: https://github.com/mayermakes/00Keyboard
Download Code

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
MULTICOMP PRO Zero Ohm Resistor, Jumper, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, 100 mW, 1 A, Surface Mount Device	Multicomp pro	60	Buy Now
BOURNS Small Signal Schottky Diode, Single, 40 V, 300 mA, 500 mV, 2 A, 125 °C	BOURNS	60	Buy Now
MOLEX USB Connector, USB Type C, USB 3.1, Receptacle, 24 Ways, Surface Mount, Right Angle	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
STMICROELECTRONICS ESD Protection Device, 17 V, SOT-23, 6 Pins, USBLC	STMICROELECTRONICS	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 6 ", 152 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 2 ", 51 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52207, Surface Mount, Top	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, ZIF, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52271, Surface Mount, Bottom	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MIKROELEKTRONIKA Rechargeable Battery, 3.7 V, Lithium Polymer, 2 Ah, JST	MIKROELEKTRONIKA	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

ESP32-S3-Wroom1

Keycaps 3d printed with MAYER MAKES ENGINEERING RESIN + Blue Dye

PCB provided by Aisler.net use code „thanks_mayermakes_23“ for a discount.

Switches used are Gateron Blue KS27, sockets are random parts i found by searching for the switches.

Tags: no qmk, keyboard, diy bluetooth keyboard, DIY form scratch, mechanical keyboard, mechanical keyboard diy, friday_release, eps32s3, keyboard firmware, e14p_CMM

Episode 619: How to Build an Open Source Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard

tariq.ahmad — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:16:06 GMT

Revision 6 posted to Documents by tariq.ahmad on 9/7/2023 4:16:06 PM

Keyboards. Everyday item for the average computer user and prized possession of the enthusiast. Building a mechanical keyboard from a kit is a very popular project. As Clem spends most of his time in front of his PC, he is of course an avid user of mechanical keyboards, but not an enthusiast in that sense. So his daily driver can be described as the "cheapest thing that had mechanical switches“.

Watch the Video:

Since he coined his phrase of "there should be an open source variant of everything“ a keyboard went on the list. But not a normal one. An ortholinear, Bluetooth connected, modular keyboard with a weird mashup of keys comprised of US style QWERTY and German QWERTZ layout. The only way to build such a monstrosity is to start from scratch, even writing the firmware form scratch.

Clem decided on a 60 Button compact ortholinear layout, coincidentally the exact same size as the Blackmagic Speed Editor keyboard. So they are perfect for usage side by side on his editing workstation.

The Bluetooth connectivity is achieved by utilizing an ESP32S3 as the main MCU. USB-C acts as the charging port and Serial output. 4 colorful Leds provide feedback about the current state of the Keyboard and visually indicate if SHIFT. ALT /ALTGR or SUPER/FN/GUI are pressed. The Keyboard therefore has 4 freely programmable layers available for heavy customization. A BLE Keyboard on a cord does not make much sense, So Clem made a second PCB bringing the afformentioned modularity into play. The second PCB fits right above the uppermost row of keys, it has a convenient copperless window which is iluminated by the Leds on the main pcb, a lipo with its specific charging and protection circuitry and LDO. Both PCBs are interconnected via a universal bus broken out on a Molex premo flex connector and connected with a simple flat flex ribbon cable. This allows for varaible heights and tolerates slight missalignments. The Premo flex connectors break out all power traces, and UART connections so the keyboard could easily be used in future projects (foreshadowing) *wink *wink. The whole layout was done in Kicad and features hot swappable Keyboard switches. The flat low profile KS27 Gateron Blue switches were choosen for clickyness and simply availability, while the footprints should also fit other brands sockets and/or switches, they have not been tested yet. Builders should print out the board files to check if the holes line up for the chosen switches before comitting to a particular model. All pcbs were manufactured by Aisler with ENIG finish and had to be assembled with a hot air gun and soldering Iron as the PCB is to big to fit in Clems reflow oven. Of course for such a weird keyboard there are no ready made injection molded keycaps available. And blank keycaps would make the board unusable to Clem as he actually looks down a lot while typing to find the right keys. So the only choice is to design and 3d print custom keycaps. Clem designed his set of keycaps in Freecad and utilizes the Shapestring function of the Dreft workbench to make easy modifications to the writing for each key. He also extrudes the writing to the inside of each keycap and paints the letter with permanent marker. This results in a flat keycap without any raised portions that can be printed super fast laying flat on the bed of a resin printer, and the lettering can never rub of as it is actually never touched by the fingers. But of course this only works with transparent keycaps, so Clem naturally prints them in his super durable MAYER MAKES Engineering Resin. The full key set is an the source files are available for download and allow for easy customization as demonstrated in the video. The Firmware was written in Arduino with the Help of the ESP32-BLE Keyboard Library and the Adafruit keypad library. To get the BLE keyboard output working on the ESP32S3 Clem had to enable NIMBLE in the librarys files and install the NIMBLE library in adition. These changes enable a more efficient usage of the memory of the esp32s3 and should also make this library work on the Esp32s2 and C3 in theory. The Firmware first tries to identify which layer the user is trying to use and then sends the correspondingg key of the active layer. It took a lot of shuffling around the code until the out put was snappy enough for real keyboard usage. Also a DEBUG option can be enabled that outputs the KEYCODE of each pressed key via USB-Serial to identify any mishaps. Clem designed a backshell for the keyboard , it was intended to be milled from aluminium but that could not be done in time for the video release. He 3d printed a shell in PETG, but it turns out the keyboard with the secondary Lipo pcb mounted is so stiff and sturdy that a back shell is not really needed, but would be a nice upgrade. At 15mm total thickness, this also might be one of the flattest diy mechanical keyboards out there.

Bonus Content:

GitHub: https://github.com/mayermakes/00Keyboard
Download Code

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
MULTICOMP PRO Zero Ohm Resistor, Jumper, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, 100 mW, 1 A, Surface Mount Device	Multicomp pro	60	Buy Now
BOURNS Small Signal Schottky Diode, Single, 40 V, 300 mA, 500 mV, 2 A, 125 °C	BOURNS	60	Buy Now
MOLEX USB Connector, USB Type C, USB 3.1, Receptacle, 24 Ways, Surface Mount, Right Angle	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
STMICROELECTRONICS ESD Protection Device, 17 V, SOT-23, 6 Pins, USBLC	STMICROELECTRONICS	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 6 ", 152 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 2 ", 51 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52207, Surface Mount, Top	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, ZIF, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52271, Surface Mount, Bottom	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MIKROELEKTRONIKA Rechargeable Battery, 3.7 V, Lithium Polymer, 2 Ah, JST	MIKROELEKTRONIKA	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

ESP32-S3-Wroom1

Keycaps 3d printed with MAYER MAKES ENGINEERING RESIN + Blue Dye

PCB provided by Aisler.net use code „thanks_mayermakes_23“ for a discount.

Switches used are Gateron Blue KS27, sockets are random parts i found by searching for the switches.

Tags: no qmk, keyboard, diy bluetooth keyboard, DIY form scratch, mechanical keyboard, mechanical keyboard diy, friday_release, eps32s3, keyboard firmware, e14p_CMM

Episode 619: How to Build an Open Source Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard

tariq.ahmad — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:02:42 GMT

Revision 5 posted to Documents by tariq.ahmad on 9/7/2023 4:02:42 PM

Watch the Video:

Bonus Content:

GitHub: https://github.com/mayermakes/00Keyboard
Download Code

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
MULTICOMP PRO Zero Ohm Resistor, Jumper, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, 100 mW, 1 A, Surface Mount Device	Multicomp pro	60	Buy Now
BOURNS Small Signal Schottky Diode, Single, 40 V, 300 mA, 500 mV, 2 A, 125 °C	BOURNS	60	Buy Now
MOLEX USB Connector, USB Type C, USB 3.1, Receptacle, 24 Ways, Surface Mount, Right Angle	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
STMICROELECTRONICS ESD Protection Device, 17 V, SOT-23, 6 Pins, USBLC	STMICROELECTRONICS	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 6 ", 152 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 2 ", 51 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52207, Surface Mount, Top	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, ZIF, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52271, Surface Mount, Bottom	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MIKROELEKTRONIKA Rechargeable Battery, 3.7 V, Lithium Polymer, 2 Ah, JST	MIKROELEKTRONIKA	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

ESP32-S3-Wroom1

Keycaps 3d printed with MAYER MAKES ENGINEERING RESIN + Blue Dye

PCB provided by Aisler.net use code „thanks_mayermakes_23“ for a discount.

Switches used are Gateron Blue KS27, sockets are random parts i found by searching for the switches.

Tags: no qmk, keyboard, diy bluetooth keyboard, DIY form scratch, mechanical keyboard, mechanical keyboard diy, friday_release, eps32s3, keyboard firmware, e14p_CMM

Episode 619: How to Build an Open Source Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard

tariq.ahmad — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 15:58:54 GMT

Revision 4 posted to Documents by tariq.ahmad on 9/7/2023 3:58:54 PM

Watch the Video:

Bonus Content:

GitHub: https://github.com/mayermakes/00Keyboard
Download Code

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
MULTICOMP PRO Zero Ohm Resistor, Jumper, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, 100 mW, 1 A, Surface Mount Device	Multicomp pro	60	Buy Now
BOURNS Small Signal Schottky Diode, Single, 40 V, 300 mA, 500 mV, 2 A, 125 °C	BOURNS	60	Buy Now
MOLEX USB Connector, USB Type C, USB 3.1, Receptacle, 24 Ways, Surface Mount, Right Angle	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
STMICROELECTRONICS ESD Protection Device, 17 V, SOT-23, 6 Pins, USBLC	STMICROELECTRONICS	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 6 ", 152 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 2 ", 51 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52207, Surface Mount, Top	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, ZIF, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52271, Surface Mount, Bottom	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MIKROELEKTRONIKA Rechargeable Battery, 3.7 V, Lithium Polymer, 2 Ah, JST	MIKROELEKTRONIKA	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

ESP32-S3-Wroom1

Keycaps 3d printed with MAYER MAKES ENGINEERING RESIN + Blue Dye

PCB provided by Aisler.net use code „thanks_mayermakes_23“ for a discount.

Switches used are Gateron Blue KS27, sockets are random parts i found by searching for the switches.

Tags: no qmk, keyboard, diy bluetooth keyboard, DIY form scratch, mechanical keyboard, mechanical keyboard diy, friday_release, eps32s3, keyboard firmware, e14p_CMM

Episode 619: How to Build a BLE Mechanical Keyboard from Scratch

tariq.ahmad — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 21:23:25 GMT

Revision 3 posted to Documents by tariq.ahmad on 9/6/2023 9:23:25 PM

Watch the Video:

Bonus Content:

GitHub: https://github.com/mayermakes/00Keyboard
Download Code

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
MULTICOMP PRO Zero Ohm Resistor, Jumper, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, 100 mW, 1 A, Surface Mount Device	Multicomp pro	60	Buy Now
BOURNS Small Signal Schottky Diode, Single, 40 V, 300 mA, 500 mV, 2 A, 125 °C	BOURNS	60	Buy Now
MOLEX USB Connector, USB Type C, USB 3.1, Receptacle, 24 Ways, Surface Mount, Right Angle	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
STMICROELECTRONICS ESD Protection Device, 17 V, SOT-23, 6 Pins, USBLC	STMICROELECTRONICS	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 6 ", 152 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 2 ", 51 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52207, Surface Mount, Top	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, ZIF, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52271, Surface Mount, Bottom	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MIKROELEKTRONIKA Rechargeable Battery, 3.7 V, Lithium Polymer, 2 Ah, JST	MIKROELEKTRONIKA	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

ESP32-S3-Wroom1

Keycaps 3d printed with MAYER MAKES ENGINEERING RESIN + Blue Dye

PCB provided by Aisler.net use code „thanks_mayermakes_23“ for a discount.

Switches used are Gateron Blue KS27, sockets are random parts i found by searching for the switches.

Tags: no qmk, keyboard, diy bluetooth keyboard, DIY form scratch, mechanical keyboard, mechanical keyboard diy, friday_release, eps32s3, keyboard firmware, e14p_CMM

Episode 619: How to Build a BLE Mechanical Keyboard from Scratch

tariq.ahmad — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 21:19:47 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Documents by tariq.ahmad on 9/6/2023 9:19:47 PM

Watch the Video:

Bonus Content:

GitHub: https://github.com/mayermakes/00Keyboard
Download Code

Bill of Material:

Product Name	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
MULTICOMP PRO Zero Ohm Resistor, Jumper, 0603 [1608 Metric], Thick Film, 100 mW, 1 A, Surface Mount Device	Multicomp pro	60	Buy Now
BOURNS Small Signal Schottky Diode, Single, 40 V, 300 mA, 500 mV, 2 A, 125 °C	BOURNS	60	Buy Now
MOLEX USB Connector, USB Type C, USB 3.1, Receptacle, 24 Ways, Surface Mount, Right Angle	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
STMICROELECTRONICS ESD Protection Device, 17 V, SOT-23, 6 Pins, USBLC	STMICROELECTRONICS	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 6 ", 152 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Cable, Premo Flex Jumper, 10 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 2 ", 51 mm, White	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52207, Surface Mount, Top	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MOLEX FFC / FPC Board Connector, ZIF, 1 mm, 10 Contacts, Receptacle, Easy-On 52271, Surface Mount, Bottom	MOLEX	1	Buy Now
MIKROELEKTRONIKA Rechargeable Battery, 3.7 V, Lithium Polymer, 2 Ah, JST	MIKROELEKTRONIKA	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

ESP32-S3-Wroom1

Keycaps 3d printed with MAYER MAKES ENGINEERING RESIN + Blue Dye

PCB provided by Aisler.net use code „thanks_mayermakes_23“ for a discount.

Switches used are Gateron Blue KS27, sockets are random parts i found by searching for the switches.

Tags: no qmk, keyboard, diy bluetooth keyboard, DIY form scratch, mechanical keyboard, mechanical keyboard diy, friday_release, eps32s3, keyboard firmware, e14p_CMM

Episode 619: How to Build a BLE Mechanical Keyboard from Scratch

tariq.ahmad — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 21:05:10 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Documents by tariq.ahmad on 9/6/2023 9:05:10 PM

Watch the Video: