Keyboard conversion custom case

[Kagor]

Hi!

I love the 7 row Thinkpad keyboard and have some spare parts left from laptops I want to use.

This desktop, USB variant of the keyboard is nice to have but expensive.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com ... SY355_.jpg

I wonder if anyone has tried to build this or some other laptop spare part keyboard into a custom case. 3d-printing can be used.
https://www.laptopshop.pl/eng_pl_Keyboa ... 0-38_1.png

I see no issues with the mechanical parts, however, I want to know what needs to be done electronically. Converting the pin connector to a USB is one thing. What about firmwar? New circuit board needed? Would this project be too complex ?


Regards//Kagor

[axur-delmeria]

It's already been done: https://hackaday.com/2014/04/30/using-a ... -over-usb/

The base circuit is usually a microcontroller board like a Teensy or Arduino. There's existing firmware for creating custom keyboards.

[Kagor]

Thanks for the link.

the video guide is no longer active and the keyboard in the pictures is the older model.
is there a guide and a mod for the keyboard model which can be found in the Thinkpad T400, T410, T420 and others?

[axur-delmeria]

The guy who made that video later made this https://www.tindie.com/products/rampadc ... eceptacle/, but it's no longer available.

Here's the project logs for that build: https://flashandrc.wordpress.com/catego ... -keyboard/