Take a look at our
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message

T6x Keyboard UltraNav 3D Print Adapters?

T60/T61 Series
Post Reply
Message
Author
micrex22
Junior Member
Junior Member
Posts: 470
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 12:22 am
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada

T6x Keyboard UltraNav 3D Print Adapters?

#1 Post by micrex22 » Sat Aug 17, 2024 5:24 pm

There's a 3D printed base with some logic to turn it into a regular USB keyboard, are there any for T6x keyboard assemblies? I have a bunch of NMB keyboard so it'd be nice to make usage of some of them
https://www.ebay.com/itm/334487363478

TPFanatic
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 2824
Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:29 pm

Re: T6x Keyboard UltraNav 3D Print Adapters?

#2 Post by TPFanatic » Sat Aug 17, 2024 6:33 pm

weird photo editing on the esc key in the top-down views. seems like someone's custom-one off?

micrex22
Junior Member
Junior Member
Posts: 470
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 12:22 am
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Re: T6x Keyboard UltraNav 3D Print Adapters?

#3 Post by micrex22 » Sat Aug 17, 2024 11:30 pm

TPFanatic wrote:
Sat Aug 17, 2024 6:33 pm
weird photo editing on the esc key in the top-down views. seems like someone's custom-one off?
I know people have done some mods for the keyboards in a similar fashion, so I was hoping an actual production of 3D printed chassis were made now, along with (more importantly) the electronics.

I can't find anything about "HISTUDIO DESIGN", so no idea who the original person that made that, was. I don't believe the ebay lister made it.

RealBlackStuff
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 24727
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Loch Garman, Éire

Re: T6x Keyboard UltraNav 3D Print Adapters?

#4 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sun Aug 18, 2024 1:18 am

Those pics are partly (or all) photoshopped.
Esc/1 on the first and last pic definitely is.
The trackpoint is also a fake.
The base might be real...
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
But I actually prefer Murphy's from Cork!

axur-delmeria
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 4413
Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 5:49 am
Location: Metro Manila, Philippines

Re: T6x Keyboard UltraNav 3D Print Adapters?

#5 Post by axur-delmeria » Sun Aug 18, 2024 12:43 pm

Here's a USB keyboard adapter for the T60 with an even more ridiculous price: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1747143493 ... dapter-for
Planned Purchase: T480s i5-8350 FHD Touch
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons :lol:
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E :cry:

SAIYAN48
Freshman Member
Posts: 114
Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2020 10:20 pm
Location: Canada

Re: T6x Keyboard UltraNav 3D Print Adapters?

#6 Post by SAIYAN48 » Sun Aug 18, 2024 12:47 pm

That person on etsy is nuts! You can get an old controller made with a Teensy for ~$40 cdn.
Last edited by SAIYAN48 on Sun Aug 25, 2024 2:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thinkpads

R51 1829-W1C 2GB RAM
R500 2716-RY6 8GB RAM
T520i 4239-47U, 16GB RAM
T530 RIP
P15 G2 20YR 16GB RAM
SK-8835 Ultranav keyboard Japanese layout

axur-delmeria
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 4413
Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 5:49 am
Location: Metro Manila, Philippines

Re: T6x Keyboard UltraNav 3D Print Adapters?

#7 Post by axur-delmeria » Sun Aug 18, 2024 1:41 pm

SAIYAN48 wrote:
Sun Aug 18, 2024 12:47 pm
That person is etsy is nuts! You can get an old controller made with a Teensy for ~$40 cdn.
I know right? An RPi Pico is what, 5 USD?

Frank Adams (thedalles77) has a Pico-based design on Github, but cautions that it's an untested prototype.
Planned Purchase: T480s i5-8350 FHD Touch
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons :lol:
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E :cry:

SAIYAN48
Freshman Member
Posts: 114
Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2020 10:20 pm
Location: Canada

Re: T6x Keyboard UltraNav 3D Print Adapters?

#8 Post by SAIYAN48 » Mon Aug 26, 2024 9:11 pm

Has anyone ever reverse-engineered the usb controller in the SK-8855
Thinkpads

R51 1829-W1C 2GB RAM
R500 2716-RY6 8GB RAM
T520i 4239-47U, 16GB RAM
T530 RIP
P15 G2 20YR 16GB RAM
SK-8835 Ultranav keyboard Japanese layout

axur-delmeria
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 4413
Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 5:49 am
Location: Metro Manila, Philippines

Re: T6x Keyboard UltraNav 3D Print Adapters?

#9 Post by axur-delmeria » Tue Aug 27, 2024 7:46 am

SAIYAN48 wrote:
Mon Aug 26, 2024 9:11 pm
Has anyone ever reverse-engineered the usb controller in the SK-8855
Is there a need to? The Arduino/Teensy/Pico-based controllers probably only need a bit of modification (in software) to support the T410/420 keyboard.
Planned Purchase: T480s i5-8350 FHD Touch
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons :lol:
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E :cry:

SAIYAN48
Freshman Member
Posts: 114
Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2020 10:20 pm
Location: Canada

Re: T6x Keyboard UltraNav 3D Print Adapters?

#10 Post by SAIYAN48 » Tue Aug 27, 2024 1:20 pm

I figured that the LITEON controller would be easier since you wouldn't need an SBC, just a chip.
Thinkpads

R51 1829-W1C 2GB RAM
R500 2716-RY6 8GB RAM
T520i 4239-47U, 16GB RAM
T530 RIP
P15 G2 20YR 16GB RAM
SK-8835 Ultranav keyboard Japanese layout

axur-delmeria
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 4413
Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 5:49 am
Location: Metro Manila, Philippines

Re: T6x Keyboard UltraNav 3D Print Adapters?

#11 Post by axur-delmeria » Tue Aug 27, 2024 11:00 pm

SAIYAN48 wrote:
Tue Aug 27, 2024 1:20 pm
I figured that the LITEON controller would be easier since you wouldn't need an SBC, just a chip.
So you manage to figure out the inner working of the Liteon chip. Then what? How would you replicate its functions? Fabricate your own chip? How much would that cost?

One more thing, you don't need an SBC (single board computer) but a microcontroller, which Arduinos, Teensies and Picos are.
Planned Purchase: T480s i5-8350 FHD Touch
Impulse Buy: Thinkpad not named for safety reasons :lol:
RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E :cry:

micrex22
Junior Member
Junior Member
Posts: 470
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 12:22 am
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Re: T6x Keyboard UltraNav 3D Print Adapters?

#12 Post by micrex22 » Wed Aug 28, 2024 11:29 am

SAIYAN48 wrote:
Mon Aug 26, 2024 9:11 pm
Has anyone ever reverse-engineered the usb controller in the SK-8855
IMO the SK-8855 is inferior to the T60 NMB keyboard assemblies, which is why it would be more advantageous for a nice solution to pop them in something to use.

micrex22
Junior Member
Junior Member
Posts: 470
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 12:22 am
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Re: T6x Keyboard UltraNav 3D Print Adapters?

#13 Post by micrex22 » Sun Sep 08, 2024 6:54 pm

TPFanatic wrote:
Sat Aug 17, 2024 6:33 pm
weird photo editing on the esc key in the top-down views. seems like someone's custom-one off?
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4169964

So the 3D print does actually exist and it is real. Photo editing on the ebay listing is just a red herring as I thought.

It's a real shame there's none for the T60.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “ThinkPad T60/T61 Series”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 63 guests