How to Build Your Own Custom Keyboard--Dwayne

 

During this time of pandemic and quarantine, many students sat down at their desks in their foldable chairs, Mac or PC, and whatever keyboard and mouse that came with the unit. Earlier in the year, Anthony wrote a blog on how to build a PC. And if you are going through the process of building a PC, might as well give yourself the best tools possible to operate it. I was one of those people using the wireless keyboard and mouse that came with the computer. However during quarantine, I was introduced to the world of Mechanical Keyboards. Mechanical Keyboards are keyboards that have mechanical switches. Most keyboards today such as the Apple Keyboard and other basic keyboards come with membrane switches that allow the keyboards to follow suit with the current ‘minimalistic’ design language manufactures are catering to.

Credit to RTINGS.com Credit to Forbes.com
Although functional, the membrane dome switches don’t allow for the user to feel the keys on the keyboard and does not allow the user to customize their typing experience leaving them with a dull, muted, almost squish-like feeling when pressing down a key.
Mechanical Keyboards allows the user to fully customize their experience with a plethora of different switches, keycaps, boards, and cases. Having a custom keyboard allows you to personalize the second most important tool in your computer set up (next to the computer itself, which is also customizable). As I have said before, there are many different options you can use to fit whatever theme you are trying to achieve, with many different pre-built options for inspiration.
Building a mechanical keyboard may seem like major task that requires a high level of skill, but with today’s technology, anyone with a hands and a screwdriver can put one of these boys together, no problem. Like with most activities, there are different levels of keyboard building of varying difficulty. I will go over the easiest and quickest way to build your keyboard.

Materials You Will Need:
(Sites to get materials will be linked, as well as my personal build) 60% Keyboard Case
Hot Swappable 60% PCB
Plate (if needed)
Foam (if needed)
Mechanical Key Switches
Screw-In Stabilizers

Keycaps

Lube

Basic household tools And A Lot of Money

Step 1
First things first, you want to install your screw-in stabilizers to your PCB. Stabilizers are exactly what you think they are, they are stabilize the keys such as they space bar, shift keys, and the enter key. It is common practice to lube the stabilizers with contact grease or a specialized stabilizer lube to negate any rattling from the metal-to-plastic contact from the stabilizers, however, it is not required but HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Take the stabilizers and screw the correct stabilizer to it's designated place on the PCB (it will be labeled on the PCB)

Step 2
Mount the plate onto the PCB, aligning the holes on the pate to the holes on the PCB. The mounting plate is where the key switches will be mounted onto, hence the name mounting plate. These plates could be made out of many different materials such as aluminum, brass, gold plated aluminum, and more, all producing different sounds when typed on.

Step 3
One of the easier steps, this is where the mechanical portion of mechanical keyboard comes into play. Mechanical switches are one of the most if not the most varying aspect of the keyboard with hundreds of different kinds of switches. There are three major types of switches: Linears, Tactile, and Clicky. In three categories of switches there are even more types of switches. Each switch have what is called an activation force, which is the amount of force needed to activate the switch. The most common is a linear switch with a 45g actuation force, usually noted by different companies as “reds.” The three most common “red” switches being Cherry MX Reds, Gateron Reds, and Outemu Reds.

What ever switch you choose, you must mount one switch to each space shown on the plate. When completed, it will look like this.

Step 5
The next thing you will need to do is to grab your keyboard case. There are many different kinds of cases of many different colors and materials. Some are made of plastic, various metals, or even wood. And just like the mounting plate, each case will have their own distinctive feel and sounds when typed on. This particular case is made of aluminum.

Once you have your case, you want to align the stand-offs and USB hole with the PCB and carefully place it into the case. Then, screw in the PCB to the case with the included screws. When completed, it should look like this.

Step 6
Now for the easiest, most exciting step, we move onto the keycaps. This is where the theming and customization of your keyboard can get wild, there are thousands of different options for keycaps with different designs, materials, and shapes. The most common shape for a keycap is Cherry shaped keycaps, and the most popular material for keycaps is PBT plastic, which gives the keycaps a *THOCK* kind of noise. However, if you are truly passionate about your keyboard, you may want to look into GMK keycaps. These can run you about 200-600 dollars for one set, however the designs and quality of the keycaps are second to none.
So once, you have your selected keycaps, make sure the space-bar, shift keys, and enter keys fit, and press the keycaps onto the switches. And this is what the final product will look like.

Custom keyboard building is a simple and easy way to take your office or gaming set up to the next level. With the endless combinations of switches, keycaps, cases, and plates, no keyboard builds are really the same which really allows you to have that individuality. And there is no short supply of information either, there are many YouTube accounts dedicated to help you learn the in’s-and-out’s of keyboard building such as TaeKeyboards, Hamaji Neo, :3ildcat, and my favorite Taeha Types. There are multiple subreddits and forums you can go to for inspiration on your build, as well as an great community that is eager to help beginners who are starting out.

PIcture Credits to TaeKeyboards (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deVaUvywGMw)

How to Build and find all the right tools for a Skateboard--Daniel

 

One of the most favorite sports I have played and still do to this day is skateboarding. Skateboarding is the sport which normally contains a wooden deck with metal trucks and wheels attached that rides basically wherever you want. A lot of people think that building a skateboard is hard and get discouraged to build one themselves and will just have someone do it for them. But I feel like building a skateboard can be a pretty self accomplishing feeling that everyone who rides a skateboard should do and feel.

First step to building a skateboard is finding a deck and grip tape

You can find decks at skate shops, online, or even some clothes stores. Finding decks is extremely important, There are many different decks you can find and buy at skate shops and the prices vary for each deck. For beginners I suggest buying and riding a blank deck which normally costs anywhere to $40-60. If you have been riding for a little bit I suggest buying a little more expensive and reliable board for instance a “Baker” deck or FA board. A baker deck or Fa board has a different design than a normal blank deck, that keeps the board more sturdy and reliable. A baker board and FA board can cost about $60-100 so it's understandable if you just want the blank deck for cheaper. When you buy a deck from skate shops, you usually get yourself a griptape which they put on for you for free. They also already drill holes in the board for the next steps to building a skateboard which is for screwing the trucks in. Make sure you get grip tape with the deck because the grip tape keeps you steady when riding and doing tricks, without the grip tape you would pretty much just end up sliding off your board when attempting tricks.

Next step to building a skateboard is getting trucks, wheels.
After getting yourself a deck, you're gonna need trucks and wheels for your board. You can find these again at skate shops, clothes stores or online. Trucks and wheels varry as well just like a deck, You can find some cheap trucks and wheels all varying in price or get yourself a little but more expensive but more reliable trucks like hollow and thunder trucks that normally cost about $30 for each truck. For the wheels I would suggest getting bone or spitfire wheels that vary between 20-40 dollars. Getting yourself the recommended trucks and wheels like thunder trucks and bone allow you to do more tricks and grind on rails without damaging your trucks and wheels faster.

Next step is finding “hardware” or just screws and bolts to equip the trucks and wheels to the board and bearings for the wheels to spin on the board
You can find hardware pretty much anywhere, I would recommend skate shops like pharmacies or just buy them online. The hardware is only a couple of bucks and you can find bearings for about 15-20 dollars all depending on the store.

Finally is assembling the board.

To assemble the board it's pretty straightforward you attach the trucks to the board with the hardware. You can do this with a phillips screwdriver and a wrench or a “skate tool”. After you screw the trucks into the deck with the hardware, you put the bearing into the wheels and screw the wheels on the trucks with a wrench or skate tool. After that, You have pretty much built yourself your own skateboard, hope these tips were helpful and enjoy riding!

Rose--Kayla

Life as we know is full of ups and downs, regardless of the situation. There’s never a time

where we won’t be presented with the hardships this life has given us. This can mentally and

physically harm our well being, where if faced with similar situations, our automatic response is

to flee. Let’s say, losing someone that meant the world to you, more so felt as your home away

from home but when you needed them the most, they stab you in the back as if you meant

nothing to them. Seems quite painful, doesn't it? This is where I begin my story. As the

independent woman I am today, my life hasn’t been the easiest route to get to where I am, as

some may think. I have always had a hard time getting along with my family, which in some

cases felt as if I didn't belong. There were and still are, only a handful of people I can confide in

when dealing with these family problems. I have never been one to fully express my truth when

explaining personal situations, because I feel as if I should never ask for help and deal with these

things on my own. That being said, a few years back in 2018 i had met someone who i never

intended to mean anymore than just an acquaintance. That year was extremely difficult for my

family and I. We could not see eye to eye for the life of it. Coming home felt so exhausting to

where I'd just be in my room until the next day, when I'd have to leave for school. Coming home

should never feel uneasy, but more so your peace after a long day. But that’s just something I

never seemed to fulfill. Let’s call this person, Rose. Rose was the most charismatic, smart,

charming, full of life, understanding, and most patient person i had ever met. At the time, I had

never met someone with such a nurturing feeling, where I could confide in them so quickly.

Meeting Rose was what I looked for when coming home but never seemed to have gotten it. As

cliche as it may sound, there is a saying that says, sometimes your home isn’t always your home,

but maybe your home is within a person. This was my person I felt most vulnerable enough to

talk about my family problems which comes from someone who is afraid to let their guard down,

this was out of my comfort zone. Every Time i had something going on this person was just here,

giving me the right words of advice and made me feel valid but not all things last forever, am I

right? After months of being inseparable, there came a day where things started to change, both

with Rose and my family. Rose had been acting distant, and felt so far but so close to me at the

same time. While, my family situation had gotten to the utmost brim point. I started to feel alone

and afraid as when i did before meeting Rose, but i couldn’t do anything about it because I

wasn’t going to force someone to try and help me, as it is not their obligation. But when

confiding in one person with all this information, to have them just disappear was painful and put

a strain on my heart. Dealing with how both situations got hard at the same time, did not do me

well. I felt lost, a burden, and a disappointment all at once. Come to find out, Rose never had the

intentions of being in my life for the long run, but used me for their enjoyment purposes until

they were happy. Seeing Rose happy, while I was suffering made me feel so much that I was

overwhelmed but I wasn't and still am not the type to ruin a person's happiness for my own. I left

Rose to be, because all I had thought of them was how much peace they’d brought me for a long

but short period of time and this was the most I could do for them. To some that may be wrong to

do, but that’s how much peace a person had brought into my soul that all i wanted was to see

them happy, always. Never will I forget Rose, as they had changed me for the better and taught

me the good and the bad. I learned that it is okay to confide in a person, but be careful with a

person's intentions as it is not always pure but also to never forget how a person had made you

feel if that was good or bad. Know where you stand, your worth, what you deserve as a person,

and to let things go if they no longer serve their purpose. To conclude, “there is no way to hold

onto something that is truly beautiful, not without consequences. There is a reason why Roses

have thorns.”