this post was submitted on 07 Nov 2023
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ErgoMechKeyboards

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Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards

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Tips for designing a quiet case for a board? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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So, I've made the mistake of entering a keyboard store in Berlin. Nothing ergonomic there, so all they deal with are great looking boards, heavy, well built, and quiet!

I've built and designed my share of boards, and the sound hadn't bothered me at all until recently. I've designed my first 3d printed case, it's a one piece, just needs a bottom cover.

It acts like an amplifier to my typing. It's not a pleasant sound at all.

What would be the best way to design a quieter one piece board? What materials could make a difference? I was thinking of a metal switch plate, can It be used together with 3d printed layers? Wood? Should I use foam?

Looking for a choc build (more difficult due to lack of silent choc switches) as well as an mx build (probably bobba u4 switches, which will take care of most of the noise)

Thanks!

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

similar to a drum, the empty space inside the case acts as a resonator and most of the dampening options try to fill in the space – EDIT: reminder that whatever you use, make sure it’s non-conductive

  • initial sound generation – silent switches, no long-pole stems – reminder that switches generate as much sound on upstroke as downstroke
  • dampening the plate response – burger mount, gasket mount
  • empty space between plate and PCB – most commonly filled in with laser cut Poron foam (“plate foam”)
  • empty space in case under PCB – filled in with a whole range of materials
    • most common currently also laser cut Poron foam (“case foam”)
    • early experiments with rubber shelf liner, Sorbothane (automotive audio dampener), and Poly-fil all with good affordable results
    • high-end DIY includes silicone pours – filling up the bottom of the case with silicone and letting it set in place (how-tos on Youtube)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks! That's one serious checklist :-)

The case I made might be a lost cause - it's got very little space for dampening the sound with foam, but enough to become an echo chamber. I'll see what I can do, but not optimistic.

I will keep this in mind for my next design though.

Thanks again!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You could add rubber feet, sub-pcb foam liner, lube the switches, o-rings work too but feel awful. Also having a neoprene keyboard/mousepad helps too. I’d recommend positively affixing the pcb+plate to the case so it doesn’t rattle either.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Because of the material, affixing might create the problem, or at least make it worse. I think affixing the plate with rubber layer might be the solution, but never tried that.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

It could but the concern weird be rattle if you have any. I what wouldn’t fall do the whole “keyboard specific dampening foam”, I use packing foam on my keyboard between the case and PCB and it’s totally fine. But the PCB is also screwed into metal standoffs in a wooden case, and I have no plate. Surprisingly I don’t have an issue with switch movement. And the seller stopped selling plates while they unloaded stock of PCBs. I’ve been too lazy to reverse engineer the plate design, which the seller also for some reason did not want to release (even though they had released other plate designs). Really dumb. But keyboard works so whatever :)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What store did you go to? I want to visit one in Berlin!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's really cool, with plenty of colourful stuff, but if you ask about ergonomic they point you to an Alice style board....

https://geekboards.de Prenzlauer Allee 45A, 10405, Berlin Germany

Do you live in Germany? Would you recommend sourcing laser cutting services here?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes I live in Berlin.

I Would try some hacker space maybe? I think x-hain has a lot of these things. I've never been therw myself though

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks! Looks good