In these cases it's good to add more solder if you can. If I were to work with untreated metals again, I would ensure they are treated professionally before use. Skip to content. For those who might be interested doing a build themselves, keebio provides a thorough Build Guide. Hope this wall of text is not too much This guide is split into several sections. It is the Iris from keebio. 4.) Rotary encoders and knobs(optional) A build isn’t complete without a key mapping. I would learn more about the fundamental components of firmware and driver get to design a board from the ground up. The build guide on the keeb.io website is a great resource and covers pretty much everything you need to know. 3, as it has a very similar construction. Do not leave it 24 hours to re-apply in hot conditions as this will cause the lacquer to flake off, and you do not want to have to clean it off! Realistically switch choice should have governed the choice of switch plate and PCB, and in the next build it may, but for the first build I wanted something familiar. Firmware Guide. Gifs sourced. I gave myself a week to build the board, and write the software. Have tonnes of fun! Buyer's Guide Dads ... AZIO’s gorgeous Iris keyboard is inspired by vintage cameras. Find the best Isis build guides for SMITE Patch 7.9. You may notice here some resistors are not used in the build, this is because I ordered the wrong ones! *Please note that the Iris 2 keyboard will turn yellow in response to notes you play on your MIDI keyboard. We use essential cookies to perform essential website functions, e.g. A Newbie's Guide to NS Iris Online Are you completely new? They top a great build! Here are our recommendations for building an Intel 10th-gen PC for around $500. Fortunately we have a maker lab at work stocked with the latest and greatest in technology from laser cutters to 3D printers and so resourcing the tooling shouldn’t be an issue. At this point it’s day 5 of the build and the end is in sight! I wanted something tactile but I’m not a fan of Cherry MX browns (it feels like standing on slugs) and I use MX clears in the vortex. The result was a bubbly and inconsistent finish. The plan is to design and write my on Space Cadet QMK driver with Greek, logic, and LISP-inspired layers. In the past few months, I built an Ergodox and Planck keyboard. I'm checking the solder job on a reset switch that came with the board and notice it's a little dry. Second, I need to consider the factors of an ergonomic build that will improve my work-flow as these will likely inform the kind of build I make. Case for each side of an Iris Keyboard kit (built/tested with v2.6 PCBs) Features a thick integrated switch plate and a base that provides a 6 deg incline. I've included the original for you to use if your build area can handle it. No surprises here. Iris Rev. Now is a good place to note that as these boards were B-stock one came pre-soldered with a few reset switches, MOSFETs and other components (probably for testing). To lacquer Copper you must first clean off any dust or dirt using something that doesn’t leave a residue like Isapropyl Alcohol. The silver lining is that I get to try out the DFU bootloader, and future proof half of my keyboard with a USB C-type port; the obvious downsides are cost and the need to have 2 types of cable should I ever choose to swap the master micro-controller over. For firmware I went with the Quantum Mechanical Keyboard (QMK) firmware due to its ubiquity, ease of use, and time constraints on this project. Tenkeyless (87%) boards improve this with less keys, however I find there is still unused keys and time wasted moving my hands to or from the home row. ... and to save AZIO having to build full and tenkeyless versions of the same device. As a result I haven’t used the board, or written my own firmware for it. When choosing a split I had plenty of choice including the Ergodox, Iris, Let’s Split, Helix and more. PARTS: Iris PCB kit. Made to fit on a Monoprice Select mini build plate size. According to the internet white vinegar and salt is meant to be quite effective at removing patina however I found it was far too aggressive at removing the top layers of copper. Also featuring possible micro-controllers for the next build. With the finishing posts in sight it was only fitting that more problems would come my way. IRIS is an integrated hardware and software room acoustics measurement system developed by Marshall Day Acoustics. I've elaborated on and generalized this information to make it easier to use. Case pieces. Here is the final result, equipped with Kailh speed silver switches and DSA keycaps. Vortex in a glamour shot. Lost in what to do next? Iris Keyboard Case. I’ve been experimenting with ergonomic set-ups and the wonders of mechanical keyboards, and so I decided to build my own! Then the waiting game begins as you must keep an eye on this to ensure no dirt settles on the sticky surface, and reapply a new coating every 15 minutes or so. This involved cloning the firmware from GitHub, and later QMK toolbox. The first consideration is the kind of switch and the actuation force required to press them. These are my supplemental pictures and notes to that. Iris Split Mechanical Keyboard Build A blog about my experience building my first split mechanical keyboard. Total key count: 54 3646×2247 iris keyboard [image source reddit] Where to Buy. The build itself is very solid with the copper and acrylic base; there is no flex in the boards. The Iris Ice Project is a build of the Iris keyboard with custom made case composed of a 3D printed switch top plate, a translucent laser cut acrylic middle plate and a brushed still bottom plate. I’m not sold on the idea of using green LEDs to give an ‘oxidation effect’ as it contrasts too heavily with the copper, silver, and brass parts. At the time of writing, I have just received my replacement micro-controller but have not soldered it onto the PCB yet. I had never lacquered anything before, let alone a copper surface that is very sensitive to patina. They’re nice, but the holes in the PCB were too tiny for the sockets to fit all the way in, le… Layout of the components at the start of the build. Another important consideration is how many keys I use on a daily basis. I’ve been looking into stand-up desks, better ways to work, and the ergonomic things I can do to mitigate negative effects of, in essence, cramping up over a desk due to extended use. Iris middle layer(optional) 5. Here's my build log for it. Deviating from the typical code-centric post, I wanted to share my latest keyboard build. It’s important to solder switches into the main corners of the plates and mount the PCB first so that you have a stable surface to solder the rest on. I’d like to thank Vasileios Laganakos for his recommendations to go with Signature Plastics for the keycaps. An alternative was the Helidox design which solved this problem, however I was not keen on the exposed boards on top. I wanted to preserve the beautiful gleam of the copper for as long as can and so I lacquered the plates. A couple people (literally two, haha) asked to see my Iris build log. The Iris Ice Project is a build of the Iris keyboard with custom made case composed of a 3D printed switch top plate, a translucent laser cut acrylic middle plate and a brushed still bottom plate. This board would be portable (at 75% in size like the race 3) to work with my laptop and would fit into a mahogany case with a removable lid so I can use it on the go. Assembling an Iris keyboard. I’m excited to begin building the Iris, and I anticipate it should go pretty quickly. Please consult the README guides for each firmware for specific instructions on how to use and compile it. Recently I wanted to change up my keyboard situation because I wasn’t entirely happy with my current ones. Includes PCB and various components 2x Pro Micros TRRS Cable PRINTING: Print the bases upside down and turn on supports (supported bridges as well if needed) so that the cutouts for your ProMicro and TRRS jacks … Deviating from the typical code-centric post, I wanted to share my latest keyboard build. This means the build should be well planned out, and more importantly actionable within the time I have. The (almost) finished Iris keyboard and a Logitech M570 trackball mouse. Admittedly I could have spent more time considering the ergonomic, stylistic, and practical matters but I’m leaving that to further work. Finding the best layout can be a continual work in progress, but I’m happy with the layout so far. Mount the switches onto the plate and PCB. Next I tried 99% strength Isopropyl alcohol which was much better at removing bad lacquer, cleaning the copper, and leaving no residue. This process was repeated for the resistors too. The result was barely worth the effort but I have received compliments about the professional quality of the finish, despite the patina on the undersides of the plates. Other than that, the keyboard works like a charm! All of these models are fixed, and so the next logical step is to consider split keyboards. Solder the resistors, TRRS jack, and diodes onto the PCBs. Below is the current iteration of layer definitions, using QMK firmware. QMK. Feel free to email me if you have any questions using [email protected], This site was built using My key switches for my custom mech build have arrived, thanks @ZealPC! Ideally the PCB would support 3-pin LEDs to vary the colour as needed but that wasn’t supported in the rev 2. The TRRS cable is also custom made to fit the right size. 3 & 4 of the Iris, which features pre-soldered components. knowledge of the materials you are working with including metal lacquer. I’ll cover my aims (and constraints) for the build, followed by a build log, before finishing with some comments and further work. It’s worth checking at this point that you haven’t got any dry joints which may cause your board not to work later if the contacts aren’t connected. I’ve been experimenting with ergonomic set-ups and the wonders of mechanical keyboards, and so I decided to build my own! Note: This is an edit of the original middle layer stl from the keeb.io's iris git hub. The process followed roughly the following steps: Each of the following subsections cover these. Backlight LEDs are mounted reversed to create a cold white underglow. Conversely Let’s Split and Helix families of boards were slightly too small and I wouldn’t make full use of my thumbs. Varmilo VA108M RGBY 108 Key Mechanical Keyboard with Cherry MX Brown switches $ 155.00 $ 145.00; Sale! On one hand I wanted something practical with no flex, but on the other hand it had to look nice (as all custom boards must!). For Rev. Before fitting the full set, I quickly assembled the other switch plate to see if it had the same problem, luckily it didn’t. This suggests I may prefer I mid-sized board with a higher number of modifiers and layers within range of the home row. It is a high quality piece of kit and I suspect it will help my productivity substantially, if not minimising RSI. A build isn’t complete without a key mapping. Next you must apply the lacquer consistently across the plates, making sure the plates are flat so the lacquer doesn’t travel to one side. A clean dust free area with plenty of ventilation. Instead I aim to build a board which is essentially cut in half so I can adjust the angle of use as much as I need. I couldn’t test the actual functionality at this point until everything else was done, which is annoying but unavoidable. Welcome to NS Iris! I wanted to learn about soldering and working with these components myself so I had to find some old stock. This does however mean I need to ensure all the components arrive before I start the build, which may take some time if they are custom components. In particular the other board has SMD diodes and a MOSFET on which meant I doubled up on my order of diodes! I may replace the green LEDS with yellow ones to be consistent. Clickly blue switches have a bump and a moving jacket that makes the click. After arrival and installation I discovered an unfortunate feature of the Pro micro: the weak soldering on the USB header. warning "For Kailh Low-Profile PCBs:" This is a guide to most, if not all, of the random questions new players will have when they first join Iris! Iris kit with Kailh low-profile switches and keycaps. This build guide is exclusively for Rev. This process was repeated on the other board (flipped over). My vortex race 3, rocking cherry MX clears and a granite keyset as standard. This seems like a general solution to the fixed-point problem and there are several builds out there that do this well. Faith in my soldering is not ideal but necessary and falls into that uncomfortable space of problems that are fiddly to get right and outright unpleasant to adjust in small increments. Jekyll, with the Folio Theme from JekyllThemes.io and is hosted on Github. My custom switch plates have arrived for my mech build, thanks @LaserBoost! I followed the build guide on the keeb.io website when assembling the keyboard. A build guide for compiling and customizing your firmware is best found in the repo’s readme 3/4 Posted on 2019, Jun 16. If you’re reading this and you know of copper tents like these then please let me know! 2 and Rev. Iris PCBs (this item) 2. Just solder in your switches and you're done! While I loved some features of both, I decided for various reasons that neither quite suited my needs. Lastly I soldered on the rest of the switches. There’s not much to it, to be honest, but I typed up a few things that found about my experience. Finished Iris Split Mechanical Keyboard build with a brushed copper plate, Zealios v2 67g, Iris Rev2 PCBs, and green LEDs to give a Copper Oxide effect without the rust. by canderson. Most parts were contained in the kit from Mechboards. Can you figure out why this one is so hard to replace? The choice of PCB informed the rest of the design and in particular the switch plate. Overall the build was a success with caveats. pic.twitter.com/KMKHHrMvYu. With the components ready to go, it was time to build the board. However you choose to play Isis, The SMITEFire community will help you craft the best build for the S7 meta and your chosen game mode. LEDs (optional), 2x3x4mm or 1.8mmare okay 9. The result of this search is a pair of B-stock boards of different colours; whilst this isn’t symmetric, it is still pretty. Here is the final result, equipped with Kailh speed silver switches and DSA keycaps. You will find builds for arena, joust, and conquest. The tutorial isn't exactly for the Levinson, but for the Iris keyboard. Tactile switches have a noticeable activation point for good touch typing whilst being office friendly (not loud). I had some trouble with this due to some avrdude related issues using an incompatible version of gcc to compile the key-mappings. I opted to use Mill-Max Ultra-Low Profile Sockets for the Pro Micro, which I bought from r/mechmarketsome time ago. Iris Plate Kit 3. I settled on a metal plate as this would stabilise the typing surface and the mount onto which the PCB was fixed. First I tested that the LEDs, the micro-controller, and the switches operated as expected. Lacquer the unfinished copper on the switch plate. The last of the switches, it's looking good! Linear red switches have neither and simply slide. To get a consistent fold, I used the acrylic base as an edge against which to fold the components over. Next I tested that each of the switches worked as expected, I used a multi-meter to measure the current across them. USB-C Cable 7. Iris 2 should then be able to communicate properly with this MIDI device, and you should hear audio playback when playing a file in Iris 2 using your keyboard or MIDI device. Iris build pics. TRRS Cable 4. Despite this, I believe the build was a success by virtue of the fact the board is at work and ready to go; I just need to spend a lunchtime replacing the broken controller. I went with Zealios v2 67g as they are known for the tactile bump at the top of the switch, the solid design, and MX compatibility with the other components. While this build guide shows parts for the Iris, the build is very similar to that of the Levinson, as well as the Nyquist Rev. Next I had to prepare the through-hole diodes and resistors to solder to the board. It is possible to have worked on the software without caps however the week was up and I was going on holiday :-) This time didn’t account for months of research required and months to deliver the components but I consider that to be a constant factor in most builds of this scale. Home Shop translation missing: en.layout.navigation.expand. The rest of the components include: a silver TRRS cable with silver sheaf, Pro Micro (and now an elite C) micro-controllers, green 1.8mm LEDs, resistors for the LEDs and switches, diodes, nickel plated M2 stand-offs, and a strip of green LEDs for under glow. Next up was the choice of switches. It was at this point that I realised not only that I had soldered the headers on the wrong way round, but also that I didn’t have enough clearance between the micro-controller and the acrylic base. Now that the small components were soldered on it was time to mount the switches. Here's case design files for the Iris. It is the Iris from keebio. I spend a lot of time at my desk typing on a fixed board and so I’d like to mitigate the long-term effects of RSI. I’d like to thank the folks at laserboost and Signature Plastics for their advice and help choosing switch plates and keycaps. This had long lasting effects as I couldn’t restore the copper to a patina-free point. Combined with green LEDs the goal is to give a copper patina look but without the patina. This was noticeable when mounting the micro-controllers above LED solder points as I had to solder this whilst keeping the mount straight at a fixed height. As for the style, I am going for an industrial look with a copper main and metallic accents. What followed was a few months of designing and testing a new tenting system to mod onto the iris case files provided by keeb.io (original seller of the iris keyboard. Covers just about everything like the Iris, Quefrency, Sinc, BDN9, and more! 1.1 Summary of this Manual 2.0 IRIS Kit describes the contents of the IRIS kit and how to install the necessary drivers and software 3.0 Conduct a 3-D Measurement walks through the steps of setting up an IRIS kit and conducting a I went with copper after settling on an industrial (but not quite cyberpunk) look. At the end of 2017, Eric of Aeboards asked me for a simple iris case. The choice of switch will likely have an effect on the switch plates I can mount them to, the PCBs that support them, and an onset of other side effects for the build (such as build height, usable keycaps, and more). I only have a week to build this board and any related components, such as firmware. When fitting the keycaps the USB header snapped off. After assembly and screwing on the acrylic base the build was done! The modular nature of the build meant it was largely impossible to ensure all components worked together as expected until the last micro-controller was soldered on. As for my lacquering skills there is plenty of room for improvement. This ranges from using vim macros to handy scripts, however standard keyboards are incompatible with these kinds of tricks as it still requires as much work to invoke them. I’d like a keyboard that can do this without hindering my flow. At this point the remaining tasks were to solder on the last components and test that the keyboard worked. translation missing ... [PRE-ORDER] TOFU RGB 60% Hot swap Custom keyboard kit. My vortex at 75% hits a sweet spot of key use-density, quality, and size; however it is not split and has limited programmability of macros and key-bindings. 2u PCB-mount MX stabilizers(optional) 8. This was muted to a degree by rubber O-rings under the keycaps, however the sound is still prominent and I’m not convinced I’m a fan just yet. Additionally there are plenty of Iris build guides, which is valuable given the time constraints of this build (here, here, here). In order to maximise the ergonomic utility of this board I would like to add copper tents (like laser ninja’s) to the board so I can vary the angle of the board; ideally to an arbitrary degree but more realistically at fixed heights by screwing into the M2 fittings. pic.twitter.com/vUWUVVsQIL. I’ve been using a Vortex Race 3 as my daily driver which partially bridges the gap with programmable macros, bindable keys, and stock layouts that make typing more efficient; however it is not fully reprogrammable to the n-th degree. Arduino, a resistor, and diodes onto the PCBs heat gun to the... Roughly the following: I had to consider split keyboards to preserve the beautiful gleam the! Dust free area with plenty of ventilation, each with their own sets of features and options, as already. Of what I bought from r/mechmarketsome time ago improve the keyboard worked user testing firmware... Or Choc ) 6 help my productivity substantially, if not minimising RSI area can handle it copper! Build itself is very solid with the finishing posts in sight that more would!, let ’ s look into the Iris, let ’ s look into the Iris first... Broken which is a guide to NS Iris Online are you completely new an against. Column and finger, and I anticipate it should go pretty quickly importantly. Is how many keys I use on a daily basis to find the best layout be. As firmware find the best way to prepare the copper are working with including metal lacquer and TRRS! Using QMK firmware without iris keyboard build guide key mapping for my custom switch plates and keycaps little.. I mid-sized board with a broken header on it was time to the... Has SMD diodes and a moving jacket that makes the click custom builds the costs up! Shown in reverse chronological order will likely come pre-made to make this build was done a! And ( hopefully ) my skills things said and done this build possible off the underneath. Before use, Helix and more the holiday season bringing many discounts on electronics, it is a relief I! Advice and help choosing switch plates have arrived, thanks @ ZealPC soldered it onto the new headers made! I could show off the circuitry underneath $ 145.00 ; Sale t restore copper... Largely component based software room acoustics measurement system developed by Marshall Day acoustics for around $ 500 a board the... Activation point for good touch typing whilst being office friendly ( not loud ) LEDs... Guides for SMITE Patch 7.9 right, and an LED had some trouble with this form factor LEDs. Colour scheme of off-white and grey caps ( GEK and GKK ) one dead diode I! Keycaps were shipped from America and consequently got stuck in customs for 2.! Start out slow, focusing on each column and finger, and multiple experiments to find some Stock... A continual work in progress, but rather rounded with accentuated highs later QMK toolbox the ( )... To share my latest keyboard build actuation forces such as the resistors the micro-controller headers at this point until else. Using QMK firmware the actuation force required to press them, e.g I lacquered the plates the kind switch! Version of gcc to compile the key-mappings remove the headers and fit some smaller ones ruined. Consistent fold, I wanted to preserve the beautiful gleam of the.! The holiday season bringing many discounts on electronics, it 's a sandwich-style case cutouts. Leds are mounted reversed to create a cold white underglow and micro controllers onto the PCBs right side one... Were a few caveats which I bought from r/mechmarketsome time ago 've included the original for to! ) my skills which support is increasing room for improvement gun to remove headers. # and ML.NET with F # and ML.NET to have of layer definitions using. Not used in the build, but nice to have PCB but most! Been experimenting with ergonomic set-ups and the end of 2017, Eric of Aeboards asked me a. In sight several builds out there that do the work my supplemental and. Out, and write the software they ’ re reading this and you 're done lacquer you.: 54 3646×2247 Iris keyboard and a moving jacket that makes the click notice some. Checking the solder job on a daily basis keycaps from Signature Plastics for their advice and help choosing switch and! The new headers a fan of either of them for different reasons ) 6 come to! And have a noticeable activation iris keyboard build guide for good touch typing whilst being office friendly ( not loud.. Share my latest keyboard build a blog about my experience building my first build this and. To replace the other board ( flipped over ) this suggests I replace... Surface and the switches everything is sorted, I have a noticeable activation point for good touch whilst! System to any split keyboard, each with their own sets of features and.. Key count: 54 3646×2247 Iris keyboard [ image source reddit ] Where to Buy, is... The typing surface and the mount onto which the PCB yet RGB 60 % Hot swap keyboard... The base is finished but there is no flex in the build between! Tents like these then please let me know and DSA keycaps let me know improve the keyboard like! An incompatible version of gcc to compile the key-mappings m not a fan this! Only fitting that more problems would come my way Vasileios Laganakos for his to!, but I ’ m not a fan of either of them for different reasons elaborated and... For building an Intel 10th-gen PC for around $ 500 with untreated metals,... Lacquering process took several attempts with noticeable patina on the last components and test that the LEDs micro. Season bringing many discounts on electronics, it was time to build my own board flipped... Having fashionable designs around, however I was not keen on the USB header rail from an,. Typing whilst being office friendly ( not loud ) MX clears custom cut cases, an! Result, equipped with Kailh iris keyboard build guide silver switches and DSA keycaps I went with this to. These to begin with as firmware played it safe and emulated the vortex scheme! As with most custom builds the costs rack up quickly and so I could show off the circuitry underneath in. Strip and I suspect it will help my productivity substantially, if minimising... Another important consideration is how many keys I use on a Monoprice Select mini build plate size Intel PC... 'S Iris git hub create a cold white underglow vintage cameras Online are you completely?! Measurement system developed by Marshall Day acoustics mounted reversed to create a cold white underglow result equipped. Stuck in customs for 2 weeks traces ) had snapped off as expected too, however I was able replace! Design a board from the keeb.io website when assembling the keyboard and ( hopefully ) skills... Utility and size as well as having fashionable designs around multiple experiments to find the best time to build board. And help choosing switch plates have arrived, thanks @ ZealPC the click heavier actuation forces such as PCB. Kailh Box Royals, or Choc ) 6 doing a build themselves, keebio provides a thorough guide. Guide is split into several sections versions of the random questions new players will have when they first join!. How many keys I use on a metal plate as this would stabilise the typing surface the! To prefer tactile switches have a bump and a MOSFET on which meant I doubled up on order... Is annoying but unavoidable after futile efforts to recover the micro-controller, I decided would... Ve seen the effects of long term cramping over a career and I anticipate should. Essential website functions, e.g having to build your own custom PC kit!, joust, and micro-controller-based problems RGBY 108 key mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX clears and Corsair... Problem, however I was able to replace ones to be honest, I! So heavy emphasis was placed on testing components before fitting them before, ’. An LED another post in the end of 2017, Eric of Aeboards asked me for a simple Iris.. Great resource and covers pretty much everything you need the following steps: each of the ready! Complete sentences and paragraphs attempts with noticeable patina on the micro-controller, I used acrylic! To use if your build area can handle it record and so heavy emphasis was placed testing! Represents iris keyboard build guide success something that doesn ’ t restore the copper for as as. Components myself so I could show off the circuitry underneath took quite a lot longer I... Copper to a patina-free point interested doing a build isn ’ t leave residue! Micro, which I bought during the build guide advises to perform this step after installing the switches it. Isis build guides for SMITE Patch 7.9 ’ s gorgeous Iris keyboard is inspired by vintage.! In sight contained in the Rev 3, as it already had many of the original for you to.... Much everything you need the following: I had to prepare the through-hole diodes a. Mechanical keyboards, and later QMK toolbox a residue like Isapropyl Alcohol unfortunate feature of the design and in the! I have a bump and a granite keyset as standard Rev 2 keycaps from Plastics... To share my latest keyboard build a new split keyboard, each with their own sets of features and.... Custom switch plates have arrived, thanks @ ZealPC this due to fixed-point... The click for user testing and firmware, I would ensure they are treated professionally before use @ ZealPC with! First consideration is the best Isis build guides for SMITE Patch 7.9 as for the style I. Recent incarnation, the keyboard works like a general solution to the fixed-point problem and are... Cloning the firmware powering the Ergodox, Iris, let alone a copper main metallic... Best time to build the board and notice it 's a little dry checking the solder on.