For those seeking a robust, fully customizable typing experience, this project provides a fantastic solution. The maker successfully combined a custom mechanical keyboard design with professional machining techniques on a DIY PrintNC. The build utilizes a two-piece aluminum case and a solid brass switch plate. By featuring square mounting holes, the maker ensured an extended compact layout while maintaining the hot-swap capability the creator wanted.
This custom DIY Mechanical Keyboard features a silver-gray finish and a recessed inner floor in the enclosure. The maker’s build incorporates hand-wired Amoeba single-switch breakout PCBs, which utilize Mill-Max hot-swap sockets. The assembly was a meticulous process, including using a belt sander to fit the brass plate properly and applying 3D-printed black TPU inserts to the perimeter tabs for better hold.
Machining involved specific parameters, such as 22K RPM and 80IPM for the aluminum roughing, as well as 24K RPM and 30in/min for the brass plate. Despite the success of the overall outcome, the maker expressed regret regarding the Amoeba PCBs, noting they presented difficulty when trying to install them onto the switches. The project took about two years to finish, but the resulting piece looks very refined.
Project by Projects by Brian. Watch it on their YouTube channel: