ISO hotswap / backlit hotswap

Are there plans for ISO hot swappable keyboards? And what about no-switch barebones hotswap boards?

I don't yet own a WASD keyboard, but I intend to buy an ISO 105 board, since it's the closest in size to my "home" layout (ABNT2), the only difference being ABNT2 has an extra 1u key (ç) and the right shift is shorter (1.75u instead of 2.75u) to accommodate the extra keycap. There is also an unnofficial ABNT mapping for ISO, dropping the "/ ?" key, as the same symbols are acessible via "Alt Gr + Q/W".

I was researching into designing my custom PCB, but having a base board (and even more, a case, cabling and keycaps) to start into the hobby is MUCH easier (and cheaper)!

For my dream keyboard I was planning on using Zealios or Zilents, with different weights (heavier in the center), so a barebones no-switch hot swapping board would be great without requiring too much of a compromise on WASD's part.

Also, I'm a creature of the night, so backlighting would be a dream come true. However, I don't know if hotswap backlit is possible because of the leds, as they seem to be THT from what I could observe in the PCB of the DIY 87/88 kit. It may be possible to fit SMD LEDs over the vias, but I would need more precise measures to evaluate and, even if possible, the switch may still not sit flush with the PCB after that.

As for the see-through keycaps to use with backlighting, ABNT is a devil child between the ISO form factor/modifiers and US QWERTY legends and I think I could frankenstein a keycap set with little effort, with the missing 1x1 and 1.75x1 being blank keycaps for now.

ISO hotswap / backlit hotswap

Comments

Didn't find what you were looking for?