Ty will buy the board then on pcbway :) kinda wish I can get it autographed, but hey do what you can. Ty for this amazing mod. Is there a video on how to connect this to a original zx 81 ? Mine is a timex sinclair 1000 if it makes a difference.
@@gilbertvera1678 No video on connecting to an original ZX81. You'll need to remove the existing keyboard connectors from the original PCB that the membrane keyboard used to plug into. Then using some ribbon cable, connect J2 on the mechanical keyboard to KB2 on the ZX81 and connect J3 on the mechanical keyboard to KB1 on the ZX81.
@@gilbertvera1678 This depends on the space in the case that you are going to use. You can either solder the ribbon cable from the keyboard directly to the ZX81 motherboard or use a pin header, you just need to ensure the centre spacing on the header matches the holes in the PCB. On my ZX81+38, I used 2.54mm spaced pin headers on the PCB. I don't have an original ZX81 to check the spacing is the same, but from pictures, it looks like it might be. At this point in the video you can see the 90 degree pin header on the keyboard, the one I used on the ZX81 was vertical. th-cam.com/video/c1G5rX_YvCA/w-d-xo.html
You are a genius. It looks soooo good. I have a mechboard for my 64. This is giving me ideas for keycaps. I was in when my uncle gave me a zx81 40 years ago. Still got it.
That took me back. I worked for fuller Microsystems building keyboards for the ZX81. Seeing this new keyboard build was great. The quality of the printed circuit board is a quantum leap as compare to the orginals. :)
Wow. Really great that you just go headlong into the project even though you didn't do many of those things before - you just went and learned and did it anyway! The custom keycaps look great. I musn't visit that website...
Bravo great design. I am thinking on ordering the PCBs to use on my ZX81, TS1000, and TS2068. I see that some traces need to be cut and bodge wires added. What are these mods for? Have they been corrected on the PCB that can be ordered? I enjoy your videos especially the Sinclair ones. Cheers. Rich
Looking good. Why the lack of space bar though? Also would i be correct in saying you could plug it into a Spectrum as the ribbon is the same, just change the key names?
Thanks. No space bar for simpler design, no need for stabilisers and true to the original layout. I’ve not checked the Spectrum, but if electrically the same, just different key caps then yes all good. Only thing to note the LED header is specific to the ZX81plus38 design, so you’d need an inline resistor and connect to 5V rail somewhere in the Spectrum.
I've used that key sticker supplier, the product is good and inexpensive enough to make the consideration of making your own a second thought. I looked into WASD but found the job flow not very intuitive and gave up; I'll definitely be re-watching your video segment on it over and over again. Please add chapters to your video and product URLs to your description.
No, only links to where to purchase the PCB and order the keycaps from. All files necessary to build are on my GitHub Page and links to PCB are in the video description.
Which revision ZX81+38 did you build? I built rev 1.9 and the original keyboard is pin compatible. On the designers GitHub page - github.com/mahjongg2/ZX81plus38 - he says that from rev 1.7 (June 2022) the original keyboard is compatible. Earlier revisions had J3 reversed so as you say the connections to the 74C541 are reversed. I wounder if you could cut the tracks on the ZX81+38 PCB and then use some bodge wire links on the underside of the board to revers the connections.
I've put them on GitHub - github.com/iNimbleSloth/zx81-mechboard You'll find two files in the "keycaps layout" folder. One with editable text and the other is expanded to vector.
@@iNimbleSloth thank you so much! I think I'm gonna give this a try tonight since I have an unused set of keycaps I can stick them on. Thank you for sharing your hard work!
Subtitles coming soon
Ty will buy the board then on pcbway :) kinda wish I can get it autographed, but hey do what you can. Ty for this amazing mod. Is there a video on how to connect this to a original zx 81 ? Mine is a timex sinclair 1000 if it makes a difference.
@@gilbertvera1678 No video on connecting to an original ZX81. You'll need to remove the existing keyboard connectors from the original PCB that the membrane keyboard used to plug into. Then using some ribbon cable, connect J2 on the mechanical keyboard to KB2 on the ZX81 and connect J3 on the mechanical keyboard to KB1 on the ZX81.
What keyboard socket should I use when I remove the ribbon connections ?
@@gilbertvera1678 This depends on the space in the case that you are going to use. You can either solder the ribbon cable from the keyboard directly to the ZX81 motherboard or use a pin header, you just need to ensure the centre spacing on the header matches the holes in the PCB. On my ZX81+38, I used 2.54mm spaced pin headers on the PCB. I don't have an original ZX81 to check the spacing is the same, but from pictures, it looks like it might be. At this point in the video you can see the 90 degree pin header on the keyboard, the one I used on the ZX81 was vertical. th-cam.com/video/c1G5rX_YvCA/w-d-xo.html
@iNimbleSloth man I am still flabbergasted and in awe of it lol. It looks amazing
You are a genius. It looks soooo good. I have a mechboard for my 64. This is giving me ideas for keycaps. I was in when my uncle gave me a zx81 40 years ago. Still got it.
Wow! You've really put a lot of effort in this project. But it totally paid out! Beautiful!
Thanks so much! 😊
Sure wish I would have had this back in the 80s .. peripherals were so rare here in the US.
That took me back. I worked for fuller Microsystems building keyboards for the ZX81. Seeing this new keyboard build was great. The quality of the printed circuit board is a quantum leap as compare to the orginals. :)
Glorious. Utterly glorious.
Thank you!
Great video really enjoy this thanks for making
Glad you enjoyed it
Such a beauty
Wow. Really great that you just go headlong into the project even though you didn't do many of those things before - you just went and learned and did it anyway! The custom keycaps look great. I musn't visit that website...
Thanks! I love learning new things. You only can't do something until you do it 🙂
What a nice keyboard, especially compared to the original! Those WASD-made keycaps are very smart, too.
Wow! This is a nifty keyboard....
Thanks Patrick!
Nice work! You’ve gained a subscriber :-)
Man personally wish I can purchase a completed keyboard from you lol.
Nice one 👌
Sell these built! (and great video.. thank you for doing this). I WANT!!
Bravo great design. I am thinking on ordering the PCBs to use on my ZX81, TS1000, and TS2068. I see that some traces need to be cut and bodge wires added. What are these mods for? Have they been corrected on the PCB that can be ordered? I enjoy your videos especially the Sinclair ones. Cheers. Rich
Thanks! Yeah, the traces cut were because I mixed up two switches. That’s been fixed in the design uploaded to PCBway and GitHub.
Hi. What an increible work. Congrats
Thank you!
It looks great 👍👌
Looking good. Why the lack of space bar though? Also would i be correct in saying you could plug it into a Spectrum as the ribbon is the same, just change the key names?
Thanks. No space bar for simpler design, no need for stabilisers and true to the original layout. I’ve not checked the Spectrum, but if electrically the same, just different key caps then yes all good. Only thing to note the LED header is specific to the ZX81plus38 design, so you’d need an inline resistor and connect to 5V rail somewhere in the Spectrum.
Can this be used with an original zx81?
Yes, just don't connect J1 to anything. J1 is the connection for the LED on the keyboard and there's no corresponding connection on the original ZX81.
@@iNimbleSloth awesome. I’m having thoughts of my own custom case, but homebrew-style wood sides and steel case.
@@MrLurchsThings Sounds great, looking forward to seeing the result!
I've used that key sticker supplier, the product is good and inexpensive enough to make the consideration of making your own a second thought.
I looked into WASD but found the job flow not very intuitive and gave up; I'll definitely be re-watching your video segment on it over and over again.
Please add chapters to your video and product URLs to your description.
Chapters added just now, I did enter them last night but I must have forgotten to hit save 🤦🏼♂🤦🏼♂
Is there a full kit out there somewhere?
No, only links to where to purchase the PCB and order the keycaps from. All files necessary to build are on my GitHub Page and links to PCB are in the video description.
I've build that project and the original keyboard from ZX81 does not work because the 74HC541 is reversed........very disappointed
Which revision ZX81+38 did you build? I built rev 1.9 and the original keyboard is pin compatible. On the designers GitHub page - github.com/mahjongg2/ZX81plus38 - he says that from rev 1.7 (June 2022) the original keyboard is compatible. Earlier revisions had J3 reversed so as you say the connections to the 74C541 are reversed. I wounder if you could cut the tracks on the ZX81+38 PCB and then use some bodge wire links on the underside of the board to revers the connections.
Do you have a link to the key stickers you made? I'm curious to try them out in my own mechanical ZX81 keyboard
I've put them on GitHub - github.com/iNimbleSloth/zx81-mechboard You'll find two files in the "keycaps layout" folder. One with editable text and the other is expanded to vector.
@@iNimbleSloth thank you so much! I think I'm gonna give this a try tonight since I have an unused set of keycaps I can stick them on. Thank you for sharing your hard work!
Would this work on a original zx 81 ?
Yes, just don't connect J1 to anything. J1 is the connection for the LED on the keyboard and there's no corresponding connection on the original ZX81.
Where can I buy a kit with the full-custom keycaps?
I'm not selling as a kit, just releasing the files as open source on github and pcbway.com