So, in preparation for me getting my
@MacEffects clear case for my SE, I made my own transparent keyboard and mouse. The mouse was simply a 3d printed replica shell with the innards from one of my many ADB mice. The keyboard was using this design.
Because the original CIY Tester68 key board didn't have a light translucent case (there is a black version that is slightly translucent, but I wanted to be able to see through it more. I found a similar CIY keyboard called the Novice68. It is much more translucent, and it adds pop out legs to provide a steeper angle. Pictures online looked pretty similar, although the bottom mounting holes looked to be off, I thought I would be able to adjust to handle it. Having gone through it, I'd recommend against it. Here's the challenges:
None of the standoffs match up. Even the top row which are close, do not line up. They are too close to the edge. To resolve this, I used my heat gun to soften the plastic and then pliers to adjust their location. This was challenging to get right. The standoffs need to go into the recessed holes in the PCB in order for the small screws to reach. And even then, the holes in the metal top plate are a bit off, so it is just not great. For all the remaining standoffs I had to cut them off where the bottom of the PCB is to simply support the PCB. I did try to move one of the supports that I cut off to be a middle screw down for the front of the PCB. Unfortunately, while there is a hole in the PCB I could use, the white metal top plate does not have a hole there. I decided to hold off on trying to drill a new hole, as I do not think it will look great and you will see it with the clear key caps.
The silicone gasket is nice, but it does not have holes where the pins for the switches that go into the Design68 board. So I had to use a scalpel to cut out a hole in the silicone for every key cap. Also not great.
Space inside the different shaped case on the bottom cause some problems. Fortunately, the bump out extends enough to accommodate the ALPS controller chip in a socket. However, the ADB port requires grinding away some of the plastic where one of the legs attaches to be able to sit far enough down to allow the pub to be screwed down.
However, despite all that, I'm excited to have a clear keyboard that will be paired with my clear SE/30. I also did the trace cutting and bodge wire modifications to change out the top right keys to ESC and DEL instead of PGUP and PGDN
Here's what I used in case anyone is interested in trying it with the Novice68 (I'd recommend just using the Black Tester68 keyboard, though). The case is barely noticeable and the clear switches and key caps are the important part.
Novice68 keyboard kit ($29)
70pc clear switches ($20)
140pc transparent keycaps ($19)
I used an existing ADB cable I pulled from the Apple Design Keyboard I got the controller from, but I have a transparent sleeve 5 wire cable coming and a DIY S-video port that I plan to switch the wire to. May have to see if I can to the same for the mouse wire.
