Keychron-Keyboards-Hardware-Design: All the industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice
50 points by kwas
50 points by kwas
Very cool, but just a fyi: These are not the CAD files which they are using to develop the designs. They use the STEP-file exporter of Autodesk Fusion. It contains all the geometry, but the project structure, hierarchy, links is gone. This makes it near impossible to update these (I know it is just for studying). The best software comparison I could come up with would be that this is the bundled and minified source code.
Asking as someone who has no experience with 3D physical item modeling: could these files be used to, e.g., design cases for the boards?
It depends on what you mean by "case". if you want to make your own housings for their electronics: partially. You'd probably want to remake the parts so they're easier to edit. You'll need bit of reverse engineering to figure out their intended mating surfaces and what tolerances they're using, but the files give you most of the measurements. If you want to put something around a completed board: 100%.
I meant the latter, but thanks for explaining both! That's neat. I only knew of their firmware repositories up to now.
These are the hardware files. The firmware is also available but on a different repo: https://github.com/Keychron/qmk_firmware
I've been happy with my K11 Max for what is worth
This is great. I’ve been really happy with my Keychron K3s - nice to see that they’re a decent company, too.
I’ve not had a very nice time with my K2. I have to factory reset it periodically to get it to connect and sometimes even with full power and a cable connection to the computer it will act dead (the power indicator is active). I’ve learned that it is picky about the specific types of USB-C cable one uses to connect it to a computer as well. IIRC it does not like USB-C to USB-C cables but it wants USB-C to A cables (I might have it backwards).
That's weird, did you try to contact support? I'm using a K6 Pro when not at my desk, and apart from a bluetooth signal that's a little too weak (I've been spoiled by Apple's really great – wireless-connectivity-wise – bluetooth peripherals), I don't have any problems. Most of the time I connect it using a C-to-C cable (probably by Ugreen). Stock firmware, a few Vial modifications applied.
I find these kinds of licenses weird.
If I wanted to clone the keyboard, I could just buy one, reverse engineer the dimensions, make cad drawings, work with relevant experts to make any necessary adjustments to make them manufacturable. And start producing clones.
You would assume any entity in the business of that sort of thing would aleady have all the skills required.
And you know, I am an amateur using FreeCAD and if I can reproduce complex designs accurately enough for my own uses, I'm sure a professional designer with experience would be able to do at least as well in even less time.
So what is the point of releasing the CAD files under a license like this?
It only serves to muddy the water in terms of what am honest person can do with the files without having any real impact on copy cats. The cost of copying a product like this is just not in the CAD models.
Prusa has a similarly weird license and approach.
You need a patent to stop someone from copying your product. And of course, nobody is going to give you a patent for a keyboard. At this point the differentiator is going to be materials choice and appearance. The distinct appearance can already be covered under copyright or maybe even a design patent. If they're graphics and engravings, they're unlikely to be needed in the CAD you give to customers, and so you can just not provide them rather than releasing them under a specific license. For non functional features which are just shapes or color choices, your design patent give you the stick to beat people with, even if you release that stuff under a permissive license.
Oh this is great! I've been wanting to design a 3D printable travel case for the M5 mouse but getting an accurate scan of it has been a pain. This comes at a perfect time.