Many things need to be considered when it comes to building a custom keyboard, whether it’s the first one you’ve ever built or not. The world of custom keyboards can seem daunting at first because of all of the different parts that need to be picked out; it can become hard to choose. But this series is here to help make everything feel less overwhelming.

When it comes to building keyboards, the first decision that has to be made is the budget.

Custom keyboards, on average, cost anywhere from $200 to $600 but can easily be above $1000. For anyone building a keyboard for the first time, a reasonable starting budget would be around $300. This will allow you to buy quality parts that will make a quality keyboard without breaking the bank. This price point is suitable for entering the world of custom-built keyboards because you'll build or buy a keyboard that will be better than any big-name company. However, it also allows for an experience that is unlike any other.

The next thing to consider is whether you want to build the keyboard yourself or pay for a pre-built custom keyboard. Now note that pre-built custom keyboards are not going to be the same as your big name brands. They will be better because you, as the buyer, can still pick different parts and make them what you want, without having to build them yourself. However, depending on where you buy the pre-built keyboard, you may be sacrificing the keyboard's quality just a bit. A $300 pre-built custom keyboard is not necessarily going to be the same quality as a $300 keyboard that you build on your own.

The last thing to start to think about is the parts that go into building your keyboard. There are many different options. The main elements to consider would be your Printed Circuit Board (PCB), the case that your PCB will live in, and the switches mounted onto the PCB. The PCB is the main component of a keyboard; it acts as the keyboard's heart and brain. The PCB is a circuit board that allows the user to type. The case is what holds the PCB in place; the materials and weight will vary from case to case.

The PCB and case are essential because not all cases will work with all PCBs. PCBs and the cases come in different sizes, coming in more detail in a later article; depending on the PCB and the size will affect your case options. The PCB can affect the kind of switches used, which we’ll discuss in a later article.

These parts are the main foundation for building a keyboard. The case and PCB revolve around one another; depending on which you choose first will change the other components' compatibility. The same can be said about the PCB and switches; your options will vary depending on which you choose first.

By Jude Lindale

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