⚠️ALERT⚠️: The Google Form is no longer how you order a kit. Instead visit here. It's finally here!
The
Mechanical Keyboard Mod Kit for the AlphaSmart 3000
A very few of you may remember
an old thread where I showed off the AlphaSmart 3000 mechanical mod I did. Here's a picture of it at the first New Jersey meetup:
This is the first prototype, not the kit I'm selling here
To recap: The
AlphaSmart 3000 is one of a line of word processing devices that was popular with schools at the turn of the millennium, and has found new life as a distraction free writing tool
à la the Astrohaus Freewrite. At the time of this writing, you can get one on eBay for about US$20. This is a mod that replaces the original mini-rubber-dome keyboard with the mechanical switches you know and love. Since the first version I posted about, I've smoothed out some of the bugs, changed the layout, added some features, and am now selling revision C as a kit with everything you need to make a mechanical AlphaSmart other than the switches, the keycaps, soldering tools, and an AlphaSmart 3000.
Features- Compatible with PCB-mount MX-style, Alps-style, and Kailh PG1350 Low Profile Choc switches.
- Split spacebar (because if it wasn't you'd have to try to find a 4.5U spacebar).
- Both QWERTY and Colemak layouts available! Colemak lacks a caps-lock key, as is the tradition. (The AS3k supports Dvorak already, so you can just get the QWERTY kit and change the setting to Dvorak).
- Optional DIP switch that disables the On/Off key.
LayoutsThe two layouts available are QWERTY and Colemak (keycap sizes in the bottom right corners):
QWERTY
Colemak
ContentsThe kit will include
- Paper assembly instructions
- 1 x PCB
- 2 x Cherry stabilizers for the space keys
- 1 x 1-position SPST DIP switch
- 1 x 16-contact flat flex cable
- 1 x 10-contact flat flex cable
- 1 x 16-pin FFC connector
- 1 x 10-pin FFC connector
All components are through-hole
Not included:
- Keycaps
- Switches
- Any tools
- An actual AlphaSmart 3000
W2C?Fill out the Google Form
here and I'll send you a Paypal invoice within a day or two. The PCBs are being ordered from JLCPCB, and I'm offering a preorder price of
US$30 for orders placed before July 1st. After that, the kits will cost US$36 the price is US$36. Shipping is free within the United States, and US$5 anywhere else.
TimelineIt's very simple: this is a preorder, meaning that the materials have already been ordered. All that remains is testing the boards and finalizing packaging. The last day to place a preorder is
June 30th. All such preorders will be shipped out by the end of
July 2nd. It will still be possible to order the kit
after June 30th, but these orders will not be eligible for the preorder price noted above. Barring unforeseen circumstances, I have confidence in my ability to stick to this timeline.
If you have any questions, you can PM me here, or email me at
[email protected]UpdatesJune 13th: After a more serious consideration of production costs and the wider market, I've decided to lower the price. Shipping remains the same.
July 1st: Preorders have ended! Essentially all this means is the price is $36 now.
July 2nd: The initial orders have all been sent out via USPS first class parcel service. If you ordered a kit, paypal should have sent you an email with the tracking number. Again, contact me if you have any questions or trouble.
March 16th, 2020: Finally there is
a pretty web page to order from instead of a Google Form.
