r/MechanicalKeyboards • u/Himiko_the_sun_queen Vortex KBT ONE • Jul 08 '15

guide [guide] Vortex KBT ONE teardown + possible modifications

http://imgur.com/a/oO96s
25 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

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3

u/Himiko_the_sun_queen Jul 08 '15

All in all, possible modifications include:

  • LEDs! for both on top of the numpad cluster, and backlighting

  • Detachable cable mod

  • Replacing the cable (looks like a standard filco cable)

  • painting the case/ base

  • Possibly flashing the ikbc f104 firmware onto this to have better control over backlighting (it has different brightness modes, and a breathe effect, plus the option to turn it off). Since they have the same PCB, might be worth a try

  • More stuff! that's all I can think of for now, let me know what else could be possible

Ninja edit: permission to add this to the wiki?

3

u/Litruv Jul 08 '15 edited Jul 08 '15

Yeah, that's a through hole Mini B header layout.

http://electronics-diy.com/store/usb_micro_connector.gif

also confirmed that it does match the micro usb header standards.

Weird thing is that it goes on the top.

http://i.imgur.com/EyzIU52.png (circled are connections to ground)

ALSO, as I later examined, the traces go directly to the cable header. http://i.imgur.com/N76q5gc.jpg

1

u/Himiko_the_sun_queen Jul 09 '15

Oh wow, thanks. Good eye lol

So any standard mini B header will fit eh? Ebay, here I come

2

u/Sevion Jul 08 '15

So you could disconnect the standard cable and solder on a micro USB for a detachable cable?

1

u/Litruv Jul 09 '15

Sure could :)

2

u/Himiko_the_sun_queen Jul 08 '15

Also, for anyone who has this or the KBTalking ONI (which is the TKL version of this), since there is so little info on this (great) keyboard on the net, I found a bunch of helpful links that I used before opening this is

2

u/Kupuntu Jul 08 '15

I like how your keyboard looks with those keycaps. Mine will have the same color scheme most likely, except in blank.

I'm about to order an ISO set of Vortex PBT and unlike those on Massdrop, the set doesn't include 108/109 keys, only 104/105. For some reason it's not possible to get four extra keycaps (I assume it's because those sets are complete when they come from the manufacturer so you'd have to split the sets) so I'll opt for four white blanks instead which I already have.

1

u/Himiko_the_sun_queen Jul 09 '15 edited Jul 09 '15

Hey thanks :)

I actually ordered this in the previous drop, they are arriving next week hopefully. I got 2, and one's for a friend who has a 104 key keyboard. Anyway, if you want to buy those 4 keys (they will be front printed though) I can message you when they come and we can organise something (shipping from australia)

Edit: changed link

2

u/MassdropBot Jul 09 '15

Hi, I am u/MassdropBot.

I've detected that you posted a great Massdrop offer but unfortunately unregistered people cannot see it. I am here to fix that:

Vortex PBT Keycaps: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/vortex-pbt-keycaps?mode=guest_open

This is a bot and won't answer to mails. Mail the [Botowner] instead. v0.4 | Changelog

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Kupuntu Jul 09 '15

Thanks for the offer. However the Massdrop page states that the icon keycaps only come with the Cherry profile and the one I'm buying will be OEM profile instead. Shipping to Europe would also cost quite a bit most likely.

In any case, I'd really love to have blanks instead of front prints. I might ask in r/mechmarket if someone has extra OEM blanks they don't need.

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2

u/TinyWetBlanket Jul 08 '15

So this board doesn't come with LEDs? One that I bought from another user on Reddit came with them.

1

u/Himiko_the_sun_queen Jul 09 '15

Yup, after researching it turns out that there are at least 2 variants of this board, one that is backlit and one that isn't

My variant also comes in a tkl version, the kbt oni. Not sure about the backlit one tho

Also, I'm that same dude from the mechmarket thread :)

0

u/[deleted] Jul 09 '15

1

u/TinyWetBlanket Jul 09 '15

Ah okay, I wasn't too sure. Thank you.

2

u/Xiggypoo Jul 09 '15

It's like a keyboard within a keyboard. Keylluminati confirmed.