Components and tools
The Mathboard is a very simple device that should be possible to build by nearly anyone. The following two lists tells you everything you need to assemble your own. The following sections goes into further detail on certain parts.
Components :
1x Mathboard PCB
1x 3D-printed Mathboard case (bottom, lid, and LED diffuser)
16x 3D-printed keycap risers
12x blank white 1u OEM R2 keycaps
2x 1u keycaps of your choice
2x 1.5u keycaps of your choice
3x self-tapping M2.2 x 6mm screws
4x rubber feet. Maximum footprint: 1cm x 1cm.
1x USB-C cable
Tools and supplies :
A UV printer. This may be hard to find, inquire with makerspaces or fablabs near you.
A 3D printer for printing the case, LED diffuser, keycap spacers, and UV printing fixtures.
White PLA filament for the LED diffuser.
Any color PLA filament, for the case, spacers, and UV printing fixtures
A screwdriver, to insert the screws that hold the case together
A soldering iron (plus solder) to solder the keyboard switches, the microcontroller, and the LED
A wire clipper, to cut the microcontroller pins short after soldering
Cyanoacrylate glue (AKA super glue), for gluing the LED diffuser to the case lid.
Mathboard V1 PCB
The mathboard V1 PCB can be manufactured by any electronics prototyping company. I have previously used JLCPCB, and a correctly formatted Bill of Materials [BOM] file for use with them is provided in the Mathboard repository.
You can order the PCB pre-assembled with most of the components already soldered on, but some must still be soldered by hand. These include the 16 switches, the microcontroller, and the status LED. These components are all through-hole mounted and are simple to solder.
TODO: Add an image of the PCB
3D printed components
The Mathboard is designed with 3D printing in mind, and it should be possible to produce its parts with any filament extrusion 3D printer. It may also be possible to use a resin printer, but I have not tried that. I recommend printing the Mathboard in PLA, but you can probably use other materials as well.
You don’t need any special slicer or printer settings for the Mathboard case: All three parts, meaning the bottom, lid, and diffuser, should print fine with default settings.
Keycaps and UV printing
Blank keycaps can be purchased from many sources. For the symbol keys you must use 1u OEM R2 keycaps, such as these. The reason for this is that the decals are made with these profiles in mind. For the other keys you are free to choose which keycaps you prefer. You will need :
A 1u keycap for the mode switch key
A 1u keycap for the left modifier key
Two 1.5u keycaps for the bottom modifier keys
The most challenging aspect of building your own Mathboard is getting the symbols onto the 12 symbol keys. This is done by UV printing, which prints the symbols onto the keys with special UV-curing ink. A UV printer is expensive and requires regular maintenance, so it is not a common device. You may be able to find one if you inquire with local makerspaces, fab-labs, or printing services.
Note
A collaboration with 3Dkeycap is underway, which will allow you to purchase ready-to-use Mathboard keycaps from their webstore. As of April 2024 this collaboration is still in the early stages. Inquire in the Mathboard Discord for more information.
Self-tapping screws
Any type of self-tapping screws may be used. Self-tapping screws are also know as thread-forming or self-drilling screws. Three are used in the Mathboard to assemble the case. Their dimensions must conform to the following requirements:
Length (measured from bottom of head) : 3mm to 6.8mm
Thread diameter : 2mm to 2.5mm
Head diameter : 2mm to 4mm
It is recommended to use M2.2 x 6.5mm screws if you can find them, for example these.