This project is amazing. Very interested in how this turns out.
2 Likes
PCBs arrived! I am too tired to solder tonight but will give it a shot tomorrow!
Edit: Did some early morning soldering it worked! I will post a more complete update later but I see it in VIA now
10 Likes
Got everything to work in VIA!
I was very lucky this project, including the PCB design and submissions to QMK & VIA was open sourced, done well and someone tried this before me and shared their order files. I know very little about SMD components but was able to figure out everything except a replacement component for the diodes. If anyone does try this out I suggest stopping by the designers discord accessible via https://anykeys.eu/, say hi and possibly consider make a donation.
PCB also supports PCB mounted stabs but requires a custom plate. I think I mostly have the DXF file worked out will send it out to be cut from Ponko.
(Photo is unusually dark compared to real life)
Resources:
- Designer Website: https://anykeys.eu/
- GitHub: GitHub - evyd13/nt-series: Replacement PCBs for the FC660m, FC750r and FC980m.
- Pin Header: 5x2 (2mm pitch) surface mount. (Ordered from ebay the only component I had to solder on)
Files Needed for JLCPCB:
Pick & Place (copy Content save as CSV file)
Designator,Val,Package,Mid X,Mid Y,Rotation,Layer
C101,1u,0805,289.917235,-22.442159,0,bottom
C103,0.1u,0805,275.034398,-42.087488,180,bottom
C104,0.1u,0805,297.060979,-46.849992,0,bottom
C105,0.1u,0805,289.917235,-24.823411,0,bottom
C106,0.1u,0805,277.415662,-34.943732,180,bottom
C107,4.7u,0805,277.41565,-26.014037,180,bottom
D1,Diode,0805,36.314085,-11.310939,90,bottom
D3,Diode,0805,39.885963,-11.310939,90,bottom
D4,Diode,0805,74.414117,-11.310939,90,bottom
D5,Diode,0805,77.985995,-11.310939,90,bottom
D6,Diode,0805,112.514149,-11.310939,90,bottom
D7,Diode,0805,141.089173,-11.310939,90,bottom
D8,Diode,0805,160.139189,-11.310939,90,bottom
D9,Diode,0805,163.711067,-11.310939,90,bottom
D10,Diode,0805,198.239221,-11.310939,90,bottom
D11,Diode,0805,226.814245,-11.310939,90,bottom
D12,Diode,0805,245.864261,-11.310939,90,bottom
D13,Diode,0805,249.436139,-11.310939,90,bottom
D14,Diode,0805,283.964293,-11.310939,90,bottom
D15,Diode,0805,313.264069,-11.310939,90,bottom
D16,Diode,0805,316.835947,-11.310939,90,bottom
D17,Diode,0805,335.885963,-11.310939,90,bottom
D18,Diode,0805,332.314085,-11.310939,90,bottom
D19,Diode,0805,17.264069,-39.110939,90,bottom
D20,Diode,0805,36.314085,-39.110939,90,bottom
D21,Diode,0805,55.364101,-39.110939,90,bottom
D22,Diode,0805,74.414117,-39.110939,90,bottom
D23,Diode,0805,93.464133,-39.110939,90,bottom
D24,Diode,0805,112.514149,-39.110939,90,bottom
D25,Diode,0805,131.564165,-39.110939,90,bottom
D26,Diode,0805,150.614181,-39.110939,90,bottom
D27,Diode,0805,169.664197,-39.110939,90,bottom
D28,Diode,0805,188.714213,-39.110939,90,bottom
D29,Diode,0805,207.764229,-39.110939,90,bottom
D30,Diode,0805,226.814245,-39.110939,90,bottom
D31,Diode,0805,245.864251,-39.110891,90,bottom
D32,Diode,0805,249.436135,-39.110891,90,bottom
D33,Diode,0805,313.264069,-39.110939,90,bottom
D34,Diode,0805,316.835947,-39.110939,90,bottom
D35,Diode,0805,335.885963,-39.110939,90,bottom
D36,Diode,0805,332.314085,-39.110939,90,bottom
D37,Diode,0805,22.026569,-58.160939,90,bottom
D38,Diode,0805,30.360951,-58.160939,90,bottom
D39,Diode,0805,64.889105,-58.160939,90,bottom
D40,Diode,0805,68.460983,-58.160939,90,bottom
D41,Diode,0805,102.989137,-58.160939,90,bottom
D42,Diode,0805,106.561015,-58.160939,90,bottom
D43,Diode,0805,141.089169,-58.160939,90,bottom
D44,Diode,0805,160.139185,-58.160939,90,bottom
D45,Diode,0805,179.189201,-58.160939,90,bottom
D46,Diode,0805,198.239117,-58.160939,90,bottom
D47,Diode,0805,201.811095,-58.160939,90,bottom
D48,Diode,0805,236.339149,-58.160939,90,bottom
D49,Diode,0805,255.389069,-58.160939,90,bottom
D50,Diode,0805,258.960947,-58.160939,90,bottom
D51,Diode,0805,313.264069,-58.160939,90,bottom
D52,Diode,0805,316.835947,-58.160939,90,bottom
D53,Diode,0805,335.885963,-58.160939,90,bottom
D54,Diode,0805,332.314085,-58.160939,90,bottom
D55,Diode,0805,24.407821,-77.210955,90,bottom
D56,Diode,0805,50.601593,-77.210955,90,bottom
D57,Diode,0805,69.651609,-77.210955,90,bottom
D58,Diode,0805,88.701625,-77.210955,90,bottom
D59,Diode,0805,107.751641,-77.210955,90,bottom
D60,Diode,0805,126.801657,-77.210955,90,bottom
D61,Diode,0805,145.851673,-77.210955,90,bottom
D62,Diode,0805,164.901689,-77.210955,90,bottom
D63,Diode,0805,183.951705,-77.210955,90,bottom
D64,Diode,0805,203.001721,-77.210955,90,bottom
D65,Diode,0805,222.051737,-77.210955,90,bottom
D66,Diode,0805,225.623615,-77.210955,90,bottom
D67,Diode,0805,244.673631,-77.210955,90,bottom
D68,Diode,0805,241.101569,-77.210939,90,bottom
D69,Diode,0805,313.264069,-77.210955,90,bottom
D70,Diode,0805,316.835947,-77.210939,90,bottom
D71,Diode,0805,335.885931,-77.210939,90,bottom
D73,Diode,0805,44.648463,-96.260971,90,bottom
D74,Diode,0805,41.076585,-96.260971,90,bottom
D75,Diode,0805,60.126601,-96.260971,90,bottom
D76,Diode,0805,79.176617,-96.260971,90,bottom
D77,Diode,0805,98.226633,-96.260971,90,bottom
D78,Diode,0805,117.276649,-96.260971,90,bottom
D79,Diode,0805,136.326665,-96.260971,90,bottom
D80,Diode,0805,155.376681,-96.260971,90,bottom
D81,Diode,0805,174.426697,-96.260971,90,bottom
D82,Diode,0805,193.476713,-96.260971,90,bottom
D83,Diode,0805,212.526729,-96.260971,90,bottom
D84,Diode,0805,231.576745,-96.260971,90,bottom
D85,Diode,0805,257.770517,-96.260971,90,bottom
D86,Diode,0805,288.964085,-101.260923,90,bottom
D87,Diode,0805,313.264069,-96.260939,90,bottom
D88,Diode,0805,316.835947,-96.260971,90,bottom
D89,Diode,0805,335.885947,-96.260939,90,bottom
D90,Diode,0805,332.314085,-96.260971,90,bottom
D91,Diode,0805,19.645317,-115.310987,90,bottom
D92,Diode,0805,41.076585,-115.310987,90,bottom
D93,Diode,0805,62.507853,-115.310987,90,bottom
D97,Diode,0805,133.945413,-115.310987,90,bottom
D100,Diode,0805,203.131148,-115.310939,90,bottom
D101,Diode,0805,222.051737,-115.310987,90,bottom
D102,Diode,0805,243.482819,-115.310939,90,bottom
D103,Diode,0805,269.914069,-120.310939,90,bottom
D104,Diode,0805,273.485947,-120.310939,90,bottom
D105,Diode,0805,308.014101,-120.310939,90,bottom
D106,Diode,0805,316.835931,-115.310939,90,bottom
D107,Diode,0805,332.314069,-115.310939,90,bottom
F1,“500mA, 1A”,0805,254.232713,-25.670337,180,bottom
R1,1k,0805,305.614045,-22.809374,-90,bottom
R2,1k,0805,322.285955,-22.809374,-90,bottom
R3,1k,0805,355.620337,-22.809374,-90,bottom
R101,22,0805,254.232713,-20.907833,180,bottom
R102,22,0805,254.232713,-23.289085,180,bottom
R104,10k,0805,283.964093,-22.442159,180,bottom
R105,10k,0805,282.178166,-49.231228,0,bottom
SW1,Reset,SMD,265.509598,-24.407833,0,bottom
U1,ATmega32U4,QFP-44,287.535983,-38.51561,0,bottom
U2,USBLC6-2SC6,SOT-23-6L,247.7,-23.5,180,bottom
X1,Resonator_16MHz_SMD,SMD,297.060991,-31.371838,180,bottom
J1,USB,SMD,236.675,-23.125,90,bottom
BOM File (copy Content save as CSV file)
Comment,Designator,Footprint,LCSC
1u,C101,0805,C28323
0.1u,“C103,C104,C105,C106”,0805,C49678
4.7u,C107,0805,C1779
Diode,“D1,D3,D4,D5,D6,D7,D8,D9,D10,D11,D12,D13,D14,D15,D16,D17,D18,D19,D20,D21,D22,D23,D24,D25,D26,D27,D28,D29,D30,D31,D32,D33,D34,D35,D36,D37,D38,D39,D40,D41,D42,D43,D44,D45,D46,D47,D48,D49,D50,D51,D52,D53,D54,D55,D56,D57,D58,D59,D60,D61,D62,D63,D64,D65,D66,D67,D68,D69,D70,D71,D73,D74,D75,D76,D77,D78,D79,D80,D81,D82,D83,D84,D85,D86,D87,D88,D89,D90,D91,D92,D93,D97,D100,D101,D102,D103,D104,D105,D106,D107”,0805,C81598
1k,“R1,R2,R3”,0805,C17513
22,“R101,R102”,0805,C17561
10k,“R104,R105”,0805,C17414
Resonator_16MHz_SMD,X1,SMD,C341521
ATmega32U4,U1,QFP-44,C44854
“Fuse 500mA, 1A”,F1,0805,C261942
ResetSwitch:SW_SPST_TL3342,SW1,SMD,C92584
ESD,U2,SOT-23-6L,C7519
PinHeader_2x05_P2.00mm_Vertical_SMD,J1,SMD,C64617
(note if the Gerber file changes the Pick/Place and BOM might need to be regenerated)
How to flash
- Plug in keyboard (windows will install a driver that doesn’t work)
- Download Zadig and open it set the Atmega32u4 device to use the libusb-win driver
- To go into bootloader mode toggle the DIP switch #1 from [Off] to [On] and back to [Off]
- Flash with QMK Tool box select keyboard from qmk “evyd13/nt980”
- Open with Via and confirm board shows up
Things I would change
- Key switch diodes I would have preferred LCSC part C109001 instead of C81598 (they are shorter but were out of stock)
- Skipped the paper between PCBs (waste of money)
- The ENIG-RoHS finish is nice potentially could have gone a different color if a different finish was picked
- Added something into the Gerber file to be printed on the board like the MegaMan logo (was too afraid to touch it though)
KEEP IN MIND YOU NEED TO KEEP THE ORIGINAL USB and Daughter/Middle board to use this PCB!
9 Likes
This makes me want to buy and modify a keyboard I don’t have yet.
1 Like
Excellent work! Really enjoyed following along as you figured this out. Would it be possible to provide directions for the layman on how to actually place an order via JLCPCB? Seem to hit a wall soon after uploading the gerber file. o_O
1 Like
These are the rough steps I took. Just keep in mind I am also a layman and have done this exactly 1 time 
-
Create JLCPCB account (helps with managing files especially since it is not an instant process)
-
Go to my file in the top right of the website
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Upload the Gerber file
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Wait like 5~10 minutes to give time for JLC to process the file. You will know when it is done because when you go to my files it will turn into a picture like this:
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Click on the picture and you will be directed to the order screen. You can verify it is correct by seeing the PCB at the top and it should have the PCB features selected like Layers 2, dimensions 132x373 mm, 1.6 PCB Thickness.
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Choose your PCB options (I went with 5 Qty, in Green with ENIG-RoHs and the extra paper between (skip that its not worth it). Everything else in the top section was default
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Choose SMT Assembly (it will not allow you to do this if you choose an incompatible color / finish option). It took me a while to understand this and I made an incorrect assumption so this is an easier for me to understand:
- Green with any coating.
- Red with HASL
- Blue with HASL
- Black with HASL or HASL-RoHs
- Choose the Bottom Side for SMT Assembly (the are no SMT components on the top)
- Add the BOM and CLP (Pick & Place file)
- The next screen shows all the parts.
- There is no PinHeader available from JLC that works for this so it will show up without the checkbox. You want to make sure all the other boxes are checked and it doesn’t say anything like out of stock or short (whatever they don’t have they won’t put on your board but they will still make it for you so double check. SMT soldering all the parts is beyond my still set)
- The next screen shows were they are going to place the SMT components (nothing to do here)
- Save to cart checkout and you are done.
(Took them about 1 week to make the board and a little bit less then 1 week for me to receive it from DHL to the US)
Pin headers I bought from Ebay (just ensure they are surface/smd ones not the through hole): https://www.ebay.com/itm/2x5-10-POS-2-0mm-Pitch-Female-SMD-Surface-Mount-Socket-Header-Pack-of-10/381753113623
Edit: JLCPCB may give you this warning when analyzing the SMT components on your order. I didn’t have any problems with the key it mentioned D15 14th key in the top row.
7 Likes
(Fellow Keebtalker’s have reserved my extras, I don’t have any extras)
Sent a Pm’d. I’m super curious to try this as I’m about to millmax the original PCB for hotswap socket. Current I’m doing stock PCB with Yang BLE980.
1 Like
Finished building up the board with soldered in Holtite sockets (yay hotwap)
For now went with stock 62g U4Ts unlubed to see if I like them and the default keycaps. I have a POM plate coming next month so I will rebuild it then. Also forgot indicator LEDs to so a couple of clean up things to do.
Note: The numpad [+] and [Enter] keys are not rotated 90 degrees. They still work with stock and GMK keycaps but they will not latch into the plate. The custom plate will have a sliver of plate material between the stab and switch holes will see if that is enough.
This is my first experience with VIA… It is AWESOME!
The stock Leopold PCB has built in shortcuts for PgUp/PgDn/Home/End on the arrow keys. My issue with them is using modifier keys in conjunction with the shortcut keys. It does not work unless you do it in the proper order so:
- Mod (Ctrl) -> Fn -> Shortcut key (WORKS!)
- Fn -> Mod (Ctrl) -> Shortcut key (Doesn’t work)
(This seems like a minor gripe but it drove me crazy given the amount of text manipulation I do. The new PCB doesn’t have this limitation)
5 Likes
GB when? 
1 Like
Thanks to @Dave for sending out the extra PCB! I went with mill-max 7305 (2.67mm) instead of the 0305 (3.94mm) as I really wanted the switch to be flush on the plate. I honestly don’t think I would ran into any compatibility issue. I’m still using plate mounted stab, but the PCB designed allow for screw in stab so I’ll likely installed some screw in stabs and report back on compatibly with stock plate.
One to to note is that Leopold ground the PCB through the plate and of course it was soldered together. I took me a while to desoldered them, but I would recommend soldering that grounding point on the new PCB. Now I have as spare stock PCB and a Yang BLE980M…if anyone has a broken FC980M please let me know and I’ll gladly buy it from you.
3 Likes
Received my order of five PCBs from JLCPCB today. About a dozen of the diodes are seriously misaligned on the pads – almost 30 degrees off axis. Some of the legs seem to have missed the pads entirely. I’ve yet to test the board, but has anyone experienced this before? Should I reach out to JLCPCB?
Wow I didn’t have any components that were that misaligned.
How is the MCU section looking? The tolerances there are much tighter then the keyswitch diodes. If it looks okay I would recommend soldering on the pin header and trying it out. Does each board have the same defects or are they different?
If the quality is not up to par I would recommend reaching out to see what they say. You should be able to look at your order history that has the part placements that is is aligned properly (or at least vertically)
Checked the rest of the boards and only the diodes on 2 out of the 5 boards seem to be effected. MCU regions look good. Waiting to receive my spare FC980m to use the daughterboards for testing. Worst case I could re-seat the diodes myself. Thinking about the carbon footprint just to replace those two PCBs (which were extras anyway) bums me out the most tbh.
Good news about the other PCBs. I was worried the files I supposed were incomplete. JLC will probably give you a partial refund if they end up not working. Hopefully they will all electrically check out even if the diodes are a bit off.
The extras shouldn’t be too hard to resell. Mine went if a few hours here and there was some interest in discord.
1 Like
Confirming that the switches with the misaligned diodes do not register keystrokes. However, I re-seated all them on one of the boards (about 6) and all those switches now work! Will be going into my Heavy 9 after I find the time to mill-max. I’ll be sure to revisit here to share any findings/issues when I do so.
1 Like
Since I like to tinker, I am thinking about enhancing the PCB design to account for different bottom row options and stepped Caps Lock. I believe I can get away with this without it getting too swiss cheesy and I wouldn’t need to change the firmware (just the VIA design which isn’t too bad). These alternate bottom rows would require a custom plate. IMO would be nice option the cramped nature of the default bottom row right side.
(Steps caps and bottom row considering adding, split left shift and ISO enter are already there)
Let me know if anyone has any thoughts on the bottom row options.
2 Likes
If you would manage to get split backspace option too, that would be perfect 
2 Likes
How do u manufacture a custom plate for this board? Asking because of the bent sides
1 Like
I have a straight pom plate coming next week. It won’t be the same as the original one but am reasonably confident it will work.
Maybe my worry is I would need to add a diode and change the firmware to support that unlike the other switch positions I am adding. It’s also close to the MCU. It is doable someone else asked me about it too. I just don’t know if I can do it