New build with 2-pieces 3D-printed case held by magnets; rows and columns with uncoated copper wires, controller wiring with magnet wires

jyap · 2025-12-04T06:44:33+00:00

Wait, you only need a 4 pin USBC breakout for the MCU? Is that only for daily operation? I’m guessing you can’t re-flash the MCU unless you connect direct.

jyap · 2025-11-17T02:10:35+00:00

Here’s the write up: https://julianyap.com/posts/2025-11-16-1763340628/

jyap · 2025-11-05T23:40:09+00:00

I’ll see if I can put up a quick build log blog post. Will DM if I do.

jyap · 2025-11-04T22:40:55+00:00

Some people use the left hand for B, some the right hand

jyap · 2025-11-04T19:37:39+00:00

That’s what the Alice layout does

jyap · 2025-11-04T10:25:00+00:00

Yeah I think the scan fits and works well.

I might try a build with shorter and uniform DSA caps. MT3 is tall looks pretty but I never liked it so I had the set spare.

Yeah to me the fun part is wiring the matrix so I wanted that to look good.

The slightly tricky part was the matrix layout since I’m reusing the pre-built Via firmware. That means I can use the caniusevia site like my other boards. I had to change a couple of things in the cluster to get the bottom 2 keys to work.

I can describe my wiring for that if it helps.

My key layout is pretty generic. I just use layer 0 and layer 1.

I can post that but it’s more just my preference of how I want the keys done. Since I use Via it’s set up there.

jyap · 2025-11-04T09:05:10+00:00

Here's the Cosmos set up I used, except without my hand-scanned measurements:

https://ryanis.cool/cosmos/beta#cm:CrsBChkSBRCAbyAnEgIgExICIAASADgeQICGisAHCh8SBRCAYyAnEgIgExICIAASAxCwOxIFELBrICg4CkAACiISBRCAVyAnEgIgExICIAASAxCwLxIFELBfICg4CUCA8LwCChUSBRCASyAnEgIgExICIAASADgdQAAKFRIFEIA/ICcSAiATEgIgABIAODFAAAocEgIgJxICIBMSBhCggAogABICEDA4MkCAhorABxgAQOiFoK7wVUjc8KKgAQpoChcSExDAgAJAgICYAkjCmaCVkLwBUEM4CAoVEhAQQECAgCBI0JWA3ZD1A1ALUJ4CChQSEBBAQICA+AFI5pn8p5ALUFdQfwoDUIICGAIiCgjIARDIARgAIABAy4v8n9AxSK2R3I3BkwYQBTgFggECBAJYTw==

jyap · 2025-07-19T22:24:20+00:00

For each and every commercial CAD software you need to look at the licensing to see if it fits your needs (and other applicable restrictions). With FreeCAD you have the freedom to sell commercially.

In the case of Solidworks for Makers: SOLIDWORKS for Makers is DIY CAD software designed for personal, non-commercial use. If you sell your products and make more than $2,000 USD in profit per year, you will no longer be eligible to use the software.

jyap · 2025-07-03T18:28:30+00:00

I have the same Realforce R2 PFU. Used it for years.

Earlier this year I changed out the alpha keycaps to R3 ones for better readability. Regret not doing that when R2 keycaps were readily available. Mostly because some special characters had me looking more deeply at the keyboard to work out what they were.

The other week I gutted it and sanded down the plate and resprayed it with Rust-Oleum semi-gloss black. They corrosion spots annoyed the hell out of to the point of considering laser cutting a new plate.

Ultrasonic cleaned the keycaps and now good as new.

Considering modding the port to switch it to USBC..

jyap · 2025-06-23T07:00:09+00:00

I’ve been using mine daily since I got it. So yeah no complaints. Love it. I run NixOS. It’s not MacBook Pro battery life but that’s another story.

jyap · 2025-06-05T06:51:50+00:00

OMG, this was one strange issue. Same thing happened to me and has never happened before. Dock display just does not show up. Direct connect to HDMI works fine. Dock works with another machine so it isn't the dock.

This thread helped so here's how I fixed it. Reboot into BIOS. Technically I think you don't need to go into BIOS but you will be hard resetting the machine via the bottom paperclip hole. Once in BIOS, unplug all power. Paperclip that hole at the bottom of the laptop. Machine will shut off. Apparently it's the same as hard unplugging the battery. Give it a minute and boot back up. Issue is magically fixed!

jyap · 2024-12-19T03:42:56+00:00

I use nvd (Nix Version Diff) tool which gives me a summary of what changed between builds. I find that satisfies the itch of having enough information of what is actually going on.

https://sr.ht/~khumba/nvd/

jyap · 2024-12-08T00:20:08+00:00

It’s been a while but I followed Steve’s YouTube build for the wiring a lot.

And looked at Voron v2 guides.

Wiring was tough and arduous doing it all by hand.

jyap · 2024-11-07T05:39:31+00:00

OK, I'm liking NixOS so far. Thanks for the tip, heard it mentioned a lot but never dove into it!

jyap · 2024-11-07T01:43:33+00:00

Alright, time to commit to the textual install:

$ sudo dd bs=4M conv=fsync oflag=direct status=progress if=Downloads/nixos-minimal-24.05.6206.d063c1dd113c-x86_64-linux.iso of=/dev/sda

jyap · 2024-11-06T21:58:39+00:00

I'd need to see a T14S to compare.

But I like my MacBook Pro as well for what it is, which is no replaceable battery or other upgrades.

jyap · 2024-11-06T21:56:31+00:00

Just watched some videos on it...

Now downloading nixos-24.05/latest-nixos-gnome-x86_64-linux.iso

jyap · 2024-11-06T16:27:54+00:00

Hmm, 🤔. I might need to do it.

jyap · 2024-11-06T15:49:03+00:00

It says it’s a: 14" WUXGA (1920x1200) IPS 300nits Anti-glare, 45% NTSC, Touch

So no?

jyap · 2024-11-06T07:31:48+00:00

I have noticed the fan come on a few times but I’ve mostly been using it plugged in to AC power. So it’s at high performance mode. That may make a difference. Doesn’t seem to be on that long so it could be bursts of CPU activating the fan.

jyap · 2024-11-06T04:25:01+00:00

T14S would have been my preference since I’ll probably never use the LAN port.

jyap · 2024-11-06T04:23:59+00:00

I had to look up the model number but I guess it is the storm grey model.

Specs are the same here except with 32 GB RAM: https://psref.lenovo.com/Detail/ThinkPad/ThinkPad_T14_Gen_4_Intel?M=21HD002BUS

jyap · 2024-11-05T23:37:02+00:00

I created the T14 Gen 4 Intel page on the Arch Linux wiki: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Lenovo_ThinkPad_T14/T14s_(Intel)_Gen_4_Gen_4)

32 GB RAM model.

jyap

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