2 layers100 × 86.5 mm
KinBP
DmNosachev/kinbp
Drop-in replacement controller for Kinesis Contoured keyboards
30 parts15CC-BY-SA-4.0
2 layers69.2 × 85.9 mm
Kinbp thumb pcb
DmNosachev/kinbp15Drop-in replacement controller for Kinesis Contoured keyboards
- Size
- 69.2 × 85.9 mm
- Copper layers
- 2
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 31
- Nets
- 19
- Pads
- 77
- Tracks, vias
- 134, 38
- Pours
- 2
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 7 (file 20221018)
- Created
- 10 Mar 2023
- Updated
- 19 Dec 2023
Overview
Kinbp thumb pcb is an open-source printed circuit board by DmNosachev, from the DmNosachev/kinbp repository on GitHub, published under the CC-BY-SA-4.0 licence. It is a 2-layer board of 69.2 × 85.9 mm with 31 parts on 19 nets, routed with 134 tracks and 38 vias.
Its parts include 12 diodes, 12 switches and 1 connector.
README
README.mdKinBP
KinBP is a drop-in replacement controller for Kinesis Contoured keyboards.
It serves the same purpose as KinT controller created by Michael Stapelberg.
Features and advantages
- Controller with QMK firmware support.
- Uses inexpensive WeAct Studio STM32F401/STM32F411 MCU board. The cost of manufacturing 5 sets is about 12 USD per controller. The PCB has dimensions less than 100×100 mm. Many manufacturers provide additional discounts for smaller boards.
- Compatible with all Kinesis Contoured keyboards but the earliest models (100/110/120).
- Additional pads for connecting up to 8 swithes (i.e. additional switches on the keyboard or foot pedals).
- Replacement thumb cluster PCBs with reversible design. They may be needed for some of 13x models (see below).
- Thumb cluster switch mounting plates.
Changelog
1.21
- added 7-pin 1.25mm connector footprints (micro JST) for custom thumb cluster PCBs
- added spare footprints upside down for connectors with pins on the other sideю
BOM
Connectors
The choice of connectors depends on the keyboard model:
- KB600 (Advantage2).
- 6x 13-pin FPC connectors. Molex 39-53-2135. Please note that the cheap (5 USD for 20 pcs) connectors from Aliexpress are polarised and can only be used for the top row connectors on the KB600; using them in the other positions will not work because the pads on the FPC cable are on the wrong side and the cables are too short to be twisted.
- KB500 (Advantage).
- Connecting keywells and top rows: 4x 13-pin FPC connectors, same as mentioned above.
- Connecting thumb cluster PCBs: 2x 10-pin angled 2.54mm headers.
- KB13x (Essential, Classic, Professional).
- Connecting keywell PCBs: 2x angled 13-pin FPC connectors.
- Connecting top rows: same angled connectors or straight (same as for KB500/KB600).
- Some models had LEDs on the thumb cluster PCBs instead of the controller PCB. In this case you will need a pair of new thum cluster PCBs, optional switch mounting plates (see below) and set of cables/connectors with 1.25mm pitch: 2x 7 pin micro JST 10cm cables + 4x 7 pin micro JST angled connector.
Example of incompatible stock thumb cluster PCBc (Kinesis Professional KB134PC): 
You can also reuse connectors from an stock controller, but desoldering them can be tricky. Please note that the Chinese aliexpress connectors and some of the older connectors only had contacts on one side. For the top rows, you need to position the connector so that the contacts are on the outside (there are two footprints for this): 
Controller PCB (/controller-pcb).
- WeAct Studio STM32F401 or STM32F411 board. You can buy them for about 6 USD at the official Aliexpress store. Beware of pirated copies!
- 4 pcs 3-mm LEDs
- 4 pcs 0805 or through-hole resistors. Their value depends on the type of LEDs (I use 1.5k Ohm for orange LEDs).
- Pair of USB Type C male and female connectors.
Thumb cluster (/thumb-pcb)
- The design is reversible. So, a minimal batch of 5 PCBs will give you 2 pairs + 1 spare.
- 12x SOD-123 1N4148 diodes.
- Optional switch mounting plates
- set of connectors and cables (see above)
Switches
- Optional: 68 pcs Cherry MX compatible switches.
Buid guide
- Test your keyboard. Identify faulty switches. Decide if you like the switches (most of the time there will Cherry Browns) and the top row rubber buttons. If rubber buttons are unacceptable to you and you do not mind spending a lot of time on hand-wiring, then it is worth considering an alternative project — (Kin80)[https://github.com/DmNosachev/kin80].
- Disassemble the keyboard. Remove all screws and remove all PCBs. If some of the rubber buttons don't work well, the top row assembly can be taken apart and repaired by sticking pieces of copper tape on the button bottoms. Use hot-melt adhesive to asseble it back.
- Assemble the controller PCB.
- Optional: assemble thumb cluster PCBs.
- Case. Seal the holes on the back of the case with pieces of plastic. Glue the USB connector to the back of the case. Optional: use bitumen sound deadening pads to improve acoustics.
- Setup the QMK.
- Flash the firmware:
qmk flash -kb kinbp -km default. Hold 'boot0' button on MCU board, press 'reset', then release 'boot0' to enter bootloader.
TODO
- FR4 mounting plate for the thumb cluster.
- Create universal or separate PCB with RP2040 support.
Parts
31| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | D | Diode_SMD:D_SOD-123 | D25, D35, D36, D46, D55, D56, D65, D66, D75, D85, D86, D96 |
| 6 | KEYSW | MX_Alps_Hybrid:MXOnly-1U-NoLED | K65, K66, K75, K85, K86, K96 |
| 6 | KEYSW | misc:MXOnly-1U-NoLED-twin | K25, K35, K36, K46, K55, K56 |
| 4 | MountingHole_Pad | MountingHole:MountingHole_3.7mm_Pad | H1, H2, H3, H4 |
| 2 | LOGO | logo:q64logo | G1, G2 |
| 1 | Conn_01x07 | Connector_Molex:Molex_PicoBlade_53048-0710_1x07_P1.25mm_Horizontal | J1 |
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Questions
How big is the Kinbp thumb pcb PCB?
It measures 69.2 × 85.9 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the Kinbp thumb pcb use?
31 parts. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.
Where can I download the Kinbp thumb pcb KiCad files?
From the DmNosachev/kinbp repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is thumb-pcb/kinbp-thumb-pcb.kicad_pcb and its schematic controller-pcb/kinBP.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the Kinbp thumb pcb design in my own project?
Its repository publishes it under the CC-BY-SA-4.0 licence: you may reuse it on that licence's terms (keep the author's notice, and for a copyleft licence share your changes alike).