#blog

Amano Build Log

Published Oct 7, 2023 by Tactile Zine

Just another Amano XD

Just another Amano XD


Build Log for my Amano

I built my first keyboard in literally years and figured I’d document it because build logs are still fun. Nothing fancy with this build. Just me learning about a bunch of new stuff along the way. Just FYI, some of the images aren’t the best because I didn’t realize the ultrawide lens on my camera wasn’t the best until later. Also I should’ve checked focus or taken more pictures while I was going. Oops.

 

Specs

In the picture above…

Keycaps

Resin

   

One Two Three Four

The kit straight from h40

I got this from h40 when they ran their sale for the Amano R2. It’s the smoke color. I decided to use the included POM plate after testing out a board at the July 2023 NYC meetup with a POM plate.

Throughout the build, I referenced extrapriusplease’s build stream to help me along. I hadn’t built a keyboard in years and there was a lot of details I had to try and remember.

 

Five

Stock spring (left) versus a TX XL (right)

Six Seven

Factory lube job

First thing I needed to decide was what to do with the switches. I’ve never had the chance to just use stock switches since I have only ever built MX boards when the newest switch was the Zealio switches made by Gateron.

After buying some switch samples and combing through ThereminGoat’s scores, I landed on using Invokeys Black Sesame switches. However, I thought I’d have to lube the switches and springs because my samples came dry. I was surprised to learn they were factory lubed…..but I was a bit skeptical so I opened one up.

Turns out that I liked the switches as is. The spring feels nice and the lube job is actually not bad in my opinion.

 

Eight

TX Stabilizer Stab Stoppers and Durock Screw In Stabs

Nine

Screw in and plate mounted stabilizers.

Ten

Stab Stoppers inserted

Next to figure out I’m supposed to do with my stabilizers. Weirdly the Alice builds use both a screw in and plate mounted 2x stabilizer for the spacebar. When I asked what I should use, I got different replies from different builders. I ended up using the screw in and plate mounted combo which works fine. It doesn’t feel that different to me either. Also I had no idea what stab stoppers were or how to insert them so this video was really helpful.

 

Eleven

Lubing Stabilizers

Twelve

All Done!

Next I had to lube the stablizers. I bought some stablizer tester PCBs to help because I knew I would be handling the PCBs a lot as I tried to learn and remember how to tune the stabs. I was concerned my sweaty hands would mess with the original PCB so this was a nice peace of mind tool. I ended up using Krytox 206g0 because I forgot I had a bunch of other lubes and it was sitting out on my project desk lol. I like how it felt on the trial stabilizer set I messed with so I just kept using it.

Time to pop in the switches….wait.

 

Thirteen

Lubing Stabilizers

I realize I should test the PCB before I start soldering just in case. I plug in the PCB to do the tweezer testing like I see on LightningXI’s streams….only to be blinded by the max brightness of the stupid LEDs on the board. I try to figure out where in Via how to turn the lighting off and it takes me a few minutes to figure this out. RIP my retinas though. Now that I’m blind, it’s time to pop in the switches and solder.

 

Fourteen

Spacing tool

Fifteen

Popped in all the switches

This part is also new to me. I’ve never built a keyboard with a plastic plate and didnt realize how floppy it is so the spacing tool was really handy to use.

 

Sixteen

Soldering Setup

Seventeen

Soldering complete

Finished soldering and popped in the build into the top half of the case. I’m glad soldering is still easy to me and that my gear is still usable.

 

Eighteen

No caps

Nineteen

Some caps

Twenty

All the caps

Flipped it over and put the caps on. Because I have very old GMK sets (from 2013ish) there is not a lot of compatibilty for Alice layouts. I think I made it work though. I do another test in Via and I’m all set! Now the hardest part is to see what resin I put on the board.

 

Thanks to…



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Making zines and other stuff since 2013.