Starting with simple tweaks to the Lily58 Glow before ordering a set of PCB's it quickly spiraled out of control, and I ended up with what wasn't quite a Lily58 anymore, and although very similar in layout, it is no longer compatible with plate and case design.
Because of this, it was renamed Lotus58, referencing another flower much like the lily in the name Lily58.
- Layout very similar to the original Lily58 family
- Per key RGB and RGB underglow
- Kaihl Hot-swap sockets for MX compatible switches
- Can be used as a standalone Gamepad for either hand
- Optional 0.91" OLED Screens and rotary encoders (one each per side)
- All components through-hole and easily soldered for beginners (SMD option for diodes)
- Designed with a sandwich-style plate/case as part of the design
- Optional plate layout with OLED screen (Encoder can be placed on upper thumb key position)
- Optional plate layout with rotary encoder (Removes OLED screen for that side)
- Optional plate layout with no hole for OLED or upper encoder (Encoder can be placed on upper thumb key position)
| Name of part | Qty. | Optional | Remarks | Aliexpress Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCB | 2 | X | JLPCB | |
| Top plate | 2 | X | Optional layouts for OLED or encoder in top position. | JLPCB |
| Bottom plate | 2 | X | X | JLPCB |
| Kailh hotswap socket | 56-58 | X | Qty. depends on layout. | link |
| Diodes 1N4148 (TH) or 1N4148W (SMD) | 58-60 | X | Qty. depends on layout. TH recommended for beginners. | link(TH) or link(SMD) |
| Capacitors 100 nF | 0-4 | ✔ | Qty. depends on layout. 2 needed for each encoder installed. | link |
| Resistor 4.7 kOhm | 0-4 | ✔ | Qty. depends on layout. 2 needed for each display installed. | link |
| Reset Switch | 0-1 | ✔ | Not neccesary for normal usage, recommended not to populate. | Panasonic-EVP-AKE31A |
| 0.91" OLED Display | 0-2 | ✔ | Qty. depends on layout. | link |
| TRRS jack PJ-320A | 2 | X | X | link |
| M2 * 12 mm standoff | 10 | X | Rounded, max 3.7 mm in diameter | link |
| M2 * 4 mm screw | 20 | X | 4-8 mm length fits, low profile hex head recommended | link |
| TRRS cable | 1 | X | TRRS = 4-pole cable! 3-pole cable creates a short circuit and can damage your controller. | link |
| Silicon pads | 10 | X | X | link |
| Controller (Pro Micro) | 2 | X | Can be built with various ProMicro clones as well as Elite C (Or nice!nano for a wireless keyboard) | link |
| Rotary Encoder | 0-2 | ✔ | Qty. depends on layout. | link |
| Rotary Encoder Knob | 0-2 | ✔ | One needed for each encoder. Clearance for max 24 mm diameter, pick halfshaft or spline according to encoder choice. | link |
| RGB LED's SK6812mini(3535) | 56-58 | ✔ | Qty. depends on layout. note that Mini E version has a different pinout. | link |
| RGB LED's SK6812mini(3535) | 12 | ✔ | For underglow, note that Mini E version has a different pinout. | link |
Most PCB manufacturers have a MOQ of 5 PCB's, meaning you end up with 2½ keyboards when finished. To make it possible to build Lotus58 at a reasonable cost, the plate designs use breakaway parts and can easily double as a backplate. For instance, 5 PCB's + 5 OLED plates + 5 Encoder plates give you a couple of options without being wasteful.
The recommended PCB thickness is 1.6 mm, as the thickness of the SK6812mini RGB LED's are in fact 1.6 mm, making them sit flush 'inside' the PCB and easier to solder. Similarly, for the top plate, a thickness of 1.6 mm is recommended to allow the keyswitches to grip the plate and lock in place securely.
If ordering from JLCPCB the plate Gerber files include a reference putting the added serial etc on a breakaway part for a clean look with minimal cost, if using another manufacturer it's possible they have additional fee's for removing the extra text, or you should consider plotting the Gerber files yourself with the correct reference for your manufacturer.