Wendell, thank you, I think this idea I have to credit/blame you for
I watched the video recently on The Model F Keyboard in 2025, if you’re somehow here and haven’t seen it, please watch it, great video that educates on what a Solenoid does/did for early keyboards.
Assuming you’ve seen that or are already aware, then you’re aware why I’d want to do that, so let me describe what I have in mind and what I’m purchased so far.
Goal
A mechanical keyboard that when keys are pressed a solenoid goes off and returns, and I am keen on this being a hardware solution, not a software one, but go ahead and try to change my mind if you like. You’ll just have to convince me that I won’t notice the delay, there won’t be a delay from when the key is pressed (that is larger than a hardware solution).
The easy way is to go buy something like an ‘MM Studio Class80’, or a few others, but what’s not easy is the price, and for a fun toy that I may only use a handful of times, would rather spend my time than my money… At this stage.
Need help to find
Keyboard with USB-passthrough - I have a Corsair K70 LUX with brown switches and it has ‘the’ type of USB-passthrough I’m looking for. It has a single cable exiting the shell but its really 2 in 1 cord. 1 powers the keyboard and 1 is mounted to a USB type A port on the back of the shell.
How about the Red Dragon YAMA K550? I could just use my Corsair too, as it won’t need to be in service much longer. Anyone have any TKL suggestions similar to these two, would like to hear them.
Now this is very important for what I have in mind, as more modern pass throughs that I’m finding, are USB-C hubs where you have 1, USB C to A cable and on the keyboard are 1 or 2 USB A ports. This won’t work because they’re all being powered by the same USB-A port on the computer, so the solenoid will draw too much current and/or voltage, I predict.
I was keen on the
Controller for the Solenoid
I found a schematic from 6.5 years ago on imgur called “Installing a solenoid into a KBDFans 8x”, which talks about and shows a diagram, they linked me to a 12 y/o guide by martyncurrey called “Controlling a Solenoid Valve from an Arduino”.
So potentially following this guide, but instead of a 12 barrel it can end up going to my USB-A connector via my switch?
What I have
2 x 5V Small Solenoid (SKU CE09448). Has a JST 2-pin male
1 x JST 2-pin Extension Cable with On/Off Switch (ADA3064). one end is male the other is female.
2 x USB-A to JST 2-pin female. Called a vgol B0C462ZD4R on Amazon.
Let me know what you think, this isn’t a very clear project yet, just have some parts and an idea.