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A New Amiga Keyboard

So, you’re still using that old keyboard, or perhaps you have a USB adapter for a PC keyboard for your classic computer or Amiga Emulator. The PC lacks the Amiga Keys so over time you remember what keys translate to the Amiga keys. Fixing an old keyboard requires hunting for old keys that aren’t yellowed. Why can’t Amiga users have a mechanical keyboard with replaceable keys and shafts?

We’re going to produce keycaps and a keyboard that allows more recent keys and shafts, but is still decidedly Amiga. This is a completely new Amiga keyboard with a full 96 key set of Cherry keycaps. Optionally, if you want to use a standard cherry/khailh PC keyboard you can use the keycaps.

The problem

Amiga keyboards are all aging or perhaps broken, and alternatives are to buy another “classic” keyboard, recreation, or get a keyboard adapter and deal with keyboard mismatch.

The solution

Let’'s build a new keyboard complete with changeable keycaps and shafts. Now as an Amiga owner you will be able to 3D print or buy custom keycaps. You will be able to repair broken keys with standard key shafts or purchase specialized mechanical shafts. The options are endless with Cherry MX/Kailh shafts. Find shafts that are softer, firmer, gaming, click, etc.

The objective of this project is to produce a new keyboard with a keyboard chassis and Amiga keycaps.

The new keycaps and keyboard chassis will be of modern ABS plastic that does not yellow. Unlike the older Amiga keyboards, they will not react to UV light in a way that causes yellowing in the older plastic. Use of ABS plastic is common today and it does not yellow like the older plastic.

Specifics

Cherry MX keycaps will be designed and produced with the keys specific to the Amiga. Molds will not likely to be necessary. Both low-profile/slim key caps and full height key caps will be created. During the selection process participants will be able to select either full or slim.

A keyboard chassis will be revised/designed to fit the specifics of the keyboard and progress through the iteration process via large format 3D printing. Once completed a mold will be created and production will begin.

Keyboard shafts will be be ordered a long with any necessary assembly parts.

The keyboard matrix board will be revised/designed via an iteration process as needed this part is already in progress

The keyboard controller board will be revised/designed via an iteration process as needed this part is already in progress

The keyboard controller will have a USB-A style connector, this is not a standard USB port and cannot be plugged into a USB port without updating the firmware. However, it will connect to most Amiga keyboard ports and the standard firmware will expect the basic Keyboard Clock and Keyboard Data.

Amiga 500: The A500 has an internal 8 pin header that can be used. If this is your option a cable will be provided to connect to the 8 pin header. A USB style adapter plus some dupont wires for the LEDs / Reset. A special control board will be included that supports the LEDs. This can be internal or external.

Amiga 600: The Amiga 600 can only be external due to the form factor of the keyboard. An internal adapter will be required that will add an pin header and a USB style adapter cable will be provided.

Amiga 1000: By design the keyboards on the A1000 are external so it is external only and a USB to RJ22 style adapter cable will be provided.

Amiga 1200: The Amiga 1200 can be external or internal. For the internal model you can connect the 31-pin ribbon cable directly without the controller, this will not provide the features of the keyboard controller, but will provide a replacement keyboard matrix. Alternatively you can obtain an 8-pin header adapter in which case the A500 cable will be provide. Since the LEDs will be dupont wires they can be connected separately to the internal A1200 header.

Amiga 2000/2500/3000: By design the keyboards on the A2000 are external so it is external only and a USB to DIN style adapter cable will be provided.

Amiga 4000/CD32: By design the keyboards on the A4000 are external so it is external only and a USB to mini-DIN style adapter cable will be provided.

Keyboard Layout

With the new keyboard you will have the option of buying Cherry MX keycaps from any vendor which offers these keycaps. In the event the keycaps we produce are missing a key a local vendor may be able to provide a Cherry MX keycap that fits your needs.

The main campaign goal will allow you to select a modified ANSI layout:

• * the US keyboard layout
• * the UK keyboard layout

Many Amiga key layouts exist, but we will be generally us an ANSI layout with the specific Amiga keys. To keep costs down we will not print all of these additional keys. Additional keys can be unlocked via our stretch goals.

Extra Keys for stretch goals

Keys for additional layouts are available via stretch campaign goals, meaning with more funding we will produce additional Cherry MX keys specific to additional country specific layouts. See the stretch goals chart for more information.

• DE (German)
• FR (French)
• SE (Swedish)
• FI (Finnish)
• NO (Norwegian)
• DN (Danish)
• ES (Spanish)
• IT (Italian)
• CH (Switzerland)

What is included in the rewards

There are presently three rewards you can reserve

Key Profiles

While slim / low profile Cherry MX keycaps generally have a single profile per size, regular Cherry MX of use a per row profile. This means that each row has a slightly different shape or “profile”. If you look closely at these types of keyboards you will see each row will have its own shape profile. Because of that, some keys will be of a different size than the original Amiga keyboard.

Since we will be using industry standard profiles, the Cherry MX keycaps will fit on an existing Cherry MX keyboard you may have or wish to purchase. Utilizing industry standard profiles allows us to avoid the need to create expensive molds as well as making the keycaps compatible with existing Cherry MX keyboards.

Colors

Keycap and keyboard chassis colors available with the main campaign will be black, white, grey, or a combination of those colors.

Additional colors will be unlocked via our stretch goals. Colors unlocked will also increase the possible combinations.

• Blue
• Red
• Purple
• Green
• Yellow

Preferences Selection process

With a month after campaign ends you will receive an email providing a link wo a web site where you can select your keyboard layout and colors. Dual colors will have a specific structure of one color for regular keys and another color for special keys as well as a selector where you can specify a color for each key if you prefer.

Risks

Very little risk in involved. The manufacturers are available and failure to supply ordered items will result in a return of funds. In the event enough funding is not obtained funds will be used to order enough "samples" to supply the reservations. If it is not possible to supply the reservations then refunds will be issued.

Timeline

Frequently Asked Questions

Pledge and Reward Options

• Amiga Supporter: non-reservation support with immediate reward.
• Key Caps Reservation: reserve a set of key caps reward.
• Keyboard: reserve a full keyboard reward with key caps and shafts.

Amiga SupporterWe love you! Thank you!

Amiga ANSI KeycapsThank you!

Full Cherry MX KeyboardsThank you!

Project Updates

09/27/2025
Pre-Launch initiated.