How do you assemble the case?

[lunaneff]

I have purchased a kit from you and the keyboard works great, but I'm not sure how I should assemble the case. The spacers are too small for the holes in the PCB, so I thought maybe the PCB is supposed to hang between the plates off the switches, but the controller + PCB + display/encoder together are too thick to screw it all together. So, how am I supposed to assemble it?

[TweetyDaBird]

I have purchased a kit from you and the keyboard works great, but I'm not sure how I should assemble the case. The spacers are too small for the holes in the PCB, so I thought maybe the PCB is supposed to hang between the plates off the switches, but the controller + PCB + display/encoder together are too thick to screw it all together. So, how am I supposed to assemble it?

The PCB is indeed by design free floating so start by mounting the spacers to the front plate, and the insert the switches in the plate/PCB and seat everything.

Then once those are assembled together you mount the backplate. The spacers at 10mm are just long enough, putting a little tension on the TRRS connector, which is a good thing. (10mm are snug, 12mm are loose, and 11mm are very hard to find, so would have to be filed etc. from 12mm if you want it 'just right'.

It could also be that you need to file the hole at the encoder to allow it to slide down fully to where the switches slot in. And/or adjust the height/placement of the display as it sits in the hole.

[lunaneff]

Thanks, it's all so tight that I thought I did something wrong. And another question, I'm making a wireless build, but where am I supposed to fit in a battery if the case is so tight? The guide says between the controller and PCB, but I only have around two millimeters there, and I don't think I can find a battery that thin.

[TweetyDaBird]

Thanks, it's all so tight that I thought I did something wrong. And another question, I'm making a wireless build, but where am I supposed to fit in a battery if the case is so tight? The guide says between the controller and PCB, but I only have around two millimeters there, and I don't think I can find a battery that thin.

For most builds without RGB you can use the 180 mAh batteries, and those fit in there just fine, and last more than long enough. (I think they are 2.5mm thick?) Just make very sure to cut the legs on the encoder snug, so you don't puncture a cell.

If you're going for a larger battery than that you will probably need to swap the spacers out for 15-16mm or so and put the battery under the matrix. But that's not really out of the box for the kit, so you'll have to purchase those separate.

Also keep in mind, even if you can load a Lotus keyboard down with all the features, they aren't all really meant to be used at once. RGB + OLED + wireless will be a right nightmare in battery life.

[lunaneff]

I was looking on local stores so I don't have to wait ages for shipping, and those unfortunately don't have batteries that thin. For example, here's a 175 mAh battery I found, and that one is 5 mm thick

[TweetyDaBird]

Well, that strategy obviously limits you. I think the max you can squeeze in there is 3mm. Beyond that you need to look at new spacers instead.