Introducing Meira version 1.5

Now with onboard components.

Pre-order now, estimated delivery is 2-3 weeks for PCB. Aluminum, brass, and acrylic plates will be 4-6 weeks.

The Meira is a 40% ortholinear PCB that is designed for the Kailh Choc low profile switches. The layout is a 4×12 grid. Version 1.5 features onboard controller, no Pro Micro to mess with. Bluetooth is not officially support on this version, but the PCB includes support for adding a bluetooth module and battery circuit. This is still considered experimental for this release, with no guarantees. If you are interested in helping to beta test the Bluetooth module, please send an email.

Meira means “light”, and there is plenty of it. The backlight LEDs are individually addressable using an LED matrix driver from ISSI. The firmware currently only supports setting a uniform backlight, but with a little programming it can support setting individual LEDs brighter (e.g., status indicators) and even animations. Includes onboard RGB underglow as well.

Switches and Keycaps

Switches are available for purchase from NovelKeys, with heavy and thick-click versions as well. Keycaps are produced by Kailh specifically for the Choc key switches, and are also available through NovelKeys: blanks or legends.

Cases

There are 4 options for top and bottom plates currently available: PCB-material(FR4), clear acrylic (1.5mm top, 3mm bottom), aluminum and brass. Mid layers are laser cut from clear acrylic. The PCBs for the Meira itself as well as the top and bottom PCB plates are white. Screws and standoffs are provided with the base kit.

LEDs

The version 1.5 PCB now includes all components onboard, so the only soldering required will be switches, and LEDs if you want them; all through-hole soldering. LEDs are supported in surface mount or through hole. If you want to use through-hole LEDs, SpaceCat Design has 2x3x4 and 1.8mm LEDs in a variety of colors which work well. You can solder surface mount LEDs in 1206, 0805, or similar size package over the through-hole pads. The pads are enlarged and square-shaped to simplify SMD soldering.

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