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USB Typewriter

USB Typewriter
**D.I.Y. Kits for this project are available!  CLICK HERE.**

There is something very magical about typing on those old-school manual typewriters. From the satisfying snap of the spring-loaded keys, to the gleam of the polished chrome accents, to the crisp marks on the printed page, typewriters make for a sublime writing experience. Now, the USB Typewriter lets you enjoy the magic of writing on a manual typewriter, without forfeiting the ability to use word-processing, email, web-browsing, or other modern desktop conveniences.  Or, instead of using the typewriter as a computer keyboard, you can turn off your monitor altogether and type directly onto paper -- while discretely saving a soft-copy for later use!

In this instructable, I'll help you bring your old typewriter back to life by converting it into a USB compatible keyboard for your PC, Mac, or tablet computer.  The hack is intended as a full keyboard replacement, so you can get rid of that piece of disposable plastic you call a keyboard and use the desk space for a classic, functional work of art -- A USB Typewriter!

Read on, and you will see that this modification is surprisingly easy to implement -- It shouldn't take longer than a weekend to do, and is within reach of any electronics novice. You might imagine that the project involves jumbles of wires and dozens of switches and sensors, but actually there are very few wires and absolutely no mechanical switches involved!  However, because this project requires some custom components and circuit boards, you will need to purchase a USB Typewriter D.I.Y. Kit, which I have made available in my etsy store (usbtypewriter.etsy.com):

**D.I.Y. Kits for this project are available!  CLICK HERE.** 
 
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Step 1OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW
Under the hood of almost every manual typewriter is a spring-loaded crossbar that runs underneath all the keys (see picture below). Whenever a key is struck, part of that key pushes on the crossbar, and this causes the carriage to advance, the ink roll to move, and so on. We are going to repurpose this crossbar as a place to mount an array of metal contacts, which are attached to a long, narrow circuit board called the Sensor Board. 

Take the time now to identify where the crossbar is on your typewriter -- just look for a bar that swings up and down when you press a key.
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75 comments
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Sep 2, 2010. 9:13 AMImagoX says:
I'm a writer and I **LOVE** the idea of this - I've often windered if there were a way to retrofit my old typewriters tfor use with a PC. However, I'm unclear about how keys like "Alt" and "Ctrl" work - they're not present on a typewriter, are they? You mention them as being "hard wired" in one of the steps, but I'm not sure how this actually works in practice. Also, I assume this hack will allow for "Shift+key" commands for caps, differing punctuation, etc.? Also, I'm also assuming that (since they're not at all present) that there's no way to assign "F" keys via some sort of key combination in the calibration stage? Of course, it's not at all hard to just have a second, actual keyboard plugged into a second USB port for the times you need an "F" key. Last, I'm pretty sure they do, but when the typewriter is manipulated, the keys still articulate and strike the drum, the carriage still lifts and slides to the right, etc. yes? Thanks!
Sep 2, 2010. 9:55 AMImagoX says:
So if they're on the circuit board, how are they manipulated? Can one use a momentary switch, perhaps, attached to the typewriter chassis? How have you historically accomplished this, or have you just not bothered? Thanks!
Apr 19, 2012. 6:06 PMinstructascott says:
If any keys are missed, well you could always use the onscreen keyboard on rare occasions..it's so worth it for this.
Apr 17, 2012. 9:53 AMd_septikhan says:
Also, orientation of the magnet is also important.
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/blog.asp?p=reed-switches-and-hall-effect-sensors
Mar 23, 2012. 4:18 PMd_septikhan says:
Which pin would I connect the space bar to the USB Interface board?
Mar 23, 2012. 7:15 PMd_septikhan says:
So I follow the labeling on the USB interface board? The instructions here are out dated.

Thanks.
Mar 27, 2012. 12:24 PMlloydrmc says:
Cool. Looking forward to it!
Mar 23, 2012. 4:17 PMd_septikhan says:
I remember you had a video about the reed switch which involved using a lighter. Where is that?
Dec 4, 2011. 7:02 AMLed Man says:
Hey man that is really cool, i have an old Type Wrighter some were in my attic im thinking about doing this thanks man
Nov 9, 2011. 5:30 PMUkzs0206 says:
Um, they are manipulated by pressing the buttons. I usually mount the Touch Screen Stylus
on the side of the device, so the buttons can be reached with the left hand while typing. You could of course mount your own buttons somewhere. Every typewriter is different -- that's why its a fun project!
Nov 6, 2011. 3:42 PMtylercard says:
Christmas listed!
Nov 6, 2011. 2:52 PMtheREALcybercat says:
Wow, this is awsome, very clean!
Jul 26, 2011. 4:41 PMCharlieFrancis says:
wow that is awesome! It looks nice and clean, my uncle and I tried to make one, but it was very messy :/
May 22, 2011. 1:02 PMtinker234 says:
wow this is just amazing if i used a frontal surface mirror i coulld make a cool liltle decoreten
Mar 28, 2011. 7:07 PMjlu2 says:
so nice I do like to do try it
but the mini pc is how much?
http://www.topusbdrive.com/custom-usb-c-1.html
Dec 11, 2010. 2:35 PMChunkylover53 says:
is there a way to turn it into a printer for the writing projects on your computer?
Oct 27, 2010. 4:21 PMMadVegetarian says:
This is really slick!
Sep 29, 2010. 6:12 PMSHIFT! says:
Hey, didn't get to comment this before but awesome instructable! I love typewriters and computers so this is a perfect WIN-WIN combination!
Sep 2, 2010. 4:24 PMservant74 says:
Amost as cool as the using a Selectric typewriter as a printer a friend did in the 1975-76 time frame. Wirt Atmar of AI Cybernetic Systems in Las Cruses NM did the hack and drove all the solenoids that punched the keys on the selectric with his Altair 8800 (Or was it an IMSAI ... my minds details goes after a while :) ... But his was an output device and this is a neat input device! .. I wish I had a picture of his old hack to share with you.
Sep 13, 2010. 3:20 PMDr. dB says:
Whew! An ambitious project for your friend to tackle back in the mid-70's... Of course, by then, IBM had long since made a basic, hard-copy-only computer terminal from their own Selectric line, the "2741", to replace the almost-universal (but deathly-slow) "Teletype ASR-33". The 2741, with a few variants, was still geting some use right on through the early 80's!

The "personal computer revolution" must be credited to both Altair, who "made the ball", so to speak, with their "8800", and IMSAI, who "got it rolling" with their "8080". As far as I know, both used the same INTEL "8080" processor, virtually the only "micro" in existence at the time. By adopting as "standard" many of the features of the Altair while improving significantly on their design, IMSAI helped create much of the market they both then, brielfy, supplied. (Altair's only real "advantage" was Bill Gates' BASIC, quite possibly one of the last pieces of software Bill can LEGITIMATELY claim to have WRITTEN HIMSELF...)
Sep 2, 2010. 10:19 PMlloydrmc says:
In 1976/77 (the heyday of the Altair/IMSAI) there was no such thing as a typewriter an with RS232 port, per se. The closest thing was a teletype.
Sep 2, 2010. 5:12 PMtwighahn says:
thats a neat idea
Sep 7, 2010. 11:09 AMawdark says:
I wonder if anyone has tried to sniff or emulate the iPad keyboard protocol yet. It would be nice if we could get the Arduino chip to connect directly to the ipad and skip the camera connector.

Of course the result will be less flexible but the USB connector is an expensive accessory.
Sep 8, 2010. 12:34 PMjeff-o says:
Maybe you could hack something like this.
Sep 8, 2010. 2:17 PMawdark says:
Yeah, it would probably be easier to take a part and try to either duplicate or just mod. But at $40 it really pushes the threshold of just buying a cheap BT keyboard to work with.

Ebay/sparkfun doesn't seem to have bluetooth breakout boards with HID support wonder why =\
Sep 8, 2010. 2:27 PMjeff-o says:
True, that price is a little high just to hack apart, isn't it?
Sep 5, 2010. 12:07 PMequiliberator says:
I have zero soldering experience save for some ill-fated stained glass projects in high school. However, I've been tinkering around with soft circuitry lately, and in so doing learned of the existence of conductive epoxy. I haven't used any yet myself. Is there any reason I could not use conductive epoxy in place of solder in this project?
Sep 5, 2010. 12:06 PMzack247 says:
cool. too bad i got rid of my old typewriter...
Sep 4, 2010. 2:06 PMchaydgb says:
Great 'ible. I'm going typewriter hunting tomorrow for sure!
Sep 3, 2010. 6:27 AMcherub66696 says:
what is 'C3'?? thanks
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Author:jackzylkin(USB Typewriter)