This guide will walk you through the process of converting your standard Lily58 kit to a complete Manta58 build. If you obtained your Lily58 as part of a kit with a sandwich case, you should have everything that you need to get started. If you purchased your PCBs without the standard case kit, you’ll need the following parts to complete this build:
- 2x Lily58 PCBs (assembled)
- 2x Manta58 case halves
- 2x Lily58 switch plates
- 10x 7mm M2 standoffs (4mm if using Choc switches)
- 20x M2 screws
- Adhesive rubber bumpers for case bottoms
- 2-4x Manta58 tenting legs (optional)
- 12-18x 0.375″ x 0.06″ disc magnets (optional; used for Manta58 tenting legs)
- 4-8x SKUF Silicone Rubber Keyboard Feet (optional; used for Manta58 tenting legs)
Onward to the build! 🕺
Print Recommendations
We’ve tested a range of different PLA brands for our Manta58 prints and gotten great results with all of them—unless you require the specific properties of another material type, we recommend using PLA for your case prints. Any printer with a build volume of at least 7″ x 7″ x 3″ should be sufficient for printing case halves. To ensure that case parts print with the correct scaling, models should have the following dimensions when imported into your software of choice:
- Case halves (high-profile): 5.93″ x 4.49″ x 1.06″
- Case halves (low-profile): 5.93″ x 4.49″ x 0.91″
- Tenting legs (high): 4.23″ x 2.65″ x 1.65″
- Tenting legs (low): 2.9″ x 2.65″ x 1.65″
Adding a brim may improve build plate adhesion and reduces the risk of warping as PLA cools. For case halves, we recommend adding supports under the corner loops to prevent sagging.
Tenting legs print best in the orientation pictured, with open sides resting on the build plate. You may wish to add support structures to the magnet recesses to maintain their shape during printing.
Assembly Instructions
These instructions assume that you are beginning with an assembled Lily58 and sandwich case. If you’re building your Manta58 from scratch, you’ll find basic Lily58 assembly instructions on the official Lily58 build guide.
- Remove the five M2 screws from the bottom of one Lily58 case half. Lift the switch plate and PCB assembly away from the bottom plate, and place it aside. Repeat for the other half.
- If you will not be using tenting legs, skip to step 5. If you will be using tenting legs, proceed to the next step.
- Prepare the Manta58 case halves by affixing magnets in the three recesses within each half. (We recommend using opposite polarities for each case half–this will allow the tenting legs to attach to one another when not in use! Magnets with matching polarity will stack with the adhesive pads all facing the same direction.) Affix the corresponding three magnets to each tenting leg, ensuring that the top of each magnet is flush with the leg’s contact surface. Allow all adhesives to cure fully.
- Peel the adhesive backings on the SKUF keyboard feet and place them within the recesses on the tenting legs, pressing firmly to adhere.
- Peel the adhesive backings on the rubber bumpers, and affix them to the four furthest corners of each case half. These bumpers will provide some cushion while typing and prevent your keyboard from sliding on your desk.
- Place the switch plate and PCB assembly for one Lily58 half into the corresponding Manta58 case half, aligning the standoffs with the case holes, then screw in all five case screws. Repeat for the other half.
- Congratulations–you are now the proud owner of a Manta58! 🎉
