50
submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by cerement@slrpnk.net to c/ergomechkeyboards@lemmy.world

open source, files on Codeberg

this was a big learning experience, first time doing a proper PCB instead of using yet another Pro Micro equivalent – this would not have been possible without Noah Kiser’s tutorials on Youtube, all the work that went into QMK and Vial, and the ease of JLC’s assembly service (no way I was ever going to solder an RP2040)

shocked and giddy with how easy the whole process was – plugged in the fresh PCB and it went straight into bootloader mode – uploaded the *.uf2 and it worked first time!

  • symmetric split-ergo style layout (6 × 3 + 3)
  • katana stagger
    • personally find this works really nicely and keeps the feel of an ortho or columnar board
  • fits into Minivan case (12.75u × 4u)
  • attempt to use as many existing mounting holes as possible (6/7)
    • main issue was maintaining symmetric layout with two mounting points in bottom row
    • personally find the resulting odd gap to be uncomfortable
    • if I do an update, I would remove the awkward spacing and slide the whole bottom row to the left a smidge (resulting in an uncomfortably-asymmetric symmetric layout)
  • learning to use JLC’s PCB assembly instead of a Pro Micro equivalent
  • providing a proper Vial firmware
    • (default layout is based off Reviung41 layout)
top 6 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] sillyhatsonly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 6 months ago

This is absolutely ridiculous and I LOVE it

[-] wjrii@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

I doubt I’d use it, but damn I love the ingenuity, and Katana makes a lot of sense for monoblocks.

[-] remotelove@lemmy.ca 2 points 6 months ago

Cool design. I am a right thumb spacebar person so it would work out really well. Still, if I was going to get creative with the carriage return, I would have made it a 1/4 size key placed between the letters 'E' and 'S' for that extra bit of challenge.

[-] luckybipedal@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Awesome! Thank you for sharing. I want to to try and use PCB assembly for the next version of my keyboard. I'll bookmark this post for information and inspiration.

Are the up and down arrows reversed like the Enter and Alt?

[-] cerement@slrpnk.net 3 points 6 months ago

keycaps on the whole bottom row have been flipped – just find the (normal) bottom edge digs into my thumb too much if they’re in their correct position

this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2024
50 points (96.3% liked)

ErgoMechKeyboards

5827 readers
33 users here now

Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards

Rules

Keep it ergo

Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)

i.e. no regular non-split¹ row-stagger and no non-split¹ ortholinear²

¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid

No Spam

No excessive posting/"shilling" for commercial purposes. Vendors are permitted to promote their products/services but keep it to a minimum and use the [vendor] flair. Posts that appear to be marketing without being transparent about it will be removed.

No Buy/Sell/Trade

This subreddit is not a marketplace, please post on r/mechmarket or other relevant marketplace.

Some useful links

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS