Keyboard Builders' Digest / Editorial

Behind the scenes #169

Keyboard projects, quick news, in the mailbox, meetups, new vendors and discount codes!

dovenyi
Published July 16, 2024

Hey, what's up everyone!

Welcome back for another (usually) weekly recap and behind-the-scenes write-up. I'm still trying to pick up the thread after my trip, but I'll get there eventually.

If you are new to kbd.news, you can read how this started out and what this is all about nowadays. If you like what you see, subscribe to the newsletter (free) and donate some bucks to keep this otherwise free and ad-free project alive.

Some posts worth sharing

• I reviewed the Planeta V2 which is an updated version of Ergohaven's cool monoblock split which I've been using for almost a year – now with display, indicator LEDs and an improved case.
• A low-profile ortho board with exposed pins for prototyping: Ground Control 40 by Nick Coughlin.

• Keiler is a diodeless 36-key design by jonathanforking, based off of the LambBT.
• Penk Chen released the MX version of his unibody ergo WeirdFlexButOk with kerf bending cuts for tenting.

• Finnitio shared his 3D Corne, a 3D-printed split with keywell.
• Chad Bailey's CB70 is a row-staggered, wireless 65%-ish split keyboard.

• Helvellyn is a 35-key ortholinear keyboard with a 6.25u space bar. Designed by Stewtheking.
• Marcus Östling made a nice low-pro monoblock split: Fat Cruiser.

• Twist35 is a gorgeous case by Technofrikus for the Vault35's Travaulta Topre PCB.
• Aroum has a compact stick mouse: anu – with switches and analog stick. (I needed the plural of anu for an image caption, but I gave up.)

• Richard Gibson shared a 3D-printed case for Jesus Climent's Atreyu (source).

• Closed: A 36-key split with displays by dumdidumb.
• Handwired: A handwired ortho by piercejenkins. And Glitch860 used Luke Schutt's case design, the 48keys. Pics.

• WIP: Some monoblock flex by BFB_Workshop. Hummingbird-like projects by Alex Miller – running on RP2040 Zero or integrated ch552g.

• Probably a new genre: A WIP/closed TKL unibody split by EagleV/WizthCraig with the arrow and navigation cluster in the middle:

Keyboard art

• Kibly (render) is a modular keyboard concept/WIP prototype by Perry_Kibly_Project.

• KBDFans Margo (source)

• SingaKBD Kohaku65 literally swimming with the fish (no, that's not a deskmat). Committed by coalxxx.

• Vengeance – case designed by AffectionateWin/rain2 for the Zazu PCB.

• First there were the cats, then cups, glasses and food, now come the fans – in between halves of splits. A Swoop setup by Gennnki.

Ahhh the supremacy of split keybs. Putting beverage in this spot never made any sense to me, however, a fan? I can't think of anything better – Gennnki.

• I like this shot of the Theseus75. Yep, a GB.

• "Behold! the desk destroyer" – An almost solid steel Atreus62 by pizzaboy236.

• This Sprite themed case is a reminder that it's high time to finally assemble Joe's ScottoWing. Hopefully in the next couple of days.

it was such a dumb idea but I might go further with it with other soda themed boards lol – Joe.

Donations

• A new donation from Daniel N.!
• And a new recurring donation from HubertTheMad. Thanks a lot!
• As always, many thanks to my awesome regular supporters and everyone who helped this project thus far.

For all the donation options check out the donation page!

In the mailbox

While I still haven't built Joe Scotto's ScottoWing kit, I received…

• the Planeta2 I reviewed this week,
• then a new TKL which I'm not yet allowed to talk about, and
• R2 of Moeetech's Glitter is on the way too (R2 and R1v2 are two different things I guess, but we'll soon see!).
• Other than that, a TKL by Hexgears, and
• another kick-ass but super secret one. I had to sign an NDA before even seeing a single render. ;) All I can share here is that it's by a manufacturer of fancy gaming gear and gadgets, and it will look INSAAAANE!!!!

Meetup database

While I was on a trip, I missed some events, e.g. the Hawaii one (I added this post-event), and have to tidy up this section anyway. May get back to this after sending out the newsletter.

Upcoming meetups

• MKCZ 2024, July 20, Prague, Czech Republic

Recently added

• Philadelphia Keyboard Meetup, August 10, Philadelphia, PA, US

As always, this meetup database is both a calendar and an archive so feel free to send me upcoming events or even ones from the recent past to make this collection as comprehensive as possible.

Vendors & Discounts

Feel free to use the KBDNEWS discount code at 156 keyboard shops! And do not hesitate to report any issues.

New shops and updates to the database of keyboard vendors this past two weeks:

• JogmeKeebs (EU) is a brand new shop set up by Norbert to sell his otherwise open-source YetiS keyboard. Use the KBDNEWS coupon for 5% off.
• ButterBoard (EU) is another new and tiny online store. Neat_Sweet is selling his own designs.
• Hexgears (CN/US/UK) added. Discount in progress.
• Taikohub is back ("I had to close it down for a period, but it's back up now" – David.) I'm not sure about the coupon though.
• It's still July so Modern Coup Design Studio's offer is live: 10% discount off all their nice keyboard sleeves. Use the KBDNEWS coupon code.
• And Apos Audio has a 3-day July sale too, e.g. the Whitefox Eclipse with the low-pro alu case is relatively cheap now ($185). I can't see an option to filter for keyboard stuff but feel free to browse the list, there are a bunch of keycaps too.

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That's all for today. Thanks for checking by. As always: Keep learning and building!

Until next time,
Tamás

Published on Tue 16th Jul 2024. Featured in KBD #169.

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