Keyboard Builders' Digest / Editorial

Behind the scenes #182

Keyboard projects, reviews, quick news, in the mailbox, meetups, vendors, discounts.

dovenyi
Published December 24, 2024

Hey, what's up everyone!

Welcome back for another recap and behind-the-scenes write-up.

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.

PSA:

• First and foremost, Happy/marry everything, folks! My festive spirit was ensured by ElecFox and Epomaker – and a heap of switches and keyboards. :)
• I lost my draft of this write-up where I track interesting posts throughout the week. Let me know if we've talked about a project and I forgot to mention it.
• Finally, I'm taking some rest for the last days of the year. I'll be out of office and away from computer, spending time in the mountains with family and friends. I'll be back during the first week of 2025, diligently preparing the December switch overview. ;)

Some posts worth sharing

• I reviewed the Epomaker Alice 66: An affordable Alice style keyboard – hotswap, QMK/Via, tri-mode wireless. Great features, great switches, but a bit loud case for my taste.

• Advent Calendar: Rain2, a newcomer to the keyboard community, reflects on this year's achievements, sharing how an addiction to keyboard design has taken hold.

• Raul Huertas shared his Nuty Mini, a wireless split in a nice tented case.

• A low-pro 60% split with number row, encoders, and displays – Dodo by gorbit99.

• A redesign of the Sweep: K02 by Lu Immich.

• Skarrmann's Tackle is a wearable wireless ortholinear keyboard – strapped to your torso.

• The roBa by kuma is a split keyboard with a trackball – inspired by Yowkees' Keyball.

• Cássio Ávila's Carpo is a 36-key low-profile split keyboard – wireless and Choc-spaced.

TIPS

• Charybdis Mini travel case by Fernando Doutel (f3rn4nd0d).

• ThereminGoat's reworked guide to force curves.

• Remove ABS shine with fiberglass pen. A tip by ChrisKaze.

• 3D-printed Cord guides by A0405u.

• Keyreative, turning 10 this year, posted an interesting list with ideas for improvement in the field of sublimation keycaps.

• Printable keyboard case shared by No_Jello.

• SkeletylLP by Raul Huertas.

A modified version of the skeletyl from Bastard Keyboards to Support KS-33 switches from Gateron. I went back in the timeline in Fusion360 and modified the elements that are replicated per button – Raul.

• Typing Kitties demo. I'm a bit unsure what are glitches/bugs and what are unimplemented features, but you can give it a try.

• Ergohaven announced the Trackball Mini v2.

• Sofa-friendly keyboard case by PrintStation.

Closed-source, WIP, etc.

• Thomas Baart of splitkb.com announcecd the Halcyon Series and the Halcyon Kyria:

Unique to the Halcyon Series are its modules, which enable you to add functionality to your keyboard without having to solder – Thomas.

• A handwired monoblock by Glitch850. With some documentation.

• A Hall-effect ortholinear keyboard by peppapig.

• Vertical keyboard with ball joint – an update by sushiiiii.

• Ducky Pad Pro using ducky Script. Posted by mrw2828.

• Ikeji's Triangular deck with some minimal grin layout.

• Handwired IBM ScreenReader by Equivalent_pipe.

A copy of the keypad for IBM ScreenReader – it looked neat in the chyrosran video, so I made one.

• Kinesis announces new mWave keyboard.

• Closed unsplit Swoop 3D model by Gennnki.

• The Lapa keyboard-mouse by Ilya Leonov is getting more and more appealing. Unfortunately, just some photos, no project files.

• Crater75 by United_Parfait. A low-pro row-staggered wireless split.

• Crowkb_wing by CrackerRobot.

• DeLast by WeiXin020. A gorgeous monobock – waterproof marine board for the top, with a corkwood mat on the bottom for grip.

Keyboard art

• These side profiles get nicer and nicer. DN Seven shot by ArpeyKeys.

• Brick wall diorama keyboard case by Competitive-Soft.

Inspired by the diorama brick wall, I created it from wooden key covers and real bricks. bring the most real feeling possible.

• Some nice photos of a closed-source split. Posted by Different-Many of findkbtokyojp.etsy.com.

History

• A US Army AN/UGC-74 communications terminal (TTY) in the wild – posted by kosoquence. More info.

In the mailbox

ElecFox sent me some nice switches, and then Epomaker four keyboards – ensuring the Christmas atmosphere. :) I asked for some versatility, non-trivial layouts other than fullsize or TKLs, so I got an Alice-like, one with a HHKB layout, a CNC aluminum 75%, and a horizontally staggered split. Everything hotswap, with lights, and most of them supporting VIA.

Weekly Diderot effect

• Custom keyboard bags from wegner.design. With a pretty awesome 3D customizer.

• Modular keyboard cables by ONEofZERO.

Featuring three separate cables with interchangeable rings at the connectors, this set allow you to mix and match components to create a customized aesthetic that perfectly complements your setup – OoZ.

• Zestizena has now Bongo cat keyboard rugs.

• Keyboard ornament update (mar_mech).

Donations

• A new supporter: Raul from nutylabs, creator of the Nuty Mini and the KS-33 compatible SkeletylLP posted above. 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!

Vendors & Discounts

Feel free to use the KBDNEWS discount code at 172 keyboard shops! And do not hesitate to report any issues.

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

• Gateron now offers you a 10% discount with the KBDNEWS coupon code. (They have up to 20% general holiday sales until Jan 1, but this coupon still works for some products excluded from that sale.)
• Wegner.design's (DE) Konstantin offers premium custom keyboard bags. 10% opening discount, and once it's over, feel free to use the KBDNEWS coupon code for the same discount.
• Smoovkeys (Indonesia) added. Aprian makes dimond polished switches, and offered you a 10% discount (The coupon code is SMOOVDEBUT for now.)
• Geekboards (DE) is closing its physical store

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

Until next year! :)
Tamás

Published on Tue 24th Dec 2024. Featured in KBD #182.

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