Keyboard Builders' Digest
Save 10% at TurtleKeebs! Code: KBDNEWS
Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects

Beyblock20

Beyblock20 – a modular magnetic macropad system by u/sporewoh.

KBD.news
Published August 23, 2022

His Keezyboost40 was featured just a few days ago (#91), but Christian Lo aka sporewoh is already back with another project: beyblock20 – a 20-key macropad system with magnetic connectors for a modular, customizable macropad/ortholinear experience.

I got a new project this week: the beyblock20! It’s a modular macropad powered by the Seeeduino XIAO RP2040. What’s exciting about this macropad is that you can chain together several modules using magnetic pogo pins! – sporewoh.

You can check a video demo of it in action here:

Features:

  • Magnetic connectors, e.g. from Adafruit
  • Optional OLED screen
  • Hotswap sockets
  • TRRS jacks, so this can be a split keyboard if you want

The project is open source, so anyone is free to make their own modules as part of a larger framework:

https://github.com/ChrisChrisLoLo/beyblock20

According to Chris, the beyblock20 was inspired by Zack Freedman’s MiRage keyboard in that all the modules communicate on an unbounded I2C bus, but the focus here is on modularity and customizability.

Because of the I2C bus, more kinds of modules can be made for an even more fine tuned and customized macropad/keyboard, as well as up to 128 devices to be connected together at once.

Some potential ideas for future modules include a display module, an RGB LED module, sensor modules, and more.

This is a design I think is really cool, but not one I personally need, so let me know how much further you’d like to see this project progress – Chris.

Btw, beyblock20 was an entry for the Seeed Xiao MK contest.

Published on Tue 23rd Aug 2022. Featured in KBD #92 (source).


Did you like reading this post?

Donate to keep this project alive


Related

TI-84 KE desktop calculator

The TI-84 KE by KiserRolls is housing a TI-84+CE calculator (project).

42Azalia

AsherKeats' 42Azalia is a monoblock angled ortho created by a PCB generator.

Ortho Protozoa P02

u/smellycoat made an ortholinear PCB to fit a Protozoa P02 case – with a giant knob.

Split bluetooth keyboard

TerranceN made a split Bluetooth 36-key keyboard with self-milled PCB.

cool640

Telzo2000's cool640, this ortho macropad/split supports controllers with both Pro Micro and Pico footprint.

tamago60

Travis Mick published his tamago60, an open-source 60-key ortholinear keyboard with a joystick in the middle.

×
top