Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects
CH552-36
Richard Goulter's CH552-36 is a 36-key split with exposed SMT components and CH552 MCU.
Published January 4, 2024
The CH552-36 is a 36-key split keyboard designed by Richard Goulter. It takes inspiration from TeXitoi's KeySeeBee.
I liked the look of the "show the components" along the side of the PCB, as well as the look of the (mostly) SMD components, and the idea of just having a keyboard that's the PCB & switches – richardgoulter.
Specs
- 36 keys (5x3+3)
- MX, soldered
- CH552T MCU
- exposed SMD components
- FAK firmware
The design has a few properties that reduce the cost: just like some previous models by the author, it uses the cheap CH552T MCU, and the PCBs are smaller than 100x100mm. (The boards aren't reversible though; "the design is neater for not being reversible".)
The switches are 5-pin MX-compatible, which saves the need for a plate.
The repo contains a tenting stand too:
Since it uses the CH552 MCU, the keyboard uses semickolon's FAK firmware, which uses the Nickel configuration language to declare keyboard and keymap definitions.
Resources
Published on Thu 4th Jan 2024. Featured in KBD #149 (source).
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