Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects
Dactyl Chimera V3
u/WolfIcefang's test bench for various column curvatures, Dactyl Chimera V3, is here!
Published March 26, 2023
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Wolf Icefang's Dactyl Chimera V3 is an easy way to experiment with Dactyl shapes and accessories. A testing and research tool rather than a mechanical keyboard, designed for 3D printing, tinkering, and experimentation – featured first here.
The DC project aims to provide a "test bench" for various column curvatures in mechanical keyboards. Side effects: shorter 3d printing times, instant fine-tuning of column height and stagger and adjustable tenting.
It is not designed to look stylish, sound spectacular, or increase compactness. If you do not mind a couple (dozen) dangling wires or visible screws, DC should offer adequate reliability and durability for long-term, even permanent, use – WolfIcefang.
Features
- Easy to print key columns that are instantly adjustable
- A 20 by 20 mm space under each key for per-key PCBs
- A complete model in FreeCAD
- The “handbook”, a 40+ page build guide
- easier access to column screws (you can properly unscrew the columns now)
- The Conductor: a screw-based breadboard that lets you replace columns without soldering or desoldering
- Adjustable tenting
- Mounting plates for the Raspberry Pi Pico and RJ11 jacks
Interchangeable thumb clusters are also a goal of the project, but currently there's only one thumb cluster to choose from.
Resources
Published on Sun 26th Mar 2023. Featured in KBD #117 (source).
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