Keyboard Builders' Digest / Tips & Tricks

Dactyl flex PCBs

Open-source flex PCBs by janaka1 for Dactyls with adjustable row curvature.

KBD.news
Published August 21, 2021

It's hard to believe but this design is janaka1's first PCB.

This works with the standard Dactyl Manuform (spacing between keys 9mm) and the spacing can be adjusted by plus or minus 1mm (8mm to 10mm) by pulling/pushing on the PCB. The PCB thickness was 0.6mm, the lowest you can go while retaining the $2 promotional price ($2 for 5 PCBs of size 10x10cm – shipping not included).

Everything is in the public domain here: https://oshwlab.com/janakasoft/dactyl-flex-pcb

The schematic/PCB designs and the Gerber files are included. You can make changes as you wish.

Per-key RGB was the main motivation actually since hand-wiring is crazy.

Each joint can be bent 45 degrees without much problem, so you can make half a circle with 4 keys.

Published on Sat 21st Aug 2021. Featured in KBD #40 (source).

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