Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects
Jianovka
A contemporary split built with scavenged Hall-effect switches and caps from a vintage keyboard.
Published January 18, 2022
Jianovka is a chorded keyboard that looks similar to the Jian or Corne but originally used chords instead of layers.
As of my understanding, the keyboard was designed by Dmitry Nikolaev (aka Xenocephal) and Alexander Krikun (whose name may sound familiar from recent posts like the Nijuni and Skean) obtained a spare PCB.
[…]I even made a few mods to accommodate a more traditional case. I got my hands on a set of Dmitry's spare PCBs in and went on from there – Alexander Krikun.
Basically, the columnar stagger and thumb cluster are copied from Jian keyboard, and the outer pinky key is removed. So Jianovka looks more like Jian, but has 42 keys like a Corne.
Will have to ask around but the repo (https://nest.pijul.com/sunflower/jianovka) gives me internal server error messages. (Alexander pointed me to a GitHub backup. Thanks!)
Anyway, this keyboard project is not about the typical open-source PCB you'd send to your favorite PCB manufacturer. It was designed to be made with Hall effect switches and keys scavenged from a vintage Zbrojovka 262.3 keyboard (plus Teensy 2.0 microcontroller and QMK firmware).
And here is a huge gallery of photos taken by Jacob Alexander while disassembling a Zbrojovka aka. Bezkont. Klávesnice 262.3.
A minute of monkeytype with Xenocephal's Jianovka - a split keyboard built from a 1988 Zbrojovka 262.3. The switches have been ultrasonically cleaned and lubed with 205G0, the plate is 1.5 mm stainless steel, and so is the bottom. There's also a thin layer of foam between the bottom and the PCB – Alexander Krikun.
So while we've seen many converted vintage keyboards, this one is a contemporary split built on a retro keyboard's intestines.
Even if the repo will work again, to build this, you will need Teensy KiCAD symbols and footprints, QMK firmware with Jianovka keyboard files, and a Zbrojovka 262.3 keyboard of course…
Honestly, you better put such a vintage beauty on a display and print some Hall-effect switches with Riskable's OpenSCAD void switch files instead.
Published on Tue 18th Jan 2022. Featured in KBD #62 (source).
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