Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects
Kai Ascend
Ascend is a cute split keyboard designed and shared by Kai H. Chang.
Published April 11, 2024
Creators! Feel free to tip me off about your keyboard related projects to bring them to 150,000 readers.
Kai H. Chang aka K-H-C shared Ascend, this feature-packed split with encoders, displays, and much more.
First time designing my own keyboard. Also my first Kicad project – Kai.
The author wanted a board with both MX and Choc switches (not combined footprints but MX switches for the main area and Chocs for the thumb keys), while creating a natural elevation when used without wrist rests. Saving desk space was one of the design goals, so the board is wireless (utilizing ZMK).
Specs
- 36 keys
- MX main area, Choc thumb keys
- hotswap sockets
- encoder
- display
- Pro Micro footprint
The design was inspired by the Wubbo.
Caps are KLP Lamé by braindefender.
Things I learned from this project: print more and spend more time feeling; displays are good for debugging and aesthetics, nothing more really; one knob is enough and I don't really need it when I have a programmable mouse; design cases with sunk screws next time; no function beats the feeling of making the keyboard smaller – Kai.
Resources
- https://github.com/kaihchang/Ascend_splay_split_keyboard
- Tenting legs used (Aliexpress)
- KLP Lamé on github
Published on Thu 11th Apr 2024. Featured in KBD #161 (source).
Related
LeBallz
LeBallz is a Le Chiffre variant by Protieusz – with a 25mm trackball and an optional EC11 encoder.
Stront40
Evgenii Vilkov shared a new 40-key variant of his Stront: Stront40 with more keys and more modules.
Skywatch
Skywatch is a nice orthoish monoblock split by Özkan Çelik.
Powerspill
Sandalmoth published the Powerspill, a Dactyl-like split with keywell.