Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects

Krteq

An open-source ortholinear keyboard featuring Gateron low-pro switches: Krteq by Jan Bláha.

KBD.news
Published April 24, 2026

Jan Bláha aka swift502 shared his Krteq, an extended 5x12 ortho project featuring Gateron KS-33B (GLP 3.0) switches.

Intended for ortho layouts with a shifted number row, allowing for the placement of the delete and tilde keys above their usual spots. Krteq is a successor to Krtkus, learning from its lessons to make a design that's easier to build, more maintainable, better encapsulated and overall a more complete product – Jan.

Features

• 61 keys, 5x12+2 ortho
• low-profile Gateron KS-33B (GLP 3.0) switches, hotswap
• Raspberry Pi Pico controller
• tray-mount PCB, integrated plate
• backlight
• 3D printed case (7 degree typing angle)
• Dimensions: 233mm × 127mm × 30mm
• QMK/VIA compatible

The board also has a Scroll Lock LED, which the author uses as an indicator for his custom accent input mode via an AHK script.

Resources

• https://github.com/swift502/Krteq

Published on Fri 24th Apr 2026. Featured in KBD #210 (source).

Related

Plate wrist rest

The plate is the wrist rest of this design by modularsynth123456.

IBM 4683 POS matrix keyboard

The IBM 4683 POS matrix keyboard is an ortho from IBM - acquired by SharktasticA.

Xiao_256

A wireless ortho split with source files: Xiao_256 by redguardsoldier.

Split bluetooth keyboard

TerranceN made a split Bluetooth 36-key keyboard with self-milled PCB.

Through-hole ortho with a thumb cluster

BTY-80 - A through-hole ortholinear TKL keyboard with a thumb cluster by ajkldsz.