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Rain2's year of keyboard design

Rain2, a newcomer to the keyboard community, reflects on this year's achievements, sharing how an addiction to keyboard design has taken hold.

Xiaoyu Zhang
Published December 22, 2024
This post is part of the KBD.NEWS Advent Calendar 2024 series.

Hello everyone, I'm Rain2. Before discovering mechanical keyboards, I was a 3D printing enthusiast, passionate about setting up and troubleshooting printers. However, toward the end of 2023, I developed an interest in modeling, drawing, and PCB design. Keyboards seemed like a great starting point, so I decided to give it a try – and I ended up getting completely hooked.

Earlier this year, I tried to build some open-source keyboards myself, which helped me understand the basic structure and hardware/software of mechanical keyboards. This inspired me to try designing my own keyboards. I use Fusion 360 for modeling, and while I currently only know how to use ZMK for firmware, many of the PCBs I've used were generously provided by friends. I simply design whatever ideas come to mind.

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To be honest, before this, I had no background in design, art, modeling, or PCB knowledge. I simply learned and explored whatever interested me, and I truly enjoyed the process.

What's particularly unique is that from the very beginning, I didn't rely on others to learn how to design keyboard structures. On one hand, 3D printing made the process incredibly convenient – I could simply rely on my imagination, sketch an idea, print it, adjust, and repeat until I figured out how to draw and conceptualize. On the other hand, I've never been a fan of uniformity.

Often, an idea suddenly strikes me, and I can't wait to bring it to life—sketching it out, printing it, and completing it. Of course, there are many designs I couldn't create due to my limited skills. While many of my designs are quite basic, I still choose to showcase them.

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I'm not sharing models but a mindset, an inspiration. After all, with additive manufacturing at our fingertips, let's embrace creativity and say goodbye to uniformity, allowing our ideas to be as whimsical as we dare.

Now it's December, and looking back over the year, I've learned modeling, gained basic circuit knowledge, and figured out how to create simple firmware. It's been a very fulfilling journey. For this article, I carefully reviewed my work, and I was shocked myself: this year, I designed a total of 18 keyboards and 3 pads.

So let's take a look at what I've designed!

1. ns58

This is one I designed for a friend. They described their needs, and I tried to model it accordingly. It has a very simple shape – nothing much to say about it.

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2. Twist40

Since I had just made a few curved keyboards, I wanted to try creating a tent-shaped slanted keyboard. At the time, not fully understanding layouts, I referred to Batoid and attempted to piece together a tent shape using two twisted surfaces. The drawing process was quite challenging for me as a beginner, and in the end, I hand-finished all the parts without using any PCBs, including the lighting on the keyboard.

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3. Beach60

Designing a keyboard for an existing PCB is not easy, especially if you want something unique. I had seen stacked acrylic keyboards, so I used 3D printing with filament to achieve a similar effect. Since it was for a girl, I tried to capture the waves of the sea in the design.

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4. Unportable

This is a keyboard that remains unfinished to this day, a tribute to a certain portable typewriter from 100 years ago. Due to the inclusion of a bell module, I have yet to create a satisfactory structure for it, which is why it has been left unfinished ever since.

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5. Marquardt

A PCB made by a friend, resembling Le Chiffre, inspired me to create a Doys-themed keyboard since Le Chiffre has a 2u layout. I designed a huge 2u shape for it, only to later find out that his PCB doesn't support a 2u key. I almost cried.

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6. Vengeance

A ZMK version PCB of the Zazu keyboard made by a friend. I'm particularly satisfied with the design of the knob; I think it's beautiful, and it feels great as well. The theme is Batman and a safe.

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7. Sofle

Just a plain old Sofle. This was my first attempt at adding switches to a printed keyboard, and it turned out reasonably well.

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8. Secret Bable of Martial Arts

A keyboard designed for V4VN, the theme is quite obvious, just like its name. This was an attempt at reverse thinking; I felt having a nameplate to match the keyboard was too uniform, so I made the keyboard match the nameplate.

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9. Twin Split

This is probably the design I'm most proud of – unique in both its visual and structural elements, embodying a strong yin-and-yang aesthetic. It was also my first attempt at a group buy in China. (Today I just shipped out 500 sets – I'm exhausted!)

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10. Batto

The front design of this keyboard was completed some time ago. Since it features a katana layout, I wanted to create a theme to complement it. I experimented with various materials, such as fabric strips, leather, and ribbons, but I wasn't satisfied with the back design. I hope to finalize it next year.

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11. Vacni

This was a new structural experiment that I believe effectively overcomes printing size limitations and allows for structural expansion. For the layout, I incorporated a Japanese-style double spacebar, which felt fantastic.

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12. Gift

This was another structural experiment, but to be honest, it's not as sturdy as the Vacni; I ended up splitting it into too many parts. Overall, though, it's still functional.

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13. Broken

For some strange reasons, I won't showcase this one for now.

14. Ergowing

I have always liked the willow layout, but this is just a prototype; there isn't a detailed structural design yet.

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15. PantsuAlice

This was an attempt at an anime theme, and this time I managed to create a layout that I'm satisfied with. Of course, the theme itself might be a bit controversial. I also experimented with a multi-part magnetic attachment system, and the results were quite satisfactory.

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16. Suitcase

This is a Kailh low-profile split keyboard with MX spacing. I used an interesting method to solve the leg support problem, allowing this printed keyboard to have two angles. Its true body is still unfinished — it's a travel case that can be charged.

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17. Moment Split

A 40-split keyboard PCB made by a friend; I just doodled a shape for fun. The left and right hand parts have different structures; the left hand simulates a folding camera, while the right hand one a replaceable frame.

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18. Macinbaby0110

Previously, I experimented with magnetic levitation on a pad, and this time I successfully applied it to a keyboard. While the shape was sketched rather casually, the structure was carefully planned over a long period. The magnets not only provide lift but also exert downward pressure. By using magnets of varying sizes, I was able to achieve different strengths, though further optimization is still needed.

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To sum up, as already stated, I've always believed that additive manufacturing should bring something unique to keyboards. I don't enjoy using it just to replicate subtractive manufacturing methods—it's too devoid of creativity. I want to explore new ideas, conceptualize them, and bring them to life. That's where the real joy lies for me.

I typed this article on my Twin Split, a self-designed split keyboard, with Lichicx Goodbye Tactile switches, mix and match MOA keycaps.

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Xiaoyu Zhang (38)

HandleRain2 (图2)
LocationXi'an, China
DescriptionDesigning strange keyboards
OccupationFreelancer
Joined (the hobby)2024
NicheKeyboard case design
Fav. switchKailh Box Summer, low-profile Kailh Autumn Mini
Fav. keycap profileSA, DSA
Other hobbies3D printing, gaming
Linkshttps://twitter.com/rain2813
Do you like this post? Share, donate, subscribe, tip me off!

Published on Sun 22nd Dec 2024. Featured in KBD #182.


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