Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects
Sandy
Takeshi Nishio's Sandy is a multi-PCB approach to mimic a keywell on his Jones keyboard.
Published April 2, 2023
Enlarge the photo above by clicking it and take a look at e.g. the top alpha row. Takeshi Nishio aka @jpskenn is experimenting with a multi-PCB setup to bring keywells to the otherwise flat keyboard.
Based on the symmetric layout of the Jones keyboard, the MX predecessor of his Nora if I'm right, the Sandy features PCBs on three stacked levels, with spacers between them.
The prototype of Sandy has been completed. (TOFU case for the time being.) A similar symmetrical layout to Jones with some key heights changed to make it easier for fingers to reach Y and P. You can also adjust the height with a combination of spacers, etc. Since it is treated as an experimental machine, I wonder if it will end with just a prototype.
It reminds me of Sasha Karmanov's boards, e.g. the Thumbs Up!, but the goal is the keywell rather than the tenting effect this time.
中身は基板3枚をスペーサー挟んで重ねてます。
— Takeshi Nishio (@jpskenn) March 26, 2023
他に良い案が浮かばなくて、基板間の接続はQwiicケーブル6本でぐちゃっと。SHコネクタの高さは基板に穴を開けて回避。
技術的には新しいことはやってなくて、スイッチを立体的に配置したらJonesがもうちょい良くなるかな？をやってみただけ。#Sandy_kbd pic.twitter.com/B5BVCUO8Dh
Resources
Published on Sun 2nd Apr 2023. Featured in KBD #118 (source).
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