Keyboard Builders' Digest / Tips & Tricks
Splinktegrated controller
Splinktegrated, released by Fmcraft, is an open-source controller board for Dactyls.
Published May 19, 2023
Bastard Keyboards' Quentin officially announced Splinktegrated, a controller board with an on-board RP2040 chip, designed for Dactyls. It is based on the 0xB2 Splinky by plut0nium.
According to Quentin, Dactyls these days use either shield PCBs + rp2040 controllers, glue, or closed-source boards.
This is a board designed to be reliable, cheap and easy to manufacture, and easy to fork/modify. I've been working on this for the better part of a year now, and I'm now happy with its features – Fmcraft.
The ESD protection was added to both the USB and serial line after noticing that the RP2040 chip is more susceptible to it. On top of this, the usb-c port is installed in a daugtherboard, which makes the design reversible and easy to repair. This means you don't need to make two different case designs or order two different boards. Just install the components on the appropriate side and solder the jumper.
Features
- designed for assembly with off-the-shelf components at JLC
- connectors for up to 5 rows and 6 columns
- connectors for a trackball
- 2 holes for M4 screws
- ESD protection on USB and serial line
- 16MB memory
- footprint for audio jack and reset button
- reversible, with a jumper for power
Introducing the design
Quentin talks about his controller board, the inspiration, design goals, issues, etc. in this video:
Resources
Published on Fri 19th May 2023. Featured in KBD #123 (source).
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