Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects
StarShip-Centurion
The SS Centurion, a 39-key monoblock split with a trackball, is the latest keyboard by Protieusz.
Published January 10, 2024
Protieusz is back with yet another cool project: the monoblock split SS Centurion was inspired by boards like the Le Chiffre and Orbital. (For his previous keyboards read this article in the MK Advent Calendar.)
I never had the chance to print the Le Chiffre pcb and always wanted one but with more features like a trackball integrated to it – Protieusz.
The SS Centurion has more pinky stagger than its inspirations, and a trackball is located near the thumb area in order to make the keyboard more compact.
Specs
- 39 keys
- MX, soldered
- on-board RP2040
- trackball
- LED underglow
The trackball PMW3360 sensor VIK module (designed by Sadek of Fingerpunch) is attached by hot glue or acrylic glue to the 3DP trackball holder (designed and sold by @ma_po_daisuki).
The height of the trackball can be adjusted using M2 standoffs and it's connected to the keyboard PCB by a ribbon cable. Despite using a VIK module, this keyboard PCB is not VIK certified since Protieusz removed a couple of the pin connections for easier routing.
The SS Centurion also has 20 RGB lights along the cut out "slots" of the case to make it look more like a starship.
No encoder was added because the QMK code allows scroll lock for the trackball and I find the scroll lock is more used than the encoder itself and save some space to make the keyboard look more compact.
Warning: The build of the SS Centurion requires a lot of DIY fixes so be warned if you decided to print and build your own.
Resources
- https://github.com/protieusz/StarShip-Centurion
- https://ma-po.booth.pm/items/5258743
- https://github.com/sadekbaroudi/vik/tree/master/pcb/pmw3360-xs
Published on Wed 10th Jan 2024. Featured in KBD #150.
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