Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects
Tackle keyboard
Skarrmann's Tackle is a wearable wireless ortholinear keyboard – strapped to your torso.
Published December 20, 2024
This blog is powered by 54 readers while read by 150,000. Donate like BeaverKeys, RGBKeys, and Trey Causey!
Steven Karrmann aka skarrmann shared his Tackle project, a wearable 48-key ortholinear keyboard powered by a Bluetooth-enabled Pro Micro compatible dev board. It uses Choc v1 switches with 18mm x 17mm spacing.
Tackle is strapped to your torso so you can type wherever you are. Sitting, standing, walking, laying on your back… – Steven.
Specs
- 48 keys (6x8 ortho grid)
- low-profile Choc v1, soldered or hotswap
- Pro Micro footprint (e.g. nice!nano or SuperMini nRF52840)
- ZMK
Each build uses five copies of the same PCB. One PCB is used as the logical PCB – all components are soldered on to this board. Three PCBs are used as center plates to encase the microcontroller dev board and battery. The breakout sections of these PCBs must be cut out. A final PCB is used as the bottom plate. All the PCBs are screwed directly together.
Typing demonstration
Resources
Published on Fri 20th Dec 2024. Featured in KBD #182 (source).
Related
Buran-Ortho
A monoblock split keyboard with orthoish halves: Buran by ScatteredDrifter.
Pittheus
Ikeji's Pittheus is a foldable monoblock keyboard with a clever hinge mechanism.
Low-profile 5x12 ortho
A low-profile 5x12 ortho for travelling by TecHno-Guy.
Explorer Mountain
DreaM117er's Explorer Mountain is a modular monoblock split supporting a wide range of switches.