Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects
Tako
Tako is a 34-key EC split by ssbb_me.
Published May 14, 2023
We rarely see electrocapacitive keyboards, not to mention EC splits. Well, Sviatoslav Bulbakha aka ssbb_me just assembled the very first prototype of Tako, a 34-key EC split sporting an STM32 chip.
This particular build features DES Carrot 35g domes, DES housings, DES sliders and DES #7 silencing rings.
It's the first prototype I made, and it works as expected. However, it's a 4-layer PCBA-only board, so it can be quite expensive if you only want a single keyboard. Currently, I am working on a DIY version using STeMCell and hopefully nice!nano with hand-solderable components (SOIC and 0805). Support for nice!view is also planned – ssbb.
If split EC boards are your style, check out sekigon's Corne EC build, and also Cipulot's [https://github.com/Cipulot/CorneECRevival|CorneECRevival]].
And if you need an introduction to electrostatic capacitive (EC) non-contact switches and keyboards, Cipulot mentions the basics in the EC87 post, and he also wrote about his EC projects in the calendar: 2022 Roundup: the year of EC.)
Specs
- 34 keys, 5x3+2 split layout
- On-board USB-C with ESD protection
- STM32F4x1 MCU
- Actuation point changer
- USART full duplex
Resources
And the Tako design is open source:Published on Sun 14th May 2023. Featured in KBD #122 (source).
Related
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Cipulot posted some photos of his latest find: an electro-capacitive Sony BKE-9400A.
URSA keycap profile
URSA is a new keycap profile designed for Topre keyboards – a collab between 23_Andreas and FKcaps.
EC60
Cipulot's EC60 is an open-source universal 60% Electrostatic Capacitive PCB.
EC87
Cipulot's EC87 is an Electrostatic Capacitive (EC) TKL keyboard PCB.