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
2022 Roundup: the year of EC
Cipulot sums up his journey in the field of designing electrostatic capacitive PCBs.
EC87
Cipulot's EC87 is an Electrostatic Capacitive (EC) TKL keyboard PCB.
URSA keycap profile
URSA is a new keycap profile designed for Topre keyboards – a collab between 23_Andreas and FKcaps.
Sony BKE-9400A
Cipulot posted some photos of his latest find: an electro-capacitive Sony BKE-9400A.