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The Chaotist

Tschibo's idea manifested as an astonishing open-source PCB: Chaotist is an ergoish 40% keyboard.

KBD.news
Published February 11, 2024
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Mentioned last week in its concept stage, the Chaotist is here with creator Christoph Ballhause aka Tschibo00 sharing the KiCad files.

The PCBs have arrived, so I can finally bring my cursed layout - The Chaotist - to live :) […] Born from a stupid idea this thing actually proves to be surprisingly usable. At least after reducing the column stagger on the pinky from over-enthusiastic 1.75u to 0.75u :) – tschibo00.

Inspired by the Bruce keyboard (however, 2 columns wider), this unusual layout is the result of projecting an ergoish columnar layout on a rectangular keyboard shape, implemented by using 1u caps for the home row and various sizes for the top and bottom rows.

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You can be sure that the madness isn't over if you see a mold for the cement weight:

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The keyboard is case-less and is done as a sandwich with two PCBs, cement weight and foam – Tschibo.

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Specs

  • unique layout
  • 37-43 keys
  • MX, soldered
  • multiple bottom row and outer column layouts
  • RP2040 Pico
  • cement weight, PCB sandwich

Typing test

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Resources

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Published on Sun 11th Feb 2024. Featured in KBD #154 (source).


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