Issue 16 / Week 9 / 2021

This is a hand-picked selection of last week's content from a keyboard builder's perspective. Posts that may teach you something, make you think and contribute to the common knowledge of the DIY builder community. Editor's note & behind the scenes.

There are 27 entries in this issue:

Projects

Building the naked keyboard

A picture-heavy build guide to the naked keyboard by onebigdoor. No plate, no case, no PCB - no problem.

Lil chonky bois

Third iteration of the lil chonky bois by Sndr666 with case files (git).

UnSplit

The UnSplit is a monoblock Kyria layout with modified thumb clusters. Built by dnlnrdn, designed by crunchyavocados (git).

Next Dactyl / trackball iteration

The next Dactyl / trackball iteration by crufia features integrated wrist rests (background).

Pico-based macro pad guide

A detailed guide by japunto to make a Pico-based keyboard/macro pad (guide).

TI-84 KE desktop calculator

The TI-84 KE by KiserRolls is housing a TI-84+CE calculator (project).

BOP 112% handwired ortho

The BOP is a 112% handwired ortho with some build pics by bread-mayo-ham-bacon.

Amigo Punk

The Amigo Punk is a handwired ALPS project with OLED display and encoder by Tuka-Chinchilla (photolog).

Community

New podcast (in German)

Give some love to Click! Clack! Hack!, a new podcast (in German) by nerdbude (episodes).

Tips & Tricks

3D-printed PCB

A printed circuit board. Literally. PCB 3D-printed by duzitbetter (reddit, hackaday).

Filco "patch caps"?

A relatively new keycap profile/system I wasn't aware of. Spotted in a Filco teaser posted by ffbe_noctis.

Single-column flexible PCB

Single-column PCB for Dactyl-like keyboards by Fmcraft. Per-key RGB, hotswap, ribbon connectors. Open-source but UNTESTED!

Adjustable tenting

A work in progress Corne with custom adjustable tenting. Links and details in the comments. Committed by ___Paladin___.

A case for small printers

A 60% keyboard case by WolfBlut you can print on a standard home printer (STL).

3D printable stabilizers

3D printable stabilizers by NekoMadeOfWaifus (STL).

Test

Keyboard Sound Database

The Keyboard Sound Database by dovenyi is a searchable collection of typing tests with metadata and comparison function (background).

Sound test compilation #3

This is another megapack of 15 sound tests published this week.

History

IBM Model M15 Adjustable

IBM Model M15 Adjustable keyboard review by Chyrosran22.

Keyboard Spotting

Wyse 160

Wyse 160 for spacebar-fetishists (9.25u) posted by hvontres.

Silicon Graphics 9500801

Silicon Graphics 9500801 found in the trash by Lonkweiler.

IBM Model F AT

Built like a brick. IBM Model F AT posted by StrawberryMarmalade.

Inspiration

Making a keyboard with handtools

A modern tool built with old tools. Making a BFO-9000 with handtools (by the5andmany).

uTyl - a handwired one

The uTyl is a handwired split by ripxorip (keymap).

Cable coil holder

Diderot effect in action: cable coil holder (wtf?!) spotted in a post by Crushader.

Keyboard with IR receiver

This time riskable put an IR receiver into his keyboard (video).

In progress

Concrete keyboard

Another concrete keyboard in the making, this time by Chrislybaer. First try failed.