Keyboard Builders' Digest
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Issue 161 / Week 14 / 2024

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

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Contents

Editorial

Behind the scenes #161

Keyboard projects, quick news, in the mailbox, meetups, new vendors and discount codes!

Hey, what's up everyone!

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Welcome back for another weekly recap and behind-the-scenes write-up.

If you are new to kbd.news, you can read how this started out and what this is all about nowadays. If you like what you see, subscribe to the newsletter (free) and donate some bucks to keep this otherwise free and ad-free project alive.

What about some real music while reading? Before Udio devours a whole industry overnight. (AI is both fascinating and dreadful.) I listened to Upiko all week.

Poll

I'm working on a keymap wizardry series, please fill out this short questionnaire if you have time and want to help. Practically two short questions, can be done in a few seconds. Thanks!

Some posts worth sharing

Pic: ErgoDox 76

ErgoDox 76 "Hot Dox" V2 disassembly

  • This week I reviewed the ErgoDox Hot Dox, another classic design reinterpreted by Alpaca Keyboards. What was once the go-to split board with a hallmark thumb cluster, comes now in a refreshed hotswap version and in a stunning acrylic case.
  • Chris Lo's rattlemebonez32 is a 32-key unibody pocket keyboard with minimal Choc spacing, CH552 MCU and FAK firmware.

Pic: rattlemebonez32

rattlemebonez32

Pic: Kai Ascend

Kai Ascend

  • The Kai Ascend is a cute split keyboard designed and shared by Kai H. Chang.
  • MReavley's split Rzr36 is the BLE Choc version of his earlier Slice36.

Pic: Rzr36

Rzr36

Pic: Woodpecker

Woodpecker

  • The Woodpecker by Özkan Çelik is a Lumberjack/Lumberelite variant with Cirque trackpad.
  • Sneftel's Gull v1 is an ergo unibody split with keywell and unique thumb cluster.

Pic: Gull v1

Gull v1

Pic: tamatama

tamatama

  • Dane Lipscombe's Tamatama is a 28-key Dactyl derivative with dual trackballs.
  • Twist40 by Rain2

Pic:

  • I have only a youtube teaser (thanks Den!), but T-Keyboard seems something new. The concept is similar to GrabShell, but there are trackpads here, positioned quite interestingly.

Pic: Aurora Lily58 case

Aurora Lily58 case

Pic: Spaceball42

Spaceball42

Keyboard art

  • This week was about the solar eclipse in the US, so here is a photo by Peppersheep: "Eclipse filtered through the blinds and projected straight onto the keeb…" (source)

Pic:

Pic:

  • MU01 Mountain Seclusion colorway – a wireless walnut keyboard by Akko. Not in mass production yet, but already teased at the 2024 Global Source Hong Kong Consumer Electronics Show.

Pic:

  • Shelves. Posted by icream4cookies.

Pic:

Just some build photos:

Pic: 40rmie LX by Sofaking0

40rmie LX by Sofaking0

Pic:

"Kunai" Corne

  • Starship Centurion with matching deskmat designed by Philip Lalonde aka jadepug (png images).

Pic: Starship Centurion with matching deskmat

Starship Centurion with matching deskmat

Matrix Faukwaa posted by Ookad:

Pic: Matrix Faukwaa

Matrix Faukwaa

Domain renewal

This is the time of year when the kbd.news domain expires, reminding me to be mindful about another cost. In short: Careful with these fancy domain TLDs like .news…

No wining and definitely not begging for donations this time, I can pay for it, but the point is:

Back in 2021 when I registered kbd.news, it cost me $4.48. Sure, it was a sale, the normal price was about $9 for a year if I remember correctly. Well, next year somehow it cost me $24.48 instead of the $9 previously indicated. Now it's $29.16.

You don't have to explain me inflation, I'm from a borderline third-world post-eastern block shithole of a country. :D However, this is not inflation but monopoly, cartel, lack of competition, you name it. And yep, I could go to a different registrar but it just isn't worth the hassle.

Keymap wizardry – New layout design series

So the SpaceFN tutorial was a hit, it registered 10 times the visits of a normal post. This inspired me to start a long overdue layout design series. I get to this point each year and have a ton of half-baked write-ups, but various things always get in the way and then I forget about this side-project for another year. Now I have some incentive too, because Drop asked me to write some articles for them, and what will be quite in-depth tutorials on kbd.news will be reworked for Drop into a shorter and easier-to-digest format.

I have the whole structure with about 20 drafts and even some fully finished texts waiting to be published. However, I'll have to code some supporting tools and do the scientific groundwork, this is the only risk I can see with timing. I did my research six years ago but for my native Hungarian and my custom physical split layout. Will have to generalize the results and apps I coded, starting with adding English and the standard layout.

TapXR being reviewed

I'm not sure what to say about the TapXR, this wrist-worn keyboard/mouse/controller.

Probably the most unlikely "keyboard" I've ever witnessed: a bracelet for one-handed chorded typing.

Pic:

It was sent to me by the manufacturer and I can see its purpose in some cases but it doesn't really work for me, at least not reliably enough to use it for anything serious.

Learning the chords took less than half an hour, but I'm still stuck. I really wanted to dedicate enough time to customizing it to my use case, but the problem is really the very hectic and picky translation of gestures into characters, which renders the whole project pretty unusable for me. And now it seems to be partially bricked due to a firmware update. Will have to reach out to support.

Donations

  • Yay, new donors! Thanks Robert V. and Micah A. (Sorry, just noticed, I rarely check anything other than PayPal.)
  • And many thanks to my awesome regular supporters and everyone who helped this project thus far.

For all the donation options check out the donation page!

In the mailbox

The TapXR I've already mentioned:

Pic:

Cleaning of one of my latest acquisitions took two days: this Acer ergo from 1997, rescued from a pigsty, literally, is unlikely comfy. I could use it as a daily driver.

Acer ergo (after):

Pic:

Acer (before):

Pic:

Pic:

Visitor stats

What the heck. I don't check stats very often, less frequently than once a month, so was surprised to see that there was a huge peak in the number of visitors. 135,000 unique users in 30 days, with 23K users on a single day. It seems Daniel's advent calendar piece on keyboard encoding was posted on Hacker News and registered a few tens of thousands of visits.

Meetup database

As always, this meetup database is both a calendar and an archive so feel free to send me upcoming events or even ones from the recent past to make this collection as comprehensive as possible.

Upcoming meetups

Recently added

Vendors & Discounts

With the vendor database update cycle finished, I expect much less news in this column. Anyway:

Feel free to use the KBDNEWS discount code at 148 keyboard shops!

I continue checking the coupons, adding new offers and removing inactive ones, but don't hesitate to report any issues.

New shops and updates to the database of keyboard vendors this week:

  • What The Thock is a new shop shipping from Australia for now. Run by a nice Australian/Japanese couple with plans to settle in Japan. Anyway, Jake and Emi offered you a 10% discount (code: KBDNEWS).
  • Mechanical Keyboards (US) new/old discount. There was a system update at mechanicalkeyboards.com which made the coupon code unavailable for some time. It is back now.

Developments

  • Picking up the thread of language statistics and layout design, dusting off my old scripts.

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That's all for today. Thanks for checking by. As always: Keep learning and building!

Until next time,
Tamás


Review

ErgoDox 76 Hot Dox V2 review

The ErgoDox Hot Dox is another reinterpretation of a classic design by Alpaca Keyboards. What was once the go-to DIY split kit with a hallmark thumb cluster, comes now pre-built, in a refreshed hotswap version and in a stunning acrylic case.

Designed by Alpaca Keyboards and sold by Apos, the ErgoDox 76 "Hot Dox" V2, this new take on the classic ErgoDox layout and PCB is a gorgeous pre-built split keyboard coming in a nice layered acrylic case and with hotswap sockets, per-key RGB, backlight, and a lot more – bringing the characteristic DIY charm of the original ErgoDox project to a whole new level.

If you think the name is starting to get out of hand, resembling a Spanish aristocrat, think again. Each part of the rather long name carries significant meaning.

The Hot Dox V2 is more than a typical ErgoDox — the hot swap switches allow you to easily swap in all your favorite switches, no soldering required. The V2 has independently swappable halves, uses the VIA configurator, and is RGB backlit – Alpaca.

While there are literally hundreds of split layouts out there, with numerous ErgoDox variants among them, many of these PCBs are DIY projects requiring soldering or placing an order at PCB manufacturers, laser cutters, etc. In contrast, the protagonist of this review is a fully built split keyboard, ready to rock right out of the box, bringing ergo splits to the masses.

Pic:

The Hot Dox V2 is a successor of the historic ErgoDox, a project introduced by Dominic Beauchamp (aka Dox) and PCB designer Fredrik Atmer (aka bpiphany) as early as 2011, now a part of mechanical keyboard history. Alpaca's Hot Dox V2 is its refined and updated descendant.

Disclaimer

The review unit in the photos, a fully built model with switches and caps installed, was sent to me by Apos. Seasoned kbd.news readers should be familiar with this store by now, but in case you've missed my Whitefox Eclipse review: despite their main focus being audio, Apos is expanding to mechanical keyboards and already offers an impressive selection of keyboards, keycaps and related accessories.

I'm not being paid to write this review, but as always, getting a free sample may result in all kinds of bias, both positive and negative in my experience. Take everything I write with a grain of salt.

First impressions

While the original ErgoDox was a bit chunky for my taste, the ErgoDox "Hot Dox" V2 looks stunning despite the same form factor. Part of this is the gorgeous layered acrylic case with aluminum switch plate (pretty impossible to shoot proper photos of it because the sandwich of layers acts like a mirror):

Nestled between layers of durable acrylic, the aluminum switch plate of the Hot Dox V2 is allowed to shine. This design choice is not just for looks – it enhances your keyboard's feel while providing a window into its mechanical heart – Alpaca.

You know I have a penchant for splits and have used various split models for ages, so I felt right at home with the Hot Dox. To be honest, after all these years it's hard to imagine what a newcomer to splits would feel, but based on the relatively large number of keys, subtle columnar stagger and larger caps of the outer columns, the transition from a standard keyboard should be relatively easy compared to more minimal splits or those with an extreme stagger.

Hot Dox V2 features

  • pre-assembled
  • ErgoDox layout, 38 keys per half (with 1.5U outer column)
  • hotswap, MX
  • on-board Atmega32U4 MCU
  • OLED screen (layer indicator)
  • per-key RGB + backlighting
  • independent halves (they can be used separately)
  • all USB Type C
  • VIA support

Pic:

Origin story

With its inception going back to 2011/2012, preceding even the Whitefox, the ErgoDox is another piece of keyboard history.

We are talking about an open-source project. If you are looking for production files, the original ergodox.org site is now ergodox.io – saved for future generations by Max Whittingham (robotmaxtron) and the community. However, the story began in 2011 with this interest check on Geekhack.

Developed by Dox (Dominic Beauchamp), the printed circuit board of the ErgoDox was designed by bpiphany (Fredrik Atmer), a popular layered acrylic case by litster, and the original firmware by Ben Blazak.

Dox was inspired by Nestor A. Diaz's Key64 keyboard, and also Maltron and Kinesis keyboards, obviously.

Pic: Key64, the inspiration

Key64, the inspiration

As already mentioned in the Whitefox review, given today's thriving keyboard scene it's really hard to imagine how difficult it was to get a custom keyboard manufactured or to source compatible keycaps for a unique layout. In those early days of mechanical keyboard renaissance these were almost insurmountable challenges. Almost. Because the ErgoDox came into existence – and have been with us for more than a decade now.

Pic: ErgoDox from 2015, with Teensy devboard

ErgoDox from 2015, with Teensy devboard

Apparently, even the unique keycap set required to populate the ErgoDox could not scare off users. Masses of people ordering it in pieces and soldering their own boards was a good sign for vendors, so DIY kits and pre-built options hit the market: from an early Teensy-based version on Massdrop to the Ergodox EZ, from the Infinity ErgoDox to unbranded alternatives on Aliexpress.

The Hot Dox V2 by Alpaca is the latest in a long line of predecessors.

Thanks to the open-source nature of the ErgoDox, it has inspired numerous other projects as well, e.g. Matt Adereth's Dactyl.

Unboxing & Contents

In the white cardboard box you have the prebuilt Hot Dox with switches and caps mounted (barebone version also available), along with two cables, tools, some bumpons and replacement screws.

Pic:

Pic:

Both cables are USB C, and of equal length (in contrast to the official photos renders at Apos with one of them being shorter).

ErgoDox layout

The original ErgoDox keyboard is split into two separate halves, each having a 7-column layout with a subtle columnar stagger. There are some alternative layouts, so each half can have 38-40 keys, 32 keys in the main area plus 6-8 keys in the thumb clusters (the 2U thumb keys can be used as 2x1U as well), totaling 76-80 keys on the whole board. There are variants out there that support 1U outer/inner keys too.

Pic:

However, the ErgoDox 76 Hot Dox V2, as the name implies, has a fixed 76-key layout. This means 2U keys in the thumb cluster and 1.5U keys in the inner and outer columns.

Keycaps

The Hot Dox comes with dye-sublimated PBT DSA caps. Pretty thick, and there are two color options: white caps for the light version and dark grey/black caps for the dark colorway.

The homing keys have deeper dish.

Pic:

Sourcing compatible keycaps is much easier now than it was back in 2012, but you have to make sure you know what you're doing when eyeing with a fancy keycap set. Even if there are 12x1.5U and 4x2U caps in a larger keycap set, profile incompatibility makes it tricky to populate the ErgoDox with most sets intended for standard(ish) layouts.

Switches

The PCB of the Hot Dox comes with hotswap sockets, so you can easily mount your favorite MX-compatible switches or replace the stock switches the board comes with if you prefer something else.

Pic:

That said, there's a barebone option without any switches, and Kailh Speed Coppers or Rose Reds if you'd like a fully pre-assembled build.

Pic:

Funnily and unexpectedly, my prebuilt board came with none of these but what looks like Kailh Burgundy switches. I sense a disturbance in the Force here. Will update this article if I learn more about this.

Build quality, structure

No gaskets, this ErgoDox is sandwich mounted, just like in the good old days. No surprise given the stacked structure.

Pic:

The standoffs are really nice and thick, not the basic ones you usually see in DIY kits. (The bundle comes with some extra replacement screws and standoffs.)

Pic:

The switch plate is matte black aluminum, but the transparent acrylic layers above it make it behave like a mirror. It's really tricky to make proper photos of it without seeing yourself reflected in the images:

Pic:

See the mysterious guy showing the V sign here? How handsome! (I swear the kbd.news T-shirt was accidental.)

PCB

As the full name implies, the PCB of the ErgoDox 76 Hot Dox V2 supports only the 76-key layout variant, which means fixed 2U thumb keys and 1.5U inner/outer caps.

Pic:

Beside the per-key RGB, the underglow makes a lot of sense in this case too, thanks to the transparent acrylic layers and bottom.

Pic:

Displays

By default, the left display indicates the active layer, the right one the last characters you typed. I'm not sure how serious of a security issue this may cause.

Pic:

Pic:

Ergonomics

Let's make it clear: keyboard ergonomy is a complex issue, and very personal too. There is no single general solution for everyone, that would make no sense since our fingers and hands are different. Accordingly, don't expect wonders if you have already developed pain. However, the ErgoDox, just like most split keyboards, introduces some features which in many aspects make it superior compared to the standard keyboard and may or may not alleviate or prevent various symptoms. These are:

  • Split, adjustable halves.
  • Thumb clusters.
  • Columnar stagger

What's missing from the full ergo arsenal: tenting, keywell and splay.

Split halves

The split halves may help your posture and their adjustable angle alleviate ulnar deviation. So if you have problems with your wrist when typing, a split like the ErgoDox or even a unibody angled board may help.

Thumb cluster

Even a split spacebar is capable of wonders, but a thumb cluster, when set up properly, can be a real boost to your performance.

Pic:

To say the truth, I prefer a basic tree-key thumb arc, but the more keys of the hallmark ErgoDox thumb cluster, a legacy of Maltron and Kinesis keyboards, won't hurt you either. The upper keys are not in the way at all, so simply ignore them if you'd like to stick to three keys.

I like the thumb keys closer to the main area. This particular cluster is even a bit further than that of the Glove80 which is also too far for me. To avoid stretch, you can use the inner thumb key as your home position or reprogram the whole main area and bring it inwards by one column.

Columnar stagger

Going columnar simply makes sense. Just think about why would we stick to the horizontal staggering, a legacy of mechanical typewriters, when there has been no type bars inside keyboards for about six decades now.

Pic:

I personally like more extreme stagger, but also accept that people coming from a standard keyboard may be scared off by my go-to offset of 1.5U on the pinkies. :D Again, the ErgoDox proves that it was designed with the average user in mind.

However, given the extra bottom row, you can reprogram your pinky column keys and offset the whole part with 1U. This is what I did (but haven't adjusted the caps).

Portability

As it is often the case with split keyboards, packing up and traveling with two pieces of hardware rather than one single slab (plus two cables if wired) is always more cumbersome. Not impossible of course, but I'd recommend the ErgoDox for stationary use.

Software

QMK and VIA compatibility. Great! No need to install anything. It's always nice if you have a familiar graphical interface to configure your board. Just head to usevia.app and start messing around with your keymap.

Pic:

Reproducing my custom layout and setting up SpaceFN went like a breeze. Whether you are the type who set up things once or keep tweaking your logical layout on a daily basis, the capabilities of the VIA-compatible Hot Dox do not limit your options.

Conclusion

The ErgoDox "Hot Dox" is a very well build split keyboard. With a nice look, proven design and offering great customizability, I can recommend it to anyone who'd like to try out a split layout but doesn't feel like ordering all the parts for an open-source DIY project, soldering, or sending the production files to a PCB manufacturer. Seasoned split users who are ready to dirty their hands can find a plethora of open-source projects out there, but if you need a pre-assembled split working out of the box, the build quality and features of the Hot Dox V2 won't disappoint you.

Pros

  • Split layout and features
  • Build quality
  • VIA support

Cons

  • Portability is tricky, just like with most splits.
  • Thumb cluster - a bit too far for my taste but may be perfect for others.

Availability

Feel free to use the KBDNEWS coupon code for 5% off, so the ErgoDox "Hot Dox" V2 is available from $185 (pre-assembled barebone) to $233 (full build with Kailh BOX(?) Rose Red switches and DSA keycaps):

Other products in the photos

Resources


Projects

Rattlemebonez32

Chris Lo's rattlemebonez32 is a 32-key unibody pocket keyboard with minimal Choc spacing, CH552 MCU and FAK firmware.

Chris Lo's (aka sporewoh) rattlemebonez32 pocket device is a 32-key monoblock keyboard with minimal Choc spacing – the bigger cousin to his idawgz32. Same minimalist key layout, more usable form factor, CH552 MCU, FAK firmware.

I wanted to show my newest and most affordable pocket keyboard, the rattlemebonez32. After hopping on the FAK firmware train, I wanted to make a slightly larger version of my $5 idawgz32. The board makes use of minimal choc spacing :).

Specs

  • 32 keys, angled unibody
  • Choc or KS33 (separate files)
  • 15mm x 15mm spacing (special keycaps needed)
  • CH552 MCU
  • two-part case
  • FAK firmware

The author recommends the Choc variant "as it's much easier to assemble (ks33 switches do not snap into the board, making soldering difficult but possible)".

The keys on this board are minimally spaced (15mm x 15mm), and as such will need special keycaps. The repo includes one, based on the Philidelphia minimalist.

Resources


Rzr36

MReavley's split Rzr36 is the BLE Choc version of his earlier Slice36.

After the MX Slice36, MReavley published Rzr36, a BLE Choc version of the original.

Modified my Slice36 layout for choc switches, and using a Xiao BLE with ZMK. A 100mAh battery under the top cover on each side is used. USB and power switches at the top – MReavley

Specs

  • 36 keys (3x5+3)
  • Choc, hotswap or soldered
  • Seeediuno Xiao BLE controllers
  • reversible PCB
  • kick-ass case design

Pic:

The layout has inherited the design cues from the Slice36, but has been modified to take advantage of the more compact nature of the Chocs.

As before, a single PCB is used for left and right, with the only caveat being installing the left controller upside down.

Pic:

Designing a case that does not increase the height of the keyboard very much is always tricky:

Yeah, that's been one of the things I've liked about not having cases for the Slice derived keyboards, but I did ultimately decide that staring at exposed lipo batteries at my desk everyday wasn't ideal, so I figured I had to cover them – MReavley.

Exploded view of the different layers: the red inside the top cover is also a separate piece glued in/secured with blu-tak, using 3 M3x8 and 3 M3x12mm countersunk bolts.

Pic:

Resources


Gull

Sneftel's Gull v1 is an ergo unibody split with keywell and unique thumb cluster.

The Gull is another stunning monoblock split by Sneftel, following his Heron, this time with easier-to-manufacture acrylic parts.

When seeing the Gull, the Killer Whale may come to mind because of all the laser-cut acrylic parts of the skeleton and also the joint method with the square nuts, but other than that, there isn't much in common between the two projects.

Pic:

Introducing Gull, a dished ergonomic keyboard with no handwiring and no 3D printing. Gull is not particularly concerned with aesthetics. It focuses on ergonomics and on rapid constructibility – Sneftel.

Gull started out as a development tool for the author to use when iterating on the Heron, his previous (and ongoing) keyboard design.

I wanted a way to quickly iterate through sets of angles and positions without the lengthy process of fabricating and assembling a Heron each time – Sneftel.

The frame is constructed of 6 mm laser-cut acrylic (other thickness and materials will also work), and the keys are mounted on thin 0.8mm FR4 PCBs which are bent to the frame.

Pic:

All positions, angles, radii, thicknesses, etc. are parametrized in the OpenSCAD files. Most parameters affect only one of the laser-cut shapes, and the PCBs can be reused when changing almost any parameter.

Cutting the entire frame takes about 25 minutes with the laser cutter used by the designer. Pieces are joined with (ideally) square nuts in T-slots; no drilling or other finishing is needed.

Pic:

Pic:

The thumb cluster comprises four keys, including one upside-down.

I found that this angle was more effective than the one I originally used in Heron. Currently it’s formed as part of one of the “ribs” but I intend to mount it separately in the next iteration, to make its positioning more flexible – Sneftel.

Diodes are mounted on the center board, and FFC jumpers run to the fingerboards. The jumpers are routed through slots in the frame to keep them from snagging on things (but this is still probably not the best keyboard to toss in a rucksack).

Pic:

Resources


Kai Ascend

Ascend is a cute split keyboard designed and shared by Kai H. Chang.

Kai H. Chang aka K-H-C shared Ascend, this feature-packed split with encoders, displays, and much more.

First time designing my own keyboard. Also my first Kicad project – Kai.

The author wanted a board with both MX and Choc switches (not combined footprints but MX switches for the main area and Chocs for the thumb keys), while creating a natural elevation when used without wrist rests. Saving desk space was one of the design goals, so the board is wireless (utilizing ZMK).

Specs

  • 36 keys
  • MX main area, Choc thumb keys
  • hotswap sockets
  • encoder
  • display
  • Pro Micro footprint

The design was inspired by the Wubbo.

Pic:

Caps are KLP Lamé by braindefender.

Things I learned from this project: print more and spend more time feeling; displays are good for debugging and aesthetics, nothing more really; one knob is enough and I don't really need it when I have a programmable mouse; design cases with sunk screws next time; no function beats the feeling of making the keyboard smaller – Kai.

Resources


Woodpecker

The Woodpecker by Özkan Çelik is a Lumberjack/Lumberelite variant with Cirque trackpad.

The Woodpecker is actually a fork of Lumberelite, created by Özkan Çelik on request of Ardakiic. The Lumberelite was inspired by Paul James' Lumberjack.

I've added a Cirque trackpad, and 3d Printed a shell, which is done by my friends at MechIstanbul Telegram group, which is the Turkey's biggest mechanical keyboard community as of now – Ardakiic.

Lumberjack plates work with the Woodpecker too. Ardakiic is using the lumberjack-split flavor on the board depicted above. Also the board is compatible with 60% cases. The one in the photo is a wooden one from a Chinese e-commerce website. The development board is raised with sockets so drill a hole into the case is not necessary.

Specs

  • 60 keys (6x5 offset halves)
  • MX or Choc (soldered only)
  • Cirque trackpad
  • Elite C
  • exposed components

Resources


Tamatama

Dane Lipscombe's Tamatama is a 28-key Dactyl derivative with dual trackballs.

Designed with the Cosmos Keyboard Configurator, Dane Lipscombe (aka dlip) made tamatama, a 28-key split keyboard with keywell and dual trackballs.

Specs

  • 28 keys (3x4+2)
  • Choc switches
  • RP2040-Zero controller
  • trackball (PMW3389)
  • 3D printed case

Dane's keymap is based on Arno's Engram v2.0 layout. A compact but full-featured and intuitive layout for programming and prose with chording for frequent words.

Resources


Quick news

Twist40 by Rain2.


I have only a youtube teaser (thanks Den!), but T-Keyboard seems something new. The concept is similar to GrabShell, but there are trackpads here, positioned quite interestingly.


Macoy Madson ended up writing a custom firmware for his Dactyl, using the Pico C SDK and TinyUSB. And here is a blog post with a lot of info.


Joe Scotto writes about Compiling QMK using Github Codespaces.


DrZippit made a case for the Aurora Lily58 (printables, reddit).


WIP: Spaceball42, trackball, wireless, and compatible with GH60 cases. And also a strange handwired one by reporepo344.


ShelZuuz tested Greyhill 04A-K01 joysticks on a build: "Don't use them".


This week was about the solar eclipse in the US, so here is a photo by Peppersheep: "Eclipse filtered through the blinds and projected straight onto the keeb…" (source)


Stone-style keycaps by taneyats.


MU01 Mountain Seclusion colorway – a wireless walnut keyboard by Akko. Not in mass production yet, but already teased at the 2024 Global Source Hong Kong Consumer Electronics Show.


Shelves. Posted by icream4cookies.


40rmie LX build by Sofaking0.



Starship Centurion with matching deskmat designed by Philip Lalonde aka jadepug (png images).


Matrix Faukwaa posted by Ookad.


That was Issue #161. Thanks for stopping by.

This issue was made possible by the donations of:
splitkb.com, MoErgo Glove80, Ashkeebs, ZSA Technology Labs, Aiksplace, @keebio, Upgrade Keyboards, Cyboard, Jason Hazel, Sean Grady, Jacob Mikesell, @kaleid1990, kiyejoco, Mechboards, KEEBD, littlemer-the-second, ghsear.ch, u/motfalcon, TurtleKeebs, Bob Cotton, FFKeebs, Richard Sutherland, @therick0996, Christian Mladenov, Joel Simpson, Lev Popov, Daniel Nikolov, u/eighty58five, Schnoor Typography, Caleb Rand, Skyler Thuss, Yuan Liu, James McCleese, Benjamin Bell, Ben M, TALPKEYBOARD, zzeneg, Spencer Dabell, Penk Chen, Matthias Goffette, Anatolii Smolianinov, Hating TheFruit, Felicitas R., Vitali Haravy, Clacky, Davidjohn Gerena, anonymous, Alex Miller, Rodrigo F., Brendan P., Adam Batkin, Shad, Andrew G., Trey Causey, Shnobble, Indigo Computer Systems Ltd, Jure B., Robert V., Rich Dawe, Enrico, Stefan S., Noel T., Luke R., Dylan Ingham, Eugene B., Micah A., Kane, Nicolas T., Dante P., Lam D., Gordon Diggs, Delek T., Moses Hoyt, Jurica B., Thomas P., Mario S., Cloyce, Dylan Ingham, s_p_l_o_d_e, Kevin B.

Your support is crucial to help this project to survive.

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