Issue 22 / Week 15 / 2021
This is a hand-picked selection of posts that may teach you something about designing and building your own custom keyboard.
Contents
Editorial
Behind the Scenes of Issue 22
The making of Issue 22, records in many statistics, new supporters on board, Reddit annoyance, fixing an embarrassing bug, Covid jab KO, subprojects continued.
This is exclusive content for my supporters.
Read the full story at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dovenyi/behind-scenes-issue-22
Projects
Mid-century modern inspired split
A split keyboard by stvneads (gallery).
This keyboard doesn't have a name yet.
Background & Concept
The author tried the well-known ergo split keyboards and “settled down” on the Redox Manuform before building this one because the key count and layout works best for him (and because of the aesthetics).
Stvneads found the Dactyl Manuform comfortable but he has built one with a too few keys (5x6) plus he doesn’t like the parametrically generated look so simply got rid of it.
Printing
Prusa i3 MK3S with Cura.
Printing at a 45 degree angle yielded the best results but still not perfect and needs some post processing.
The printed keycaps need some serious sanding to get them right.
Materials
The green is a locally sourced generic PLA+. Body is wood filament from the same vendor and stained. For keycaps they’re Spidermaker matte PLA.
Files
The author doesn't plan to release the files since the model is messy and requires some post processing to work.
If you’re interested in a similar layout you can search for Redox Manuform, the main inspiration for this build.
Wrist pads
The wristpad is an off the shelf mouse wrist pad with a custom base.Pteron36 keyboard
Pteron36 - a separate split keyboard designed by smart345bond for Miryoku layout users (git).
The btrfly
The btrfly by SolidusHal is a Dactyl Manuform fork with joint halves and without the keywells (git, pics).
SolidusHal's handwired monoblock btrfly keyboard is like the dactly-manuform-mini but squished together at an angle and flattened.
I used a dactly-manuform-mini for a while, but found it annoying to travel with since it was both bulky and split. While this is still a bit bulky, it fits nicely in the ergotravel case I already have – SolidusHal.
More pictures here: https://github.com/SolidHal/btrfly-keyboard/tree/master/pictures
GitHub repo: https://github.com/SolidHal/btrfly-keyboard
Modular keyboard
Modular keyboard by koktoh_kuro - parts attached by USB sockets (description in Japanese).
Tips & Tricks
A magnetic case for the crkbd/Corne
A well documented magnetic case for the crkbd/Corne keyboard by weissbieremulsion (git).
Test
Sound test compilation #9
This is a list of 10 sound tests published this week in a single megapack.
(Photo: Late Night Types)
You can find and compare these (and much more) typing tests in the Keyboard Sound Database.
Videos
- Keydous NJ68 + FFFF
Keydous NJ68 + FFFF (lubed)
MGA Standard + YOK Holy Pandas
G61 + Momoka FROG Linear
KBD67 lite + black inks
NiZ Plum Atom 68 + electro-capacitive switches
GMMK Pro + Glorious Pandas + PC plate
NK65 + Dusk Panda
Alpine65 + UwU - Panda
Sneakbox MGA Standard + JWK Seals
References
- Keydous NJ68 + FFFF by and.
- Keydous NJ68 + FFFF (lubed) by and.
- MGA Standard + YOK Holy Pandas by harsha.
- G61 + Momoka FROG Linear by KeebWorks.
- KBD67 lite + black inks by Barbell Binks.
- NiZ Plum Atom 68 + electro-capacitive switches by Late Night Types.
- GMMK Pro + Glorious Pandas + PC plate by Ming Rose.
- NK65 + Dusk Panda by clack labs.
- Alpine65 + UwU - Panda by Tom Types.
- Sneakbox MGA Standard + JWK Seals by JEZ Keebs.
Contributors
Thanks again to all the contributors, namely: and, Barbell Binks, clack labs, harsha, JEZ Keebs, KeebWorks, Late Night Types, Ming Rose and Tom Types.
History
Split typewriter
Rheinmetall Portable Ergonomic Typewriter from ~1935. Posted by hardboiledbabylon (r/mk).
I was aware of similar split/angled patents from as early as 1915, but not of actual products.
Keyboard Spotting
Dasher D2
Data General Dasher D2 Computer spotted by gamerintheshell in the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.
Clare-Pendar ASCII keyboard
Clare-Pendar ASCII keyboard picked up by Bafflednipple at a local antique shop. (Related thread by Pyrelink.)
Old terminal
An old terminal found in a power station by jacksonh22.
Branded "Leeds & Northrup - A unit of General Signal"
Behind the Scenes
Soldering a circuit board
Some mesmerizing pictures of soldering a circuit board with solder paste. Posted by cyan1618.
Inspiration
In progress
That was Issue #22. Thanks for stopping by.
u/kaleid1990, u/chrispydelivers, u/sadekbaroudi
Your support is crucial to help this project survive.