Behind the Scenes of Issue 26

Issue 26 and personal favorites. Moving to KBD.news, more performance tweaks, CDN setup, redirecting madness. Issue 25 follow-up.

For me, this week wasn't really about keyboards but about web development and changes in the hosting. Moving to the new KBD.news domain (thanks, Chad!) required some major changes in the background. I had to quickly learn a lot about CDNs and other performance tweaks. Hopefully, the work I've done is visible on the page loading times.

Personal favorites

As you might have realized, I love monoblock split designs, but other than that, quite every well documented project. However, sometimes a single link or a piece of new information can start you on a fresh learning journey.

This week I would highlight the…

[…]

This is exclusive or early-access content for my supporters on BMC.

If you can't afford supporting this project, don't worry, I might publish parts of these write-ups later.

Btw, the full story is 4000+ characters long and you can read it at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dovenyi/behind-scenes-issue-26

Sepia

Sepia by panichardware. Low profile split ergonomic keyboard created with Ergogen.

34 keys, aggressively staggered and rotated pinky column with top row omitted.

For reference, the pinky column is staggered 17 mm and rotated 15°.

Made entirely with mrzealot's Ergogen.

Source files: https://github.com/tapioki/sepia

Custom tented Sofle

A custom Sofle by onebigdoor with hotswap, foam gasket and modular tenting system.

This keyboard was a commission and hotswap was important, so onebigdoor went with a Sofle hotswap PCB.

The client wanted to experiment with tenting angles. Playing cards were used to experiment with different heights to see what he liked.

The final version uses printed tenting wedges fixed with silicone bands (removable). With the silicone bands the same effect could be achieved by creating custom tenting blocks that perfectly matched the case and style of the keyboard.

Without the wedges, the board is only 12 mm thick.

The case uses no fasteners, only the silicone bands, which also serve as non-skid feet.

Since the board does not use fasteners, swapping the blocks in is as easy as removing the bands. As a start two sets of blocks were printed at different angles, but printing more blocks is trivial, so it will be easy to iterate. Even compound angles can be done using this method.

The PCB sits on foam, and the copper plate sits on a foam gasket. You could type a baby to sleep with this thing.

Plates are 1.6 mm copper, laser cut by SendCutSend. Gaskets are 2 mm foam cut with Cricut. Cases are 3D printed PLA. Switches are stock silent Boba U4. Caps are RAMA grid. Knobs are from a bass.

More pics at https://imgur.com/gallery/uMbTmjX.

Kyria with pimoroni trackball

A Kyria with pimoroni trackball and 3D printed tented case by UghThatsTheWorst.

The trackball works over I2C, so it just required a few extra files and configuration in the QMK firmware to get it working.

• Trackball: https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/trackball-breakout
• Original case: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4378710
• Trackball mount STLs: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4857173
• Wiring gallery with instructions: https://imgur.com/a/KQuuaDi
• Code: https://github.com/schleyben/qmk_firmware/tree/master/keyboards/kyria/keymaps/schleyb-right
• Wrist rest: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4858246

Since there are no OLEDs on this model, UghThatsTheWorst soldered onto those contacts on the PCB. These instructions were used along with a couple other reddit and github posts to get it working in the firmware.

Thumb key position was used because it was convenient and the author is used to using a trackball with the thumb. In the end it was probably also the easiest place to pass wires through, as you can see in the album.

The only thing he needed to change in the keymap was to make that outermost switches NOOPs since they didn't have anything attached. Didn't feel like much of a loss since the extra key there wasn't used anyway.

You could place the trackball where the OLED would go instead. It would just require some thought on wiring and a different mount (there isn't really anywhere to screw into there).

On the trackball

It is a very small trackball. Not sure if it's exactly the same one, but it feels the same as an old Blackberry phone trackball. It's not really great, since you can't get a big roll on it and it doesn't have any momentum.

So the configuration in the firmware is more important to get a quick movement across the screen but still be able to make fine movements. UghThatsTheWorst is still working on that part, he is sort of right on the edge of being a functional pointer right now as a mouse substitute. It would work better on a smaller single monitor.

Converted Zenith Z-150 XT

A Zenith Z-150 XT brought back to life by theguth.

SKCL Alps green switches. The PCB was in great shape, but the DIN connector was a problem. theguth wanted to keep the chunky cable so he built an external converter.

Before the paint job the steel backplate and the upper plastic case were removed.

To soften the glue, holding the metal badge on, a heat gun was used in low.

After throughout cleaning the case was spray painted with Krylon fusion (espresso). The paint cured for a few days before reassembly – it seems to be bonded well.

Gallery: https://imgur.com/gallery/EwMe5qe

Pinky3 build

A Pinky3 build by markbaraban.

The Pinky3 is an open-source split 3x7 keyboard with vertical staggering and 4 low profile thumb keys.

The original design by tamanishi is available here: https://github.com/tamanishi/Pinky3

It was inspired by the crkbd, Lily58, Ergo42 and Helix.

Musical instrument

Keyboard building skills used to make a musical instrument – by archarios.

Source code by Johan Berglund: https://github.com/Trasselfrisyr/tlc-strummer

ThinKeys 13

ThinKeys 13 by dennisleexyz. A split ortho with TrackPoint for ThinkPad.

Split ortholinear custom replacement keyboard with TrackPoint for ThinkPad laptops.

• Gallery: https://modulo.industries/
• Github repo: https://github.com/moduloindustries/thinkeys

Low-profile 5x12 ortho

A low-profile 5x12 ortho for travelling by TecHno-Guy.

TecHno-Guy wanted a low-profile 5x12 ortho for traveling with his laptop. He couldn't find a PCB for Kailh Choc switches, so he went with handwiring. Also, he decided to go for a clear base to show off his work.

The result is this custom handwired 5x12 ortholinear keyboard with a 3D printed plate and main case, and an acrylic bottom.

Switches: Kailh Choc Dark Yellow, lubed with Tribosys 3203

Since the keyboard is approximately the same size as a Nintendo Switch, the author is planning to buy a sleeve to give it a bit of protection in a backpack.

Iammeuru's interview

Iammeuru's interview in a new episode of The Thocc podcast. Presented by Vogsphere.

In this episode Vogsphere talks with Twitch streamer and keyboard builder Iammeuru about the hobby, building keyboards, highs and lows, and other topics as well!

https://thethocc.libsyn.com/episode-13-iammeurus-interview

Custom Corne case

Custom Corne case covering controller by kisonecat.

The case was designed in OpenSCAD and the models are available on GitHub: https://github.com/kisonecat/corne-case

Printed in white filament on an Ender 3.

The keycaps are from a SA-P Snow Cap keyset and the keyswitches are Kailh Box Jades. The controller is an Elite-C.

Printed ring gasket mount case

The Teamwolf Special - A 3D-printed ring gasket mount case for the Teamwolf Zhuque by RogerArbogast.

STLs (with rear cutout): https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4820342

The ring gasket material used was the following 4 mm diameter gasket: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.26402e8dALgGgH&id=613137269072&_u=120rh52ke619

Typing tests of both the stock and gasket versions are posted here.

Lasercut, modular keywell

First proof of concept of a lasercut, modular keyboard with wells by Macone4.

The lasercut modules will be quick to produced and angles easy to fine tuned by changing out one or two cheap pieces.

Pics: https://imgur.com/a/oPZAKWj#Nr1b7O4

More related projects linked from the comments:

• the Genesis2.5 by sekigon-gonnoc,
• the flatpacked dactyl by nickcoutsos, and
• the Acrylic 3D KB by kobababa.

Follow-up on 2021-05-30 with more pics: here.

Designing a keyboard in Fusion 360

Speed run by BeardFromFargo designing a keyboard in Fusion 360.

3D printed end result: https://imgur.com/a/1SsEMKa

The design of this 3D printable keyboard was made IRL in under 60 minutes in Fusion 360:

Rit dyeing a case

Making a case look less like plastic and more like glass - video by avgsgn.

A little video tutorial on the Rit dyeing process.

Wireless 2.4Ghz receiver for Bluetooth modules

Turns any nRF Bluetooth keyboard (nice!nano etc.) into a non-Bluetooth QMK keyboard.

Turn a ProMicro and a low cost nRF module into a wireless receiver for your split keyboard using nice!nano etc., and cut latency and connection hassles.

It requires custom firmware on your nice!nano or similar, replacing ZMK, but once programmed, you update key maps etc. using QMK on the USB connected ProMicro receiver.

Basically, the nice!nano replicates what a split keyboard slave would do over TRRS, but over the wireless link.

Switch details you may not know

ThereminGoat presents 25 switch details you may not know.

From the article here you can learn that:

• Matias Orange switches almost happened.
• Cherry has ‘Cherry Red’ colored prototypes.
• PME and JX are not new plastics.
• Gazzew’s ‘Black Ice’ Switches were a thing.
• Mech27 bathed in Invyr Pandas.
• Gateron employees hand inspect switches.
• Prototype switches are sometimes incomplete.
• There’s a 4th Novelkeys (green) Big Switch.
• Red and Black Zealios switches existed.
• ‘Dummy Stabilizer’ switches exist in vintage boards.
• Vintage Blacks have more than one spring type.
• Some prototype switches differ wildly from final results.
• There are more than just two versions of Zeal switches.
• KTT’s switch nameplate logo is not a mountain.
• There were alternate Novelkeys ‘Blueberry’-like switches.
• Vintage keyboards often had different spacebar switches.
• Aliaz and Arctos switches were supposed to be ‘Zeal killers’.
• Overt factory errors in switches do happen.
• JWK switches were available 6 months before the Stealios Controversy.
• Switch Stickers existed long before Switch Films.
• Some Blue switches have ‘Snap Spring’ mechanisms.
• Blue, Clicky switches are the most cloned type of MX switches.
• There are other Hirose colors than Orange and Clear.
• Super and Mega Cherry MX Blacks exist.
• Three different variants of Cherry MX Locks exist.

Read it now: https://www.theremingoat.com/blog/25-switch-details-you-may-not-know

Updated Model M reference materials

New reference material on the Model M by Warm_Ad9986.

The Model M Troubleshooting FAQ:

http://catb.org/esr/faqs/model-m-troubleshooting.html

Wikipedia entry on the Model M:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard

Sound test compilation #13

This is a list of 11 sound tests published this week in a single megapack.

(Cover image by David Crystal.)

You can find and compare these (and much more) typing tests in the Keyboard Sound Database.

Videos

Portico + Everglide Water Kings + silicone Portico + Everglide Water Kings KBD75 + brass + Boba U4T Tofu65 + Gateron Ink V2 NK Cream + brass + wood Mode Eighty Founders Edition + Lavenders Nk65 V2 + Gateron Black Inks v2 NK65 + Ergo Clear NK65 + Durock Linears KBD67 Lite + Boba U4T OLKB Planck Acrylic + Durock T1

References

• Portico + Everglide Water Kings + silicone by sviz.
• Portico + Everglide Water Kings by sviz.
• KBD75 + brass + Boba U4T by Zorf Boards.
• Tofu65 + Gateron Ink V2 by Zorf Boards.
• NK Cream + brass + wood by Y1ROK.
• Mode Eighty Founders Edition + Lavenders by Rosey Pham.
• Nk65 V2 + Gateron Black Inks v2 by smackswell.
• NK65 + Ergo Clear by clack labs.
• NK65 + Durock Linears by David Crystal.
• KBD67 Lite + Boba U4T by Swiitchback.
• OLKB Planck Acrylic + Durock T1 by Scheißewagen.

Contributors

Thanks again to all the contributors, namely: clack labs, David Crystal, Rosey Pham, Scheißewagen, smackswell, sviz, Swiitchback, Y1ROK and Zorf Boards.

A trip down the memory lane

A trip down the memory lane of the custom keyboard community by icelongclaw.

icelongclaw was asked to hold a talk to his research group about custom mechanical keyboards.

Digging up the forums and other sources, reading some of the early discussions, he found some real gems.

Check some of the highlights here.

Devlin spotted

A Devlin Electronics keyboard with tons of keys found by beez_y.

Model: Devlin Electronics model F1-KMX-143-750-060

https://www.directindustry.com/prod/devlin/product-19875-1497433.html

This came from the e-waste pile at KQED, which is currently rebuilding it's main building in the Mission District of San Francisco.

Tons of keys, Cherry MX Browns, and it's USB.

IBM Model M15

Anti-Antidote got this old IBM Model M15 from his grandfather.

Manufactured in September 6th, 1995.

The Model M15 is the only mechanical buckling-spring keyboard made by IBM that is fully adjustable in terms of ergonomic position.

According to GreenPylons, it's worth about $1K these days. Back in the early 2010s (before the ErgoDox and other split customs) they would go for $1.5K as it was one of the very few ergo mechanical keyboards available at the time.

Highlights: Split Spacebar (obviously), two arrow clusters, and numlock indicator LED without having a numlock key or numpad at all (solution: it came with an external numpad).

More details: https://www.clickykeyboards.com/product/1995-lexmark-model-m15-ergonomic-1428401-external-num-pad-22-nov-1995/

Rollow: with thumb encoders

The Rollow is a split keyboard by ArtofZenKeys with dedicated thumb encoders.

According to the designer, this keyboard is inspired by the ergonomics of a Ferris and the elegance of a Corne.

And the EVQWGD001 encoder from the post by SouthPawEngineer featured in Issue #24 is here again.

New info: footprint by plut0nium.

https://github.com/plut0nium/0xLib/tree/master/Encoder.pretty

A few features of the Rollow:

• Dual thumb encoders
• Reversible PCB
• Oled Support
• Choc spaced
• Power Switch (MSK12C01) Compatibility
• Pads for an external battery
• Plans to be supported on both QMK and ZMK
• Plans to support Hotswappable Choc V1's and Minis (Separate boards)

One-handed build

A one-handed keyboard by nonsleepr with sloped thumb keys.