Behind the Scenes of Issue 33

Split database - search by tag. Issue 32 follow-up. Top 5 posts. Future plans / priority list.

Summary

Hm. It seems many builders went on holiday since there was practically not a single keyboard related project published this week, at least not the kind I usually like to feature: open source ones with detailed description. I didn't want to feature meme-projects but I had to this time.

Split database

I've been working on the new filter/search interface which utilizes all the tags instead of a few categories. You can now filter all the split keyboards by any combination of the tags.

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A machined keyboard with machined caps

A machined keyboard with machined keycaps by saturnfig.

Gallery with lots of pictures and some info: https://imgur.com/a/HyNVOiF

Actual runtime + setup time on the case was ~70 hours (100 if you include the fixture) because I had to do 7 different setups and a lot of shifting and checking with my dial indicator until it was where I wanted it.

The whole thing was machined on a Haas mini mill, 16" x travel the case is 17.7" so that was what took so long. Also cutting the really small radius for the key switch cutouts took forever. The keycaps took a bit but not nearly as brutal as the case because 6 could be done at a time.

It "only" cost around $300. Most of the material was donated so that helped. Total BOM cost would be another $300 too.

MacroPact

The MacroPact is a rPico/KMK macropad with IPS display by kbjunky.

Some time ago my friend approached me with an idea of building a macropad for his Photoshop workflow. Key feature was to have a screen where he would be able to see what shortcut/macro is currently assigned to what key.

Gallery: https://imgur.com/a/e2YaCay

Source files pending. UPDATE 2021/07/31: MacroPact source files and build log released.

Handwired build

A handwired build by scissor_rock_paper featuring an IO port expander.

The left side has the microcontroller and the right side has an IO expander. The firmware and soldering was a bit more involved than two microcontrollers but "it was fun to learn and debug".

I am a bit fan of wood for keyboards. It adds a nice weight, feel and acoustics in addition to looking great. It is more limited in what you can do though.

Build guide and firmware to be shared later.

Curse 46

The Curse 46 by hypermagpie has an interesting placement of an ISO Enter key.

Basically thought it'd be fun to make a small board but with an ISO enter, whilst I was at it I went for proper arrow keys and a full size space bar.

Starting from practically zero electronics design experience, hypermagpie followed Masterzen's guide on PCB design and it all came together surprisingly easily. PCBs were ordered from JLCPCB in China.

Also got a little out there with my case design, I fancied using HMWPE for a change from carbon, and realised I could try making the plate integrated with the case, and just put a cover over the bottom.

The case is cut from 12 mm HMWPE, and the bottom cover is 3 mm acrylic, both made on a CNC router. The cover screws into brass heat set inserts that were melted into the case using a soldering iron.

Episode 14 of The Thocc

In episode 14 of the Thocc Vogsphere talks with Tom, a member of the Splergo gang and owner of an impressive split collection.

Listen to episode 14 here: https://thethocc.libsyn.com/episode-14-toms-interview

Case for Contra

Gunpla inspired case for Contra keyboard by darthandre.

If you want to print one the STLs are here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4898076

(The one on the picture was made with a JGAURORA A5.)

Tented case for Corne

Custom 3D-printed tent case for a wireless Corne by jhelvy.

A tent remix of the Corne Nano case by SilentGmn. Designed for M5 bolts and nuts for tenting.

STL available at: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4705667

Corne LP case

A 3D-printed Corne LP case by Robamoto.

A keyboard case for the low profile Corne Chocolate.

STL available at: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4549765

The particular case on the picture was printed by Organizeatwill and there is a related blog post about the printing parameters and experiences.

Corne/CRKBD tray

Corne-rang is a Corne/CRKBD keyboard tray by bendalton.

STL available at: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4897653

This lap-desk / tray for the CRKBD / Corne keyboard was remixed from a8ksh4's great design.

You can remix this design yourself on OnShape

It's designed to give you a stable typing surface when traveling or hanging out on the couch.

You'll definitely need/want a right-angle TRRS cable due to clearance issues.Or go wireless with a nice!nano (and ZMK).

On one picture you can see "blades" inside the tray. They are:

An artifact of printing. There is slight tenting in the design and the slope appears as 1 pixel high steps – markstos.

Sound test compilation #19

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

(Cover image by Joseph Williams IV.)

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

Videos

GK68XS + Hako Royal Trues Ketch PCB + Zykos Tofu65 + Alpaca V2 VAST60 + Blue Velvet Linears Rekt1800 + Dark Jades Think 6.5v2 + retooled MX Blacks ID80v2 + Durock POM GMMK Pro + Drop Halo Clear Av3x Boulder + Snow whites Obliterated75 + Mauve + PBT Obliterated75 + Mauve + ABS

References

• GK68XS + Hako Royal Trues by pngarrett.
• Ketch PCB + Zykos by Factoryofidols.
• Tofu65 + Alpaca V2 by Aaztek.
• VAST60 + Blue Velvet Linears by veelut.
• Rekt1800 + Dark Jades by pusakalmkb.
• Think 6.5v2 + retooled MX Blacks by IronJac.
• ID80v2 + Durock POM by MegaHurtzz Tech.
• GMMK Pro + Drop Halo Clear by YungToad.
• Av3x Boulder + Snow whites by Joseph Williams IV.
• Obliterated75 + Mauve + PBT by Pixel Panda.
• Obliterated75 + Mauve + ABS by Pixel Panda.

Contributors

Thanks again to all the contributors, namely: Aaztek, Factoryofidols, IronJac, Joseph Williams IV, MegaHurtzz Tech, Pixel Panda, pngarrett, pusakalmkb, veelut and YungToad.

Microsystems MS-21D

A Microsystems MS-21D spotted by Manpeas.

This Microsystems MS-21D with strange Japanese ortholinear keyboard is from the early 1990s.

Deskmat sized board

Fellow builder factoryofidols saw those deskmats the size of your keyboard and got inspired.

I bought some of the keebmats to have little deskmats that were the size of my keyboard and it inspired me to build a keyboard to fit my WoB Hiragana deskmat 700 x 300 – factoryofidols.

More images: https://imgur.com/a/MbYlukZ

Typing test:

lulu

Introducing lulu - a design by boardsource_xyz based on the Lily58.

lulu, Boardsource's newest case and PCB offering, is a 58 key split keyboard based on the popular Lily58 layout.

Shortly after opening and stocking our store the popularity of the Lily58 was apparent, and the layout's ability to convert people who only observed the hobby from afar into passionate and enthusiastic participants was remarkable.

Each half of the lulu is constructed from two main sections, the top half (with integrated plate) is made from machined aluminum offered in three distinct anodized colors: silver, charcoal, and a very fun plum.

Sitting below the aluminum on each half is injection molded frosted polycarbonate bottom pieces, and diffusing the lulu’s underglow.

The lulu case and PCB is offered separately during Group Buy, and the lulu case is 100% backwards compatible with the current Lily58 solderable PCB.