Behind the Scenes of Issue 66

Quick news, debate on the feasibility of GMK lead times, new vendors added, winning without even bidding.

Hello friends,

I'm still Tamas Dovenyi, this time with Issue #66 of my DIY keyboard focused newsletter and blog dubbed the Keyboard Builders' Digest. If you are new to this, you can read how this started out and what this is all about nowadays. If you like what you see, you can subscribe to the newsletter (free) and support this project.

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I was quite distressed when the majority of the week passed without a single project to feature.

You'd think that I had time for updating the split database – but that's not how it seems to work. Without cool projects to feature I kept looking for valuable content constantly, wasting even more time. Don't do this to me again. :D

It took some days until I finally remembered the old wisdom: When in doubt, look at what's going on in Japan. Thanks guys! :D So that's why Japanese projects are overrepresented in this issue.

Quick news/coming soon

• CCH podcast's Philipp is cooking up something really cool. Stay tuned.
• Full ceramic keycap set by Cerakey.
• WIP Splitball generator by NullPointerExpert – being ported from OpenSCAD to Golang.

GMK lead times

It's a real shame what's going on on Reddit these days. I'm not talking about the actual pest of mystery switch posts polluting the thread (after the age of cats and later the Monkeytype WPM show-off) – I'm talking about removing legit content.

Personally, I'm not into Cherry profile thus GMK sets. Tried them but never bought any so I'm an outsider with regards to this topic.

But I really enjoyed a write-up on how unfeasible the predicted lead times are, and especially enjoyed the reactions from _drop, Oblotzky and other designers and vendors – allowing us mere mortals a rare insight into how this "industry" works.

Anyway, the original monstre post, which went by the title "GMK reported estimated lead times are lies. The true estimate is rapidly approaching 3 years, and could potentially be up to 5. This is going to hit a crisis point." is unavailable now – "awaiting moderator approval" – sure, after being at the top of the Hot list for hours, collecting 2.8k upvotes, 650 comments and 60+ badges, and generating similarly popular responses from revered members of the community.

I try to recall the gist of the original post: Predicted GMK group buy lead times are unfeasible. It's not about capacity but the sheer amount of new sets combined with events in the resin industry resulting in increased prices of the raw material. Despite GMK announcing capacity increase, lead times are growing longer and will approach 3-5 years. Any GB runner who claims his set will be made in 1.5-2 years, lies. Designers should stop churning out new designs and start new GBs if they have undelivered projects. Buyers should vote with their wallets.

Something like this, only much longer, organized into bullet points and backed up with some data. As said, I enjoyed the train of thought but that part is inaccessible now.

As a response from the designer side to the original post by Mecxs, PWade3 posted his reaction, then u/SxMDesigns responded (deleted by the OP in the meantime). In addition, there were several other posts like this simple chart by HeightAboveGeoid using data from https://matrixzj.github.io/, a flow chart suggestion for designers and vendors, and many other posts.

As already told, I'm not into GMK, nor into group buys in general nowadays, but as an outsider, removing posts like the one above, an elaborated high-effort one backed up with data, is something to be concerned about – even though I'm sure there were some errors in the post.

Updates

New donors: Spencer Blackwood, Sean Gredy and Tong Lu. Thank you guys! And of course many thanks to all of my donors, especially regular ones. Your support makes this project justifiable.

New shops added: cytinfo.com.ar, mechvault.net, mintlodica.com

A bunch of splits added and tagged.

Winning without even bidding?

I've managed to win a keyboard auction without even bidding. That's what I call a real sign of serious keyboard-freakness.

Two weeks ago I bought my fifth(?) optical Datacoop (facepalm) on a local oline marketplace, just to access the contact data of the local seller who regularly lists some interesting stuff. E.g. more vintage boards I already own… :D I didn't really want or need those offered at the time but told him I'll take them if nobody else bids. Which is the actual scenario. So I'm richer with my second and third Tatung terminal keyboard.

While I still owe you a write-up on those Datacoops, I do have something about the Tatung.

I fact, it was my very first Deskthority post back in 2019 when I learned about the Taiwan/Republic of China calendar too. So probably, these "new" Tatungs aren't from 1973 either. :D

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Well, that's it for today.

Thanks for reading and thanks for your support.

Feel free to ask and comment in this issue's r/mk thread, and as always: keep learning and building.

Cheers, Tamás

Penkesu deck

Penkesu is a retro-style cyberdeck by penkia with a wide screen and a built-in low-pro ortho keyboard with "dye-sub" MBK caps.

By the time I'm republishing this project you'd probably seen it in various subreddits, on Twitter, and it was even covered by The Verge. So let's focus on some features this time which may be interesting for a keyboard enthusiast: the PCB, keycaps and the process of dying the caps.

Penkēsu (Japanese: ペンケース) is "a homebrew retro-style handheld PC" designed by Penk Chen, a "digital nomad from Taiwan", living in Tokyo. My first impression while deciphering the katakana inscription on the top case was that Penkesu is a quite apt name for a case designed by someone called Penk but it turns out it's the Japanese word for pen case or pencil case.

The deck is powered by a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W and is sporting the familiar but still impressive 7.9 inch widescreen display (400 x 1280 resolution) used by many projects on r/cyberdeck. And below it, there's a 48-key (12x4) ortholinear mechanical keyboard.

GitHub repo: https://github.com/penk/penkesu

The keyboard PCB is Koda from Odd Rocket Keyboards – a side project of larrbo, a "bored engineer in Huntsville, AL". Gerbers available in this repo and here is the original blog post from 2018.

And the keycaps are ordinary white MBKs, with pigment "melted" on top of them by a laser engraver – "laser dye-sub". If anyone is interested in reproducing it, the font used was "Trade Gothic Bold condensed No. 20":

My laser engraver is 3000mW but that's overkill, 35% power 15ms speed is enough to give you a nice "print" – penkia.

The engraver in question is a NEJE dk-8-kz "because it's cheap (~$100) to get here in Tokyo". It requires its own control app but resolution wasn't an issue. The pigment was a random nail polish product found on Amazon (this one).

I mixed a few drops of water and brushed on the keycaps with a small painting brush.

Finally, this is Don's original video on the topic, which gave the idea to penkia:

Buzzard keyboard

Christoph Rehmann's Buzzard is a well-documented 40-key split keyboard with splay and trackpoint.

Buzzard is a 40 keys ergonomic split keyboard designed by Christoph Rehmann aka cre2016 and inspired by tapioki's Architeuthis dux. The layout sports splayed columns and an additional pinky column with two keys.

My main goal was to accommodate a trackpoint at a convenient position. It can be mounted directly to the PCB either between the two index columns or between middle finger and index finger columns – cre2016.

It is also possible to install a linear actuator for haptic feedback (pimoroni module) e.g. to use it to indicate layer changes.

In case of a wireless build the PCB also has a power switch and connectors for an optional Sharp memory display instead of an OLED display.

Features

• Choc spacing.
• Hot-swap (except around the trackpoint module).
• I2C interface for an OLED display.
• Wireless ready (battery switch + Sharp memory display option).
• Either surface mount or through hole components can be used.
• Integrated trackpoint reset circuit.
• Two possible positions to mount a trackpoint to the PCB.
• Mounting option for a linear actuator (HapticBuzz from pimoroni)

Some points the author may address in the next iteration:

• Better positioning of the solder pads for the trackpoint module so the wiring is cleaner.
• Moving the stand-offs for the acrylic display guard so it is better aligned with the switches (for aesthetics).
• Reduce column splay or completely remove it.
• Break-off outer pinky columns.
• A third key at the outer pinky column.

The build guide and the KiCAD files can be found in this GitHub repo: https://github.com/crehmann/Buzzard.

Unsplit Thumbs Up

Thumbs Up! turned into a monoblock by ak66666 – with one more level.

You might be familiar with ak66666's Fish Ladder and original Thumbs Up! projects where he utilizes a raised thumb cluster.

This time he came up with a multilevel 44-key keyboard – the Thumbs Up! halves in an unsplit monoblock form with an extra level for the raised index finger keys.

People often find the raised thumb cluster confusing since most keyboards featuring thumb keys on a different level have them usually the other way around: lower.

I have a hard time to explain this layout. It is comfortable for me, so it may be just my hands – ak66666.

However, with an additional level for the index fingers this is the first PCB-based iteration which can make more sense to the uninitiated: it can be seen as a tented layout achieved by staggering the planes rather than by the common tenting solutions like screws, legs or 3D printing.

GitHub repo: https://github.com/ak66666/ThumbsUpUnsplit

MooseDash and MooseChair

A modified ErgoDash and its armrest-mounted wireless iteration by Ataruno – with extensive documentation.

Ataruno does an exemplary job by carefully documenting his projects. Wether you check his Twitter account or his write-ups at note.com, you can find plenty of ideas and sources of inspiration.

After his leather keycaps, let's take a look at the MooseChair, which btw was part of last year's excellent Keyboard Advent Calendar initiation of the Japanese keyboard community – but I missed it somehow.

It all started out as a modification of the ErgoDash: Ataruno wanted tenting, easier trackball integration and some keycaps other than 1U ones in the bottom row. Basically, that's the background story of the MooseDash.

This was a Covid project of someone without any experience in PCB design. Thus, to progress gradually, the overall shape and layout are left unchanged to be able to use of the ErgoDash firmware files.

After experimenting with rubber feet and adjustable legs from Amazon, Ataruno decided to incorporate the tilting mechanism with M5 size screws into the board design, using an existing case with attached tilting screws as a reference.

When the prototypes were finished, the next step was to turn the keyboard into a "keychair" by:

• attaching the halves to the armrests,
• making the board wireless,
• featuring a trackball to be able to do mouse operations with the keyboard,
• and improving ergonomics by designing a 3D-printed case – of course this would result in handwiring in contrast to the PCB approach.

作りたいキーボードのコンセプト#自作キーボード pic.twitter.com/yHKhySVXr2

— あたるの⌨キーボード&技術アカ (@ataruno_key) September 13, 2021

Using these armrests, Ataruno tested the concept with a wired setup first:

椅子に分離キーボード置くの、思った以上に快適になりそう。
完全無線化したいけどBLEmicro欠品中らしいので、せめて長ーいTRRSケーブル作って体の後側に回せるようにするか。#自作キーボード pic.twitter.com/KslUZDJYpF

— あたるの⌨キーボード&技術アカ (@ataruno_key) August 26, 2021

As described in a separate article, the sensor part of a cheap mouse was scavenged to create a DIY trackball and Sekigon's BLE Micro Pro kit solved the wireless issue.

Finally, while I tried to link to various resources, if you are interested in doing something similar, you should really check out Ataruno's write-ups who covers many aspects of the design process in detail.

Ergopi

SouthPawEngineer made a set of Raspberry Pi powered keyboards – low-profile monoblocks for different tastes.

I made a series of ergonomic keyboards called Ergopi that use the Pi Pico as their controller, and run the KMK firmware. I plan to upload the PCB files to Github, as I believe there should be more keyboards that use CircuitPython – SouthPawEngineer.

There are three sizes of Ergopi keyboard – with differences like a number row and outer column. Beside that, all of them use low profile Choc switches, an EC11/EC12 rotary encoder, and the largest board also has a 5-way switch.

The diodes are standard 1N4148 diodes, in either the common through-hole DO-35 package or SOD-123 surface mount package. They all come with some nice extras -– you can add RGB underglow with WS2812B LED’s (5050 package) and a small speaker on the underside of the board.

The three sizes have 60, 48 and 40 keys, respectively. SouthPawEngineer uses them plateless, but you can also flip the controller over, mount it on the underside, and use a plate instead.

In not just the designer's opinion, the RP2040/Pico/KMK workflow is so much easier compared to everything else available for DIY keyboard builders. All you need to change your keymap is editing a simple text file on your device (appearing as a USB drive).

No need of any Github wizardry, bothering with setting up the local development environment, and using AVRDude/Dudess – which, for some reason, hangs for about two minutes before doing its job (on Windows). In addition, you can add new functionality with simple Python code.

I’ve found a lot of joy from being able to change things at will and update my keyboard in less than five seconds. Why use the Raspberry Pi Pico? Because it’s powerful, easy to get a hold of, and very affordable at $4 USD – SouthPawEngineer.

CadQuery case generator

Mariusz Ryndzionek's CadQuery keyboard case generator is a set of Python scripts outputting CadQuery files.

The CadQuery 2 keyboard case generator by Mariusz Ryndzionek aka mryndzionek is a set of Python scripts outputting CadQuery files.

If you're unfamiliar with CadQuery, it's a Python library for building parametric 3D CAD models. It can output CAD formats like STEP and AMF in addition to traditional STL. It also provides a non-proprietary, plain text model format that can be edited and executed even with only a web browser – which means, as of my understanding, it can be an alternative to OpenSCAD.

This project is still in experimental phase so be careful when using the generated files:

https://github.com/mryndzionek/cq_keyboard_gen

Leather keycaps

Ataruno is working on various keycaps made of leather.

While browsing Twitter, I stumbled upon the latest subproject of Ataruno, who is the designer of the MooseDash split and also the guy behind the MooseChair project. In addition, he's apparently into leather crafting – and as it's often the case, combining different hobbies may result in spectacular achievements. As an inspiration, check out what is he up to with regards of blending leather craft with keycap making.

After playing with some 3D-printed keycaps and making a DIY leather mousepad for his MooseChair, Ataruno dipped his toes into leather keycap making.

As usual, his new project started out with a concept drawing:

試作中のアルチザンキーキャップ「育てるキーキャップ」のコンセプトイラスト⌨
3Dプリンタで印刷したステム受けと、レザークラフトで作った上部を組み合わせたキーキャップ。使い込んで色が変化する革を使えば、タイピングしていくごとに”育って”いきます！#自作キーボード #キーキャップ #keycap pic.twitter.com/vhfKa1VLF1

— あたるの⌨キーボード&技術アカ (@ataruno_key) February 13, 2022

At the moment, there are at least three kinds of leather caps: a plain one, a 3D model, and an earlier stitched version.

Cutting the leather into small blocks, sharpening or rounding the corners, and branding the workpiece results in the plane cap.

A 3D printed stem part is then attached to the leather block to turn it into an MX or Choc V2 compatible keycap:

By reworking the elk illustration of the MooseDash into the shape of the engraving, then printing it with a SLA printer, Ataruno was able to engrave it firmly on the leather and this tiny cute 3D-printed branding tool withstood even the blow of a mallet:

He even created a 3D-printed jig to keep the stem holder part firmly in the center. (If it wouldn't be aligned perfectly, adjacent keycaps would interfere with each other.)

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The three-dimensional molded leather keycaps are made via a 3D-printed mold and the cross section of the leather is also carefully polished (more pics here):

Put the wet leather in between the molds, wrap it by rubber bands, put weight on it or use clamps, then leave it to dry.

おおお！立体成型のそれっぽい！
革が厚すぎて凹側の隅っこまで当たってない？高さが少し短いけどまぁまぁ良いのでは？凸側をもう少し膨らませれば端まで届くかなぁ。 pic.twitter.com/jSXfTC7NUW

— あたるの⌨キーボード&技術アカ (@ataruno_key) February 14, 2022

While it's possible to make a full set, due to the lot of time and effort put into making, shaping and polishing these, it's more reasonable to think of them as artisan keycaps.

More info: https://twitter.com/ataruno_key

Sony Hit-Bit HB-F1XD

The Sony Hit-Bit HB-F1XD is probably the coolest looking home computer ever made.

If you did your homework after my MSX post, this Sony Hit-Bit HB-F1XD shouldn't take you by surprise. I gave this a long look when doing my research on the HB-101 and already decided I'll cover this next when @HelicityBoson reacted to the HB-101 tweet showing off his mouthwatering HB-F1XD:

I am contractually obligated to show off my Hit Bit F1XD every time I see an msx post.

It's so very pretty pic.twitter.com/ryn7H3Q3Y5

— Helicity Boson (@HelicityBoson) February 4, 2022

Indeed, the HB-F1XD is probably one of the coolest looking home computers I've ever seen. More incredible, it was released back in 1987(?) – the available data is contradictory but ads started to appear in 1987. Regardless, the design language haven't lost its appeal during these 35 years.

(Source: MSX Magazine, November 1987)

A simple dark keyset? Pretty boring you might say, even with Hiragana sublegends. That was the feature of its predecessor, the HB-F1II. What about some more accents, like an FDD drive in dazzling red? Take that!

Later, there were dark grey (F1XDJ) and light grey/creme (F1XDmkII) versions made too:

(Source: ebay)

Still, personally, I think the red one is the most kick-ass colorway – by far:

(Source: ebay)

The yellow PAUSE button and some small red stickers here and there complete the line of accents. And there's also a mysterious red hardware RESET-button which allegedly hangs the computer when pressed… Hm. A must-have feature. Confused? Me too. Someone should elucidate me.

(As of @HelicityBoson's clarification, the described behavior is that of the Pause button. "If your game doesn't have a pause function you can just HANG THE MACHINE." Which makes sense.)

Anyway, as a clear sign of the target audience, the HB-F1XD sports two awesome sliders: a SPEED-CONTROLLER slider (slow-motion) and the majestically sounding REN-SHA-TURBO which is an auto-fire feature (for joysticks and spacebar alike).

(Source: Maikon BASIC, March 1988)

The Sony HB-F1XD is probably a good candidate for the Holy Grail title on any MSX freak's wish list. And despite the fact it was marketed exclusively in Japan, there are some Sony HB-F1XDs right now on your go-to marketplace for about $300.

More info and sources: msx.org, generation-msx.nl, MSX Magazine and old-computers.com.

Osborne Executive

The Osborne Executive portable computer was widely blamed for the company's subsequent bankruptcy.

As the successor of the Osborne 1 portable computer – considered to be the first commercially successful portable (luggable) computer, released on April 3, 1981 – the Osborne Executive (wiki) was announced early 1983.

While the Osborne 1 was not just the first one but also sought-after and widely imitated (e.g. Kaypro II, Compaq Portable, IBM 5155), the Executive wrote history in a different sense.

It is the computer that created the Osborne Effect, where hyping your next product kills sales for your current product because customers choose to wait.

The Osborne Computer Corporation took more than a year to make the Executive available after it was announced, thus customers canceled or deferred orders for the current, "soon-to-be-obsolete" product. The company's subsequent bankruptcy was widely blamed on reduced sales after the announcement.

To give the jazzy $2,495 Osborne Executive a running start, Adam [Osborne, designer] began orchestrating publicity early in 1983. We, along with many other magazines, were shown the machine in locked hotel rooms. We were required not to have anything in print about it until the planned release date in mid-April. As far as we know, nothing did appear in print, but dealers heard about the plans and cancelled orders for the Osborne 1 in droves. In early April, Osborne told dealers he would be showing them the machine on a one-week tour the week of 17 April, and emphasized that the new machine was not a competitor for the Osborne 1. But dealers didn't react the way Osborne expected; said Osborne, "All of them just cancelled their orders for the Osborne 1" (source).

Laying off hundreds of workers and slashing the suggested retail price of the Osborne 1 from $1995 to $1295, then to $995 didn't help either. "For several months sales were practically non-existent."

5 months after the official announcement, on September 10 that year, OCC filed for bankruptcy.

Otherwise, the Executive was a collection of the good features from the Osborne 1 and fixed some of its predecessor's flaws. You could have it (originally) for US$2,495, and it came with application software like the WordStar word processor, SuperCalc spreadsheet, and the CBASIC and MBASIC programming languages – the leading applications at the time.

Korea Steno Smart CAS Plus

The Korea Steno Smart CAS Plus – an authoritative Korean steno machine.

This beast is the Korea Steno Smart CAS Plus – as you may guess, a Korean steno machine.

When introducing people to stenography, the method is often likened to playing piano chords. Korea Steno took this analogy to the next level by implementing not just actual levers resembling the type bars of mechanical typewriters but also a keypress mechanism dampened by "premium quality buffer wool" – just like the damper felts, cushions and cloths on various parts of the piano hammer mechanism.

This should result in a pretty silent build, and there are several measurements published on their website, but let me congratulate at this point on including ALL the text as images – preventing non-Koreans from feeding the content into Google Translate…

Anyway, allegedly, this steno machine is much more silent compared to a standard keyboard, as well as the force needed to actuate its keys is lower (in the 15-20cN range). As a bonus, the huge hole in the case can be used as a handle.

For a whopping $2,400 you can put your hands on this nice steno keyboard too.

Synx42

A clean ultra-low profile ortho split design by @ak1_foo – with Kailh X-switches and only 7.3mm overall height.

I made my own thin split keyboard, Synx42, which is completely wireless! – @ak1_foo.

The design goal was to create a portable keyboard (without USB and TRRS cables) which can be used with an iPad. Thus, something easier to handle compared to the author's Helix setup. The result is a compact wireless split ortho.

• 42 keys
• ortholinear
• Kailh X switch (pg1425)
• Actual thickness: 7.3mm
17mm 17mm spacing
• Operates with one CR1632 coin battery "without terminals such as USB".

Unfortunately, just like most Japanese models, the design is not open-source and the available info on it is scarce. @ak1-foo was kind enough to publish a little write-up on the details here (in Japanese).

We don't see Kailh X-switch based designs very often, most likely because of the hefty price-tag (above $2 per switch), the lack of switch choice and the single (?) available keycap. However, it looks like ak1_ dyed spray painted the caps black and the result is a quite clean design with a jaw-dropping height of only 7.3mm:

In order to keep the height as low as possible, all switch pins protruding from the back of the PCB were cut off. "This doesn't hurt".

Also, the caseless design utilizes a sheet of faux leather on the back of the board, stuck with double-sided tape. That means there is no bottom plate, nor stand-offs or rubber feet.

PCB

When designing the PCB, ak1_ used SatT99's Caravelle-BLE PCB as a reference.

The controller is Akizuki Denshi's Bluetooth BL652-SA-01 (about $10).

The PCB is 0.8mm thick. Depending on the PCB color, 0.8mm, 1.0mm, 1.2mm and 1.6mm may be offered for the same price at JLCPCB and the recommended PCB thickness for the x-switch is 0.8mm anyway. If you try to make it thinner than this, the price may skyrocket due to the special process fee.

Furthermore, the compact 17 x 17 spacing is a result of the x-switch-caps' dimensions (16.5 x 16.5mm) and the footprint of the switches (14.8 x 14mm).

All in all, despite being a great DIY project, the author is not really content with the result:

I don't like the feel of the keyswitch so I don't think I'll use it regularly … I prefer Everglide Aqua King switches – ak1_.