Issue 74 / Week 16 / 2022

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.

There are 14 entries in this issue:

Editorial

Behind the Scenes of Issue 74

On longer format articles, 40 discount codes, keyboard lexicon update, duplex matrix cultural dissonance, Datalux acquisition, etc.

Projects

Custom Reform keyboard

Jacqueline designed a custom ergo keyboard for her Reform laptop – based on the Lily layout.

1800-ish wooden ortho

An 1800-style ortho board by u/MetaWhirledPeas, hand made from a solid piece of poplar from Home Depot.

Leeloo

Leeloo, a split keyboard resembling the Lily58 – with a twist!

Peanut Matcha Jade

A 5x6 Dactyl Manuform variation by Mike Pisman – with 5 thumb keys and smooth edges.

Lolcatz's Blank Slate

u/Lolcatz52 designed and printed an ergo split to fit his own fingers.

PICO Chord keyboard

A well-documented chorded keyboard project based on the Raspberry Pi Pico: the PICO Chord.

Community

Gondolindrim interview

Revered Brazilian PCB designer Álvaro "Gondolindrim" Volpato interviewed by _IanOfEarth.

Tools

PRK firmware

PRK is a PicoRuby-based keyboard firmware running on RP2040 chips.

Review

ITT ETL18 switch teardown

u/Chyrosran22 introduces the vintage ITT ETL18 switch with horizontal flappy coil spring.

Tips & Tricks

LDSA keycap profile

LDSA is a new Choc-compatible low-pro keycap profile by Darryl from lowprokb.ca – with deeper dishes.

SmartKnob

SmartKnob is an open-source input device with software-configurable endstops and virtual detents – designed by Scott Bezek.

Keyboard Spotting

Fairlight MFX3 Plus

The Fairlight MFX3 Plus is a dedicated hardware designed to handle 24 tracks of recording live.

Siemens Unity 2

A pimped-up Siemens Unity 2 "Super Silent Keyboard" posted by catsontuesday.

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