Behind the Scenes of Issue 83

New discounts, bizarre packaging reloaded, giveaway results, KBD.NEWS metal artisan giveaway continued.

Hey y'all,

PSA: Summer recess, but the KBD.NEWS metal artisan giveaway continues – for now.

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Welcome back for another edition of Keyboard Builders' Digest (this time Issue #83), a weekly roundup of this DIY keyboard focused newsletter and blog from Tamas Dovenyi – that's me. 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 donate some bucks to keep this otherwise free and ad-free project alive.

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Summer recess

So it seems everybody is on holiday. At least that's what the prolonged response times from vendors and makers suggest.

That's one reason for the unusual number of pending posts waiting for designers to get back to me with additional info, photos and repos.

In the next few weeks I'll be on holiday too so I may decrease my activity here. What does that mean?

I will continue bookmarking stuff and occasionally posting too – to ensure the continuity of the blog.

However, I may skip one or more issues: organizing the posts into issues, making the cover image, writing the BTC post, compiling and sending out the newsletters, managing the giveaway – these take a lot of time every week.

Once I'm back, I'll try to recap everything in an extra issue.

New shops & discount codes

• Keysium – "kbdnews" 5% off. Can be used on multiple orders and also when sales are going on to get a further discount. Can't be used with other discount codes.
• KeySculptNerd – $5 off orders over $50. (However, there's a one-use 20% coupon for new customers so use that for your first purchase. Later, you can use "kbdnews" any number of times.)

RichCables, KeycapKings added.

New supporter

Yay, a new supporter: Jeremy Gam. Thanks!

It's been a long time since the last kind reader donated so I was pleasantly surprised.

Of course I'm very grateful for my recurring donors too: https://kbd.news/hall-of-fame/

In the mailbox

Smith-Corona Ultrasonic. My first ever electric typewriter.

It arrived in a bizarre packaging. First I thought the seller wrapped the cardboard box or the original plastic case of the typewriter into a blanket for extra safety:

But no… There was no case, no box or anything: the typewriter itself was directly wrapped into the red thing. Maybe a curtain. It's a real miracle it survived the travel without any visible damage.

For more info and the unique acoustic actuation sensing check this post.

Giveaway

Last week's winner

Aaand last week's prize goes to retr0FPS. Congrats!

You won one of these machined aluminum novelties, courtesy of metalkeyboards.no, the only caps of this kind in existence – at least for now.

New giveaway!!!

I continue the raffle with the custom KBD.NEWS metal artisan offered by metalkeyboards.no.

How to enter the raffle

Feel free to like, upvote, share, whatever. However, that's not how you join this raffle. :D Instead:

1.) Comment (top level) below this issue's post on Reddit or/and Twitter (here and/or here) with one or more of these:

• What did you like the most in this week's issue?
• What did you learn from this week's posts?
• Did you spot any typos/factual errors? (If you don't want to publicly embarrass me, you can send this to my email: info at golem.hu :D.

2.) And close your comment with your country.

Pro tip: you can comment both on Reddit and Twitter to double your chances.

Raffle method: Again, I'll randomize a number to decide between Reddit and Twitter, and then another one to select the winner from the top level commenters on that platform (ordered by old->new).

I will contact the winner and publish his/her nick in the next issue (next Monday).

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That's all for today folks.

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

Cheers, Tamás

Dactyl Sygnus/Cygnus

A Dactyl-inspired sub-40% split keyboard: Dactyl Cygnus by scytile.

Juha Kauppinen aka Scytile published the STLs of his Sygnus, a cute split inspired by predecessors like the Dactyl.

(Sygnus was the original name, later renamed to Cygnus I guess. There are still some Sygnus references in the docs.)

Other than looking gorgeous with all its attractive curves, the Cygnus is handwired, has 5x3 keys plus three thumb keys per half, and it features an uncommon pinky cluster.

I've been playing around with Fusion 360 to create this dactyl inspired sub 40% keyboard. I wanted it to have a bit more designed look to it, rather than the usual generated versions. I also didn't want to have the switches visible – scytile.

STLs are available with and without hotswap sockets.

The housing even sports a controller holder designed to fit a 35mm x 17.7mm Pro Micro sized development board.

GitHub repo this way.

Project Mammoth

A successor to the elephant42, 🦣 by @illness072 is on a whole new level in many ways.

The mammoth 🦣 by かわいい🐰ちゃん aka @illness072, successor to his characteristic elephant42, features a slight splay combined with Willow curves – and has the controllers outsourced to the palm rests.

So the actual name of the board is simply 🦣 rather than mammoth or mammoth42.

Despite this keyboard was developed as a successor to the elephant42 and as such was originally planned to be released as mammoth42, unrelated keyboard projects with similar names emerged during the development phase, and it seemed awkward to keep the mammoth name with all those models around.

However, we could not give up our desire to use mammoth as a companion to elephant, so we decided to give it this name [🦣] – @illness072.

Forever WIP

I don't usually feature work-in-progress boards on this blog but after having a nice chat with designer Kawaii?chan it turned out being WIP is part of the concept in this case:

Project Mammoth is an attempt to continuously grow over a long period of time, and is being developed with the concept of enjoying being unfinished altogether. The goal is very fluid, depending on my interests and trends in the keyboard community (especially in Japan), and it will take a few more years to reach the goal I have in mind at this point – @illness072.

Features

The layout is based on the classic columnar stagger of the 🐘, adjusted to open slightly and "fused with the curved lines of Willow".

We've seen the Willow layout on various keyboards (e.g. Yamada Willow, Ergotonic F-24, etc.) but this is the first time I see it combined with a slight splay.

The palm rest is integrated and has a reversed tent angle(!). "This allows for a natural placement of the keys in the flat direction, as if the wrist were tented while the keys are pressed in."

(To be honest, I can't really imagine how this works and how this kind of tenting copes with forearm pronation. Probably, we have to factor in the differences in human hands and never underestimate the power of prototyping and iteration while tailoring a tool to ones hands. What works for one may not work for the other.)

At the time of writing this, the Mammoth works as a USB HID device with Pro Micro or as BLE HID with ISP1807micro and CR2032 battery.

The current prototype seen in the photos is equipped with Seeed XIAO BLE controllers and can operate as a fully wireless keyboard.

The ? had placed the Pro Micro in a prominent position, but we felt this would detract from the aesthetics. Therefore, 🦣 hid the daughterboard inside the palm rest.

The palm rest is connected to the main board by 9.5mm stainless steel pipes sold at home centers:

The main board accommodates only the I/O expander (MCP23017) and the key matrix, which is controlled by communicating with the palm rest via I2C.

Files

Github repo: https://github.com/illness072/project-mammoth

Kebu

Cedutus created Kebu, a new Blackpill ortholinear PCB with multiple layout alternatives including 4 or 5 row options.

After his split ortho Lihis, Cedutus came up with Kebu, a one-piece ortholinear keyboard that has options for a couple of different layouts.

Feels kinda like I'm going backwards with these because i created a split keyboard before this :P – Cedutus.

Layout options include 4 or 5 rows, full grid or 2u space, and you also have the option of either using MX or Choc hotswap sockets (the 2u space is only usable with MX socket).

The PCB is using a Blackpill as the controller.

More photos: https://imgur.com/a/9DnEE3E

GitHub repo: https://github.com/Cedutus/Kebu

(In the photo a previous prototype is shown. The 4-row option had a problem with traces when the 5th row was taken off. However, this should be fixed in the files available on GitHub. The fixed files haven't been tested though.)

LMN-3 synth

The LMN-3 is an open-source DAW-in-a-box by Fundamental Frequency.

From time to time, there are musical instruments introduced by makers which are somewhat related to mechanical keyboards – blurring the lines between the two hobbies. I hope you don't mind if I feature one such project again, especially if it's an open-source initiative.

The LMN-3 is an open-source synth/sampler/sequencer/DAW-in-a-box recently shared by Stone Preston aka Fundamental Frequency. You can find the collection of all LMN-3 repositories here:

https://github.com/FundamentalFrequency

There's also a comprehensive build guide available.

Btw, the device uses a Teensy 4.1 + a Raspberry Pi 4, and sports 45 keys, four rotary encoders, and a Hyperpixel 4 screen.

Stone also posted a video walk-trough of the features:

RAMA Duck switch

RAMA Duck switches come with integrated dampening pads.

The DUCK switch, designed by RAMA, utilizes TPU dampening pads (christened MUTE pads) which act as a medium between the top and bottom housing, creating a tighter fit.

These switches are linear and come standard with a long pole POM stem, a polycarbonate top housing, two-stage spring, nylon bottom housing, "polished stem rails", and the MUTE mounting pads which are "co-moulded to the bottom housing".

I don't feature switches too often, partly because I'm not familiar enough with this topic, try to avoid hoarding, and – well – couldn't differentiate between most linear switches in a blind test to be honest.

However, with regards to this specific switch, if we can manage to separate the actual product from the price range and marketing bullshit, we can acknowledge that this is something innovative.

In development for over the past six months, we are excited to introduce our latest innovation – the DUCK switch. We have translated our MUTE mounting platform (found in the KARA, M60-B, M65-B and U80-B) into an MX switch – @ramaworks.

Allegedly, this will allow the switch to have a deeper and consistent sound profile whilst eliminating the need for switch-films.

RAMA also claims that the DUCK switch provides an excellent platform to build from for those wanting to create their own frankenswitches. They most likely mean the bottom housing with the four MUTE pads but for $1.2 per switch? I don't know.

Features

• linear
• two-stage 63g black spring – "giving you a subtle weight change toward the middle actuation"
• 70g bottom-out
• polycarbonate top housing – allows seamless light distribution throughout the top of the switch
• nylon bottom housing – for deeper sound ("when in tandem with the long pole POM stem")
• polished stem rails
• long pole POM stem
• factory lubed

Without encouraging anyone to buy these, here is the link to the preorder page: ramaworks.store

Modular keyboard using rails

WarhammerBueno designed a keyboard with a replaceable numpad – using a unique rail system.

After months of work I have successfully designed a keyboard that allows you to replace the numpad with a different module using a rail on the right side – WarhammerBueno.

Each module has its own Pro Micro, the link system is essentially a USB that connects the module straight to the PC through an internal USB splitter in the main keyboard unit.

Magnets would work too, the author was initially going to use those, but he didn't have access to pogo pins and wanted the module to stay firmly attached to the main unit.

The method I went with was basically using the metal rails from one of those Nintendo switch joycon holders with the pins removed and replaced with a standard female 2 pin socket. The part I designed fits in the rails and has two male pins to interface with the socket on the switch rails.

Currently, the author has a numpad and a macropad module, but he is thinking of making a spacemouse looking module for CAD, as well as another one with a screen.

Some more photos in this imgur gallery.

Triple shot keycaps

Making triple shot keycaps at home. A proof-of-concept video by keymacs.

After his handmade doubleshots and stepped caps, keymacs aka lispnick posted a carefully crafted video on the process of making triple shot keycaps.

This is, of course, a proof-of-concept video. For real manufacturing, I hope to cast and machine the keycaps in larger clusters to reduce the amount of hand work, … but it will take some more time before I get there – keymacs.

According to the designer, beside Alps stems, the next-gen keycaps will also support MX, Beamsprings, Micro Switch SW, Topre, and more.

Some specs of the manufacturing process, combining resin casting and milling, were shared by keymacs:

• Materials by Smooth-On
• Mold Star 16 FAST
• Smooth-Sil 945
• Smooth-Cast 310
• UVO Pigments
• Sun Devil
• Desktop CNC by Carbide 3D: Nomad Pro

Check out the original project at https://keymacs.com.

Sofle Choc case

A 3D-printed Sofle Choc case designed by lytedev.

syncro22 printed this case originally published by lytedev.

The board sits inside the case on integrated standoffs. High sides protect the switches and controller from sideways bumps and splashes – syncro22.

Since the PCB isn’t fastened to the case it might not be good for travel keyboards.

Files: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5138904

CDS Topre

A Japanese Topre board manufactured by CDS with an interesting layout – posted by May_1.

According to the poster, this is a CDS/CTC board.

It’s one of the few vintage OEM hipro topre boards. They were made for Japanese data entry companies, and thus use the 029 layout (integrated numpad in the alpha block) – May_1.

As idiom6 points out in the comments, you have at least three options to enter numbers with this keyboard.

You've got the standard number pad on the right, then the classic number row (with the numbers as the front legends), and then a third option in the alpha cluster what May_1 calls the 029 layout – however, I couldn't find any reference to this naming convention.

More photos here: https://imgur.com/a/tkhdLge

Smith-Corona Ultrasonic

What do you think the term "Ultrasonic" in the name of this Smith-Corona electric typewriter model stands for?

Despite owning some mechanical typewriters I don't know much about them. (I bought them based on their look. :D) However, I'd never really been interested in electrical typewriters – although ballpoint typewriters and some typewriter caps compatible with common mechanical switches (e.g. Triumph Adler models) raised my attention. Here comes the short story of why I changed my mind and bought my first electrical one last week. :D

So the other day I came across the listing of a 1983 Smith-Corona Ultrasonic and I immediately fell in love with the keycaps with a strong VIC-20 vibe.

The problem was this is a 110V US model, I can't even plug it into my wall socket. Of course the caps aren't MX compatible either. Still, the machine looked dope and a quick search brought up HaTaa's post from 2014 (here) which convinced me about buying it immediately.

So what's so interesting about this model? The type of actuation.

You all know mechanical switches. Optical ones too. Many of you may be familiar with Hall-effect and capacitive mechanisms to register keypresses. But what about an acoustic method? Ladies and gents, this contraption has sonic "switches".

It arrived in a bizarre packaging and it's a real miracle it survived the travel without any visible damage.

First impressions: Beautiful. And very heavy. I thought the case is metal but it's thick plastic. "Double-wall vacuum-cast." Two lids on the top, they are quite dark smokey transparent ones and move very nicely. One is for the paper feed and the other lid covers the typing head. Opening the latter opens the first one too.

The model I bought is the original Ultrasonic. It seems Smith-Corona made several revisions like the Ultrasonic I Plus, Ultrasonic II Dual-pitch, Ultrasonic III Messenger, and the Ultrasonic 450 Messenger.

Double-shot caps, but as already told, not compatible with any common switch types.

I'm not sure about the material of the ribbon but it is used very effectively. I mean it becomes fully transparent where it was hit, clearly revealing the typed character. Just by taking a look at the exposed part of the ribbon I can tell that the last words typed with this almost 40-year old device were: "Malibu CA90265". And I could probably restore everything typed by unwinding the ribbon which means privacy wasn't the greatest strength of this thing.

It also has a correction ribbon with similarly zero-privacy readability. :D Memory and correction for at least the last word (press and hold Correction button) (source) – however, I'm not sure this particular model is capable of doing that or it was introduced in a later revision.

Sound & feel

Typing on this (unplugged) sounds and feels somewhere between a box switch with click bar and an IBM Model F – and you'll see in a minute why.

This is the original video posted by HaTaa:

Acoustic sensing

HaTaa has a presentation (Keycon West 2014) on switch types, and this Ultrasonic model is the example for acoustic actuation sensing.

This method uses TDOA (Time Difference of Arrival). There is a transfer bar in the back of the keyboard part of the typewriter. Each key hits a position on this bar, a few mms away from one another. And two transducers at the two ends of the rod sense the strike and convert the two sound wave fronts into a first and secondary output signal which can be translated into actual keys/characters.

Here is the patent filed in 1979:https://patents.google.com/patent/US4378552

Encoding apparatus for a business machine includes a resilient striker for inducing diverging sound waves within a rod by impact with it at a given location. Transducers positioned along the rod on each side of the striker and at unequal distances from it, convert the sound wave fronts into a first and a second output signal having a predetermined time interval between them which is dependent upon the location of impact with the rod. The transducers are connected to a logic unit which includes an oscillator-driven binary counter. The first output signal starts the counter and subsequent arrival of the second output signal determines the elapsed time, the counter output at that instant being a binary code value usable for any desired purpose: control, display, etc. The encoding apparatus may be incorporated in a keyboard having a number of keys and a corresponding number of strikers differentially positioned along the rod such that each key produces output signals with a predetermined time interval between them and accordingly a unique binary code may be obtained upon actuation of each key.

And here is it in action:

One benefit of this mechanism could be that it doesn't need debouncing – and with only two sensors (two pins?) at the ends of the rod you can pretty much handle all the keys. (Well, shift/caps lock requires another trick but you know what I mean.)

Before you rush to make a modern keyboard based on what you've learned, keep in mind that behind the contraption in the photo there's almost a full typewriter mechanism with all the type bars and even more. So it's probably not a coincidence that we don't see these kind of keyboards nowadays.

For much more photos of the interior check HaTaa's original post.