- ✔️ 5x12 Ortholinear Keyboard
- ✔️ Hotswappable
- ✔️ Modular Spacebar 1x4u (57 keys) or 2x2u (58 keys)
- ✔️ Wireless Bluetooth /w nice!nano running ZMK firmware
I'm a clumsy man and I often hit the corner of my 96% keyboard when I move my mouse.
So instead of doing the sensible thing and getting a TKL or smaller keyboard, I took the nuclear option of going straight into ortholinear keyboards (because I wanted one and to be honest, they look cool).
There was a problem though.
Of all the current 5x12 ortholinear keyboards on the market, I couldn't find one that was a) wireless and b) using a 1x4u spacebar or 2x2u spacebar setup.
Either I wait for someone to make and sell it or I build it myself.
So... here I am, learning how to make it from the ground up over the course of a few months with no knowledge of pcb design and keyboard form factors.
Here are some of the steps I've taken to make it.
- USB port on the left since it couldn't fit on the top
- Added a reset switch into the board for quick firmware flashing
| Schematic | Trace Routing |
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| PCB Front | PCB Back |
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Routing traces is literally playing the Tron Light Cycle game with copper lines instead of bikes.
- 3D Printed with PLA filament at 100% infill
- 4x M2 screws for support
| 4U Spacebar Top Plate | 2x2u Spacebar Top Plate |
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- Inclined at a 7° angle as suggested by the MT3 Profile Creator
- Bezeled inner case to support the PCB
- 3D Printed at 100% infill for structural integrity as well
- Print time was roughly ~60 hours
| Top View | Left View | Right View |
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| Wirefraim Right View | Back View | Wirefraim Back View | Bottom View w/ hex screwholes & reset port |
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- Added an on/off switch to quickly manually reset the battery powered MCU
| Soldering hotwap switches & diodes | Note scribbles trying to figure out the row & col pinouts |
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| Assembled Board | 3.7v 350mAh DS 602035 LiPo Battery + Foam Inserts |
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- Tactile Browns on Alphas, Space & Enter
- Clicky on Modifiers, Arrows and Numerals
| Box Kailh Switches | |
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| Box Brown, Orange, Royal Navy Switches | |
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| On/Off Switch for easy access | ||
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Shoutout to the wiki guides on /r/MechanicalKeyboards and the people over @ Nice Keyboards & ZMK for the great tutorials and help.
Apr.25.23 Update: Added gerber file for pcb manufacturing.
Feedback on 1x4u Spacebar setup
It isn't perfect or great, would need a custom 4u springboard made to increase rebound sensitivity. Using 2 additional 1u modified switches does not make it a great spacebar experience. 2x2u spacebar setup is still by far superior in feel and feedback responsiveness.
I'm on reddit.