- ✔️ 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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| Wireframe Right View | Back View | Wireframe 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.
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.
Apr.25.23 Update: Added gerber file for pcb manufacturing.
Apr.23.25 Update: Added stl model of the kb upon user request.
whoa, the last update date and this update is just the year and the day swapped. What an odd timing and cool coincidence.
I'm on reddit.