6 ms·

Atreus Keyboard Build

jk_danson 8y ago
I like the unique keyboard and DIY aspect. But 150 for something I might mess up in the process of building just can't be justified... for now.
- moocowtruck 8y ago
  I understand what you're saying. I made one myself and I'm not really familiar with soldering or electronics at all..the instructions that come with are very very easy to follow. I'd say while yes it can get messed, because of the great docs the chance is definitely low. Just an idea of how new, this was my first time soldering anything..ever ! The best advice i can give, is to test the keys you solder while you go..but the docs already say that would be a good idea
- technomancy 8y ago
  Atreus creator here. It doesn't happen often, but occasionally I have customers run into trouble putting their kit together, and I'm committed to always stepping them thru the process of troubleshooting and walking thru the fix. The last thing I want is for you to buy a keyboard and never get it working properly. Here's an instance where someone damaged their kit's microcontroller and was walked thru the repair process: https://old.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/5clvio/best_customer_service_i_have_ever_received_atreus/ https://old.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/5clvio...
- equalunique 8y ago
  I had the same concern as you, which is why I ordered a kit that came with an already assembled PCB. The only soldering required was for the switches - the easiest part.
vbsteven 8y ago
Is there a model M clone that is readily available in Europe? I have heard so much about these mechanical keyboards but have never had the chance to try one. I easily have wrist and pinky issues when using regular modern flat keyboards like laptop keyboards or the Apple ones. The keyboard that solved my issues was the original Microsoft Sculpt of which I have already had keyboards that broke on me. The latency on this wireless keyboard is annoying me lately so I am looking for a new wired option with good latency that also does not kill my wrists and pinky
- DerfNet 8y ago
  Unicomp (https://pckeyboard.com https://pckeyboard.com) ships internationally and makes the licensed Model M.
- equalunique 8y ago
  Can you describe your wrist and pinky issues? I have found the most ergonomic setup for myself is actually a little counter-intuitive. Wrist rests actually make carpal tunnel syndrome worse for me, because despite being soft, a wrist rest ultimately leads me to focus the weight of my arms on the wrist rest (i.e., resting) , which only leads to compression of my carpal tunnel. What works better is a chair with high arm rests and a desk that's low enough to where my arms can float above the keyboard. The meaty part of my forarms is enough of cushion for my arms & nerves to avoid both carpal tunnel & numb pinky syndrome. The keyboard sits at the edge of the desk, no wrist rest required. Try it!
boomskats 8y ago
I still don't think anything beats Matt Adereth's dactyl[0]. Tweak some hand size / reach parameters and let the clojure generate the curvature and the scads. Pure bliss in terms of human->machine interface. [0] https://github.com/adereth/dactyl-keyboard https://github.com/adereth/dactyl-keyboard
- technomancy 8y ago
  The Dactyl is definitely neat. It's designed for a different use case tho; you wouldn't take a Dactyl with you when you're out and about, while the Atreus is specifically designed for travel. I'm working on a similar programmatic definition of the Atreus here: https://icosahedron.website/@technomancy/101809590723531930 https://icosahedron.website/@technomancy/101809590723531930 It's still a work-in-progress, but being able to tweak the input parameters and recompile to get the board regenerated is really handy! The circuit board already uses programmatic alignment for placing the switches and diodes: https://github.com/technomancy/atreus/blob/master/atreus.rkt https://github.com/technomancy/atreus/blob/master/atreus.rkt
  - equalunique 8y ago
    >I'm working on a similar programmatic definition of the Atreus here: https://icosahedron.website/@technomancy/101809590723531930 https://icosahedron.website/@technomancy/101809590723531930 >The circuit board already uses programmatic alignment for placing the switches and diodes: https://github.com/technomancy/atreus/blob/master/atreus.rkt https://github.com/technomancy/atreus/blob/master/atreus.rkt Advances like these, especially the last one, are where I hoped state-of-the-art keyboard design would be headed. Amazing work! In the same vein, I have found an interesting python library that's capable of generating KiCAD circuits: https://xesscorp.github.io/skidl/docs/_site/ https://xesscorp.github.io/skidl/docs/_site/
dimovich 8y ago
Got my Atreus kit in the mail today. Can't wait to put it together! Phil, thanks for a wonderful product!
equalunique 8y ago
A 42-key Atreus (Atreus42) was my daily driver for 2 years. The TMK firmware supporting 2 different modes of dvorak, I found that it was much more comfortable to use than a normal keyboard. Function, Shift, Control, and Alt keys, all in the center for thumb control, made A LOT of sense, and now I feel like the classic "wide" space bar is a waste of space on contemporary keyboards. Enter and Escape as bottom-most pinky keys was also easy to get used to since there was no outer column to get confused about, as with the 4x12 Planck / Atreus62. The one thing I thought it needed was an easier way to access the Delete, Home, and End keys. Changing the default keymap entailed compromises that I didn't seem like they would be worth it, so now I am looking at the OLKB 48-key Planck keyboard. While I don't think pure "grid" ortholinear is as comfortable as the column-staggered Atreus42, the typing experience is tolerable with sculpted Cherry/OEM/DCS-profile keycaps.

I like the unique keyboard and DIY aspect. But 150 for something I might mess up in the process of building just can't be justified... for now.

moocowtruck 8y ago
I understand what you're saying. I made one myself and I'm not really familiar with soldering or electronics at all..the instructions that come with are very very easy to follow. I'd say while yes it can get messed, because of the great docs the chance is definitely low. Just an idea of how new, this was my first time soldering anything..ever ! The best advice i can give, is to test the keys you solder while you go..but the docs already say that would be a good idea
technomancy 8y ago
Atreus creator here. It doesn't happen often, but occasionally I have customers run into trouble putting their kit together, and I'm committed to always stepping them thru the process of troubleshooting and walking thru the fix. The last thing I want is for you to buy a keyboard and never get it working properly. Here's an instance where someone damaged their kit's microcontroller and was walked thru the repair process: https://old.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/5clvio/best_customer_service_i_have_ever_received_atreus/ https://old.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/5clvio...
equalunique 8y ago
I had the same concern as you, which is why I ordered a kit that came with an already assembled PCB. The only soldering required was for the switches - the easiest part.

vbsteven 8y ago

Is there a model M clone that is readily available in Europe? I have heard so much about these mechanical keyboards but have never had the chance to try one. I easily have wrist and pinky issues when using regular modern flat keyboards like laptop keyboards or the Apple ones. The keyboard that solved my issues was the original Microsoft Sculpt of which I have already had keyboards that broke on me. The latency on this wireless keyboard is annoying me lately so I am looking for a new wired option with good latency that also does not kill my wrists and pinky

DerfNet 8y ago
Unicomp (https://pckeyboard.com https://pckeyboard.com) ships internationally and makes the licensed Model M.
equalunique 8y ago
Can you describe your wrist and pinky issues? I have found the most ergonomic setup for myself is actually a little counter-intuitive. Wrist rests actually make carpal tunnel syndrome worse for me, because despite being soft, a wrist rest ultimately leads me to focus the weight of my arms on the wrist rest (i.e., resting) , which only leads to compression of my carpal tunnel. What works better is a chair with high arm rests and a desk that's low enough to where my arms can float above the keyboard. The meaty part of my forarms is enough of cushion for my arms & nerves to avoid both carpal tunnel & numb pinky syndrome. The keyboard sits at the edge of the desk, no wrist rest required. Try it!

boomskats 8y ago

I still don't think anything beats Matt Adereth's dactyl[0]. Tweak some hand size / reach parameters and let the clojure generate the curvature and the scads. Pure bliss in terms of human->machine interface. [0] https://github.com/adereth/dactyl-keyboard https://github.com/adereth/dactyl-keyboard

technomancy 8y ago
The Dactyl is definitely neat. It's designed for a different use case tho; you wouldn't take a Dactyl with you when you're out and about, while the Atreus is specifically designed for travel. I'm working on a similar programmatic definition of the Atreus here: https://icosahedron.website/@technomancy/101809590723531930 https://icosahedron.website/@technomancy/101809590723531930 It's still a work-in-progress, but being able to tweak the input parameters and recompile to get the board regenerated is really handy! The circuit board already uses programmatic alignment for placing the switches and diodes: https://github.com/technomancy/atreus/blob/master/atreus.rkt https://github.com/technomancy/atreus/blob/master/atreus.rkt
- equalunique 8y ago
  >I'm working on a similar programmatic definition of the Atreus here: https://icosahedron.website/@technomancy/101809590723531930 https://icosahedron.website/@technomancy/101809590723531930 >The circuit board already uses programmatic alignment for placing the switches and diodes: https://github.com/technomancy/atreus/blob/master/atreus.rkt https://github.com/technomancy/atreus/blob/master/atreus.rkt Advances like these, especially the last one, are where I hoped state-of-the-art keyboard design would be headed. Amazing work! In the same vein, I have found an interesting python library that's capable of generating KiCAD circuits: https://xesscorp.github.io/skidl/docs/_site/ https://xesscorp.github.io/skidl/docs/_site/

dimovich 8y ago

Got my Atreus kit in the mail today. Can't wait to put it together! Phil, thanks for a wonderful product!

equalunique 8y ago

A 42-key Atreus (Atreus42) was my daily driver for 2 years. The TMK firmware supporting 2 different modes of dvorak, I found that it was much more comfortable to use than a normal keyboard. Function, Shift, Control, and Alt keys, all in the center for thumb control, made A LOT of sense, and now I feel like the classic "wide" space bar is a waste of space on contemporary keyboards. Enter and Escape as bottom-most pinky keys was also easy to get used to since there was no outer column to get confused about, as with the 4x12 Planck / Atreus62. The one thing I thought it needed was an easier way to access the Delete, Home, and End keys. Changing the default keymap entailed compromises that I didn't seem like they would be worth it, so now I am looking at the OLKB 48-key Planck keyboard. While I don't think pure "grid" ortholinear is as comfortable as the column-staggered Atreus42, the typing experience is tolerable with sculpted Cherry/OEM/DCS-profile keycaps.