3 ms·

This is so funny, I dived into the custom keyboard rabbit hole just 3 weeks ago. Never thought this would be so intriguing and time consuming. Did you consider

This is so funny, I dived into the custom keyboard rabbit hole just 3 weeks ago. Never thought this would be so intriguing and time consuming. Did you consider Mill-Max Sockets? My personal favorite are 80% TKL ISO low profile keyboards, which is quite uncommon and I've not found much except the Keychron K1 Max having this layout. Unfortunately, the integrated Gateron brown/red/... low profile switches are not my thing - my favorite ones would be Lofree Kailh Ghost, but these don't fit the keyboard, although it is hot swappable because low profile switches are non standard (at least 2 different layouts I know of). So I also thought about a custom solution. I found pretty impressive open source firmware and pcbs [1], but I noticed that I just didn't have the time to do all this. Since keyboards are so an individual device, manufacturing bigger batches is risky and manufacturing smaller batches is expensive... so pretty much no choice than waiting for someone having the same dream as I have or do it myself after shoving free enough time. 1: https://github.com/4pplet/waffling80/issues/1 https://github.com/4pplet/waffling80/issues/1

ValentinPearce 2y ago
> I dived into the custom keyboard rabbit hole just 3 weeks ago Take your time, the GAS is real and expensive ! All jokes aside, ordering small batches of PCBs is unfortunately very expensive, especially if you have a larger size. If you ever feel the itch of going towards ergonomic split keyboards, you'll find plenty of ~40% splits that use reversible PCBs for both halves which allows for cheap batches. Typically you get 5 PCBs with JLC and that gives you enough to build one full keyboard for work and one for home.
- sandreas 2y ago
  > If you ever feel the itch of going towards ergonomic split keyboards Unlikely. I caught my [nearly perfect] unicorn, but I'm not telling you what it is, because a.) it is too embarrassing and b.) don't wanna ruin your chase :-) There are some hints I can tell you though: + it's low profile (Kailh) + it's TKL 80% and 100% + it's available ANSI and ISO + it's wireless o it's not split (I like it this way but it depends on personal taste) - it's NOT hot swappable - it's not QMK / ZMK Probably I'm going to work on the hot-swappable thing via Mill-Max 7305 or 3305 (already ordered a pack), but the soldering will really take time, even if I use soldering paste and I have to order a second one for experimens.

ValentinPearce 2y ago

> I dived into the custom keyboard rabbit hole just 3 weeks ago Take your time, the GAS is real and expensive ! All jokes aside, ordering small batches of PCBs is unfortunately very expensive, especially if you have a larger size. If you ever feel the itch of going towards ergonomic split keyboards, you'll find plenty of ~40% splits that use reversible PCBs for both halves which allows for cheap batches. Typically you get 5 PCBs with JLC and that gives you enough to build one full keyboard for work and one for home.

sandreas 2y ago
> If you ever feel the itch of going towards ergonomic split keyboards Unlikely. I caught my [nearly perfect] unicorn, but I'm not telling you what it is, because a.) it is too embarrassing and b.) don't wanna ruin your chase :-) There are some hints I can tell you though: + it's low profile (Kailh) + it's TKL 80% and 100% + it's available ANSI and ISO + it's wireless o it's not split (I like it this way but it depends on personal taste) - it's NOT hot swappable - it's not QMK / ZMK Probably I'm going to work on the hot-swappable thing via Mill-Max 7305 or 3305 (already ordered a pack), but the soldering will really take time, even if I use soldering paste and I have to order a second one for experimens.