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Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice
- stingraycharles 7mo agoKeychron just open-sourced their design files, which I didn’t expect. I’m a happy user of their keyboards.
- mananaysiempre 7mo agoNot open source or open hardware, which they are pretty clear about. > This project is source-available. Personal and educational use is allowed, and commercial use is allowed for compatible accessories. You may not copy and sell Keychron keyboards or mice [...].
- observationist 7mo agoIt's awesome if you mod your own gear, and 3d printing / one off part services are ubiquitous, so if you see something you like online, it's cheap and easy to do little upgrades. More companies should do what they do - the less ethical players are already cloning knockoffs anyways, stuff like this builds brand loyalty and probably makes it more likely that people stick with Keychron over going for the knockoffs.
- gumgumpost 7mo ago[dead]
- 0xedd 7mo ago[dead]
- ZeWaka 7mo agoThe Keychron K4/related (K4 HE here) compact 96% layout is definitely my favorite keyboard layout. Just a solid brick of keys.
- remarkEon 7mo agoSecond this. I was skeptical because I thought I was attached to the "heft" of a full layout, but the 96% is the best of both worlds.
- stingraycharles 7mo agoWhy do you like rhe 96% layout? I prefer the full space, recently upgraded to a Q6 Ultra, I’m really happy I can get a wireless version of most of their models these days.
- gwbas1c 7mo agoWider keyboards (with the space for arrow keys and number keys to the right) put extra strain on your right shoulder when you use the mouse in your right hand. I've been using a narrow keyboard and ergonomic mouse for 2 weeks, and my shoulder pain is starting to go away. I put a number pad on the left and it's much easier to key in numbers with my left hand instead of using my mouse with my left hand.
- ZeWaka 7mo agoIt's just keys, nothing else. I don't use any tactile or visual guides when I type and go off pure muscle memory, so all the spacing in traditional layouts is useless for me.
- rstupek 7mo agoThe HE keyboards are really great. I have been using the K10 HE for a year and it's the best keyboard I've used.
- banannaise 7mo agoI've used a K4 for 6 years now and love it. The only thing is that I had to swap out the arrow keys for textured ones, which allows me to reach for them blindly and keeps me from losing my location when using them. It's insanely compact for a 96% board.
- jhogendorn 7mo ago[flagged]
- altairprime 7mo agoThe list of model numbers is clearly stated in the repo README and you’re apparently a subject matter expert on this; so, please look up the answer to your question and let us know.
- irl_zebra 7mo agoNo it's design files. Like CAD stuff.
- nickvec 7mo agoPretty sure @jhogendorn was being tongue-in-cheek to call out (semi-related) questionable behavior from Keychron.
- irl_zebra 7mo agoI know, but given the subject of the OP it was an irrelevant garbage comment from a jilted user trying to smear the company. It deserves an equally obtuse response.
- OsrsNeedsf2P 7mo agoHah, I just bought the Q6. Seeing they released their design spec makes me much happier with the purchase!
- m463 7mo agoI bought one too - most heavy and heavy duty keyboard I have ever owned. I wanted to use it but it has one fatal flaw - the backlighting is unusable. The keys it comes with are decent, but opaque, so the backlight doesn't actually illuminate the keys. And if you get shine-through keycaps, the LEDs are mounted below the center of the key instead of above, and you don't get good illumination. sigh. I used to use topre realforce rgb, then tried keychron, now use steelseries apex pro exclusively. if they could fix it, giving me illuminated shine-through keys, I would go back to stay.
- deleted 7mo ago[deleted]
- skrtskrt 7mo agoA Keychron has always been a great introduction for friends that want a good home desk setup without too much fuss. I have stuck with the System76 Launch keyboard but I basically always consider Keychron first when looking.
- lamasery 7mo agoI'd consider another Keychron (my first mechanical since a couple of AT and PS/2 Model M and variant devices I had years and years ago) and I like some stuff about it and definitely like the price, but would look for a model with a few differences next time and probably skip Keychron if I couldn't get all of these fixed in one of their boards: 1 - Longer battery life (I have a bluetooth + plug-in model). The battery life is crazy-low, even when not in use and the lights are turned off. I keep it plugged in all the time, as a result. I don't really get why it can't last, idle, about as long as a game controller does (many weeks! And those don't have much space for batteries). 2 - No light pattern button. That thing exists only to accidentally hit and switch it away from "gently and evenly lit" which is one of the very-few non-insane patterns available. Brush it by accident, there goes a minute or so of your time getting it back to something that's not trying to look like a disco ball. And it's right on the corner, so you will hit it by accident when moving the keyboard around or reaching for something just past it. Easily my least-favorite thing about the board, despite how bad the next item is. 3 - Mine has a kind of tray-design around the edge, resulting in about a 1/8" lip, that looks very cheap to assemble (so that's nice, lower price) but means it collects EVERYTHING out of the air and is a pain in the ass to clean. It also makes it look kinda like someone's 3D printed hobby project. Like it's an ugly keyboard, both because of the design and because it's visibly collecting dust and hair just a few days after its last keys-removed full cleaning.
- vladvasiliu 7mo agoI have a K2, and you can lock the lights with some key combination I don't remember and am too lazy to look up.
- Nursie 7mo ago
- chaosharmonic 7mo agoOn the source-available piece: I'm not saying I'm for those over open source licenses in general, but Prusa brought up some fair questions when discussing the OCL. Essentially: define "personal use." Have I violated a non-commercial license if I print this keyboard and then use it to build someone a website? Does CC-NC mean a Prusacaster -- or any guitar knob with such a license for that matter -- is strictly barred from being taken on tour? Or used to record albums that are then sold? (And I say "guitar" knob, but I'm choosing an example a little consciously that could exist in any variety of controls, instrument and otherwise.) Where are the lines of that when it's physical things? How far downstream does that go if it isn't CC-NC-SA in particular? I'm not really sure that Creative Commons had the idea of physical production in mind, given that it dates back to a time when we were more broadly talking about digital piracy, and I honestly haven't kept up with its evolution much in more recent years. But maybe it just doesn't make the same sense for designs of physical things, for comparable reasons to why it wouldn't make sense for code -- and, conversely, open source projects that opt to use CC licenses for assets. (None of this would stop me from attempting to build/mod one for fun, mind you. It just raises what a more averse person might call risks, and what I will at least call curiosities.)
- Analemma_ 7mo agoHasn’t Creative Commons disavowed or at least really downplayed the NC license for exactly these reasons? There are so many ambiguities and headaches involved that the only advice I’ve ever seen is not to use it.
- BeefySwain 7mo agoI'd love to see more info on this
- chaosharmonic 7mo agoLikewise, I was unaware of this (and still see it in use regularly, especially on places like Printables as I've recently gotten my hands on a printer myself)
- 7mo ago
- dmarinus 7mo agoWooting has done this already for many years: https://github.com/WootingKb/wooting-design https://github.com/WootingKb/wooting-design
- nickvec 7mo agoLove my Keychron Q1 Max. Awesome to see them open source their design files.
- burnt-resistor 7mo agoThe only problems I have with the Q6 Max are: - It's way, way too heavy. Heavier than my Northgate Omnikey Ultra. Like it's more adept as an improvised weapon as much as any keyboard ever was. - Didn't come with all black enter and escape caps (they were red orange), requiring purchasing an expensive complete replacement set. Minor areas for improvement: ~ Battery life could be better. ~ Charging takes a long time and I'm unsure if there's a charge finished indicator. ~ Would be nice to have an offline flash update & macro programmer to not depend on cloud-based software that will eventually evaporate like everything else. I do like: + Replaceability of switches as I've tried a bunch, settling on Kailh Box White V2. + RGB effects can be turned off completely or show a solid color at low brightness. + Native USB proprietary wireless dongle, BT with 3 profiles, or wired. + Wired or wireless connection while charging. + PC vs. Mac layout as a physical switch.
- delecti 7mo agoCan't speak much to most of your complaints (I like my keyboard heavy, planned to change all the keycaps and switches, and didn't get a wireless keyboard), but you can download an offline version of Via to configure it. https://github.com/the-via/releases/releases https://github.com/the-via/releases/releases
- burnt-resistor 7mo agoThey're my complaints, not yours. You cannot validate or invalidate them. But not launcher.
- delecti 7mo agoYou said you'd like an offline flash update & macro programmer to not depend on cloud-based software, and that exists. Keychron hardware runs on open source firmware and is compatible with VIA as well as their proprietary Launcher. I just checked on my Q11, and the two softwares are basically the same.
- lofaszvanitt 7mo agoI have an IBM Model M, but after prolonged sessions of coding, my finger joints are aching. Are these Keychron keyboard have better switches or what are the experience using these mechanical ones?
- ch_123 7mo agoQuite likely - the buckling spring switches in Model M are quite stiff as far as keyboards go. Brown switches are a good choice if you want a light switch with some amount of tactility.
- dddw 7mo agoSome would call buckling spring style (which inm keyboard use) surperiour to all the mx style switches. It is definitly on the more tactile end, so having aches doesnt surpise me. The variety in MX switches is bonkers. A well known switch collector called Theramingoat has over 4000 different ones. So if you get a hotswap board (keychron is not a bad place to start, but you can find better value-board for the same money nowadays), you can definitely find a switch of your liking. Check out milktooth, you can get a sample pack of different switches to try. And return the ones you dont like.
- delecti 7mo agoThere is (deliberately) not much consistency or uniformity on the switches in mechanical because keyboard nerds are such a picky bunch. I got the Keychron Q11 specifically because the switches could be changed out. I replaced the Brown switches it came with with some "Zilent V2" switches with a much higher activation force. It can be a dangerous rabbit hole if you let it, but if you're just looking for an approximation of the Model M but that requires less force, then something with "Brown" switches might be up your alley. This one in particular has a similar aesthetic, comes with Brown switches as an option, and at a pretty good price. https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-c2-pro-8k-qmk-via-wired-mechanical-keyboard https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-c2-pro-8k-qmk-via...
- nhecker 7mo agoI can give a third vote to the rough comparison between a keyboard with brown switches, and a Model M. I've got both, and like both.
- arikrahman 7mo agoI love the design for the ergonomic mouse. Are there any plans for split keyboard or something Corne style?
- herrherrmann 7mo agoThey have at least the Q11 as a split keyboard model. Or did you mean something else?
- arikrahman 7mo agoI meant something that's orthogonal. I can't go back to standard staggered keyboards. The downgrade would mean RSI for me.
- cosmic_cheese 7mo agoI have their Q60, which is a retro-themed HHKB layout 60% board. Paired with a set of beige-Mac-themed MT3 Extended 2048 keycaps, out of my collection it's one of my favorites and sees some of the most use. It goes head to head with pricier one-off hobbyist boards. I wonder how suitable these CAD files would be for either CNCing or resin-printing a translucent fruit-colored plastic case for a different flavor of retro. That'd be really cool.
- pc86 7mo agoMT3 really is a fantastic profile.
- cosmic_cheese 7mo agoBoth variants are great but I'm particularly fond of the PBT version. The slightly rough/matte texture that doesn't wear away easily and exaggerated dome shapes are sublime to use.
- exmadscientist 7mo ago"Production-grade hardware design files... Study real CAD... Learn from how real products are built... STEP" I'm sorry, I hate to be that guy, but while STEP files are often used as the final export to the contract manufacturer to cut the molds, or for some level of fit checking, they're not used for anything else. The real engineering that you can actually learn from is in the SolidWorks (or equivalent) part files, and you'll note that they're not offering those.
- mjmas 7mo agoThey use Creo it seems: ISO-10303-21; HEADER; FILE_DESCRIPTION((''),'2;1'); FILE_NAME('DIGAI_1_1_1_1_1_1_1','2025-01-07T11:51:29',('\X2\7B26836394A6\X0\'),( ''),'CREO PARAMETRIC BY PTC INC, 2022073','CREO PARAMETRIC BY PTC INC, 2022073', ''); FILE_SCHEMA(('CONFIG_CONTROL_DESIGN')); ENDSEC;
- HugoDias 7mo agoI still use my K2, which I bought in 2019 from Kickstarter, non-stop. What a piece of hardware! I have no plans to switch and will use it until it dissolves, which doesn’t seem to be happening in the next decade or so
- AlBugdy 7mo agoWhat's so special about these designs that makes it copyrightable? The keyboards in the image look very much like any other keyboard I've seen.
- kergonath 7mo agoNovelty is irrelevant to copyright. You are probably thinking of patents or trade marks.
- yc-kraln 7mo agoGreat that these are source-available, but I wish they had a human copy edit the README, it's unbearable.
- moo-jason 7mo agoVery cool. I have the V7. I'm a fan. Just did this golang project: https://github.com/mbarlow/saengsation https://github.com/mbarlow/saengsation Can control the LEDs from commandline. Includes claude skill and hooks. I'm using it to now see claude state. Rainbow animation while claude is working, glows amber when need to switch back to give permission to command, etc. Configurable. Works well.
- sinsterizme 7mo agoI have the k10 he special edition! I am so happy with my purchase, I love the magnetic switches (they feel much nicer to me than mechanical), it's nice to look at, the build quality is great, and the software is really solid. Very impressed overall :)
- glaslong 7mo agoTheir Q10 Max has hit an amazing sweet spot for me. Being able to keep DIYing on that base is like Xmas, this is awesome.
- gregsadetsky 7mo agoSort of tangent - but I've always thought there would be physical stores in big cities (like NYC, where I am) where I could try a number of different keyboards and keys since it's such a tactile experience. But there seems to be no stores like this? So... is everyone ordering keys and keyboards, returning them, trying others, etc.? I know there are key switch samplers... is that it? Thanks
- hananova 7mo agoA combination of key samplers and going with the first acceptable switch rather than trying all of them and going with the best.
- zerebos 7mo agoIf you live in NYC take a trip to your nearest Microcenter, they often have tons of keyboards out that you can play with and get a feel for
- gregsadetsky 7mo agofor sure, that's probably the best option here in NYC/Brooklyn but it definitely feels limited when compared with all of the options available online (that probably applies to most things) there's a specialized store in Brooklyn for modular synths [0] - obviously they don't stock every module but still... I'd assume that a keyboard store would be... popular? maybe? haha (((((((((should I start a keyboard store ahaha - I swear this was not market research))))))) [0] https://maps.app.goo.gl/rvsPscrphv1iKU8D8 https://maps.app.goo.gl/rvsPscrphv1iKU8D8
- mjmas 7mo agoRebalancing: ))
- cocoto 7mo agoPc hardware stores often have some keyboards available to try (mostly cheap cherry mx stuff).
- 7mo ago
- alfiedotwtf 7mo agoKeychron :heart: I’ve got 2 ortholinears (home and work), and a compact for another machine. Is any or them dies, instabuying another Keychron! PS: IF you’re listening, PLEASE release a split wireless ortholinear
- thenthenthen 7mo agoKeychron has ortholinears now? I guess so, cool: https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-q15-max-qmk-wireless-custom-mechanical-keyboard https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-q15-max-qmk-wirel...
- ddtaylor 7mo agoSource available, meaning we just want to use open source as a marketing gimmick and don't do anything too interesting with it that could affect our bottom line. These projects get shared on HN sometimes and it doesn't fit with the hacker ethos overall. Everyone wants to yell the cool part aloud, but mutter the asterisks and license language that takes power away from a would be tinkerer underneath their breath. It could actually be marketed in a decent way, like saying if our company ever goes under you'll have these designs and the license to do anything you want with them. Even a conditional license like that would have more value. As it stands this is a neat thing that some people can use and disregard the license that wants to hamstring you into doing free research and development for a company that produces a product that they tell you not to make.
- dynendal 7mo agoI never understood why the K6 had aluminum on the sides, but not the back. For the last few years, I had two K6's with different switches I swapped between. When one keyboard's battery went low, I would swap and keep working while charging. Then, on my newer K6 the battery turned into what reddit affectionately calls a "spicy pillow." The keys warped convex around the bulged battery and equivalently bulged out the back plastic. That's why you can't put metal back there. I quickly brought it to my nearest battery recycling center. I could've just removed the battery, but I also enjoy having my face in one piece
- ChrisMarshallNY 7mo agoCool stuff. I have a Keychron that I love. I have a jar full of replacement switches, so I suspect that I won’t need to get a new keyboard, anytime soon. I have an Apple Touch ID keyboard, that I use only for Touch ID. I don’t like it, otherwise. I’ve always wondered why Apple doesn’t ship (or license) a simple standalone Touch ID pad. They could probably get a decent premium for it. That said, like a lot of open-source libraries, I appreciate the gesture, but will likely always use the built product. It’s just that hardware has a habit of “aging out,” so this is a way to ensure that a legacy product can remain viable, even after discontinuation.
- benfortuna 7mo agoYou can make your own touch id pad if so inclined.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzB6m2VTxAg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzB6m2VTxAg
- ChrisMarshallNY 7mo agoYeah, that’s cool, but too much like work for me. The keyboard thing is a bit awkward, but manageable. I keep it in my keyboard tray (which I never use for a keyboard, otherwise).
- johanos 7mo agoI had to convince myself to spend the money on a keychron keyboard, but at this point I really like it. I've spilled 3 bottles of water on it as well as 1 protein shake on it and I've been able to fix it each time by just disassembling it and letting it dry out. It's been working perfectly after each time. So far it's been worth the money. That and taking it apart was actually really easy and straightforward.
- 9fwfj9r 7mo agoKeychron's firmwares are not fully opensourced. This makes me hesitant to buy one.
- atlasagentsuite 7mo ago[dead]