Absolem is a Rabbit Hole Keyboard Build

This is usually how it happens -- [mrzealot] had been using some awful chiclet-style keyboard without much of a care, and topping out at 50-60 WPM using an enhanced hunt-and-peck method. But he really wanted back-lighting, and so got his first taste of the mech life with a Master Keys Pro S. Hooked, [mrzealot] started researching and building his endgame keyboard, as you do once bitten. It looked as though his type would have as few keys as possible, and thumb keys laid out in arcs.

And so the cardboard prototyping began, with real switches and keycaps and a split design. After getting tired of adjusting the halves' position on the desk, [mrzealot] threw that plan out the window and started scheming to build a monoblock split. He had a steel switch plate cut for this prototype, and used cardboard for the bottom layer, complete with a little hatch to access the Pro Micro's reset button.

Now satisfied with the 36-key layout, it was time to go wireless with a Feather nRF52 Bluefruit LE. This is where things get serious and final, with a laser-cut layered oak case and thick, blank, PBT keycaps.

Under all that plastic lies a range of actuation force levels on the key caps that (in our opinion) range from heavy to really heavy -- 62 gram switches on the pinkies and ring fingers, 65 g on the middle, 67 g on the index fingers, and a whopping 78 g for the thumb clusters.

We just love the way this ended up looking, and are pretty jealous of that neoprene layer on the bottom. Beauty aside, there is some real utility here to be shared. In designing the layout, [mrzealot] created a keyboard generator called ergogen that will get you closer to your endgame without the need for CAD skills, just YAML.

Those of you who read Hackaday closely may recognize the term 'ergogen' from [Matthew Carlson]'s coverage of [Ben Vallack]'s guide to creating a low-profile keyboard. This is something else in the same vein.

Thanks for the tip, [HBBisenieks].

#peripheralshacks #keyboard #nrf52 #onepiecesplitkeyboard #splitkeyboard #yaml

Keebin’ with Kristina: the One With the Cat Keyboard

Special thanks to [Maarten], who stumbled upon this old gem of a geekhack thread by [suka]. It's essentially a show and tell of their DIY keyboard journey, complete with pictures. [suka]'s interest started with a yen for ergonomic keyboard layout alternatives. They soon found the geekhack forum and started lurking around, practicing layouts like Neo and AdNW, which [suka] still uses today.

When it was time to stop lurking and start building something, [suka] got plenty of support from the community. They knew they wanted a split ortho with a trackpoint and plenty of thumb keys. [suka] started by building them from old Cherry keyboards, which are easier to come by in Germany.

The first build was a pair of num pads turned landscape and wired up to a Teensy, but [suka] wanted those sweet, clacky Cherry MX switches instead of MLs. So the second version used a pair of sawed-off num pads from old MX boards.

When the Truly Ergonomic came out, it got [suka] interested in one-piece splits. Plus, they were tired of carrying around a two-piece keyboard. So their next build was a sexy monoblock split with a laser-sintered case and keycaps. But that was ultimately too uncomfortable, so [suka] went back to split-splits.

Everyone takes a different path into and through this hobby, and they're all likely to be interesting. Is yours documented somewhere? [Let us know](mailto:[email protected]?Subject=[Keebin' with Kristina]).

What Could Have Been: The Dygma Raise

I do some streaming here and there, mostly for the sense of focus I get out of being live on camera. I like to find out what my people in chat are clacking on, and one of them told me they have a staggered split called the Dygma Raise. I hadn't heard of it before that day, but this keyboard has been around for a few years now.

This same person told me that Dygma might make an ortholinear version sometime soon, but apparently Dygma wanted it that way from the beginning. According to the timely video below sent to the tips line by [deʃhipu], Dygma's original plan was a split ortho with few keys and presumably a layer system.

So why did we end up with this half-hearted ergonomic that has more on hand to satisfy the staggered rectangle crowd? Well, because the staggered rectangle crowd is larger and has more money. But if you ask us, it wasn't the ortholinear part that turned people off so much as the low key count. Asking people to go split and ortho and use layers from the get-go is simply too much at once.

It's Complicated: Futaba MD Switches

So I picked up this bare TI-99/4A keyboard for building a cyberdeck, and it has some fairly interesting switches. There are 47 of these Futaba MD complicated linear switches, plus a single one that latches for the ALPHA LOCK key. These funny cylindrical switches are pretty large compared to Cherry MX switches, and they have MX-compatible stems.

And they're aptly-named, too. These complicated linears have 16 parts to them in total, which is quite a count for a switch that has no audible click or tactile feel to it at all. Deskthority took one apart and they have a nice gallery showing each step of disassembly. I tried to do it for myself with a similar Futaba MD, but I just can't get the legs to unscrew, which is supposed to be Step 1 of getting them apart.

Cat-Like Typing Detected

Anyone who owns both a cat and a keyboard knows that they are inextricably linked. Even if your cat never actually sits on top of your keyboard, there is probably enough hair in there to clone little Chairman Meow a couple times over.

If you're looking for your first split keyboard, the Alice layout is a good choice. But an Alice layout on a cat silhouette? We predict that this kitty's gonna hold its value on r/mechmarket simply for the novelty. So don't miss this Pikatea keyboard group buy, which comes in a rainbow of colors and a variety of key switches. It ends on December 15th or as soon as 50 of them are sold, whichever comes first.

Historical Clackers: the Namograph

Image via Antikey Chop

Remember the index typewriter? That's the kind that doesn't have a standard keyboard, just the alphabet and an arrow for choosing and printing one letter at a time. They still exist in the form of embossing label makers.

Here's an index typewriter that was meant to personalize your pencil, pen, toothbrush, pipe handle, wallet, or whatever -- the Namograph. It was a small machine that weighed only 7½ pounds and plugged into the wall. The Namograph didn't sell well, and the company that made them from 1921 to 1922 never made any other product. Although they failed, the concept obviously did not -- it lives on in hot foil stamping machines.

ICMYI: Model F restoration

[Epictronics] recently got a hold of an IBM Model F that some people might have deemed too far gone to bother with. It was missing its badge and about ten keycaps, which was enough to reveal just how much crud was strewn about the switch plate.

But [Epictronics] wasn't worried about vintage crumbs. The biggest issue was the old, rotten foam inside. It took some doing, but they made a nice replacement with a sheet of neoprene, a big hole punch, and a lot of patience.

There's a lot more to this restoration that gives plenty to learn from. Lacking the robotic equipment IBM would use to take the keyboard apart, [Epictronics] resorted to resting it face-down on a pair of pool noodle halves and whacking it just right with a rubber mallet to remove the back plate.

Once all the dirtier deeds were done, [Epictronics] moved on to aesthetics, removing a stain on the case with a careful application of car polish, and tightening up the coil on one end of the cable with some taped-up threaded rod and a heat gun.

Got a hot tip that has like, anything to do with keyboards? [Help me out by sending in a link or two](mailto:[email protected]?Subject=[Keebin' with Kristina]). Don't want all the Hackaday scribes to see it? Feel free to [email me directly](mailto:[email protected]?Subject=[Keebin' Fodder]).

#hackadaycolumns #peripheralshacks #futabamd #ibmmodelf #modelf #numpad #onepiecesplitkeyboard #splitkeyboard #teensy

Back-to-the-Office Ergo Brings a Bit of Home Sweet Home

We sure do love a good one-piece split keyboard, and it's not just because you never have to worry about the halves drifting too far apart throughout the day, thought that's a big plus. For one thing, the angles are always just right without having to mess with anything, so muscle memory gets you back to the home row every time. Usually, the only thing missing from these mono-block splits is the num pad. Well, not on the SuperLyra.

This is [Malevolti]'s back-to-the-office build, and it's sure to start a few conversations. While we don't have a lot of details, there will be plenty forthcoming on the Black Cat Plasticworks website. As soon as next year, [Malevolti] plans to sell fully-assembled SuperLyras, kits, and bare-bones PCBs. We really appreciate that it allows for either MX-type switches or Chocs, depending on the hot swap sockets installed.

As much as we love the Maltron-esque num pad in the middle, we imagine that it would be more comfortable to use if it were canted at 45° angle relative to the user's dominant hand. Fortunately, some enterprising redditor had the same idea. They've already mocked this up in Photoshop and are inviting comments on another thread.

Want to go split, but don't know which is right for you? Check out this Split Keyboard Finder.

#peripheralshacks #diykeyboard #keyboard #onepiecesplitkeyboard #splitkeyboard

Keebin’ with Kristina: the One with the Index Typewriters

You may have noticed that I neglected to write an introductory paragraph for the last one of these -- I was just too excited to get into the keyboards and keyboard accessories, I guess. I can't promise that I'll always have something to say up here, but this week I definitely do: thank you for all the tips I've received so far! The readers are what make Hackaday great, and this little keyboard roundup column is no exception. Fabulous fodder, folks!

Kamina Chameleon

This is [deʃhipu]'s daily driver. Vroom!Like any keyboard enthusiast worth their soldering iron, [deʃhipu] keeps trying for the ultimate keyboard -- ideally, one that runs CircuitPython and makes a great daily driver for high-speed typing.

The latest version is the Kamina, a one-piece split with a SAMD21 brain that is slim and narrow without being cramped. [deʃhipu] started by splitting the Planck layout, spreading it, adding a number row, and eventually, an extra column of Kailh Chocs on the right hand. One-piece splits are great as long as the split suits your shoulders, because everything stays in place. When you do move it around, both halves move as one and you don't have to mess with the positioning nearly as much as with a two-piece. And of course, since he designed it himself, it fits.

The really cool thing here is the center module concept. It's functional, it looks nice, and as long as it doesn't get in the way of typing, seems ideal. So far, [deʃhipu] has made a couple different versions with joysticks, encoders, and buttons, and is currently working on one with a Home button made for cell phones to take advantage of their built-in optical trackpads.

Esrille NISSE Looks Nice

This is the Esrille NISSE keyboard and it comes in two sizes! Okay, the two sizes don't look that different, but the key spacing specs say otherwise. To me, this looks like an Alice with a better and ortholinear layout. These bat-wing beauties are new to me, but they've been around for a few years now and are probably difficult to stumble upon outside of Japan. Although Esrille doesn't seem to make any other keyboards, they do make a portable PC built on the Raspberry Pi compute module.

Image via Esrille.

I love me a one-piece split when its done properly, and this one seems to be pretty darn close to perfect. How do I know? You can print out a paper-craft version to try out either of the two sizes. I didn't take it quite that far, but you can bet that I opened the smaller size's image in a new tab and put my hands all over the screen to test the layout.

I especially like the thumb clusters and the inside keys on this thing, but I think the innermost thumb keys would be too painful to use, and I would probably just use my index finger. I would totally buy one of these, but they're a little too expensive, especially since the smaller one costs more. (What's up with that?) The great news is that the firmware is open-source. Between that and the paper-craft models, a person could probably build their own. Check out [xahlee]'s site for a review and a lot more pictures of the NISSE and similar keebs.

Check This Out: Making Double Shot Polyurethane Keycaps

There's more than one way to put legends on keycaps, and the double shot method is definitely the longest-lasting. Double shot keycaps are kind of what they sound like -- they're made in two pieces; one for the legend, and one for the rest of the keycap. Double shot keycaps are awesome because you can't feel the legends and it's impossible for them to wear off. They are forever, and making them requires an intricate process.

This dramatic video that's set to Ride of the Valkyries doesn't offer much in the way of explanation, but you will see every single step of this three-day process go by in what feels like more than five minutes. It starts out with a mold made of LEGO, so you might think this is something you can easily pull off in a weekend, but it gets complicated pretty quickly.

Big thanks to both [Inne Lemstra] and [Zane Atkins] for tipping about this one. The system works!

New Hotness: Adafruit's RP 2040 Macropad

I got my Adafruit ADA BOX this week and (spoiler alert!) it features their Raspberry Pi RP2040-based macropad. The idea here is that you can scroll through and select different macro group profiles with the rotary encoder giving you nearly limitless bindings in a small package. You can use RGB to tell your menus apart, and you get enough space on the OLED to show a short label for each of the 12 keys that appear in a matching matrix.

Check out that glowy Jolly Wrencher!

Adafruit sent these out with Kailh reds (linear switches), which are totally not my jam, but I know linears are popular, and I suppose it's better to err on the side of silence rather than clack a bunch of people into annoyance. I used a dozen Cherry MX clears at first, but those have all-black enclosures and don't let the RGB through as well (though I think they look pretty cool anyway). Pictured here are Kailh box whites, which have clear upper housings, and they're topped with the included translucent DSA keycaps.

Yes, that's a Jolly Wrencher in the upper left! I was quite fortunate to receive an extremely limited-edition Hackaday keycap that's 16 years in the making (thanks pt!). If you missed our Python Your Keeb Hack Chat with the crew from Adafruit, go check it out and peep this video of double shot beauty of a keycap. I'm not yet sure what I'll do with my macro pad. I'm leaning towards work-related shortcuts, or maybe creating some kind of game that requires cranking the rotary encoder and pushing the keys somehow.

Historical Clackers: Index Typewriters

The AEG Mignon, which had interchangeable fonts and character sets. Image via Wikimedia Commons

Index typewriters were invented in 1880 and fell out of fashion by the 1940s. They are called so for one of two reasons: either because it uses a pointer to choose from an index of characters, or because you use your index finger to work the pointer.

In either case, the pointer is mechanically linked to the corresponding type element that prints the character, and you just push a lever to type after making your selection. A second lever does the work of the space bar.

There were a few different styles of index typewriter over the years, and many of the designs are interesting. Compared with typewriters, they were all relatively small and lightweight, and cheaper to manufacture without the keyboard. As a result, index typewriters were mainly marketed to writers on the go.

The index typewriter is still around in the form of the handheld embossers that predate the electronic label makers of today. Many label makers and index typewriters are laid out alphabetically, and some had their own non-qwerty layouts.

In Case You Missed It

Have you ever heard of magnetic, Hall-effect key switches? You bet they're the height of clacky. Well, [riskable] is bringing them back en vogue with a modern twist. These are magnetic separation switches in the sense that actuation forces two magnets apart, yes. But they're also magnetic levitation switches -- instead of a spring, there's a third magnet in the keycap that helps it return to the home position.

What's better than an IBM Model M? Not much if you ask us, but then we saw [Steve M. Potter] take all these lovely buckling spring switches and give them handmade wooden keycaps with Scrabble tile veneers. What a high-scoring build!

Got a hot tip that has like, anything to do with keyboards? [Help me out by sending in a link or two](mailto:[email protected]?Subject=[Keebin' with Kristina]). Don't want all the Hackaday scribes to see it? Feel free to [email me directly](mailto:[email protected]?Subject=[Keebin' Fodder]).

#hackadaycolumns #peripheralshacks #adafruit #doubleshotkeycaps #esrille #esrillenisse #indextypewriters #lowprofile #macropad #onepiecesplitkeyboard #splitkeyboard