ErgoDash VS custom-topre-guide

I'm looking to build and use the right half of an ErgoDash keyboard as a fully programmable gamepad. I'm currently using an OLKB Peronic and while it's serviceable, I'm driven to find/make something better. So before I dive head first into this, does anyone have any experience with ErgoDash keyboards? If there's some fundamental flaw I'm missing or if there's a better option out there, please let me know.

Could someone please assist me or point me to somewhere I can get assistance with building/diagnosing an Ergodash. https://github.com/omkbd/ErgoDash

I'm building (another) ErgoDash and I'm considering adding only underglow lights (with RGB WS2812B LEDs) and not backlights. However the documentation wrapes them together and I'm not sure whether the additonal components - a MOSFET and a 1k Ohm resistor - are needed for the underglow. Anyone knows? Can there be any harm (i.e. shorting something) in trying without them?

If you want a compact split with plenty of keys, I would recommend the ergodash, which is open sourced and can be bought prebuilt.

ErgoDash (general info https://github.com/omkbd/ErgoDash)

I flashed the firmware in this repo for both sides. Then I connect the keyboard into my computer and start Via. But it keeps searching for devices... BTW, I see some posted that Ergodash is supported in Via but cannot find the firmware in the official document here . Was it removed or something else?

I started with an ErgoDash [1], purchased because my Microsoft/Logitech split keyboards had worn out, and at the time I couldn't find a replacement with normal (not low profile) keys. It has a few additional keys compared to the Iris. I have one at work and another at home, and to make them more similar to the broken keyboards I 3D printed angled bases. I use it for 99% of my typing.

I should probably have tried a Kinesis Advantage 2 first.

I'm partway through printing/assembling a Lagrange keyboard [2] (I'm currently stuck working out how to order the circuit boards), which is similar to the Dactyl. I will add the F1-F12 keys to my print, as they're the only thing I miss -- if a shortcut in my IDE is Ctrl+Shift+F10, it's nice for it to be that, not Ctrl+Shift+Fn+0.

I made [3] to help others see what's available.

[1] https://github.com/omkbd/ErgoDash/

[2] https://github.com/dpapavas/lagrange-keyboard

[3] https://aposymbiont.github.io/split-keyboards/

What about ergodash. Has an additional inner column, and an extra couple of thumbs.

Hello, building an Ergodash, I have some questions concerning flashing the pro micros:

I was warned by a colleague that this was a rabbit hole, then warned by people online, and I'll pass on that warning now.

I tried to help by updating and better-presenting an existing list of ergonomic mechanical keyboards: https://aposymbiont.github.io/split-keyboards/

I'm using an ErgoDash¹ with a 3D-printed tilted stand, but I intend to assemble a Lagrange² "soon".

¹ https://github.com/omkbd/ErgoDash

² https://github.com/dpapavas/lagrange-keyboard

Topre switch would be able to achieve that. I remember niz sells individual topre switches. You should be able to make your key matrix and keyboard with this tutorial. https://github.com/tomsmalley/custom-topre-guide

Came across this while combing through my comments and thought I'd already answered, so pardon the delay.

People have certainly tried [1][2], but the big issue in the design is that the switches don't operate as a standard on/off (trivial to detect), but are instead capacitive, in that the current passing through the electrocapacitive pad on the PCB is somewhere between 1 and 0 (exclusive bounds, iirc, and simplified) at all times, dependent on how far the 'switch' above it is being pressed. This old repo seems to explain it well: https://github.com/tomsmalley/custom-topre-guide

Price and marketability are also issues. Split keebs are niche, ortho keebs are niche, EC keebs are niche, and you're talking about fusing those three together. People would 100% buy in, but it would probably be a microscopic market, to the point where the project would be financially lossy, even if you were selling them for $400 apiece.

The closest you/one might get for now is by buying two of these[3], unless you're dedicated enough to DIY.

[1]: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=97975.0

With that said, there have been a couple of attempts at a custom build: here's Tom Smalley's guide.

Making a custom Topre keyboard is very involved.

I remember this project and just came across custom HHKB-like PCB, while looking it up. There's a summary in this repo.