ergopad VS TOTEM

If you have a decently sized touchscreen device, there's ergopad that lets you create a cloud of points with your fingers and average out the layout of respective key columns. However, it's limited to flat layout only.

If you have a Large enough tpuch screen device https://pashutk.com/ergopad/

If you want to design your own you could use ergopad.

Choc switches can have a smaller spacing depending on the keycaps used, and are low profile, sadly no comercial keeb (to my knowledge) uses this spacing (MX spacing top, choc spacing bottom), but you can find resources to make your own on r/ErgoMechKeyboards, or find someone that takes commissions. Also another benefit of a DIY keeb is that the layout can be made based on yours or your wife hand (on a tablet https://pashutk.com/ergopad/), so even more confortable.

you can use Ergopad to see what your personal stagger (and splay) is

I used Ergopad and TOTEM's layout as base. Less GPIO on Xiao was easier to manage since I was looking at other similar keyboards and copying schematics / track connections.

ergopad?

So I'm currently in the process of designing my first keyboard, because I went too deep into the rabbit hole and wanted to start with the hardest possible difficulty level. What helped me start out was this keyboard layout comparison site, ergopad (a site where you can "measure" your fingers' reach if you have a tablet) and actually printing out one of those paper keyboard testers. I know there is one for the Kyria, but other keyboards have them as well. Put a piece of wood underneath for a realistic height, tried some tenting and just typed some words on the paper to get a feel for it. That really helped me figure out where I want the keys to be, can recommend.

Wired Totem from keeb.supply needs a reset every time I start my Win10 pc, otherwise it works as usual. it says "USB device not recognized". Tested on multiple pcs and cables. Asked on their discord but they haven't heard this problem before. Nuked and reflashed with the given files multiple times, checked again the soldering but didn't help. If it works perfectly fine after reset or connecting to an already running pc, what might be wrong? Is there a watchdog feature that sends a reset signal the moment it gets power? My repo.

You just need a new keyboard 🙃

I built a TOTEM[1] (same creator) and it looks stunning. Was a breeze to get manufactured (both PCB and resin printer case from jlcpcb, in my case) and assemble too!

The build guide is very informative and quirky, it has everything from tips in how to solder smd diodes to "use a sharpie to paint the PCB sides black so it looks nicer", way better than some expensive kits I've bought in the last few years!

1. https://github.com/GEIGEIGEIST/TOTEM

There are some pads on the underside of the XIAO controller that we need to connect to. The footprint that I am using here has plated through-holes with edge cuts with enough space to allow you to use a soldering iron from the bottom to solder the plated through-holes to the pads. This approach was borrowed from Totem so it should work but I am worried about manufacturing issues due to the DRC failures there.

Here you can find the PCB and case files and of course a buildguide. Here is a Hackster post covering my process. I hope it's ok to mention, that you can also buy complete kits on keeb.supply by now.

Thanks! The KiCad files are open source, you can figure out how to add a number row, I believe in you! build guide

design your own case – take a look at the bottom of GEIST’s TOTEM

add an extra pinky key – popularized by Jian and seen in Totem

as u/Tulip2MF mentions, GEIST did the TOTEM for SEEED XIAO challenge and showed it off with a clear case and keycaps