keycap_playground VS awesome-split-keyboards

The script that generated these keycaps is also there but you'll probably need to modify it a bit for it to work in your environment: https://github.com/riskable/keycap_playground/blob/master/scripts/gem_full.py

I made a 3D printed keyboard with 3D printed switches + stabilizers and sent it to Chyrosran22 for review.

Longer story: Chyros suggested about 5 months ago that I make an "ultra bright" RGB LED keyboard that used my 3D printable Void Switch design (https://github.com/riskable/void_switch) so he could do a fun "RGB" video. I designed the PCB, the case, the top plate, switches, stabilizers, rotary encoders, etc from scratch and the keyboard in the video is the result.

The keyboard hardware was actually done within the first 3 months but I needed some extra time to add lighting effects to the firmware to meet the "fancy RGB" requirement :)

It's actually my 2nd normal-size analog keyboard design. The first being my Riskeyboard 70 which used a MAX7219 LED matrix display and regular (non-XL) ws2812b RGB LEDs: https://gfycat.com/firsthanduniformeasteuropeanshepherd

Not shown in his video: The top plates have no electronics in them which means they're completely waterproof and can be washed in a sink with soap & water: https://gfycat.com/unconsciousvigilantkinglet . Also, the incremental rotary encoder and absolute rotary encoder (aka "the selection knob") are analog as well (using a custom design).

The keycaps were 3D printed as well and designed using my Keycap Playground: https://github.com/riskable/keycap_playground

I wrote a script that generates entire sets of keycaps using my Keycap Playground: https://github.com/riskable/keycap_playground

Also note that split Cherry MX stem in KeyV2 is very fragile no matter what style of printing you use. I've had nothing but trouble with that which is why I developed my own stem types in the Keycap Playground: https://github.com/riskable/keycap_playground

I just made them with the Keycap Playground (https://github.com/riskable/keycap_playground) and printed them with the default orientation (on their side). I didn't even use the "Side Supports" feature. They fit great 👍

> I wish the customization options and custom keycaps, etc. would trickle to down to the non-mechanical market.

Just get a 3D printer and all your cheap, completely custom keycap desires will be answered...

https://github.com/riskable/keycap_playground

I'm typing on Keycap Playground keycaps right now:

https://gfycat.com/costlyglaringhyracotherium

Also, that gif is of my completely custom analog hall effect keyboard that uses 3D printed Void Switches which you can also customize to your heart's delight:

https://github.com/riskable/void_switch

(Make them feel however you like since the design is parametric and you can customize the feel by changing the total travel, distance between the magnets at rest, etc)

For reference, I'm spending most of my time working on the firmware so that I can start selling some (though "the plan" is mostly surrounding selling PCBs/kits and "print it your damned self!" hehe). Here's the numpad I've been working on lately (to develop the firmware):

https://gfycat.com/softfixedfanworms

I converted to Ortho keyboards with column stagger rather than row stagger and I haven't looked back. If you haven't, I suggest checking out /r/ErgoMechKeyboards for some great options. https://kbd.news/ is also a really good resource, as is https://github.com/diimdeep/awesome-split-keyboards.

Check e.g. this github repository for examples of that type of keyboard. Better shell out some $$ and adjust to one of those now than to have tendon/joint/nerve damage for decades.

There are many ready-to-go ones in this list: https://github.com/diimdeep/awesome-split-keyboards

You should consider adding links to the comparison site for split keyboard kit layouts, and perhaps the list of Awesome Split Keyboards. They're both good starting points for checking out what's out there, though the Awesome list can be a bit outdated by now.

Awesome Split Keyboards will give you an idea of how the boards look and links to vendors or open source projects (ie. sending Gerber files to a PCB fabricator of your choice)

Awesome Split Keyboards

Apologies for the incorrect image link. I assumed it could be edited afterwards. Btw here is the reference image link: https://github.com/diimdeep/awesome-split-keyboards/blob/master/img/Ergotravel.jpg