open source, files on Codeberg
this was a big learning experience, first time doing a proper PCB instead of using yet another Pro Micro equivalent – this would not have been possible without Noah Kiser’s tutorials on Youtube, all the work that went into QMK and Vial, and the ease of JLC’s assembly service (no way I was ever going to solder an RP2040)
shocked and giddy with how easy the whole process was – plugged in the fresh PCB and it went straight into bootloader mode – uploaded the *.uf2 and it worked first time!
- symmetric split-ergo style layout (6 × 3 + 3)
- katana stagger
- personally find this works really nicely and keeps the feel of an ortho or columnar board
- fits into Minivan case (12.75u × 4u)
- attempt to use as many existing mounting holes as possible (6/7)
- main issue was maintaining symmetric layout with two mounting points in bottom row
- personally find the resulting odd gap to be uncomfortable
- if I do an update, I would remove the awkward spacing and slide the whole bottom row to the left a smidge (resulting in an uncomfortably-asymmetric symmetric layout)
- learning to use JLC’s PCB assembly instead of a Pro Micro equivalent
- providing a proper Vial firmware
Cool design. I am a right thumb spacebar person so it would work out really well. Still, if I was going to get creative with the carriage return, I would have made it a 1/4 size key placed between the letters ‘E’ and ‘S’ for that extra bit of challenge.