I’ve been working on a design for a split keyboard that is a hybrid between a Corne and a Sofle.
So fair the electrical and software aspects work, I still need to sort out the chassis.
Some features:
- Efficient backlight circuit (at 100% it uses 20mA)
- Custom MBK Choc caps from fkcaps.com (the glow is awesome)
- ~250mAh battery (still low profile as there’s a hole in the PCB for the battery)
- Dual EVQ encoders
- Fully wireless using Nice Nanos
- The layout has MacOS and Windows modes
- Choc spacing
Once I’ve got the chassis done and I’ve cleaned everything up a bit I’ll open source it.
Here’s a preview of the chassis design so far:
i can’t remember their name right now, but these are the custom MBK caps, yeah? I’ve been designing a similar set, where the layer characters are on the caps. I actually printed up transparent stickers in 2020 with this goal in mind.
Also, what do you have the scrollers mapped to?
Nice, I highly recommend the fk caps guys, really happy with them.
I have an updated set of caps that I’ll order soon, I’m currently tinkering with the backlight glyphs. Still not quite satisfied.
I like your caps idea, I toyed with dye sublimation but then decided against that (clear stickers would have been way easier). Then I saw a link to FK caps somewhere and gave it a go.
My encoders are mostly mapped to arrow keys. But, here’s the current map (it’s derived from my Corne’s map):
https://pastebin.com/9XRqkKYH
Do you know if their system allows to share designs as a starting point? I know you can save for later.
Thanks! I was happy-ish with the result. I created the font from a handwritten script I use when I send greeting cards. I didn’t find a way to keep the ink from rubbing off though, so they never lasted very long. I tried lacquering them, but likely didn’t do a very good job - I can be aggravatingly impatient.
I think that’s almost what I’d do too - I’d like an easier way to select text when composing email/whatever, so I dream of a single key whole-word select function. I’d map it to a (variable) shift arrow, depending on whether I’m on the MacBook or the windows box.
Side note - I noticed your map has both windows and Mac specific commands - I didn’t know that was possible. Are these separate layers, or is the keyboard somehow aware of the OS it is attached to?
If the GUI key is tapped twice it switches to the windows base layer, double tap again and it goes to the Mac OS (default) layer. This is done using a “tap dance”, look for “td” in the map to find it.
If you look at the conditional layers you’ll see how I accomplished the stacking of key bindings.
Since the board is naked I’ve not really used it, but I was playing with the scrollers and doing text navigation, it was very very nice.
I think you can share layouts from FK Caps:
https://fkcaps.com/custom/HUA582
The above is my current WIP. Hopefully it works, I’d like to share it as a basis for people to customise the Rolio if they want.
This could easily a game changer for me! My brain warps whenever I require a multi key/layer function, while I’m connected to a windows box from my mac.
Nice, I’m on mobile but will make a note to check this out later.
Honestly, this project, caps, and key map… I feel like you are me, lol
Glad to be of service. Check out the “lstart” and “lend” macros as a starting point for your single key to select a whole word thing.
I must admit I thought what I was doing here was pretty niche as I couldn’t find anything similar. Even the Bluetooth + Backlight seems a rarity. To be fair routing a 2 layer PCB with the added complexity was a PITA, soldering the resistors was super fiddly (either by hand or reflow).
The fact that it scratches an itch for you is pleasing, it means the added effort of open sourcing may be worth it as a few other people will get some value.