It’s a split keyboard in 4 parts and 101 keys, though i could move the number pad and control pad to outside of the thumb keys if making a 4-piece keyboard is too hard or complicated.

Left thumb gets space, control, and super. Right gets space, hyper (just a 3rd layer), and alt. The keys next to T and N are repeat keys. Above Fn is escape and sleep. Above power is compose.

The control pad has cut, copy, paste, open, select all, save, undo, and redo.

I think that’s every key i’ll need, especially with a compose key and so much extra space available on the hyper layer.

Is there anything i’ve forgotten to consider? Anything i should know about split keyboards, or custom shapes in general?

More specific question, are 0.5u switches and caps available anywhere for all my small keys? I could replace most of them with full size keys fairly easily, but the 101st key on the number pad would make the layout asymmetrical.

  • junderwood@lemmy.world
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    19 days ago

    If you’re new to pcb design, I’d recommend learning KiCad! I haven’t designed a keeb pcb in a few years so my skills are rusty, but I learned the basics with this series on youtube called ‘getting to blinky’. There may be better or more up to date ones available these days, though. I’d maybe just take one of the side macro pads and just make that as a standalone to get the hang of it first before going hog wild with the whole thing. Honestly though, despite how tedious it is, handwiring a matrix isn’t too too bad!