You’re welcome, it’s been a fun little project.
That’s an awesome project.
One of workmates has been using it, I’ve actually printed the resulting STLs from this when his printer died.
Links updated, let me know how you go!
Yes. It’s fairly straight forward and there are test points to check everything is soldered properly as you go.
There is one exception, the backlight has some very small surface mount parts, the SMD resistors in particular are quite fiddly.
My current thinking is to sell pre-soldered kits with all the surface mount parts done (LEDs withstanding). This way people only need to solder the controller sockets and encoders to get a functioning keyboard.
I will of course keep all of the design files freely available. If you order your own PCBs from JLCPCB you will need to order a batch of 5 so you’ll have some practice boards 😊
I’m still working on a cost effective way to solve the pre-soldering of LEDs. I’ve looked into reverse mountable LEDs, but I’ve yet to find something that meets the required criteria (price, color, efficiency and availability).
Thanks.
I am working on a similar MX design that has a number row (Rolio Max). In addition to the roller encoders it’ll have these bad boys too:
It’ll be much more of an at home board than one you can shove in a backpack. But I figure why not make an all you can eat board too.
I don’t anticipate having the prototypes even until December though as I’ve got a fair bit of work happening at the moment. In practical terms I guess that means no publicly available designs until early next year.
This one does have a “math mode”, if the numbers layer key is double tapped it locks in the numbers and other “maths buttons” until the numbers layer key is tapped again.
Next I’d like to make a macro pad that has a ten key mode for “home use” with some big rotary encoders that matches the style of the Rolio (to be called Twistio).
That said, I am tempted to make a split with a number row (Rolio Max?). If I do that then there will be enough room for a 5 way stick below the roller encoder, I couldn’t fit that in this one. But this would be more for “fun” as I quite like the Corne after having used both the Sofle and Corne.
That said, it’ll need to be much later this year, I have a CNC machine on order. I’d not want to prototype something like this again without a CNC machine of my own. The process is a bit expensive, the controllers and displays are a bit pricey too IMO (though still good value given what goes into making them).
Thanks.
I think it’d be great if they started showing up on AliExpress.
Sharp memory display, it’s a bit like Epaper in terms of appearance. Most of the OLED panels I could find eat batteries.
More info here: https://nicekeyboards.com/nice-view/
Nice!Views, they’re incredibly power efficient.
This is awesome.
That shot of the insides really sells it, looks like you really had some fun making it 😊
This is awesome, I have a similar design coming from JLPCB this week (it is a bit more Corne like though).
Any advice or important lessons you learned?
Custom caps from FKCaps.
They run a top notch service that I highly recommend.