Thanks.

I think it’d be great if they started showing up on AliExpress.

Nice!Views, they’re incredibly power efficient.

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/

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:

https://au.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Alps-Alpine/RKJXT1F42001?qs=6EGMNY9ZYDTsBzSTrhiL0w%3D%3D&mgh=1&vip=1

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.

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!

You’re welcome, it’s been a fun little project.

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).

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).

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?

This is awesome.

That shot of the insides really sells it, looks like you really had some fun making it 😊

Thanks. The loose assumptions are dead on.

Funnily enough after implementing the “math mode” I realised I’d made a gaming half board.

If you use szxc instead of wasd in math mode you have all your numbers still. The left side has a USB mode so you can avoid lag that come from BT (though that hasn’t been an issue for me). SZXC could easily be remapped to WASD on the firmware.

It got me to thinking whether I should tinker with a games mode…. But I don’t play enough PC games to have the right perspective for that. I suspect it’d be a very poor fit and more the kind of thing best left to people that like to make their own stuff to update the keymap who do a bit more of that than me.

Custom caps from FKCaps.

They run a top notch service that I highly recommend.

Thanks.

I used Shapr3D, it’s a really nice cross platform package but I mostly use it on iPad, it lets me create things without needing to be at a desk.

The surface texture comes from the build plate (Bambu textured PEI build plate), the hiding scratches is exactly why I used it.

Thanks. I must admit I am curious to see what mistakes I’ve made this coming weekend. My first KiCAD PCBs should arrive this week, then the penny shall drop I suspect.

If you’ve not tried it yet I’d recommend having a go at reflow soldering with a hot plate. It makes some aspects of assembly easier.

I haven’t yet had a chance to get two rotary encoders working under ZMK yet either. Did you have a good resource to use for that or did you need to figure it out yourself?

(Appreciate I’m asking a lot of questions sorry).

EDIT: I see you’ve posted your ZMK config, nice 😊

Me too, I highly recommend checking out FKCaps. The service is top notch.

Thanks, I got the caps from here:

https://shop.beekeeb.com/product/mbk-legend-glow-r2-black-keycap-set/

They’re the “MBK Legend‡ Glow R2 Black Keycap Set”.

It’d be pretty easy for someone to take the design and make a more typical “naked” base plate etc.

I am having trouble getting the chassis to a point that I’m happy with the appearance. I also made some mistakes in the PCB edge cuts that make it harder again. All part of the learning process I guess.

Either way, once done I’d like for this to be at least as robust as any commercial product so that I can put it in a backpack easily/safely

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

Thanks.

The time and cost exceeds any practical advantage, so, yeah, a little crazy is about right I guess.