I'm looking for feedback and constructive criticism on my custom keyboard design. I have all the parts I need and I'm planning on having plates cut soon and would like to find any problems I'm overlooking before I go to that step. I'll be doing plate mounted switches with direct wiring (no PCB) and I'm going to make a custom case from a nice hardwood. Let me know what you think - good, bad, suggestions, etc.
Things I'm trying to achieve:
- split hand, ~10 deg angle, reasonably small size
- close to qwerty layout
- mostly symmetric, matrix design
- consistent keycaps (no hodge podge of different styles)
- function layer with keys I use in programming []{}()+-*/=\`~|
Things that aren't that important to me:
- Cursor control (arrows, page up/dn, etc) key locations. I use emacs and have tons of cursor control options mapped to various CTRL keys
- Key locations for `[]\/-=. All of these keys will be on my function layer so the actual key locations aren't that important.
- Print screen, scroll lock, pause/break
- Windows key, menu key (never use them)
I looked at the ergodox, but it has a few things I don't like. I have tendonitis in my thumbs so the thumb clusters cause problems and I like having real function keys. The reason I have more keys at the upper left, lower right and fewer keys in the lower left, upper right(for the left hand) areas is so that when the hands are turned to about 10 deg, the total horizontal distance the keyboard covers is minimized. I'm planning on using the function layer for most of the non-alpha keys I use in C++ and Python programming so those locations aren't as important.
Here's the layout and a prototype I made in cardboard using the DSA Retro key caps. It feels pretty good so far. Using 1.5 caps for all the modifiers will allow me to move those around (tab, delete, Fn, backspace, ctrl, alt, etc) after it's made. I'm not as sure about the arrow keys but that location seems like the best compromise so far.
