Modified Ergodox

[axlroach]

Hi all,

Here's some photos of an ergodox mod I just finished.  Greens for the thumb-cluster keys and browns for the rest.

I've posted some more photos and what-have-you at my blog here:  http://axlroach.com/post/104107299783/keyboard-mod

Just wanted to see what y'all think.

[vivalarevolución]

How does it feel? The convex curvature seems the complete opposite of some ergonomic designs such as the Kinesis Advantage or Maltron.  I imagine that it would increase the reach that fingers have to do for the keys on the edges.

[axlroach]

How does it feel? The convex curvature seems the complete opposite of some ergonomic designs such as the Kinesis Advantage or Maltron.  I imagine that it would increase the reach that fingers have to do for the keys on the edges.

Today is my first day using it and I have to say it feels really good!  It's not as far of a reach to the thumb cluster keys as the regular ergodox, but to be sure it's still more of a stretch than I would like.  I've thought about building out one with the switch plates curved the other way (like a maltron or a kinesis) to see which I like better, but I've got a couple of other projects in the pipeline first.

[luisbg]

Did you mount the switches in a different platform and wire them from there to the PCB? It's a great idea.

[axlroach]

Yep.  I got some aluminum switch plates from Falbatech.pl.  Then I shaped them by hand -- just bent them in the curvature that I wanted really.  Then I wired the switches from the plate to the PCB via some "extension" wires.  I was gonna hand-wire it, but I still wanted to be able to use the massdrop configurator to build the layers and I wasn't able to find a schematic detailing how the PCB wires the matrix to the teensy, or how the I/O expander fits into the picture.  That's why I decided to just lay the shaped switch plates onto the PCB.

[luisbg]

Very cool. Would love some more pictures with different angles, specially seeing through/under the "keys platform".

[axlroach]

Very cool. Would love some more pictures with different angles, specially seeing through/under the "keys platform".

There are a few more photos here:  http://www.axlroach.com/post/104107299783/keyboard-mod

[luisbg]

Very cool. Would love some more pictures with different angles, specially seeing through/under the "keys platform".

There are a few more photos here:  http://www.axlroach.com/post/104107299783/keyboard-mod

Thanks! Mad props.

[JackMills]

That is a cool mod. Nice way of creating the curvature based on an existing PCB. The curvature seems to be less than ideal, I'm wondering how it feels for the ringfinger and the pinkies.

I like the original approach.

[kurplop]

Now that's what I call "thinking outside the Dox". Nice mod and welcome to the GH community

[MOZ]

Now that's what I call "thinking outside the Dox". Nice mod and welcome to the GH community

Hahaha

[axlroach]

That is a cool mod. Nice way of creating the curvature based on an existing PCB. The curvature seems to be less than ideal, I'm wondering how it feels for the ringfinger and the pinkies.

I like the original approach.

I use it tented, so that the thumb cluster buttons are level to the horizontal.  This way it's more like holding a ball.  I could see how if it were positioned flat on the desk as pictured, the curvature wouldn't work well.  I've just posted a couple of new pics to the blog showing how I have it set up at my workstation.

http://axlroach.com/post/104107299783/keyboard-mod

[hoggy]

Having seen the heavy tenting, the convex shape makes a lot more sense.  Given the design with the metal plate, you might be able to reduce the bend if you find your little fingers having trouble after long term use.

Cool mod, BTW.

[Data]

That... is pretty cool.  Thanks for sharing.

[tp4tissue]

ok....  but much of the advantages of "that" contour could've been achieved by "tenting"...

I'll grant you that it certainly looks very cool..  as an aesthetics piece, it's wonderful..

but.. I don't see the advantage to convex itself, because the human hand does not have much of a convex shape when our fingers are spread as wide as they are..

If the buttons were much smaller and closer together, that would make sense..

but the spacing of the keys as they are, our palm is spread and virtually flat.

[jacobolus]

Looks totally awesome. Doesn’t seem like a functional improvement to me personally. But hey, do whatever works for you!