Author Topic: And yet another split ortholinear keyboard  (Read 2600 times)

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Offline MajorKoos

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And yet another split ortholinear keyboard
« on: Sat, 11 June 2016, 09:44:04 »
After putting funds down for the VE.A I've been considering building a split ortholinear for myself to pass the time until it arrives. 
I recently acquired a 3d printer, so I can now make cases and plates for a couple of bucks a go provided they fit within the build area (223mm x/y), hence the split.

My criteria:
- No 1u modifiers!
- Easy to fill with keycaps
- Balanced left/right side (more or less)
- Large(ish) enter and space for the right hand.

Here is my first attempt, but I'm not sold on the bottom row - too many compromises.
http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/38e4ab4e00c57f6ee70e2668d79fea6c

The keys are color coded by the set they belong to in the BOM from SP:
1 x 60% base kit    $46
1 x 1u 10-pack       $10
3 x 1.25u 4-pack    $5 x 3
2 x 1.5u 4-pack      $5 x 2
1 x 2.25u 4-pack    $8

Total = $89 - the same cost of a TKL Dye sub set from SP.

Any thoughts on how I could rework this?


Offline suicidal_orange

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Re: And yet another split ortholinear keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 12 June 2016, 12:46:52 »
Looks perfectly usable to me, what are the compromises would you like thoughts on?
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Offline Floody

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Re: And yet another split ortholinear keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 12 June 2016, 12:49:23 »
Are you not a fan of 1u mods or why did you not want them?

Offline MajorKoos

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Re: And yet another split ortholinear keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 12 June 2016, 16:12:22 »
Looks perfectly usable to me, what are the compromises would you like thoughts on?

I appreciate the feedback.

The short version is the lack of 2.5u keys.  What I'd really like is:
 - a 2.5u space on the left rather than the 1.25u space & backspace combo.
 - a 2.5u space on the right and resizing the 2 1.5u modifiers down to 1.25u
 - get an additional 4-pack of 1.25u keys from SP in place of the 4-pack of 1.5u keys.

I could easily 3d-print the 2.5u keys, but that that would render the layout useless for everyone without access to a printer.
https://github.com/MajorKoos/KBDParts/tree/master/Keycaps/DSA/DSA_Blanks

Offline MajorKoos

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Re: And yet another split ortholinear keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 12 June 2016, 16:20:58 »
Are you not a fan of 1u mods or why did you not want them?

Thanks for taking a look.

When I look at how I type, I activate those particular keys with either my small finger or my thumb, neither of which are as precise as the rest of my fingers.  The larger target is more comfortable to me when using combos.  I also find anything larger than 1.25u can get a bit wobbly if I hit it off center - usually the case with those modifiers.  That gives me a strong desire to use 1.25u keys for all the mods.