[IC] BTY-80 - A Through-hole Orthogonal TKL Keyboard with a Thumb Cluster

[ajkldsz]

Do you love unique looking keyboards? Maybe you thought of getting an orthogonal keyboard, or maybe one with a through-hole design like the Discipline? Maybe you've used seen one of those fancy ergo-split keyboards with cool looking thumb clusters?

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to the BTY-80, an all new, one of a kind, fully custom design!

Features

• Condensed TKL layout
• Through-hole PCB design
• Chrome-plated Stainless Steel Plate
• Clear stacked acrylic case
• USB-C Connector
• RGB glow support, if you want that RGB look
• Completed prototype, not just renders!

IC Form

If you're interested, please take the time to fill in the IC form.

Prototype Pictures









And a render of the finished product with DSA keycaps



Supported Layouts
The plan is to support both a double-wide space button, like on the Plank keyboard and 2x1U wide buttons in place of a space bar. Please note that the current PCB prototype doesn't yet support the 2x1U layout yet.

Option 1


Option 2


Pricing and MOQ
Pricing is to be ~180 USD without shipping. The increased price is due to having a unique plate design requiring custom tooling.

Design
I use an ErgoDox EZ as my daily driver keyboard and really enjoy using an orthogonal keyboard and the added usefulness of having a thumb cluster. I also really love the design of through-hole keyboards like the Discipline, but find myself really missing having dedicated navigation buttons whenever I use a 60% keyboard. With this in mind, I came up with the BTY-80, a keyboard with a truly unique design. I was really aiming for a unique keyboard that was as much form as it was function, and I think the final design I came up with has achieved that. The keyboard will be shipped unassembled with all required components (minus switches and keycaps) in the box. RGB contacts are available on the back of the PCB if you want to add an RGB glow.

Firmware
The keyboard is designed to work with QMK. It is still TBD whether or not the firmware will be pre-flashed onto the microcontroller or a binary and keymap will be provided for you to flash it yourself.

Vendors, Dates, Shipping
Vendors are still TBD. If the IC goes well, the GB will start March 1 and run until March 31. Shipping will start around early-mid June 2021.

To do

• Source acrylic supplier
• Source plate supplier
• Source PCB supplier
• Finalize design
• Finalize vendors
• Source component supplier
• Finalize plate tooling

[Alejo1707]

Interesting, depending on the price I might consider getting it.

[Barri]

Want

[Xonuss]

This looks very interesting!

[catbus]

Any chance of making the pcb compatible with low profile switches? Specifically the front 4 switches as I feel they'd get in the way of your thumb.

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

[MIGHTY CHICKEN]

Interesting, I enjoy

[hali]

its not symmetrical and it hurts me

[yupyup]

The spacebar isn't in the center and looks very off. If you absolutely must have a 13u wide ortho keyboard at least put a 3u spacebar and 1.5u keys on both sides for layer keys, or just make it 14u (or even better, smaller. preonic with f keys and just put ESC down a row to make room )
The keys below the off-center space are just...pointless.
I'd recommend doing something similar to the ID75 but just putting the F keys in the middle and making it fixed-split.

[Havattack]

The spacebar isn't in the center and looks very off. If you absolutely must have a 13u wide ortho keyboard at least put a 3u spacebar and 1.5u keys on both sides for layer keys, or just make it 14u (or even better, smaller. preonic with f keys and just put ESC down a row to make room )
The keys below the off-center space are just...pointless.
I'd recommend doing something similar to the ID75 but just putting the F keys in the middle and making it fixed-split.

I don't find it to be very noticeable at all. It's more importamt for it to be in the middle of the thumb cluster, like he has it, I think.

[CodeMayhem]

I don't know about the spacebar with the clutter underneath it

[piit79]

Looks interesting! Way bigger than I prefer (Preonic is my weapon of choice) but interesting nonetheless

I also think it would look much better if it was symmetrical - you could use a 3u spacebar. I never used an ErgoDox, but I was always wondering how you manage to press a spacebar that has a row of keys underneath it...

Pricing is to be ~180 USD without shipping. The increased price is due to having a unique plate design requiring custom tooling.

Is there any particular reason why you chose steel plate instead of a more traditional one, and chrome plated to boot? It is certainly unusual and interesting, but it might be adding too much cost. $180 is quite a lot for a stacked board. I would suggest offering a simple all-acrylic version as well for a significantly lower price.

I see you're still sorting out vendors - do you have anybody in particular in mind for Europe, or would you be open to working with a new vendor? I opened a small shop specialising in through hole-kits in December so I would love to be involved I'll PM you just in case.

[DeMechanica]

This layout? Epic!!!!

Can you make an acrylic case version, like they have in the Quadrant R2? Also, is there space for a rotary encoder?

[steebs]

you need to splain youself! how do you hit the spacebar?

I've seen other boards that use low pro keys only with those 4 bottom switches.

love the idea though, glad this is up

[ajkldsz]

Any chance of making the pcb compatible with low profile switches? Specifically the front 4 switches as I feel they'd get in the way of your thumb.

I just took a look at the spec sheet for the low profile switches and it looks like it's not possible to have a flat pcb using both normal and low profile switches, but there shouldn't be a problem of just using all low profiles. I've actually already tested a different prototype with the 4 front switches and after a bit, you really forget that they're even there

you need to splain youself! how do you hit the spacebar?

It's just like on the planck keyboard or the preonic! It's really not that bad especially since even on a regular keyboard, your thumb basically hovers and presses the space bar right below the "b" and " n " keys anyways

love the idea though, glad this is up

Thanks!

[ajkldsz]

I've made some adjustments to make the layout more symmetrical, what do you guys think?



The esc key was moved down and the right most column was removed to make it 12u wide with 75 switches.

[ajkldsz]

Can you make an acrylic case version, like they have in the Quadrant R2? Also, is there space for a rotary encoder?

Shouldn't be too hard to do, I'll look into it. Unfortunately with the way it's currently designed, a rotary encoder isn't really possible.

[consumer]

I've made some adjustments to make the layout more symmetrical, what do you guys think?

Show Image

The esc key was moved down and the right most column was removed to make it 12u wide with 75 switches.

Thumbs up. Will it also support 2x2u?

[IOVERCALLHISTIOCYTES]

I cant ortho to save my life, but I've always wanted 6 buttons and some scroll wheels under the spacebar. love it.

[DeMechanica]

Can you make an acrylic case version, like they have in the Quadrant R2? Also, is there space for a rotary encoder?

Shouldn't be too hard to do, I'll look into it. Unfortunately with the way it's currently designed, a rotary encoder isn't really possible.

Epic, if there's a case then I'll probably be in!

Also I love the more symmetrical design, I am finding the Quadrant much easier to find keycaps for than the Plexus75, for example.

[honpache]

I've made some adjustments to make the layout more symmetrical, what do you guys think?

Show Image

The esc key was moved down and the right most column was removed to make it 12u wide with 75 switches.

I liked it much more! I'd probably use the esc at the top anyways bc I'm really use to have ctrl at the bottom right corner!
but now I'm just waiting for the price, love the design.

[ravermeister]

can't wait (and would love different plate options, CF anyone?)

[Vibex]

This is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for in an overkill macroboard! Will be a perfect fit with KAM Playground!

[riterdando]

Any news on this?

[bloodparticle]

Delightfull... ◉‿◉ for me doesn't need a case, can it be like Gingham Mechanical Keyboard...  I hope the project is not abandoned!

[Kacperoni]

Noice