[IC] 50% ortholinear keyboard - Naming Soon!

[SNReloaded]

Hey so I posted over on Reddit OLKB the other day with some pictures of a keyboard that I had been working on.

There are 2 potential layouts right now. 1 is "True Ortholinear" where all keys are 1u or 2u keys, and the other is "Ortho-ish" with having 2 keys that are 1.5u that sit immediately under where the right and left thumbs are, essentially making a 4u split spacebar area. (Pictures included for both layouts). I will be doing only True Ortholinear, with the option of having a 2u on left, right, or center, with 1u options as well.

True Ortholinear:


Ortho-ish:


As stated in the title of the post, I am looking for a PCB designer who could help with designing this PCB. I am new to PCB design and would like to learn how to do it myself, so some teaching in the meantime would also be great : )

The PCBv1 will be done with a promicro being soldered to the board separately (since they can be purchased relatively cheaply).

I am currently thinking of using the name BurstCap (in relation to the mushrooms in world of warcraft), however, I am up to any suggestions otherwise.

[DarKou]

Hello,

I think you can design PCB by yourself after reading this excellent documentation: https://github.com/ruiqimao/keyboard-pcb-guide

[zl_ramiel]

The space key will not be in the center of two thumbs. I wonder that could be a problem for me.

[SNReloaded]

The space key will not be in the center of two thumbs. I wonder that could be a problem for me.

Just curious, do you use both thumbs for the space? If so I could probably design it to have a flipped option or two 2u spaces

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[SNReloaded]

Hello,

I think you can design PCB by yourself after reading this excellent documentation: https://github.com/ruiqimao/keyboard-pcb-guide

Okay cool! I'll take a look at this soon : )

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[BitLuder]

Hey so I posted over on Reddit OLKB the other day with some pictures of a keyboard that I had been working on.

There are 2 potential layouts right now. 1 is "True Ortholinear" where all keys are 1u or 2u keys, and the other is "Ortho-ish" with having 2 keys that are 1.5u that sit immediately under where the right and left thumbs are, essentially making a 4u split spacebar area. (Pictures included for both layouts).

True Ortholinear:
(Attachment Link)

Can't you just create this layout on a Planck? What is your motivation for creating a pcb?

[SNReloaded]

Hey so I posted over on Reddit OLKB the other day with some pictures of a keyboard that I had been working on.

There are 2 potential layouts right now. 1 is "True Ortholinear" where all keys are 1u or 2u keys, and the other is "Ortho-ish" with having 2 keys that are 1.5u that sit immediately under where the right and left thumbs are, essentially making a 4u split spacebar area. (Pictures included for both layouts).

True Ortholinear:
(Attachment Link)

Can't you just create this layout on a Planck? What is your motivation for creating a pcb?

This keyboard is 2u wider than the Planck, so it feels more like a normal keyboard, but still has most of the "small form factor" perks

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[keebwarrior]

Do a fully split 7x6 ortho and I'll be interested

[SNReloaded]

Do a fully split 7x6 ortho and I'll be interested

I might do something like that in the future, but since this is my first board I need to start small

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[iFreilicht]

The space key will not be in the center of two thumbs. I wonder that could be a problem for me.

Just curious, do you use both thumbs for the space? If so I could probably design it to have a flipped option or two 2u spaces

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I'm not him, but I personally use my left thumb for space, so some sort of flipped symmetry option would be great. But personally, I don't think this layout is worth pursuing. One big advantage of the Planck and Preonic in my eyes is the symmetry that removes many keys from your right pinky and forces you to place them elsewhere. Adding them back in but keeping the 4u height seems undesirable to me.

EDIT: I just noticed that mrbishop is running an IC for the exact same thing right now: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=89730.0

[SNReloaded]

The space key will not be in the center of two thumbs. I wonder that could be a problem for me.

Just curious, do you use both thumbs for the space? If so I could probably design it to have a flipped option or two 2u spaces

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

I'm not him, but I personally use my left thumb for space, so some sort of flipped symmetry option would be great. But personally, I don't think this layout is worth pursuing. One big advantage of the Planck and Preonic in my eyes is the symmetry that removes many keys from your right pinky and forces you to place them elsewhere. Adding them back in but keeping the 4u height seems undesirable to me.

EDIT: I just noticed that mrbishop is running an IC for the exact same thing right now: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=89730.0

Interesting. I might just get the Eco, but it doesn't fit fully with what I was aiming for.

Sometimes that is okay though.

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[TalkingTree]

I am looking for a PCB designer who could help with designing this PCB.

I'm anything but a professional PCB designer, anyway would this work for you?

Design screen.


Front.


Back.


Know that it's incomplete.

[SNReloaded]

I am looking for a PCB designer who could help with designing this PCB.

I'm anything but a professional PCB designer, anyway would this work for you?

Design screen.

Show Image

Front.

Show Image

Back.

Show Image

Know that it's incomplete.

That looks great!

There are a couple of other minor adjustments that would need to be made (due to new project developments).

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[TalkingTree]

There are a couple of other minor adjustments that would need to be made (due to new project developments).

Do tell me.

[SNReloaded]

There are a couple of other minor adjustments that would need to be made (due to new project developments).

Do tell me.

There are 3 options for 2u spaces. One where it currently is, one 1u to the left, and one 2u to the left of the current one.

And that is pretty much it

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[TalkingTree]

Like so?

[SNReloaded]

Like so?

Actually it's like this

xxxx
ooxx
xoox
xxoo

X's are 1u, 2 O's are 2u

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[TalkingTree]

Actually it's like this

xxxx
ooxx
xoox
xxoo

X's are 1u, 2 O's are 2u

Since you have an even number of switches on a row, having four 2u, would make it uneven. You would need to have either three or five 2u to make it symmetrical.

[SNReloaded]

Actually it's like this

xxxx
ooxx
xoox
xxoo

X's are 1u, 2 O's are 2u

Since you have an even number of switches on a row, having four 2u, would make it uneven. You would need to have either three or five 2u to make it symmetrical.

To make what I'm trying to say a bit clearer, here is a new picture.

[TalkingTree]

Much clearer now. I'll see what I can do.

[TalkingTree]

Front.


Back.


Connections are yet to be made.

[SNReloaded]

Front.

Show Image

Back.

Show Image

Connections are yet to be made.

Awesome! Looks great.

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[TalkingTree]

So where do you want the controller and mounting holes?

edit: grammar.

[SNReloaded]

So where do you want the controller and mounting holes?

edit: grammar.

I would say controller equal to S4 (on the PCB) and then mounting holes set at just 1u in diagonally from each corner, and one in the middle as well.

[TalkingTree]

There. I also made connections. Theoretically this is done. There's one pin left available and it's a PWM.

Anything to change?

Front.


Back.

[SNReloaded]

Nope! It looks great.

Now to discuss how to proceed with this group buy

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[TalkingTree]

Before going to mass production, you should have a board made for yourself and test if everything works as intended. As said, I'm no professional designer so it might have flaws.

It would be better to use two 1x12 socket strips to mount the Pro Micro controller so it can be removed without desoldering.
Also, diodes are 1N4148 in SOD-323 form factor (in other words, SMD).

Here's the PCB source.

I'm on a rush now, so I'll work on the firmware later, should be done by tonight or tomorrow at best.

[SNReloaded]

Before going to mass production, you should have a board made for yourself and test if everything works as intended. As said, I'm no professional designer so it might have flaws.

It would be better to use two 1x12 socket strips to mount the Pro Micro controller so it can be removed without desoldering.
Also, diodes are 1N4148 in SOD-323 form factor (in other words, SMD).

Here's the PCB source.

I'm on a rush now, so I'll work on the firmware later, should be done by tonight or tomorrow at best.

Qmk should work with pro-micros, yes?

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[TalkingTree]

Qmk should work with pro-micros, yes?

TMK, QMK and EasyAVR they all support ATMega32u4.

[TalkingTree]

I took liberty to make two more modifications to the board: I added a reset button on the bottom side, which is absolutely optional, since the Arduino Pro Micro doesn't have one; and I've also added a header for the SPI, in case anyone wants to replace the Pro Micro bootloader.

As for the firmware, I've used QMK since you mentioned it.

Firmware source:  orto50.zip (6.23 kB - downloaded 123 times.)
Compiled firmware:  orto50_default.hex (36.64 kB - downloaded 124 times.)
Gerber file:  gerber.zip (124.19 kB - downloaded 174 times.)

Here's a live demo of the gerber.

Again, make a board for yourself and test it before going to mass production.

I hope it helps.

[SNReloaded]

I took liberty to make two more modifications to the board: I added a reset button on the bottom side, which is absolutely optional, since the Arduino Pro Micro doesn't have one; and I've also added a header for the SPI, in case anyone wants to replace the Pro Micro bootloader.

As for the firmware, I've used QMK since you mentioned it.

Firmware source: (Attachment Link)
Compiled firmware: (Attachment Link)
Gerber file: (Attachment Link)

Here's a live demo of the gerber.

Again, make a board for yourself and test it before going to mass production.

I hope it helps.

Thank you!

I'll be ordering a test board soon

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[TalkingTree]

Thank you!

I'll be ordering a test board soon

You're welcome. Let me know if everything works as intended.

[SNReloaded]

Thank you!

I'll be ordering a test board soon

You're welcome. Let me know if everything works as intended.

Sure thing

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