Show Image
(https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bluepylons/Boston/master/graphics/bostonKLE.png)
The layout for this was inspired by the Acheron Austin (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=102542.0) and also by the 7-row Thinkpad keyboard (http://www.notebookreview.com/picture/?f=60846) you find on Thinkpads of the T420 generation and older. The general idea was to make a narrower full-size that retained both the 2u numpad "0" and traditional 2x3 Ins/Del/Home/End/PgUp/PgDn nav block, by expanding vertically. This would allow for an easy transition for full-sized users like me (I've been using full-sized keyboards my whole life)
Much like the Austin, I also generally wanted to use keys that were included in base kits for group buy keyboards, so I wanted to stick to things like a 6.25u spacebar and avoid things like putting a Print Screen key in R2, for example.
This first led to something like this:
Show Image
(https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bluepylons/Boston/master/graphics/V0.1/V01-KLE.png)
I then realized that for the same vertical room I could add a large number of programmable keys above the F-row, and there weren't a lot of 120% keyboards out there, especially not narrow ones, so I figured I might as well add a bunch of keys, resulting in the layout you see on top.
Since this keyboard is an Austin derivative, and because I grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, I decided to name the project "Boston".
Everything is posted on this Github repo:
https://github.com/bluepylons/Boston
General specifications:
- 121-keys
- Traditional 2x3 Ins/Del/Home/End/PgUp/PgDn nav block
- Full-sized numpad with 2u "0" key
- Uses keys found in GMK base kits (except for programmable keys)
- USB-C
- Single-color backlight support
- Electrical schematic and design largely copied from the Austin
- Probably will use QMK
- Controller on a daughterboard that fits under the F5-F8 keys, to reduce prototyping costs (small <100x100mm PCBs are dirt cheap, while large keyboard-sized PCBs are easily $100 per revision) . I currently intend to use an STM32F072 just like the Austin, though I may design a backup controller around an AVR IC (likely AT90USB1287) as QMK appears to be much better supported on AVR.
- All SMD parts are on the daughterboard, except for backlight LED current-limiting resistors, to keep the main keyboard PCB buildable with through-hole only (unfortunately due to space constraints SMD resistors are necessary if backlight LEDs are to be installed)
- Case design is TBD - I'm designing the PCB to be tray mountable, but I intend on mounting via the plate (most likely via top-mount). I most likely will design a couple cases
The keyboard PCB is pretty much done, and I'm working on the controller right now, with work on the case to start after that. Most recent files are available on the Github repo above.
Show Image
(https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bluepylons/Boston/master/graphics/V0.2/V02-layout.PNG)
I might eventually run a GB if this works out well, though that's a ways away.
Many thanks to:
- The Acheron project (http://acheronproject.com/) - the KiCAD library and the source files for the Austin have been invaluable for designing this board.
- The designers of the Austin (Driftingbunnies and Gondolindrim)
- Gondolindrim, for assistance and feedback with the PCB design, as for running the Acheron project
- KiCAD, for being an awesome free open-source PCB design tool
- Keyboard Layout Editor (http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/)
In for the group buy cause I'm too dumb to make this. It looks awesome! A compact battleship!