Does this split exist?

[pixelpusher]

I really like the idea of a split space bar keyboard.  I've been looking at the M65-A, JD40, Minivan, Vortex Core, and the Banana Split, but I haven't seen anything that splits in a way that would be usable for me.

I have recorded myself typing to analyze how I use the space bar when typing and I've found:

I generally press the space bar with my right thumb almost exactly beneath the intersection of "B" and "N"
When I type a word that ends in the letter "Y", my thumb presses the space bar a bit more to the left, close to the center of the "B"

So, I played around with the layout editor and came up with some thing that seemed reasonable (with the exception of a 3u spacebar, but they aren't impossible to find).  I'm mostly interested in keeping the split where it is.

So, does anyone know of any 40 or 60% boards with this bottom row layout possible?




Edited to include 3u spacebar idea.  Pretty cool symmetrical bottom row, don't you think?

[pixelpusher]

And I guess my next question would be.... how do I go about making a PCB?   

I just checked out https://github.com/ruiqimao/keyboard-pcb-guide#setting-up and I was a little overwhelmed to say the least.

Maybe hand wiring would be the only way I could make this happen... although I'm not confident that I could accomplish that either

[pixelpusher]

And in case you were wondering why the triple split, i was thinking that you could use the center key for space and the other two for Fn or modifiers.  Personally, I would use them both for Fn keys so that I could accomplish any Fn + Keypress with one hand.

[cutterline]

Minila or Z70 is the closest thing (commercially) to that bottom row.

PCB? Just learn how to KiCAD, there's a lot of guide out there.
Handwiring is faster, TMK or QMK has all the tools and layout for columns and rows wiring.

[pixelpusher]

Minila or Z70 is the closest thing (commercially) to that bottom row.

PCB? Just learn how to KiCAD, there's a lot of guide out there.
Handwiring is faster, TMK or QMK has all the tools and layout for columns and rows wiring.

oh man, the minila is perfect!  thanks.

[cutterline]

The downside is Minila is not programmable. Unless they did a breakthrough with those Holtek custom firmware project. Edit : It seems minilauses OTP chip, but the bright side you can just custom a small part to make kt programmable (source https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/filco-minila-swap-alt-and-win-key-teensy-my-best-bet-t5751.html)
You can always make a new pcb or handwire using the old plate and case though.

[_rubik]

That reminds me of the Cartesian Longboard https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=68818.0.

How exactly would you map that bottom row?

[Joey Quinn]

Don't make the board as is, unless there's some weird vintage board with a 3u keycap you'll never be able to find one.

[cutterline]

Don't make the board as is, unless there's some weird vintage board with a 3u keycap you'll never be able to find one.

Fortunately, it's 2017 now and God bless the Chinese for making those affordable keycaps. You can easily find a set with 3u keycaps in many profiles, cherry, oem, dsa.
For example : https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=&SearchText=minila
Note : Minila uses 3u keycaps for spacebar

[pixelpusher]

Was about to buy a Manila but I just noticed the second row (shift , z, x, c, etc...) has all been shifted over to the left slightly??  Anyone with this board that can comment on that aspect.