Here's a build that I've slowly been working on this summer.
The Background
I have an Alps ErgoDox, and have liked that so far, but I wanted something a little more portable, plus the split hand thing just feels weird.
Enter the Atreus. Awesome board, awesome concept. Only problem was I couldn't get past not having pinky modifiers, so I just decided to design something of my own.
The Design
I initially started from the ground up, only adding keys as I deemed completely necessary. I quickly noticed that my design strongly resembled the Atreus anyway. Eventually, after extensive iPad prototyping, I got to this:
The B in the middle is supposed to be shift. One or two other minor changes as well I think, but the concept is there.
Decided I liked it, so I got autodesk and designed the plate:
Got the plate cut at Big Blue Saw:
Switches fit well, and I was overall happy with the results. Only problem is that there is a slight notch in the bottom left hand side. Not a huge deal, but its an easily noticeable flaw.
The Build
I got some gateron blacks from massdrop. After using the hhkb for a while, I really gained an appreciation for linear switches. I had heard a lot about the gaterons, so why not. I didn't know what to do with myself while I was waiting for the plate to be cut, so in my yearning I bought a set of white DSAs from SP. Huge mistake. Def should have gone with black. Which is fine, since I ordered some black blanks from Ivan's gb. So all i gotta do is wait.
Started wiring this bad boy up.
Rows and columns:
Teensy:
The soldering itself is not pretty, but I was proud that I was able to keep almost everything below the height of the switch pins. Took for freaking ever.
Modified and loaded the firmware, but unfortunately, one switch does not work, and the shift key is always pressed down, so I'll be working on that for the rest of the day.
The Case:
I wanted to try and make something really unique. I love wood cases, but I haven't seen that many, so thats the route I chose. I have little experience with woodworking, and limited access to the tools that I need, so this has been an exercise in frustration.
I feel like many of the wooden cases that I've seen are sub-par at best, and so I'm trying my best to make something exceptional. My best is not that good unfortunately. I started with the idea to make a one-piece case. It didn't seem to difficult, but it's not something that I've really seen. I didn't have access to any CNC stuff, so I made it with a plunge router. I used one of those square bits with ring on the end (idk these wood-fangled terms) to do the non-linear parts of the edges, but the rest is all freehand. With some chop saw thrown in. I'm three or four iterations in at this point.
I haven't really documented the process, so all I have is a picture in its current state:
I now have much more time to be working on this, so I hope to have it done in the next week or two.
More to come soon
