geekhack
geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: joshajohnson on Mon, 09 August 2021, 07:32:42
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Image Gallery: https://imgur.com/a/DBIGu5T
Discord for discussion: nosharpcorners.com (http://nosharpcorners.com)
IC Form: https://forms.gle/8pQZpJp4QhEeA3WVA
I'm excited to announce Entropy, a keyboard for those who want the ergonomics of a 75% but can't live without their numpad.
(https://i.imgur.com/VVl3jK6.jpg)
I designed the first version of Entropy (https://imgur.com/a/e0xozPb) over a year ago, and have been daily driving it at work and home ever since. In that time there has been a lot of interest to purchase one, so that brings us to this IC.
The plan is to run a small GB, with the acrylic being cut locally in Melbourne, Australia and the PCBs being assembled by a quick turn service. Due to the small volume, the turnaround on the GB should be approximately a month, and I hope to offer the case in any colour I can source the acrylic in.
Upgrades over the original version include a stacked arcylic case, top mount PCB, and ZMK support - enabling both wired and wireless communication with your devices.
(https://i.imgur.com/kfqOTJV.jpg)
Features
- Southpaw 96% layout
- Stacked acrylic case with POM or FR4 plate
- Support for up to 5 rotary encoders
- ZMK support for wired and wireless operation
- RGB Underglow, along with upwards firing LEDs under space bar
(https://i.imgur.com/dg9mcew.jpg)
Layout options
Encoders supported in keys marked with "E"
(https://i.imgur.com/yQbXU1b.png)
Size
- Width: 406mm
- Depth: 140mm
- Front height: 16mm to plate, 22 to top of case
- Rear height: 31mm to plate, 37 to top of case
- Angle: 6 degrees
Pricing
Estimating $150 USD / $200 AUD, but haven't crunched the numbers yet.
FAQ
No QMK support?
Unfortunately due to the chip shortages I'm unable to purchase enough of the STM32's required for Entropy at a reasonable price. As such I've changed to using the nRF52 series which are cheaper than the inflated price of the STM32's whilst offering more features.
Hotswap?
Not supported due to the number of layouts and large amount of room required for the microcontroller.
More bottom row support?
Due to the upwards firing LEDs under the space bar the bottom row support is limited. Make a suggestion in the IC and I'll see if the layout is possible.
NA / EU proxies?
If enough people are interested I'll organise proxies.
Does it include a battery?
Due to logistics with shipping batteries you will need to provide your own for wireless operation. A battery such as this one from Adafruit (https://www.adafruit.com/product/2011) is recommended.
What is the battery life?
I've got a power profiler on it's way, and will measure the latest PCB revision once it arrives to get an accurate time before GB. Until then, I'd estimate 3-6 months without RGB, much less with all the LED's at full brightness.
How can I build my own?
Once the latest round of prototypes arrive and are tested, I'll update GitHub (https://github.com/joshajohnson/entropy/) with all the design files and instructions.
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Wireless? Southpaw? 150 bucks? Potentially short turnaround time?
Watching this close.
EDIT: A Southpaw Numpad (vertical 2u keys to the right) and a 0.25 u gap separating the numpad from the 75% would be much appreciated. Thank you. Answered the IC Form.
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Love it.
Just gotta figure out what to do with that many knobs.
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Love it.
Just gotta figure out what to do with that many knobs.
Until OP reveals their default setting, they're all gonna be volume knobs for me lmao
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Too bad the last 4% aren't also wireless ;D
Best of luck with this!
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Definitely thinking of buying this! Would make for a great bedside keyboard when I'm falling asleep but still want to use my keyboard for navigation.
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Love it.
Just gotta figure out what to do with that many knobs.
If you could get them to work with some kind of audio software, you could use them as an audio equalizer- base, treble, mids, volume.
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Love it.
Just gotta figure out what to do with that many knobs.
Would be so cool if you could hook it up to flux tinting
Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
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Love it.
Just gotta figure out what to do with that many knobs.
I'll admit to not using all of them...
Encoder 0: Unused
Encoder 1: Scroll up / down
Encoder 2: Volume Up / Down (Mute)
Encoder 3: Previous / Next (Play/Pause)
My idea is that the unused ones can be mapped to applications of your choice, so you don't have to run AHK or another piece of middleware.
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i hate knobs. but cool :thumb:
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You don't have to use the encoders - they can be swapped for normal switches!
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Apart from my suggestion about the 0.25 gap between the numpad and the rest of the layout, might I suggest a 0.5 gap in between the bottom row and the arrow cluster?
This way, you can go with 1.5u 1.0u 1.5u 7u 1.5u -OR- 1.25u 1.25u 1.25u 6.25u 1.25u 1.25u for the bottom row. Personally I think it's just aesthetically pleasing to use the same size keycaps for bottom mods (WK notwithstanding).