This is an interest check for a compact 120% keyboard I'm working on, with a layout inspired by the Driftmechanics
Austin. This is the first custom keyboard I've designed, though I have a mechanical engineering background and have done other electronics projects before.

There will be two case options - a CNC aluminum one, and a 3D-printed/FR4 one. They both use the same PCB.
General Specifications:- 121-keys - full-size + 18 programmable keys
- About 2u narrower than a regular full-size
- Traditional 2x3 Ins/Del/Home/End/PgUp/PgDn nav block
- Full-sized numpad with 2u "0" key
- ISO, split-backspace, split 0, and numpad = key support (on universal plate)
- Rotary encoder support, above the Esc key
- USB-C
- STM32F072 controller
- QMK. I might also implement support for VIAL, though I don't want to promise this yet.
- Optional single-color LED backlight support (this may be dependent on the state of QMK ARM backlight support, but the hardware will be there)
- Single RGBLED to indicate layer status
- Electrical schematic and firmware largely derived from the Austin. Case and PCB are different.
3D-printed/FR4 version:- 4-piece 3D-printed case, with FR4 bottom panel. STL and STEP files are available on the Github here if you want to print it yourself - you need a minimum 200 long x 150 wide x 210mm tall mm build area, which is achievable by many budget printers (e.g. Ender 3). Prototypes were printed on an Ender 3.
- Colors depend on what color PLA/PLA+ filament I can have access to , but will probably be offering a variety of colors
- Top mount (technically, though an unusual implementation of it)
- FR4 plate only
- 6.5° typing angle
- Tentative pricing - $130 with 3D-printed case, $95 barebones kit without 3D-printed parts (you would have to print them yourself)
Sound test of the 3D-printed/FR4 version (with Cherry MX Clears,spring ends lubed with Permatex dielectric grease, rails lubed with u/hbheroinbob's Loob-3g, and filmed with Deskey films. Stabilizers are C
3Equalz. GMK Bingsu installed)
IC Form specifically for the 3D-printed version only Prototype pics of the 3D-printed/FR4 version (with OG Cherry WoB and GMK Neon RGBY mods)
![[IC] Boston, a compact 120% (updated specs, 3D-printed version pics) 260539-0](https://geekhack.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=e60dibu6mna9b5bufdrfsnsc5a98hcm5&action=dlattach;topic=106501.0;attach=260539;image)





(the one on the left is an older aluminum prototype)
CNC aluminum version - 3-piece CNC aluminum case, with
bottom brass weight (edit: due to the size of the keyboard it's more than heavy enough with everything made out of aluminum, so a brass bottom is unlikely at this point) - Top-mount
- Knob will be underlit with an RGBLED, to indicate layer status (or whatever other purpose you want to use it for)
- Tentatively intending to offer clear (silver) and black anodization, which were the two most requested colors. Dark gray was the third most requested color on the old IC form, and might also be offered.
- Brass plate. This was by far the most popular requested plate material. I'll publish plate DXF files if people want to make plates using other materials.
- 6.4° typing angle. 0° with the bottom weight removed (there will be bumpon cutouts for 0° if so desired.
Thanks everyone for filling out the IC Form on the aluminum version. I've gotten more than enough feedback on that one, so I took down the IC Form for the aluminum version.
I apologize for not having keycaps or fasteners, and for the generally rushed nature of the renders below. I'm not great with renders, and I've been very busy lately and would prefer to spend time either working on the design or the prototypes. I'll update these with prototype pics once it's built.
![[IC] Boston, a compact 120% (updated specs, 3D-printed version pics) 250910-1](https://geekhack.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=e60dibu6mna9b5bufdrfsnsc5a98hcm5&action=dlattach;topic=106501.0;attach=250910;image)
![[IC] Boston, a compact 120% (updated specs, 3D-printed version pics) 250912-2](https://geekhack.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=e60dibu6mna9b5bufdrfsnsc5a98hcm5&action=dlattach;topic=106501.0;attach=250912;image)
![[IC] Boston, a compact 120% (updated specs, 3D-printed version pics) 250914-3](https://geekhack.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=e60dibu6mna9b5bufdrfsnsc5a98hcm5&action=dlattach;topic=106501.0;attach=250914;image)
![[IC] Boston, a compact 120% (updated specs, 3D-printed version pics) 250916-4](https://geekhack.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=e60dibu6mna9b5bufdrfsnsc5a98hcm5&action=dlattach;topic=106501.0;attach=250916;image)
With black mid and bottom pieces:
![[IC] Boston, a compact 120% (updated specs, 3D-printed version pics) 250918-5](https://geekhack.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=e60dibu6mna9b5bufdrfsnsc5a98hcm5&action=dlattach;topic=106501.0;attach=250918;image)
![[IC] Boston, a compact 120% (updated specs, 3D-printed version pics) 250920-6](https://geekhack.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=e60dibu6mna9b5bufdrfsnsc5a98hcm5&action=dlattach;topic=106501.0;attach=250920;image)
Pictures of the older aluminum case (this was an older design that put the controller on a separate PCB. This particular proto is also missing its RGB indicator light and its rotary encoder). I will not be running this:
![[IC] Boston, a compact 120% (updated specs, 3D-printed version pics) 245328-7](https://geekhack.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=e60dibu6mna9b5bufdrfsnsc5a98hcm5&action=dlattach;topic=106501.0;attach=245328;image)
![[IC] Boston, a compact 120% (updated specs, 3D-printed version pics) 245330-8](https://geekhack.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=e60dibu6mna9b5bufdrfsnsc5a98hcm5&action=dlattach;topic=106501.0;attach=245330;image)
![[IC] Boston, a compact 120% (updated specs, 3D-printed version pics) 245336-9](https://geekhack.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=e60dibu6mna9b5bufdrfsnsc5a98hcm5&action=dlattach;topic=106501.0;attach=245336;image)
![[IC] Boston, a compact 120% (updated specs, 3D-printed version pics) 245332-10](https://geekhack.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=e60dibu6mna9b5bufdrfsnsc5a98hcm5&action=dlattach;topic=106501.0;attach=245332;image)
![[IC] Boston, a compact 120% (updated specs, 3D-printed version pics) 245334-11](https://geekhack.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=e60dibu6mna9b5bufdrfsnsc5a98hcm5&action=dlattach;topic=106501.0;attach=245334;image)
The layout for this was inspired by the Austin and also by the
7-row Thinkpad keyboard you find on Thinkpads of the T420 generation and older. The name is somewhat a pun off Austin since the layout is derived from it, and because I grew up (and currently live) near the city Boston, Massachusetts.
This project uses the open-source Acheron library from
the Acheron project. KiCAD PCB files are available at my Github below. STL files and STEP files of the 3D-printed version are available here below under the CERN OHL-W (which is fairly permissive), and you are free to use the files to make one yourself. Unfortunately, due to arrangements I'm working out with my manufacturer and vendor, it is unlikely that the metal case will be open-sourced as originally planned.
https://github.com/bluepylons/BostonUnfortunately,
Many thanks to Gondolindrim for the Acheron project and for feedback on the early PCBs, and to the designers of the Driftmechanics Austin (Driftingbunnies, PheonixStarr and Gondolindrim) from which this was derived. Also thank you to all 129 people that filled out the old IC form - your feedback was definitely appreciated. At this point I've collected more than enough data, so I took down the form.
MouserPounder made a signature graphic if people want to put these in their signatures (this has a picture of the older prototype)
[url=https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=106501.0][img width=304 height=120]https://i.imgur.com/LYOA5Fp.jpg[/img][/url]
(post revisions)
May 20, 2020 - Initial post
May 20, 2020 - Replaced renders with ones that accurately depict the seam in the middle
May 29, 2020 - Moved F-keys over rightward slightly. Bottom weight is now aluminum instead of brass as the keyboard is pretty heavy to begin with.
June 2, 2020 - Corrected some references to the Austin
June 19, 2020 - Added pictures of prototype (without LEDs or rotary encoder installed)
June 20, 2020 - Added signature link that MousePounder made
July 4, 2020 - Updated signature link
July 12, 2020 - Reorganized feature list, added plate files to Github
August 16, 2020 - Shortened title
September 3, 2020 - Revised post significantly. Removed a lot of outdated info. Added pictures of the 3D-printed version
September 5, 2020 - Fixed required build area to 3D print the case (I overstated the necessary build area). Added some rough tentative pricing for the 3D-printed version. Added IC Form for 3D-printed version.
October 12, 2020 - Added sound test of the 3D-printed version.
January 25, 2021 - Some minor edits, added top pictures of the 3D printed version
February 5, 2021 - Updated the IC in general, removed a lot of out-of-date info. Changed license to CERN OHL-W.