Ergodox left side ONLY kit

[Misterorjoe]

I am wanting to purchase a left side kit for the Ergodox. This additional left side would act as a gamepad, as it would have MX Blacks, rather than the blues that I prefer to type with.

Seeing as it would not require an additional Teensy, the price should be less than half of the price of a whole Ergodox. Is anyone interested? I was told by Massdrop that they would do it if they got enough interest, but I can only commit to 4 or 5.

https://www.massdrop.com/vote/left-side-only-ergodox-kit

[SpAmRaY]

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ergodox-pcb

^^ Is that what your after?

[Pacifist]

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ergodox-pcb

^^ Is that what your after?

I thnk he wants cases too

[Misterorjoe]

I want the PCB, case, electronics, keycaps, etc, but ONLY the left side. I even want a single aluminum cover.

[tricheboars]

how will you possibly get this to work without a teensy?!

[Findecanor]

Seeing as it would not require an additional Teensy, the price should be less than half of the price of a whole Ergodox.

how will you possibly get this to work without a teensy?!

You would not.  Misterjoe got it wrong. The keyboard was designed for having a Teensy on the right side, and a simpler, cheaper I/O expander on the left side. The I/O expander is pretty dumb, it can not replace a microcontroller.
But because the PCB is symmetric, it is possible to switch the Teensy and the I/O expander.
All the components on the left side would be as on a right-handed keyboard, just on the opposite side of the PCB and with the Teensy upside-down.
The case would also have to be made from right-handed case parts.

In other words, this would have to actually be a right-hand kit - but you would build it left-handed.
I think it would be better to call it a "one-hand kit".

It would not be cheaper than half an ErgoDox, because a Teensy is more expensive than the    MCP23018, a TRRS socket and the cable combined. There are also a few resistors and LEDs on the Teensy's side.

What would you do with the unused TRRS socket? Keep the socket, put something in the hole, or let there be a hole?
You would also have to modify the firmware.
This idea has been put forward before, so I think someone else might already have built his own left-handed ErgoDox with firmware.

[Misterorjoe]

Seeing as it would not require an additional Teensy, the price should be less than half of the price of a whole Ergodox.

how will you possibly get this to work without a teensy?!

You would not.  Misterjoe got it wrong. The keyboard was designed for having a Teensy on the right side, and a simpler, cheaper I/O expander on the left side. The I/O expander is pretty dumb, it can not replace a microcontroller.
But because the PCB is symmetric, it is possible to switch the Teensy and the I/O expander.
All the components on the left side would be as on a right-handed keyboard, just on the opposite side of the PCB and with the Teensy upside-down.
The case would also have to be made from right-handed case parts.

In other words, this would have to actually be a right-hand kit - but you would build it left-handed.
I think it would be better to call it a "one-hand kit".

It would not be cheaper than half an ErgoDox, because a Teensy is more expensive than the    MCP23018, a TRRS socket and the cable combined. There are also a few resistors and LEDs on the Teensy's side.

What would you do with the unused TRRS socket? Keep the socket, put something in the hole, or let there be a hole?
You would also have to modify the firmware.
This idea has been put forward before, so I think someone else might already have built his own left-handed ErgoDox with firmware.

You misunderstand. I want to have a full Ergodox with MX blue, and then I want an additional left-handed piece to swap out with my MX blue left piece, which I would then use to game and such. I am not expecting this to work "stand-alone" but instead be swapped out with my actual left hand piece.

[jdcarpe]

Seeing as it would not require an additional Teensy, the price should be less than half of the price of a whole Ergodox.

how will you possibly get this to work without a teensy?!

You would not.  Misterjoe got it wrong. The keyboard was designed for having a Teensy on the right side, and a simpler, cheaper I/O expander on the left side. The I/O expander is pretty dumb, it can not replace a microcontroller.
But because the PCB is symmetric, it is possible to switch the Teensy and the I/O expander.
All the components on the left side would be as on a right-handed keyboard, just on the opposite side of the PCB and with the Teensy upside-down.
The case would also have to be made from right-handed case parts.

In other words, this would have to actually be a right-hand kit - but you would build it left-handed.
I think it would be better to call it a "one-hand kit".

It would not be cheaper than half an ErgoDox, because a Teensy is more expensive than the MCP23018, a TRRS socket and the cable combined. There are also a few resistors and LEDs on the Teensy's side.

What would you do with the unused TRRS socket? Keep the socket, put something in the hole, or let there be a hole?
You would also have to modify the firmware.
This idea has been put forward before, so I think someone else might already have built his own left-handed ErgoDox with firmware.

You misunderstand. I want to have a full Ergodox with MX blue, and then I want an additional left-handed piece to swap out with my MX blue left piece, which I would then use to game and such. I am not expecting this to work "stand-alone" but instead be swapped out with my actual left hand piece.

The Teensy would have no way of knowing which "left hand" was the keyboard half, and which was for gaming. It would simply replicate the programming of the keyboard. There really is no elegant and cheap solution for what you are wanting to do. You could make a left hand only edox half, with a Teensy attached, and program it for separate scancodes, but that's about the only way to go about what you are describing.

[Wildcard]

So basically you're wanting to make a "gaming" left side that you can occasionally swap out with your "typing" left side.

I'd think your best bet would be to buy a PCB, and have someone with a laser cutter make you an acrylic case for the left side. Or as suggested above, actually make this Massdrop vote for the right side (which can be flipped to a left during assembly) with the Teensy controller/case. This way people can have a working stand alone chording keyboard without needing the rest of the Ergodox. I could see some 40%/60% layout people interested in this.

[plainbriny]

The Teensy would have no way of knowing which "left hand" was the keyboard half, and which was for gaming. It would simply replicate the programming of the keyboard. There really is no elegant and cheap solution for what you are wanting to do. You could make a left hand only edox half, with a Teensy attached, and program it for separate scancodes, but that's about the only way to go about what you are describing.

This is not a big issue, just assign a layer for gaming and you're done.

On the other hand, just because steelseries use bx black in their gaming keyboard, doesn't mean you must use black for playing games.
 

[Misterorjoe]

So basically you're wanting to make a "gaming" left side that you can occasionally swap out with your "typing" left side.

I'd think your best bet would be to buy a PCB, and have someone with a laser cutter make you an acrylic case for the left side. Or as suggested above, actually make this Massdrop vote for the right side (which can be flipped to a left during assembly) with the Teensy controller/case. This way people can have a working stand alone chording keyboard without needing the rest of the Ergodox. I could see some 40%/60% layout people interested in this.

This is correct. I am going to be buying a few extra full kits, as a number of my associates would like to do the same thing, and the two sides are interchangeable.

[IvanIvanovich]

Not sure what someone couldn't just redo the thing to use an smd atmega straight on the pcb instead of the dumbass teensy?

[jdcarpe]

The Teensy would have no way of knowing which "left hand" was the keyboard half, and which was for gaming. It would simply replicate the programming of the keyboard. There really is no elegant and cheap solution for what you are wanting to do. You could make a left hand only edox half, with a Teensy attached, and program it for separate scancodes, but that's about the only way to go about what you are describing.

This is not a big issue, just assign a layer for gaming and you're done.

On the other hand, just because steelseries use bx black in their gaming keyboard, doesn't mean you must use black for playing games.
 

Yes, I didn't think of that. Maybe learn to type on Blacks (it's quite enjoyable, actually), and then there's no need for a separate left hand board.

OP, if you want to buy a whole kit, then split it up and keep the left hand side, I'd be interested in buying the right hand from you...

[regack]

Not sure what someone couldn't just redo the thing to use an smd atmega straight on the pcb instead of the dumbass teensy?

Time.

[agodinhost]

Not sure what someone couldn't just redo the thing to use an smd atmega straight on the pcb instead of the dumbass teensy?

Time.

Yup, agree ...
Time!