new ergodoxer

[DefProc]

Hi, I've just completed the main build of my first mechanical keyboard, and ergdox from kit parts.

As I was "sensible" and chose Matias switches, I then found myself unable to easily get DSA keycaps in the UK for this switch stem, and that of course sent me off down the path of:

 * yes I will have to cut my own case with different holes,
 * of course I could just 3D print some keycaps,
 * well yes a fully parametric CAD model because then I get 1S, 1SD, 1.5S and 2S,
 * well the prints of the Ultimaker work, but you can see & feel the layers on them,
 * if I could just find the right process/legend/finish combination, I could make an entire set with no minimum order in any combination of keytypes,
 * maybe SLA printing would work, lets try shapeways…

I'm kind of expecting that this path is never ending though!


https://twitter.com/DefProc/status/753587171450351616

I've had a bit of a lurk around and seen some 3D printed specials, but has anyone printed a full keycap set that is as practical as a moulded set?

[xtrafrood]

Welcome

Have you thought of making your own resin keycaps the old fashioned way? You already have 3D printed keycaps in the shapes & sizes that you need why not make some molds from them? Is that your picture?

[eltoozero]

Saw those at maker faire, haven't looked into it...IIRC there's a micro in there right?

Wonder if you could get that working like a half-keyboard...maybe someone's already gone through the trouble.

Not a blank-keycap man myself, but to each their own!

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

AFAIK DSA keycaps are only available with MX stems.

One tangential approach might be to cut the MX stem off a DSA keycap and glue an Alps stem in its place.  I don't know how stable that would be, but people have done that sort of thing before.  Occasionally.

There's a whole bunch of threads about 3D printing of keycaps (and other keyboard bits):

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=23722.0
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=25517.0
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56744.0
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=76937.0
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=81495.0

That's just a few!  Upshot is - it seems to be possible.  QUality varies, but things are improving.

[DefProc]

Have you thought of making your own resin keycaps the old fashioned way? You already have 3D printed keycaps in the shapes & sizes that you need why not make some molds from them? Is that your picture?

Yes, my picture.

I've got the idea of casting in the back of my mind, but I've not done any yet (although, I'm assuming keycaps, being small and relatively simple shape, would make a reasonable first try). I'll need to do some surface finishing to make them suitable for casting, so I'm interested to see how the alternative printing methods look.

Saw those at maker faire, haven't looked into it...IIRC there's a micro in there right?

Wonder if you could get that working like a half-keyboard...maybe someone's already gone through the trouble.

Not a blank-keycap man myself, but to each their own!

It's a Teensy 2.0, so the same ATmega32u4 that's on a few boards that I've seen details of.

I'm running with the mix of pre-printed keycaps, and some sharpie'd on legends now!

It *seems* like the microcontroller doesn't boot when the two halves aren't connected (with the massdrop hex files), but I am using it with one button that toggles a layer that's the opposite of the normal. It's been surprisingly useful so far; mainly so I can reach all the letter keys with my left hand, and keep the right on the mouse.

=
That's just a few!  Upshot is - it seems to be possible.  QUality varies, but things are improving.

That's good to know!

[eltoozero]

It's a Teensy 2.0, so the same ATmega32u4 that's on a few boards that I've seen details of.

I'm running with the mix of pre-printed keycaps, and some sharpie'd on legends now!

It *seems* like the microcontroller doesn't boot when the two halves aren't connected (with the massdrop hex files), but I am using it with one button that toggles a layer that's the opposite of the normal. It's been surprisingly useful so far; mainly so I can reach all the letter keys with my left hand, and keep the right on the mouse.

So that'd be acting like a matias half-keyboard, hold the spacebar to flip the keys to the opposite hand...

http://matias.ca/halfkeyboard/

Been thinking of doing something like that for the car...

[DefProc]

So that'd be acting like a matias half-keyboard, hold the spacebar to flip the keys to the opposite hand...

Yep, that's the influence for it. I've also done some work on a project 3D printing prosthetic hands where most recipients were down by up to half the traditional number of digits, so I'm intrigued to see how useful it is in practice (without spending £450!).

This: https://www.google.com/patents/EP0489792B1?cl=en&dq=EP0489792&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiLgNOY3YTOAhVOF8AKHeY4DegQ6AEIHjAA looks like the original (expired) patent for it.

It's not equivalent, because I've used a layer key, rather than a long press on the spacebar, but that would need more in-depth changes than just the ergodox configurator.

Here's the keymap I'm using (colemak base): https://keyboard-configurator.massdrop.com/ext/ergodox/?referer=LV5HU3&hash=8269deafc6d72d65eb9d5438094028d9, layer 4 is the horizontal mirror of layer 0.