Due to how much I enjoy the let's split and planck form factor, while also liking the 40% form factor and the ergodox, I created this.
I call it the orthodox, it supports both i2c and serial, and uses either mini usb or micro usb to connect the two halves.
It runs on two pro micros, and supports cherry style switches, no alps. The reasoning behind this was a common complaint with the alps-mx reversible pads on the let's split, and holtites not working with it.
I will be doing a prototype GB with a pcb top plate, pcb, and pcb bottom plate. The reason that I opted for the pcb plates is mainly due to how cheap they are, where the full GB will receive acrylic sandwich cases with the added cost of it.
The pcb plates use m3 standoffs due to how available they are when compared to m2, with a maximum standoff diameter of 6mm, although I would opt for something thinner due to that being very tight.
Extra m2 screw holes are around the edges of the pcb for more redneck solutions however.
Now for some pcb renders.
There are 23 keys per side, for a total of 46 keys. There are 2 1u keys and 3 1.25u keys in each thumb cluster.
This pcb is not finished, and I want to clean up all of my tracks and vias.
For a ballpark, the protos should be about $30 usd for 2 pcb top and bottom plates, along with 2 pcbs.
People who join the proto gb will get their name on the pcb, shown by the few names on the pcb to demonstrate, who gave me lot's of great input on the pcb. As such, the proto GB will be limited to 22 people.