I've seen a number of existing DIY 40% keyboard designs, but most of
them stagger the rows, which I find very annoying now that I've gotten
-used to the columnar layout of the [[http://ergodox.org][Ergodox]]. In addition, many of the
+used to the columnar layout of the [[https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=22780.0][Ergodox]]. In addition, many of the
designs I've seen waste a lot of room on the space bar, failing to
take into account the fact that the thumb is the strongest and most
versatile of the fingers. This design avoids both these problems while
shift, enter, etc) many of the labels will be incorrect if present.
Cherry switches have more options. This
-[[http://keyshop.pimpmykeyboard.com/products/full-keysets/dsa-blank-sets-1][DSA-shaped base set]] (spherical indentations on the key, same profile for each
+[[http://pimpmykeyboard.com/dsa-pbt-abs-blank-keycap-sets/][DSA-shaped base set]] (spherical indentations on the key, same profile for each
row) from Signature Plastics has 52 1x keys plus a few extras we won't
use. There are two "deep dish" keys in that set which you can place
under your index fingers on the home row to help guide your hands to
Layered laser-cut wood or acrylic. The [[http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic%3D54759.msg1304117#msg1304117][mark II case]] (EPS files in the
=case/= directory) features 8 screw holes and a kind of "stair step"
-design around the top and bottom of the key clusters; mark I is
-pictured below.
+design around the top and bottom of the key clusters; mark I has
+straight lines.
-The =3mm-alps-all.eps= file contains the top plate, bottom plate, and
-switch plate for Matias switches. =3mm.eps= contains the files for
-Cherry boards. These pieces can all be cut on 3mm acrylic or wood. The
+The files =alps-top-plate-3mm.eps=, =alps-switch-plate-3mm.eps=, and
+=bottom-plate-3mm.eps= are to be cut in 3mm acrylic or wood. The
=spacer.eps= file should be cut on something thicker; between 4.5mm
and 6mm is recommended. The spacer needs to be at least as thick as
-the connector of the USB cable you're using.
+the connector of the USB cable you're using. If you are using Cherry
+switches, you should use =cherry-3mm.eps= for the top, switch, and
+bottom plates instead, but the spacer is the same.
There is also a programmatically-implemented version of the case
written in OpenSCAD; it is more flexible (you can tweak the number of
** Bill of Materials
-Using Cherry switches is cheapest unless you can find cheap Alps-mount keycaps:
+If you don't want to get [[https://atreus.technomancy.us][the kit]] you can source parts yourself. (You
+can also order a partial kit if you want to customize some of the
+parts.) Using Cherry switches is cheapest unless you can find cheap
+Alps-mount keycaps:
-- 50 MX Blue switches: $29.00 (mechanicalkeyboards.com)
-- 50 diodes: $3.45 (radio shack, should be able to buy in-person)
-- Base blank DSA keycap set: $23.00 (signatureplastics.com)
-- Teensy 2: $16, $3 shipping (pjrc.com)
-- Case materials: ~$16, varies by source
+- 50 Matias or Cherry switches from mechanicalkeyboards.com
+- 50 diodes from radio shack, ebay, or whatever
+- 40 1x, 2 1.5x Keycaps from signatureplastics.com OR full keycap set from matias.ca
+- A-star micro from pololu.com
+- Case materials from various sources
- Case laser cutting: 7.5 minutes on a 100W Epilog laser; varies by source
-- USB micro cable: $5, various sources
+- USB micro cable, get anywhere
Recommended but optional:
-- 5 MX Red or MX Black switches: $8.50 - $10.00
-- additional 1.5x DSA keycap: $1 plus $8 shipping
+- 5 linear Matias or Cherry switches
-The base keycap set only has one 1.5x key, which is used for the inner
-thumb keys. You can use a 1x key for one of them, but it looks kind of
-tacky, so I recommend getting a second 1.5x keycap separately.
+The base keycap set from Signature Plastics only has one 1.5x key,
+which is used for the inner thumb keys. You can use a 1x key for one
+of them, but it looks kind of tacky, so I recommend getting a second
+1.5x keycap separately.
*** Other Tools
These fine projects all provided inspiration for various aspects of
the Atreus, as well as the folks on the =#geekhack= freenode channel.
-- [[http://ergodox.org][Ergodox]]
+- [[https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=22780.0][Ergodox]]
- [[http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/onehand-20-keyboard-t6617.html][OneHand]]
- [[http://blog.fsck.com/2013/12/better-and-better-keyboards.html][keyboard.io]]
- [[http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48718][ErgoT]]