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
*** Keycaps
Caps for Matias switches are included in the official kits. Sculpted
-caps are also available [[http://matias.ca/order/#keycaps][from
-Matias]] or by harvesting from old Alps keyboards. It's recommended
-that you use unlabeled keys, because due to the different sizes and
-orientations of certain keys (backspace, shift, enter, etc) the labels
-will be incorrect if present.
+caps are also available [[http://matias.ca/order/#keycaps][from Matias]] or by harvesting from old Alps
+keyboards. It's recommended that you use unlabeled keys, because due
+to the different sizes and orientations of certain keys (backspace,
+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
** 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
also need eight M3 machine screws with nuts; the length of the screws
depends on the thickness of the acrylic you use. You can add rubber
feet to the bottom to prevent the board from sliding around when
-placed on a desk. You'll also need sandpaper and finishing oil for the
-wooden cases unless you have bought a kit.
+placed on a desk. You'll also need sandpaper and lacquer for the
+wooden case.
If you are building a hand-wired board you will also need a glue gun,
hookup wire, and wire strippers.
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]]
projects / atreides.git / blobdiff