X-Git-Url: https://git.armaanb.net/?p=atreides.git;a=blobdiff_plain;f=README.org;h=e78bc5e58759c1815b083c99b43cb679f3b3f80d;hp=7b3ac64e033ab51d97753ec79f82ae9764586b1d;hb=90ff96051087e4d2b71751c71b32bb2cb42f9d00;hpb=460ecf951f654824d31b97853185d33aa54fd316 diff --git a/README.org b/README.org index 7b3ac64..e78bc5e 100644 --- a/README.org +++ b/README.org @@ -1,83 +1,214 @@ * Atreus Keyboard -The [[http://ergodox.org][Ergodox]] keyboard is an absolutely fantastic design; I use it every -day at my office. However, I like to work from coffee shops and other -locations frequently, and I thought I might try my hand at designing -something a little more portable. The great thing about assembling -my Ergodox is that it taught be there's really nothing magical about -it; it's just a piece of circuitry with a bunch of switches read by a -microcontroller that speaks the USB HID interface. - -The Atreus is meant to be complementary to the Ergodox as something -smaller, cheaper, and more travel-friendly. The case measures 25x11cm -and lacks even a number row, relying heavily upon the fn key. There is -no PCB in this design, requiring [[http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/brownfox-step-by-step-t6050.html][a manual matrix wiring approach]]. -However, given that there are only 4 rows and 10 columns, this isn't -as daunting as it could be. +The Atreus is a mechanical keyboard designed primarily to match the +shape of human hands and to be as portable as possible. The case +measures 26x12cm and lacks even a number row, relying heavily upon the +=fn= key. There is a circuit board for this design, but it's also +possible to [[http://wiki.geekhack.org/index.php?title=Hard-Wiring_How-To][manually wire the matrix]]. + +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 +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 +taking a more couch-friendly single-piece approach. + +[[./atreus.jpg]] + +See [[./changelog.md][the changelog]] for the various revisions made to the design since +its initial release. + +** Kits + +You can buy [[http://atreus.technomancy.us][Atreus kits]] that have all the parts you need along with +detailed assembly instructions from http://atreus.technomancy.us. If +you'd rather round up all the parts yourself, that's possible too +since the design is completely open source; see the bill of materials +below. ** Layout -See [[file:layout.txt][layout.txt]] for the key positions. Only a handful of punctuation -marks (and no digits) available unshifted, and all the modifiers are -on the bottom row. +Only a handful of punctuation marks (and no digits) are available +unshifted, and all the modifiers are on the bottom row: + + : q w e r t || y u i o p + : a s d f g || h j k l ; + : z x c v b || n m , . / + : esc tab super shift bksp ctrl || alt space fn - ' enter + +The numbers and most of the punctuation are on the fn layer with a +numpad-style arrangement under the right hand: + + : ! @ { } | || pgup 7 8 9 * + : # $ ( ) ` || pgdn 4 5 6 + + : % ^ [ ] ~ || \ 1 2 3 ? + : L2 insert super shift bksp ctrl || alt space fn . 0 = -I type in Dvorak but prefer to do the remapping in software rather than -hardware so I don't have to change layouts when I switch to my -laptop's internal keyboard. +The =L2= key switches it to the function layer, and tapping =L0= here +brings it back to the first layer. + + : home ↑ end insert pgup || ↑ F7 F8 F9 F10 + : ← ↓ → del pgdn || ↓ F4 F5 F6 F11 + : || F1 F2 F3 F12 + : super shift bksp ctrl || alt space L0 reset + +The [[https://github.com/technomancy/atreus-firmware][firmware project]] includes a number of other options, including +colemak, dvorak, and "software dvorak" which sends keycodes assuming +the OS will perform the translation into dvorak. Adding new layouts or +changing existing ones is easy. ** Parts *** Switches -I strongly prefer the feel and sound of [[http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/MX1A-E1NW/CH197-ND/20180][Cherry MX blue]] switches for typing. +This layout has five modifiers and 37 non-modifiers. -However, I like having linear switches on the modifier keys (ctrl, -alt, super, shift, and fn). [[http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/keyboard-parts/cherry-mx-red-keyswitch-mx1a-l1nn-linear.html][Cherry MX red switches]] are nice and light -but are difficult to find. Cherry black switches are cheaper and -easier to source, but may be too heavy, especially for keys under -pinky fingers. +I strongly prefer the feel and sound of tactile [[http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=651][Cherry MX blue]] +switches for typing. However, I like having linear [[http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=103][Cherry MX black +switches]] switches on the modifier keys (ctrl, alt, super, shift, and +fn) because the tactile effect has no benefit for keys that are held +down, and giving a different response helps you learn the layout more +quickly. -This layout has five modifiers and 35 non-modifiers. +For users that need to operate in sound-sensitive environments like +open offices or libraries, [[http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX_Clear][Cherry MX Clear]] switches are a popular +choice since they still offer tactility withut the noise. *** Diodes -In order to avoid ghosting, each switch needs a [[http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/1N4148TR/1N4148FSTR-ND/458811][diode]]. +In order to avoid ghosting, each switch needs a diode. The [[https://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062587][1N4148]] is a +readily-available choice, but nearly any signal diode would work. *** Microcontroller -I'll be using a Teensy 3 since I have one on hand, but an [[https://www.adafruit.com/products/1315][Arduino -Micro]] or [[http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/index.html][Teensy 2]] would work too. +The circuit board design uses a [[http://www.pololu.com/product/3101][Pololu A-star micro]]. Hand-wired boards +can also use a [[http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/index.html][Teensy 2]] or [[http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardMicro][Arduino Pro Micro]]. + +Be sure to get a microcontroller without headers so it will fit in +between the bottom layer and the plate. USB micro is preferred over +USB mini for this reason as well. *** Keycaps -This [[http://keyshop.pimpmykeyboard.com/product/dsa-pbt-blank-sets][DSA-shaped base set]] has 52 1x keys plus a few extras we won't use. +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 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 the right spot without looking. However, you only +get a single 1.5x keycap, and the middle two thumb keys both use them, +so you might want to pick up an extra. + +Many keycap sets (not the one linked above) are "sculpted", meaning +that keys that go in different rows have a different shape. While you +can use these for an Atreus, it's unlikely you'll find a set with the +correct number for each row, so it's more wasteful. ** Case -Layered laser-cut acrylic; see [[file:case.svg][case.svg]]. 2mm for the bottom layer, 6mm for the others. +Layered laser-cut wood or acrylic. The original case (=case-mk-i.svg=) +is slightly less wide and has a minor asymmetry with the screws on the +bottom side. The [[http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic%3D54759.msg1304117#msg1304117][mark II case]] (in the =case= directory) is implemented +programmatically in openscad, though dxf files are available as a +convenience, which can be converted to SVG or EPS for laser cutting +with Inkscape. Mark II 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. + +[[./layers.jpg]] + +The bottom and top covers (black in the photo) should be cut in 3mm. +The switch plate (frosted in the photo) can be cut in 4.5 or +3mm. The spacer should be cut in 5mm; it needs to be at least as +thick as the USB cable you connect to the microcontroller. I +recommend using a USB cable with as thin a connector as you can +find or sanding the connector down to the required thickness. ** Firmware -TODO: Uhhh... +The [[https://github.com/technomancy/atreus-firmware/][custom Atreus firmware]] is a small C project which +implements matrix scanning and debouncing with user-customizeable +layers and macro functions. Another option is the much more complex +TMK firmware. My [[https://github.com/technomancy/tmk_keyboard/tree/atreus][fork of the tmk firmware]] has support for the Atreus +layout. You should be able to change into the =keyboard/atreus= +directory and run =make KEYMAP=atreus= (or whichever variant you want) +to produce a qwerty =atreus.hex= file. You will probably want to +create your own layout once you've gotten a chance to try it and see +what works for you. + +In either case you would use the =.hex= file you just produced with +=avrdude= or the [[http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/loader.html][teensy loader]] to upload to the microcontroller. =make +upload= should do what you need. + +Once the firmware is loaded and the keyboard is assembled, activating +the hardware reset to upload new versions of the firmware is pretty +cumbersome; instead use the "reset" button on the layout, which has +the same effect. + +** Bill of Materials + +- 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 +- Case laser cutting: 7.5 minutes on a 100W Epilog laser; varies by source +- USB micro cable: $5, various sources + +Recommended but optional: + +- 5 MX Red or MX Black switches: $8.50 - $10.00 +- additional 1.5x DSA keycap: $1 plus $8 shipping + +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. + +*** Other Tools + +You'll need a soldering iron, solder, and a wire cutter. A multimeter +can come in handy for testing the connections but is optional. You'll +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. + +If you are building a hand-wired board you will also need a glue gun, +hookup wire, and wire strippers. + +** Assembly + +See the [[http://atreus.technomancy.us/assembly.pdf][assembly instructions]] PDF. + +Hand-wired boards will want the [[http://atreus.technomancy.us/assembly-hand-wired.pdf][previous edition of the assembly instructions]]. + +** Inspiration + +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]] +- [[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]] + +** Builds -** BOM +If you've built an Atreus, please add your name to [[https://github.com/technomancy/atreus/wiki/BuildLogs][the build logs wiki]]. -- 35 MX Blues @ $1.00 -- 5 MX Reds @ $2.00 -- 40 diodes @ $0.052 -- Base keycap set: $18.00 -- Teensy 2: $16 +There's also a [[http://librelist.com/browser/atreus/][mailing list]] for people who have built or ordered an +Atreus or are interested in doing so. To join, simply email +=atreus@librelist.com= with a subject of "join" and reply to the +confirmation. -=(+ 35 10 (* 40 0.052) 18 16)= -> $81.08 plus shipping and acrylic +** Orestes -- Digikey shipping: $5.32 in the US -- WASD (red switches) shipping: ?? -- Signature Plastics shipping: ?? -- Acrylic materials: ?? -- Acrylic laser cutting: ?? +A new [[https://www.flickr.com/photos/technomancy/14654421878][experimental build]] uses the [[http://pjrc.com/store/teensy31.html][Teensy 3]] microcontroller and +ARM [[https://github.com/technomancy/orestes/tree/teensy3][Forth-based]] firmware, but this is not yet suitable for general-purpose use. ** License -Copyright © 2014 Phil Hagelberg +Copyright © 2014 Phil Hagelberg and contributors Released under the [[https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html][GNU GPL version 3]]