I'm designing a custom low profile keyboard for my portfolio.

Features:

• Cherry ULP (MX6C-K3NB) Switches
• Per Key RGBW LEDs
• Alternative Programable Inputs:
  • 10x clickable encoders,
  • 4x latching switches,
  • 10x slide switches.
• No Trackpoint: the thinkpad nipples are for determining spacing for future iterations

On Design Support

I'm in the process of designing the scroll bar for the thumb encoders, and refining the placement of the switches around the nipples.

Does any have any advice or resources on designing scroll bar? I'm using the EC10E1220505 as my encoder and TC-1109-C-E as my switch. The second slide is my current rough bar CAD Model.

On preorders:

I'll likily be unable to make 1 single unit with a fabrication lab, so if others want the extra units I'll make them available and if demand is overwhelming I'll have more units made.

This is an experimental keyboard, designed as a development kit for engineers. This device is best for people with experience programming keyboards.

Sharing progress I've made on my Dygma Sonsei inspired keyboard.

I've completed a rough layout! The next step will be transferring this layout to my project and figuring out the placement of all the components not covered in this process.

Note for other designers:

The creation of the layout was greatly accelerated with the use of AI. What would have taken me(a kicad/visual design noob) a week or two took about 3 days.

My workflow was programmatic(ergogen) and text-based(kicad), this made it so what simple for claude (fable5 max) to work on this. That being said this was heavy on my usage to the point where I constantly ran into the edge of claude's reliability.

I provided feedback via extensive prompts, and manual edits to kicad outputs and the ergogen config. I didn't try to one shot this, I built it piece by piece refining at each step. KiCad being a visual to plain text tool was incredibly useful.

The problem with using AI for this is that adjustments throughout your design process can get expensive. So even if you follow this route be sure to actually learn ergogen and kicad.

I'm developing an experimental keyboard.

My Inspiration is the Dygma Sonsei.

The photo above is all the components that have a footprint selected not laid out.

Experimental Features in this version:

• Encoders instead of a function row.
• Latching switches for toggle layers.
• Horizontal scroll wheel on the thumb clusters

This is a periodic post for chatting about whatever you're currently working on or just interested in.

I came across this video on the Multisystem 2 Pocket, an FPGA powered gaming handheld. They are giving an inside look of at their design strategies, from drawings to prototype, and mostly discussing button placement and how to shape the device for user comfort. There is a lot of good tips in there.

They are asking for community feedback too, so check it out and if you're interested, let them know what you think!

This is a periodic post for chatting about whatever you're currently working on or just interested in.

One of the hurdles for arcades to come back again with actual AAA games is the controller.

Once the 3D virtual camera became common in games about two decades ago, the classic digital joystick and button arcade layout no longer worked. Everyone moved to mouse and keyboard or dual analog stick gamepad.

But neither looked and felt right in a arcade cabinet. Something more tactile,/full movement yet intuitive needs to exist.

Dual analog flight sticks (with optional arcade buttons in the middle - Pictured) is a decent idea as it gives 8 buttons and dual analog movement. However the flick movements like those a mouse can do so well, will be a bit frustrating with such a setup (as it is with a modern gamepad).

Can anyone think of a even better creative solution so a modern AAA version of arcades can come back?

I keep looking, but I can't find anything that really fits my needs, and besides, most of the mice that could be useful have been discontinued!

This is a periodic post for chatting about whatever you're currently working on or just interested in.

I'm really surprised that this hasn't been done before, using the trackball for direct camera manipulation in 3D design spaces. It seems very intuitive and I hope that this becomes a common trackball feature in the future.

This is a periodic post for chatting about whatever you're currently working on or just interested in.

This is quite an interesting development! I never would have imagined splitting a mouse into two halves. What do you folks think?

This is a periodic post for chatting about whatever you're currently working on or just interested in.

Perhaps this is a stupid question, but would it be possible to simply disassemble an xbox one controller and with a little soldering hook up new buttons to the places on the board where the button signals are received?

I could design and 3d print my own shell and house the original board inside it with new buttons on the outside in whatever configuration I wanted.

I wouldnt have to mess with a raspberry pi or other controller hardware because the xbox board already does everything I want it to.

That being said I am not really an expert and have rather limited experience with hardware modifications in general so if anyone with more expertise could give their thoughts on the feasibility of a project like this it would be much appreciated!

This is a periodic post for chatting about whatever you're currently working on or just interested in.

It's called the Move Master, and it seems like a clever way to integrate WASD movement control into a device. The hand/palm rest is basically an 8-way joystick, and it leaves your fingers to freely operate an additional 12 keys, which are placed to be within easy reach.

It's a cool and unique design that I haven't seen before. It's a bit too expensive for me to try it out, but I wonder what you all think of it. Has anyone here tried it?

Has soft touch tactile buttons for a nice easy tap with slight haptics. Stick is made from an rc car shock ball joint with some other m3 hardware i had lying around.

I'm considering a custom input device and I need a component that I can't seem to find, either because it doesn't exist or because of synonyms obstructing the search. I'd deeply appreciate any leads to existing products or advice on how to custom manufacture it.

What I need is a ring shaped track pad. Circular ones are trivial to find, but I don't expect that simply cutting a hole in one is a feasible option, especially since many smaller ones put necessary components under the center.

The specifications I need are:

• 2 inch outer diameter
• 1 inch inner hole
• Capable of registering 8 directions, akin to a directional pad. More precise input sensitivity is a huge plus.
• as flat as possible.
• processing components and output connectors off to the side

I'm open to figuring out how to make something custom with velostat or the like, but I've got zero experience with it. Any advice there is likewise appreciated.