Post a picture of your ideal keyboard layout!
- Hypersphere
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Silenced & Lubed HHKB (Black)
- Main mouse: Logitech G403
- Favorite switch: Topre 45/55g Silenced; Various Alps; IBM Model F
- DT Pro Member: 0038
I usually use a HHKB Pro 2. Otherwise, I map a standard layout to something close.
For a standard layout 60%, I like the color symmetry to be like so:
For a standard layout 60%, I like the color symmetry to be like so:
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- Location: USA
- DT Pro Member: -
You have 6 rows there, and 19 columns. I think 98 keys. You definitely can't do one pin for each column and row. Even if you do two columns per pin and two pins per row, 12*10, that gives you 22. The matrix with the least number of pins is the one that's most square, 10x10, or 20 pins. But that would be a pain, and still leaves you no room for LEDs or anything else. You probably need something bigger than a regular Teensy.t8c wrote: ↑ Edit: Quick question: What would be the ideal controller for programming this with the TMK firmware? Is teensy 2.0 big enough or do I need the plus plus version?
Atmel has a number of cheap AtMEGA microcontrollers with plenty of pins in a DIP package, for example the 1284. I don't think any of them have USB but you can use V-USB. And if you're okay with SMD (there are cheap breakouts available that make these a lot easier to work with), you gain a whole new world of options.
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Translation: Teensy 2++.
The easiest matrix to wire up needs: rows + columns = pins. A regular Teensy 2 would almost do it, but not quite. I think they have 24 usable pins. The Teensy 2++ has many more.
The easiest matrix to wire up needs: rows + columns = pins. A regular Teensy 2 would almost do it, but not quite. I think they have 24 usable pins. The Teensy 2++ has many more.
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Do what: surface mount?
I was wrong about the Teensy 2. It has 25 useful pins. Perfect!
http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/index.html
I was wrong about the Teensy 2. It has 25 useful pins. Perfect!
http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/index.html
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- Location: USA
- DT Pro Member: -
I have no choice because my little USB 3 chip is only available in .5mm QFP, but I advise everyone to do it even if only for the challenge and experience. Not to mention the wide range of flexibility that's impossible to get with premade development boards like Teensy and Arduino, and economics (not really if you have to order tools and supplies, and will only ever do this once or twice).
If you aren't doing a PCB, or your PCB can't do a package that small, theseare very cheap.
If you aren't doing a PCB, or your PCB can't do a package that small, theseare very cheap.
- darkspider
- Location: Tokyo, Japan
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F84
- Main mouse: Kensington Expert Mouse 7
- Favorite switch: Buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: -
I once had thought I'd exchange vertical bar and BackSpace like HHKB layout, but I thought better of it.
Then I'm now considering to map BS to Fn-N since it can save distance my index finger traveling.
But what I'm afraid of is that I've never seen a man who maps BS to this position.
Then I'm now considering to map BS to Fn-N since it can save distance my index finger traveling.
But what I'm afraid of is that I've never seen a man who maps BS to this position.
- Attachments
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- keyboard-layout(4).png (53.11 KiB) Viewed 11831 times
- darkspider
- Location: Tokyo, Japan
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F84
- Main mouse: Kensington Expert Mouse 7
- Favorite switch: Buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: -
I've thought it's not reasonable at all to move my finger to the dedicated BS key on the distant place.HzFaq wrote: ↑Ever since I mapped backspace to FN+space I almost never use the dedicated backspace key.
So I'm relieved to hear there is a man who think like me.
- HzFaq
- Location: Windsor, UK
- Main keyboard: Phantom
- Main mouse: CST L-Trac
- Favorite switch: MX Clears
- DT Pro Member: -
I borrowed the idea from CeeSA and there are a few boards with split spacebars with one half being backspace, so we aren't alone in our thinking .
I'll post my keymap here when I'm back at home. I can't say I have a favourite physical layout just yet, but I've had a FN layer set up that I've used for about 2/3 years now that I'm pretty comfortable with.
I'll post my keymap here when I'm back at home. I can't say I have a favourite physical layout just yet, but I've had a FN layer set up that I've used for about 2/3 years now that I'm pretty comfortable with.
- darkspider
- Location: Tokyo, Japan
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F84
- Main mouse: Kensington Expert Mouse 7
- Favorite switch: Buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: -
Thanks, I'm looking forward itHzFaq wrote: ↑I borrowed the idea from CeeSA and there are a few boards with split spacebars with one half being backspace, so we aren't alone in our thinking .
I'll post my keymap here when I'm back at home. I can't say I have a favourite physical layout just yet, but I've had a FN layer set up that I've used for about 2/3 years now that I'm pretty comfortable with.
- vvp
- Main keyboard: Katy/K84CS
- Main mouse: symetric 5-buttons + wheel
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX
- DT Pro Member: -
Kinesis Advantage has BackSpace at the left thumb home position. And most of the ErgoDox users probably too. I would say it is common to have BackSpace at home position or very near to it. You are definitely not alone wanting to have BackSpace near the home positiondarkspider wrote: ↑ I've thought it's not reasonable at all to move my finger to the dedicated BS key on the distant place.
So I'm relieved to hear there is a man who think like me.
- darkspider
- Location: Tokyo, Japan
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F84
- Main mouse: Kensington Expert Mouse 7
- Favorite switch: Buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: -
@HzFaq
Thank you:) I'll try to improve the layout considering yours.
@vvp
It seems so. The current standard layout is too much unusable and not ergonomic especially for editing.
Thank you:) I'll try to improve the layout considering yours.
@vvp
It seems so. The current standard layout is too much unusable and not ergonomic especially for editing.
- bentglasstube
- Main keyboard: Custom 60% w/ Cherry Blue
- Main mouse: Razer Death Adder
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
This is what I have been using for some months since I was inspired by matt3o to build my own 60%:
- richfiles
- Location: MN, USA
- Main keyboard: Logitech DiNovo Edge
- Main mouse: Microsoft Optical Notebook Mouse
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Amber "Taxi Yellow"
- DT Pro Member: -
Well... First post for me! Total mechanical keyboard noob. I've been settling with membranes for decades. I've been working on a controller for the video game Kerbal Space Program, and that led me to consider integrating a small keyboard into it. I had an Apple IIc keyboard with Alps SKCM Amber switches. Love the feel of those mechanical switches. I had planned on using it, but upon digging around, decided it was time to just simply go with a proper mechanical keyboard. I've seen the 40% and 60% keyboards... And I don't like them. Layers are not my thing. I like clear and easy access functionality. I have always favored big keyboards, with full layouts. I liked the layout of my Apple Model A1048. I realize though, that if I want game controls and my keyboard to coexist, I really need to consider space efficiency. For that reason, I found the 75% layout to be my ideal layout, with a separate number pad that i can put off to the side when not in use.
I decided I wanted to play around with the 75% layout, and sorta personalize it. By adding a one more column to the right (making 2 columns right of the Return and right shift key), I get an 88 key keyboard that uses stock standard key sizes (makes ordering custom key cap set easy, as a basic set can cover all the keys), and is only 2u wider than the core key set of a standard block of keys. Basically, it's smaller than a TKL, 1u wider than a standard 75%, and has one more key than a standard 87 key TKL. It provides 11 keys above and right of the Backspace/Return/R-Shift keys that can be used for things like Home, End, Page Up/Down, Del, etc. It's not exactly the most compact layout out there, but it's pretty efficiently packed together for basically not sacrificing any key size or key count.
I made ONE modification from my original planned layout. It is possible to use only keys from a basic keycap kit to fill this keyboard. It will take 6 1.25u modifier keys, a 6.25u spacebar, a 2.25 Enter and L-Shift, and a 2.75u R-Shift... Standard key sizes. I modified this layout just a hair to let me take advantage of a 1.5u modifier key just left of the space bar. I absorbed a 0.25u gap between the right most modifier and the left arrow key to fit the wider modifier. As it is, installing a 1.25u modifier in that location would leave a 0.125u gap between it and the space bar and the adjacent modifier. Submitted an order request for a single plate from The LeandreN Prototyper page.
I also got in on the "Danger Zone" keycap kit Massdrop buy, cause I was digging the aviation themed key set, and figured it would work nicely to compliment my Kerbal controller.
••My 75% +1 layout with "Danger Zone" key caps••
Danger Zone keycap set: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/danger-zone-sa-keycap-set
Plate source: http://leandren.bigcartel.com/prototyper-round-1
I decided I wanted to play around with the 75% layout, and sorta personalize it. By adding a one more column to the right (making 2 columns right of the Return and right shift key), I get an 88 key keyboard that uses stock standard key sizes (makes ordering custom key cap set easy, as a basic set can cover all the keys), and is only 2u wider than the core key set of a standard block of keys. Basically, it's smaller than a TKL, 1u wider than a standard 75%, and has one more key than a standard 87 key TKL. It provides 11 keys above and right of the Backspace/Return/R-Shift keys that can be used for things like Home, End, Page Up/Down, Del, etc. It's not exactly the most compact layout out there, but it's pretty efficiently packed together for basically not sacrificing any key size or key count.
I made ONE modification from my original planned layout. It is possible to use only keys from a basic keycap kit to fill this keyboard. It will take 6 1.25u modifier keys, a 6.25u spacebar, a 2.25 Enter and L-Shift, and a 2.75u R-Shift... Standard key sizes. I modified this layout just a hair to let me take advantage of a 1.5u modifier key just left of the space bar. I absorbed a 0.25u gap between the right most modifier and the left arrow key to fit the wider modifier. As it is, installing a 1.25u modifier in that location would leave a 0.125u gap between it and the space bar and the adjacent modifier. Submitted an order request for a single plate from The LeandreN Prototyper page.
I also got in on the "Danger Zone" keycap kit Massdrop buy, cause I was digging the aviation themed key set, and figured it would work nicely to compliment my Kerbal controller.
••My 75% +1 layout with "Danger Zone" key caps••
Danger Zone keycap set: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/danger-zone-sa-keycap-set
Plate source: http://leandren.bigcartel.com/prototyper-round-1
Last edited by richfiles on 30 Sep 2015, 08:37, edited 3 times in total.
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- Location: Seville, Spain
- Main keyboard: SSK,Novatouch
- Main mouse: Logitech M510, Slimblade
- Favorite switch: blucking spring
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
You and tipromanChyros wrote:Jeez, I really underestimated how popular 60% layouts were Oo . Am I the only one who likes >100% layouts then? xD
- richfiles
- Location: MN, USA
- Main keyboard: Logitech DiNovo Edge
- Main mouse: Microsoft Optical Notebook Mouse
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Amber "Taxi Yellow"
- DT Pro Member: -
I like to keep all my keys real, even if I like shrinking down the overall keyboard. Layers... not for me. When I do my number pad, I'll have more keys than a typical full layout, but since it'll be a side unit, I can slide it out of the way when I'm gaming, and don't need it. I would get annoyed with anything less than a 75%... and that's only if I get that separate number pad to give me the rest of it!Chyros wrote: ↑Jeez, I really underestimated how popular 60% layouts were Oo . Am I the only one who likes >100% layouts then? xD
- wcass
- Location: Columbus, OH, USA
- Main keyboard: ibm model m
- Main mouse: kensington expert mouse
- Favorite switch: buckeling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0185
My ideal keyboard would have buckling spring switches, red caps, and a black case. It would be as narrow as a 60% but have all the keys of an SSK.
- Oobly
- Location: Finland
- Main keyboard: GON NerD60, Vortex case
- Main mouse: Cyborg R.A.T 3
- Favorite switch: Trampoline modded 62g ErgoClears
- DT Pro Member: -
This is really nice! Compact and yet somehow also classic. I like it a lot. It has a dedicated upside down T arrow cluster, edits in a familiar layout, and full F keys. I'd probably cluster the F keys differently, something like this:wcass wrote: ↑My ideal keyboard would have buckling spring switches, red caps, and a black case. It would be as narrow as a 60% but have all the keys of an SSK.
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- Location: u1h2fm
- Main keyboard: Traditional Thinkpad/Ergodox
- Main mouse: Trackpoint/Vertical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Model F
- DT Pro Member: -
I needed quite a while to get this layout. I wanted a german layout for my ergox. I programm and use LaTeX quite a lot, so I want acess to ()[]{}. These are quite hard to reach on the german layout, so I added Extra keys for them. For the arrow keys i used the jkli layout from ErgoEmacs (I can highly recommend it BTW). Also, as a Thinkpad user I miss the pointingstick. Thankfully the TMK firmware supports mouse emulation and now i have a virtual mouse on wasd.
Another thing that is really awesome about the TMK firmware are tap-keys. The concept is IMO quite hard to explain, but I'll try anyway . It's a way to map two functions to a key. My left shift key doubles as a tab key. If I release It without having pressed another key (to get a capital letter), it serves as tab key.
Both the enter and the space key are tap keys and do also shift to a different layer. As long as the enter key is pressed I can the left part as a mouse and as soon as i release it the keyboard is back to normal operation. When I press it and release it immediately (tap) it's Enter.
I used the tap keys to emulate a obscenly priced a Matias halfQWERTY functionality. It's quite awesome and alows everybody with touchtyping skills to operate the keyboard with only one hand without any training. It feels somewhat magical because one can do stuff one never learned.
Here is the TMK firmware for the ergodox: https://github.com/cub-uanic/tmk_keyboard .
And here is the sourcecode for my layout, in case anybody is interested.
Normal operation:
While pressing FN1
While pressing FN2
Another thing that is really awesome about the TMK firmware are tap-keys. The concept is IMO quite hard to explain, but I'll try anyway . It's a way to map two functions to a key. My left shift key doubles as a tab key. If I release It without having pressed another key (to get a capital letter), it serves as tab key.
Both the enter and the space key are tap keys and do also shift to a different layer. As long as the enter key is pressed I can the left part as a mouse and as soon as i release it the keyboard is back to normal operation. When I press it and release it immediately (tap) it's Enter.
I used the tap keys to emulate a obscenly priced a Matias halfQWERTY functionality. It's quite awesome and alows everybody with touchtyping skills to operate the keyboard with only one hand without any training. It feels somewhat magical because one can do stuff one never learned.
Here is the TMK firmware for the ergodox: https://github.com/cub-uanic/tmk_keyboard .
And here is the sourcecode for my layout, in case anybody is interested.
Spoiler:
Last edited by Miko on 18 Oct 2015, 01:42, edited 1 time in total.
- vvp
- Main keyboard: Katy/K84CS
- Main mouse: symetric 5-buttons + wheel
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX
- DT Pro Member: -
That means that key press event of Enter key is sent only after it is released (because only at that time the firmware knows that Enter is not used as a tap key). People who play games occasionally definitely would not like it. Also what happens when somebody does this: press-Enter, press-F, release-Enter, release-F. This can easily happen when you touch type with two hands. If the F key is assigned to some mouse action then either tap keys postpone sending events even more or ... when typing quick you can get spurious mouse movements occasionally (if F is assigned to a mouse move).Miko wrote: ↑ Another thing that is really awesome about the TMK firmware are tap-keys. The concept is IMO quite hard to explain, but I'll try anyway . It's a way to map two functions to a key. My left shift key doubles as a tab key. If I release It without having pressed another key (to get a capital letter), it serves as tab key.
Both the enter and the space key are tap keys and do also shift to a different layer. As long as the enter key is pressed I can the left part as a mouse and as soon as i release it the keyboard is back to normal operation. When I press it and release it immediately (tap) it's Enter.
I considered tap keys (I guess the "space-fn" is implemented as a tap key too), but these things are serious disadvantages of the "tap" paradigm.
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- Location: u1h2fm
- Main keyboard: Traditional Thinkpad/Ergodox
- Main mouse: Trackpoint/Vertical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Model F
- DT Pro Member: -
Well, It works great for me, and I do obviously touchtype. Without that neither that layout, nor the ergodox makes much sense. And I'm not slow either. Give it a try, IMHO it's fantastic. It allows more functions on these precocious easy to reach keys. And yes, Space is tap-action, too.
- webwit
- Wild Duck
- Location: The Netherlands
- Main keyboard: Model F62
- Favorite switch: IBM beam spring
- DT Pro Member: 0000
- Contact:
HAS IT SHIPPED YET?!
With Colemak layout. It should be programmable, so you can use whatever main layout (QWERTY, etc.) and layout for the modifiers you want.
With Colemak layout. It should be programmable, so you can use whatever main layout (QWERTY, etc.) and layout for the modifiers you want.