“The REAL Ergonomic Keyboard Endgame!” - How To Design & Make A Totally Custom Keyboard
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2024
- Here we go. How to build a custom ergonomic split keyboard that is affordable, Bluetooth (for the split and the connection to host), can easily be changed in the future and is designed by you for your own specific hand shape and keyboard preferences. Buckle up!
Watch next:
My 16 Key Tiny Keyboard Layout Tour
• Has Your Keyboard Got ...
🪛Soldering Essentials!
Tooling up with these links helps me out at no extra cost to you. Thanks! 🙏
Heat Proof Mat:
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3nn8tiB
Amazon US: amzn.to/3nn8tiB
Soldering Iron Kit:
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3Frdw87
Amazon US: amzn.to/3ouxQ1o
Lead Free Solder 0.6 (for sockets and switches):
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3co1GyM
Amazon US: amzn.to/2YSfZZs
Lead Free Solder 0.3 (for smaller work):
Amazon UK: amzn.to/30A2Yog
Amazon US: amzn.to/3HDDU0q
Flux Pen:
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3IemWVP
Amazon US: amzn.to/3Ko9lNm
📺 Three things to note as you watch the video:
1. There was so much to fit in this video that I had to be pretty ruthless with avoiding getting bogged down in small details. You will need to spend some time reading the documentation for Ergogen to fill in the gaps.
2. I mentioned battery connectors in the video. I have added the footprints for these to my fork of Ergogen and set them up in the latest config files (also in my repo) but I have yet to order a PCB that uses them. As such the boards you see in the video have the battery soldered directly to the board. I have a doubt as to whether the placement of my connectors on my boards will even allow the battery and connector to fit so please don’t just have my boards built without checking this is being prepared to just solder the battery directly.
3. I glossed over the soldering in this video as I wanted to keep the scope fairly broad and wanted to leave time for looking at the shields, KiCad etc. When soldering the small switches I found I needed to drop the soldering iron temperature to stop burning the pads off the board. The technique for these surface mount parts is basically the same as I show in the video for the hotswap sockets: add solder to the pads, let it cool, then place the part on top of the solder and push the foot down onto it with the iron.
‼️ Most important bit of all. When making these flippable boards the controller goes opposite on one side to the other.
🚑 If you have any questions on anything either included or not included in the video please add a comment below and I will try and help.
🖥 Software:
Ergopad pashutk.ru/ergopad/
Ergogen ergogen.xyz/
KiCad www.kicad.org/
Info on KiCad plugins:
Rounding Tracks: github.com/mitxela/kicad-roun...
Teardrops plugin: github.com/NilujePerchut/kica...
Additional reading on these plugins: mitxela.com/projects/melting_...
🍻 The best place for help learning this process is the Ergogen Discord. That place is a ball!
🛠 Basic parts list:
PCB (I ordered mine from jlcpcb.com )
Kailh Choc switches (I used the light blue liner ones from splitkb.com/products/kailh-lo...
MBK Blank Keycaps splitkb.com/products/blank-mb...
Hotswap Sockets (Choc) splitkb.com/products/kailh-ho...
Socket pins (pins only) splitkb.com/products/mill-max...
Full height machine pin sockets mechboards.co.uk/products/mac...
Better version of reset button (matches the footprint better but more expensive) www.aliexpress.com/item/10050...
Battery connector (2p curved) www.aliexpress.com/item/10050... (Uses the bat footprint in my Ergogen fork)
Power switch www.aliexpress.com/item/40006... (Uses the pcm12 footprint in my Ergogen fork)
Nice!nano v2 splitkb.com/products/nice-nano or mechboards.co.uk/products/nic...
Batteries: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194001009975
👩💻GitHub Repos
My Ergogen fork: github.com/benvallack/ergogen
This contains the following two config files for The Card and The Flipper along with the footprint dependencies.
The Card
github.com/benvallack/ergogen...
The Flipper
github.com/benvallack/ergogen...
ZMK GitHub Actions shield and keymap for The Flipper
github.com/benvallack/zmk-con...
ZMK GitHub Actions shield and keymap for The Card (revisions after this have pins in the wrong place because I messed up some soldering)
github.com/benvallack/zmk-con...
Contents:
0:00 Titles
0:14 Introduction
2:07 Ergopad
3:14 Ergogen
3:36 KiCad
4:28 Ergogen walkthrough
9:00 KiCad routing walkthrough
14:33 Soldering introduction
15:41 Creating a shield in ZMK
19:29 The Flipper, The Card, what next? - Наука та технологія
Subscribe to my new custom keyboards channel! www.youtube.com/@BenVallacksKeyboards
Hey Ben, does ergo gen output kicad files that allow you to solder the switches directly to the board rather than with hotswap sockets? (It looked like it had normal pins as well as pads for hotswap?)
@@disarmyouwitha yes
Watching this progression of videos is just so insanely satisfying. A capable person digging deeper, and deeper, passing the point of what's readily available, passing the point of the obscure, and ultimately learning how to create exactly what they need, for themselves. Every design decision which was previously out of their hands is now under their control. What a journey, bravo!
What a lovely comment, thanks so much!
Thanks for the section describing the ZMK workflow! It's so gratifying to see folks benefiting from the work of all our contributors.
ZMK is awesome. Thanks indeed to you and the other contributors!
I've been following in your footsteps down this rabbit hole. Been loving my ferris sweep and just completed my first wireless build. After compiling neovim on my phone I now have a viable development environment that I can carry in my pocket, and can probably do 95% of my other work from my phone as well. It's pretty amazing! Been using a variation of your 34 key Colemak layout for a while too. Lately I've been messing around in kicad designing a macropad. I'll be checking out ergopad and ergogen. Looks fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing your journey.
second all of this. extraordinary content.
Now you just need a pinephone to go along with it and a good window manager
Awesome! Yeah it’s nuts once you realise the power of a pocket keyboard with a phone and vim!!
woah
I love the 'journaling' approach you keep on this series of videos about keyboards: somehow I can relay to that, being currently in a similar journey :-)
I'm becoming more and more passionate about keyboards as I'm learning about their designs and ergonomics: my wrist still hurt (I went through a really intense work stream on last september and october, I may have come really close to carpal tunnel problems), but changing my layout and getting a Moonlander helped a lot
However I'm starting to see that the Moonlander is missing quite a few things that I may need, mostly regarding the keys layout which doesn't quite fit my hands. So when I see your videos, it gives me a lot of inspiration!
Keep up! Keep going! :-)
This is the hardcore keyboard creativity that I subscribed for. Awesome video, keep it up!
Edit: By the way, I love how you went from "I ordered this Gergoplex cuz soldering is scary :(" to "Oh, you'll have to solder a couple of Kailh sockets but not a big deal". Really shows how you've progressed in that aspect too! 😉
Hehe cheers! Thanks to you too!
Second this, and I was inspired to jump on and build a few sweeps as a result of both of your excellent vids, so thank you both!
@@JohnDoe-qz9ji I’d budget it out, but the PCBs are super cheap. Real question is the cost of your time.
@@JohnDoe-qz9ji No, but at the same time, a resounding yes. Doing one keyboard, even if you think it’ll be your forever keyboard, will open up a lot of new avenues for you. I picked up a soldering iron to make myself two boards. Identical boards, the NUI mini, purchased with the intent of keeping one and selling one. I’ve since sold them both, made a business of building customs for people on Etsy, modding my Nintendo Switch controller, fixing things for family members, and even designing my first board that a friend of mine is helping me figure out how to put it to market. All in six months or so. So, if you’re interested in being a maker-I say go for it. If you just want the board, I’m sure someone here will be happy to help meet your needs.
@@bluefaolan hi, what's your name on Etsy?
I can't even describe how excited I was to see this on my homepage, I have been dwelling on creating a custom split keyboard but I just never knew how to go about it, and next thing you know I come upon your video! Kudos!
Just want to say thanks Ben! Your videos was part of my inspiration to get and build my first ergonomic keyboard. Now I'm sitting with a Corne with Miryoku and Colemak. First week and I'm already starting to feel somewhat comfortable. It's crazy how easy it is to learn things when they just make sense.
Another super interesting video! I'd love to hear more on how typing works with these tiny key numbers - the layers and key maps and how they changed as you moved smaller. Are there lots more strokes added by layer changing now? Splitting the alphabet between different layers is more extreme than I considered before. Would love a video covering the journey from Ferris to here and how you found your optimal number of keys!
I cannot wait to see how on earth you designed a 16 key layout because that sounds perfect. I’ve loved going from a ten keyless to a 60% and am now using a 34 key layout and I’ve noticed that while I love less keys, I still have to move quite a bit and not finding a good placement for a mouse. I’ve been looking into adding a small trackpoint to my keyboard to minimize hand movement significantly, but haven’t had much success yet
This is too exciting! Time to start a custom keyboard journey! Thanks for the series. This is a very informative set of videos.
I’ve watched many board design videos on different channels but this one gave me the most hope and intrigue as far as actually executing it in meaningful way. Who doesn’t want a case, wireless connections, and flash abilities? Thank you for sharing your journey and tools! I’ll definitely be messing around with this going forward for both keyboard and fpv applications.
Thanks!!
I love your videos. You have given us so much information in a digestable format. I am now planning to create my own wirless ergo keyboard
Super cool tutorial, really made all of this look really approachable, which is amazing! I'm glad you've had a good experience with your nice!nanos and ZMK!
Very cool summary! Thanks a bunch for covering ergogen - and I'm glad it could help you on this journey! ;)
omg.. just as I am getting used to the ferris sweep I put together.. you come up with this genius.. 😍
let's go. Makes absolutely sens. Will go for it too. Nice project. Love it! Thx 4 sharing
Incredible video Ben! Love seeing this SFF keyboard content get taken to the next level.
Very interesting video, especially since you explain it from the very start until the end. Awesome channel as well, keep it up!
Superb detailed video Ben! Have had this on our “to watch” list for ages, finally getting to it. Didn’t disappoint. Keep up the great work! ❤️
You continue to make captivating content and your videos have lead me to building the sweep and switch to Colemak; I have massively enjoyed the journey and process, thank you!
Excellent vid! Can't wait to see your reflection on how those three custom keyboards of yours turned out.
Would love more in-depth kicad tutorials for ergo splits 👏
Fascinating and inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing, as always
Absolute top of the line content. Thank you very much for this.
well this is awesome.
I've never done any electronics stuff before, so this whole process has seemed really challenging-this video helped a lot to make it seem more possible.
if you have time, I'd appreciate a short intro video about basic terminology and some intro resources.
Amazing, and inspiring. Thank you for everything you do!
Excited!!
AMAZING work! great video, thank you Ben!
This is very exciting. I am glad you went through this. It is hard to follow but would like to build my split keyboard. A more detailed series would be awesome
Great rabbit hole to go down! After my split build is done I'll try to customize my Mode after.
love the aesthetics + customization combination
Really great stuff!! I bought my first ever qmk supported keyboard (ZSA planck) watching your videos,and I ended up building two sweep keyboards too. Hope you’ll keep making more videos like this, it's really inspiring to watch these. Interested to also know how you end up going down to single thumb keys, hopefully, we’ll get to hear more about that in the coming videos.
Love the vids on keyboards man keep'em coming.
I bought the Plankez, built the ferris sweep, now you're telling me I have to go down to 16 keys! God save us all.
Haha
@@BenVallack eventually we'll get to just one key. make it happen
We need a video of that 16 key layout ASAP, I'm super curious.
I'm currently still on a planck in my journey, been biding my time to move to a DIY wireless split for a little while (Just moved from qwerty to colemak-dh in the meantime). After this video think I might just jump straight to creating my own like you did here, I love tinkering so with a little guidance from videos such as yours, I think I'm golden.
Instead of connecting the grounds from point to point, maybe consider flooding one side of the PCB with ground. The power traces in general could be a bit thicker, especially given the fact that you have plenty of room on the PCB to do so.
@@owowowdhxbxgakwlcybwxsimcwx For a small switch breakout like this you don’t really need it though. The sub board is probably 4 or 6 layer.
Why is it important? My experience with the Ferris is that the ground plane interfered with the side to side connection when I had them on my legs, so I was quite happy to avoid adding it here.
@@BenVallack For this application, it could improve immunity to noise and help with ESD performance, but to a large degree it doesn’t matter here
pure obsession. i absolutely love this
Great video. Really want to give this a try when I've got some spare time!
I've always wanted to design my own full custom split, but the process seemed too daunting. This video will definitely help! Thanks
I am just blown away how you went from testing existing products to "I kinda don't know how to solder but that looks doable" to design fully custom split keyboard. Just wow! Great job, that inspires me to try to figure that out too!
Thanks! Yeah it’s been quite the journey!!
That makes me wanna try it out. Been prepping for a few months to try stuff out on my own.
Hi Ben! Would love it if you could go into more detail in a future video, especially about how you go from the ergopad design to getting a pcb generated with ergogen. A more in depth explanation about the software side would be awesome too! I purchased the moonlander when it launched after watching your videos and I absolutely love it. Now I'm trying to learn about making my own custom keyboard and macropad and am feeling abit lost. Love your vids and presentation style!
I have built two keyboards already, one from a premade PCB and one hardwired. I keep putting of the KiCAD learning curve, but it will happen sooner or later. Your video is well structured through the journey and makes the task less daunting. Also great tools you found to make the process easier.
Really cool approach to keyboard design. Your filmography is also top notch!
Thanks you for information, this is what I am looking for how to a build a custom keyboard
I been buying keyboards by many years , diferents brands and aventualy fails , but this the most hardcore and ultimate level of personalized keyboard
Thank you for showing the process from design to pcb
I thought an earlier video of yours was nerdish. Well, well. It's only getting better! Thanks a lot! :)
This is amazing Ben you're a legend
Fantastic video! Fantastic content!
You are blowing my mind here. I stayed with the Planck KB and Colemak DH to improve my typing speed and use of layers, but I am really keen to building my own bluetooth ergo columnar keyboard, with a 3D printed case. Will definitely stay tuned for the next steps of journey as well as discovering your 16 keys layout!
This would also be a wonderful way to build a KB to go with an iPad mini... :)
Wow - thanks Ben for a information dense video and explanation. I am currently waiting for the parts for my first keyboard to arrive - a Corne, but a completely homebrew version along the lines you explain may be next. Needless to say, I have subscribed :)
Next up, The Morris, a 5 button morris code keyboard!
Really enjoy the content, I'm doing my first DIY next week with the OLKB. Already have my eye on a few split designs though!
3:36 so glad to see FOSS Ki-CAD mentioned and used here :)
Impresive 👌
After 1:30 minutes of watching this video I have already subscribed and hit the bell. Extremly good content!!!
Thanks so much!
Thanks for all the information and quality production. Im only on rev1 planck style
Very interesting. Thanks
Amazing!
I’m really looking forward to the next episode! I’m on Planck on ColemakDH and you were very influential in those decisions. I need a second keyboard and I’d like to go ergo 34/36 keys, Bluetooth + an iPad mini keyboard as well. You sharing your journey is so helpful!! If you end up printing cases please do share :)
Dude! Sick. Was considering making my own and there there is no choice but to get on with it.
Fantastic video Ben. This stuff is well overdue. DIY is the absolutely the way to go. The issue with many custom keyboard suppliers is that support is poor and they often disappear because it is more of a hobby for them than a 'real' job. Been caught with that a few times. You end up being left with a bunch of paper weights! A tip for new players: if the supplier has most things 'out of stock' or is slow to get back with enquiries, give them a wide birth.
Yeah I think it’s amazing that so many small players started making and selling boards but at the end of the day if you’re parting with cash there are general expectations for most people that are hard to get past when you don’t hear back from someone for 2 months etc! This approach lets you cut straight to the point and get something up and running pretty quickly.
Awesome find
So cool!
16 key layout??? I can't wait to see!
Heh
I'm amazed by the fact that none of the videos about 10 keys keyboard never show anyone working with that keyboard.
Really loving this. I love how clean it is and how you break it down and list all the components. Can I request a video/guide for this or the ferris sweep that has rgb lights (individual keys)? Thank you so much.
I recommend doing a polygon pour for your ground plane on the bottom layer. Just make sure you have thermal relief on all the pads(should be done by default). It will save you a little time when making your layouts and is "more correct."
For low speed boards like you are designing here the layout basically doesn't matter as long as the connections are all correct. If you ever design a more sophisticated pcba than stuff like this will start to matter.
Really cool video! currently waiting for the parts for my bluetooth ferris sweep, but its fun to see that there really is no endgame to this rabbithole of ergo keyboards lolol.
I am like 99% sure you were the one that recommended to me a couple of months back to not start with extremely low number of keys. I followed your advice. I ended up picking up an ergodash and now I am waiting for my care for it to arrive so I can solder the keycaps. Meanwhile I am already looking for the corne to have it as my portable with low profile switches. I got jealous from your builds and I had the chance to try them for a little time on a board in a local shop recently. They feel like the perfect love child of my thinkpad keyboard and mechanical switches.
Thinkpad love
Nice work! Keep it up!
You inspired me to try and design my own keyboard!
Right now I use corne, but there are too many keys. I want something smaller with custom design
couple of quick tips on soldering: just get some rosin core solder, it makes life easier and soldering quicker, because you don't need a flux pen.
Another one is for solderin the sockets: just solder one half of the socket first, and you can hold the socket in place while you reflow the solder by heating it up again. When you have all of the first halves of the sockets soldered, its really quick to just add a bit of solder into the second half to finish the connection. Just make sure to heat both, the pad and the sockets metal bit.
Those tiny kbs should be usable with hands in pockets or with wearable mounts, just need a failsafe switch for hand proximity in a watch/ring or smth to that purpose
Sounds and looks very interesting indeed, specially for me, since I have tiny gnome hands.
What you've done is very impressive. I've been looking to do something like this for a very long time (previously owned: TypeMatrix 2030, Ergodox, Atreus, Planck), but it looks so involved and time consuming that I will probably just get the ZSA Moonlander.
pretty cool
Wow, super unique. I've been following this series for a while now and every video I wonder just how deep you've stumbled into the rabbit hole.. Idk how you operate with 16 keys, I am having trouble dropping from 36 to 34.
However being [not a programmer], this vid has me reconsidering if I want to join a group buy I've had my eye on for months..... Code and my brain do not get along.. perhaps I should stick with my Ergodox ez...
@Ben Vallack I predict your next iteration, limited by shipping times as the long pole in the schedule, will be 8 keys: 3 for the more powerful fingers and the thumb, leaving out the pinkies, because they're weak. Reasoning: last I knew, you were extolling the virtues of the 34 key layout, now you've gone down to 16, and the most logical next step is 8!
Part of the reasoning for 8 as stated is now you have exactly only a reduced home row with thumb, and no fingers need ever move except up/down, just in possibly longer strings of key presses, the oddball chords worst-case. With no moving of fingers, in theory you should have far fewer typos because you can't be off target with any finger, you can only use the wrong key under a finger that's not moved!
Fascinating video, I wasn't aware such great software was available for free, thanks for explaining that!
you're my hero
12:30 with an extra (unused) pinky key, it looks like you could make each hand symmetrical (mirrored around the middle finger) and thus left and right could be visually identical.
nice looks interesting
Sooo cool
Super excited about this! Definitely show us the 16 key layouts 🚀
Will do!
@@BenVallack would it be possible that you for example do a stream of the whole process and record it!
I would love to follow you step by step and create a layout for myself so having a gem like that would definitely help!
Currently waiting for my Ferris Sweep parts to arrive from AliExpress but already thinking about taking my project to the next level haha
I wish you a great weekend!
Greetings from Poland Ben!
Hey Ben! Really love all your custom ergogen keyboard videos! I'm workin on the firmware with ZMK, buts it a bit hard to grasp everything without any background programing knowledge. Are you considering doing a ZMK firmware tutorial video by chance?
I just came across a project called Samoklava that does something very similar to this, with an additional generative layer on top of Ergogen. It automatically routes the traces, and more.
You've blown my mind with hot air soldering and this video has me ready to take the plunge. Any recommendations on really low profile switches? I got the choc tester and they still feel like too much travel.
Have you considered, making this a hand-held keyboard with keys on both sides? And hold it similar to how you would hold a PlayStation controller? - I feel the ultimate portable keyboard is the one you can use with literally zero support, just holding it in your lap, out in front of you, in your pockets, whatever... And with 3d printing you could EASILY make that fit like a literal glove to your hand!
This is freaking awesome. Really wish mice could have this much accessible customizability. Ive seen a few 3d printed designs that you basicly just take the innards from one mouse and put it in the new similar style shell which is a start but Id really like to customize things like how tilted it is, where extra buttons are, how hard they are to press, weight, ect.
Yeah very true, might need to start getting involved with 3d printing I guess!
Resin printers these days are phenomenal, suuuuuuper smooth finish. But you could also use the fine resolution to create interesting textures. You could build them around a common platform that is a little brain with the sensors and such in it. Open source designs with common switches, rollers, bearings, use 3d scanners to shape it perfectly to your claw, ooooo very exciting.
I really appreciate the time you take to create and share these videos. I am working on a long term project and I have found your videos to be invaluable.
Wonderful!
You should take a look at the dactyl manuform style of keyboard, there are generators that takes measurements and gives you a 3d file
Very fascinating video Ben! I love seeing all the ways you go about experimenting with different styles and form factors!
Hope you're doing well, and keep it up!
Whenever I think I'm going a bit too crazy with my keyboards I check out Ben's channel
Thanks!
Thank you so much!
I'm super curious about the 16-key-layout! I can hardly wait for it! :D
btw: I got myself a planck after one of your videos and I am currently "working my way down" from 48 keys to 34 keys, key by key. First step was home-row mods and a custom layer for navigation with arrows and other related keys; comfortably getting rid of 8 kinda superfluous keys and achieving better ergonomics at the same time. :)
…although… for some shortcuts, when my hand isn't already on the keyboard, I miss the mods for the thumb, but there I'm working on a solution.
Yeah will be getting onto that soon :)
Same here. Came back checking for that 16 keys layout often hahaha. Just super curious!
@@davidbcg286 will try and get onto this soon!
This looks really cost effective! I might try it out.
Have fun!
🎉 Just released: My 16 Key Layout Tour
ua-cam.com/video/5RN_4PQ0j1A/v-deo.html
thank you
That's kinda amazing. Looks like I've got another project haha
I'd like to get more into the details of the process, especially the board connection part and the controller/battery/connector parts
So this is indeed great, and thanks. One thing though, you seem to be approaching this as someone who is a coder talking to a coder. I will be watching your subsequent videos but hope that I’ll be able to do this as someone who could not code their way out of a wet paper bag. Either way, I appreciate the info and your journey (even if it’s gotten more minimalistic than I’d imagine going).
Heh yeah I’m never quite sure how many people are coders here but I figured most keyboard geeks probably code. What kind of thing do you do?
@@BenVallack I do qualitative research - often usability research. Lots of note taking, writing reports, etc. keep me on a keyboard nearly all day. I am also old enough (>50) and learned "keyboarding" young on a typewriter. I had an ortholinear once but unlearning stagger wasn't something I had the time for, so I currently run a Keeb.io Quefrency, which is basically a 65% split, which can use VIA. A few mods done with Karabiner Elements, and a new 3d printer because I use modifiers a tonne and thus will be trying to jump an additional thumb key into the mix. I will be playing with this stuff more, though, and the vids are helpful - I just should have learned coding back in the day.