My first under 10x10cm #MechanicalKeyboard PCBs arrived from JLCPLC - and they’re so tiny! Smol keyboard time - 15 or 16 keys on each half, and a 5-way navigation button, but no diodes using #GraphTheory http://astrobeano.blogspot.com/2025/12/5-way-switch-in-diode-free-graph-theory.html - and in further boundary pushing it should take a pair of #RaspberryPi RP2040-Zero or RP2350-Zero in TRRS wired mode, or the NRF52840 “Zero” controllers for Bluetooth (using opposite sides of the PCB rather than jumpers as they have almost equivalent footprints): https://codeberg.org/peterjc/pico-keyboards/src/branch/main/bivvy16d
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Found the first issue in my new #MechanicalKeyboard PCB design, the cut-out is not quite wide enough for the #RaspberryPi RP2040-Zero reset and boot buttons 😢
I’ll have to take a file to the PCB (outside well ventilated, with a mask on) 😷
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Filing away a little off the PCBs worked, my latest #MechanicalKeyboard is coming together - now with a #RaspberryPi RP2040-Zero soldered in each half, and the switches done. Waiting on the through hole TRRS sockets (should be OK), and the surface mounted 5-way navigation buttons - they’ll be tricky to solder I fear!
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Pushing my soldering skills with #MechanicalKeyboard design. The surface mounted 5-way navigation buttons were easier than I feared, but the (pre-planned) wires for the TRRS cable socket were much worse. Might simplify this if I make a revised version…
I still don’t have the TSSR sockets to finish soldering this wired split #MechanicalKeyboard, so for now I’m testing it as two half keyboards and trying to find the best angles for the planned single piece follow up #ErgoMechKeyboard - here’s a cardboard prototype of a ~40 degree tended keyboard. It feels a bit too high up (could be lowered about 2cm), but usable…
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@pjacock that's some great progress!
@gedankenstuecke This ~40% tenting angle on the #MechanicalKeyboard prototype does feel reasonably comfy, the different keycaps too. My speed has taken a slight hit (expected), but the accuracy... 😭
[Some of this is that it is currently running as two separate half keyboards, and I do notice keys can arrive out of order. Hoping the missing components arrive soon to eliminate that factor]
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