You may have noticed that I neglected to write an introductory paragraph for the last of them-I think I was too excited to get into the keyboard and keyboard accessories. I cannot guarantee that I always have something to say here, but I will definitely say this this week: Thank you for all the tips I have received so far! Readers are the reason why Hackaday is great, and this little keyboard review column is no exception. Great feed, guys!
Camina Chameleon
Just like any keyboard enthusiast who deserves their soldering iron, [deʃhipu] Keep trying the ultimate keyboard-ideally, a keyboard that runs CircuitPython and provides excellent everyday drivers for high-speed typing.
The latest version is Kamina, a one-piece split SAMD21 The brain is slender and narrow without being cramped. [deʃhipu] First split the Planck layout, expand it, add a row of numbers, and finally add a column of Kailh Chocs on the right hand side. As long as the splits fit your shoulders, the one-piece splits are great because everything stays in place. When you move it, both halves move as one, and you don’t have to move the positioning like two pieces. Of course, because he designed it himself, it fits well.
What’s really cool here is the central module concept. It’s practical, it looks good, and as long as it doesn’t interfere with typing, it’s ideal. So far [deʃhipu] Several different versions have been made with joysticks, encoders and buttons, and one is currently under development A home button Designed specifically for mobile phones to take advantage of its built-in optical touchpad.
Esrille NISSE looks good
This is Esrille NISSE keyboard It comes in two sizes! Well, the two sizes don’t look different, but the key spacing specifications say otherwise. To me, this looks like Alice with a better and orthogonal layout. These batwing beauties are new to me, but they have been around for a few years and it may be difficult to stumble upon them outside of Japan. Although Escrille doesn’t seem to make any other keyboards, they do make a portable PC based on the Raspberry Pi computing module.
If done well, I like the one-piece split, and this split seems very close to perfect. how could I know? You can print the paper craft version to try any of the two sizes.I didn’t go that far, but you can bet I opened Smaller size image in new tab And put my hand on the screen to test the layout.
I especially like the thumb clusters and the keys inside, but I think the innermost thumb key is too painful to use. I may only use my index finger. I would buy one of them completely, but they are a bit too expensive, especially because the smaller one costs more. (What’s going on?) The good news is that the firmware is open source. Between that and the paper model, one person may be able to build his own model. Check [xahlee]Used for comments and more sites like keebs and keebs photos.
Check out this: making two-shot polyurethane keycaps
There is more than one way to fill the keycaps, and the double shot method is definitely the most durable. Double Shot keycaps are just like their sound-they are made of two parts; one for the legend and the other for the rest of the keycap. Double shot keycaps are great, because you can’t feel the legends, and you can’t wear them off. They are eternal, and making them requires a complicated process.
This dramatic video will be in Valkyrie Ride Did not provide much explanation, but you will see that each step of this three-day process is completed in more than five minutes. It starts with a mold made of Lego, so you might think this is something you can easily accomplish on the weekend, but it quickly becomes complicated.
Thank you both [Inne Lemstra] with [Zane Atkins] Tips about this. The system works!
New hot spot: RP 2040 Macropad from Adafruit
This week I received my Adafruit ADA BOX (spoiler alert!) Macropad based on Raspberry Pi RP2040The idea here is that you can use a rotary encoder to scroll and select different macro group profiles, providing you with almost unlimited bindings in a small package. You can use RGB to differentiate your menus, and you have enough space on the OLED to display a short label for each of the 12 keys that appear in the matching matrix.
Adafruit sends these out with Kailh red (linear switch). This is not my jam at all, but I know that linearity is very popular, and I think it’s better to make mistakes in silence instead of annoying a group of people. At the beginning I used a dozen Cherry MX transparent colors, but they have a completely black shell and do not let RGB pass through (though I think they look cool). The picture shows the Kailh box white, the upper shell is clear, and the top has the attached translucent DSA keycap.
Yes, that is Jolly Wrencher in the upper left corner! I was fortunate to receive a very limited edition Hackaday keycap (thanks to pt!) that was made for 16 years.If you missed our Python your Keeb hacker chat Check it out with the Adafruit staff and watch this video about the beauty of the dual-lens keycaps. I’m still not sure what I will do with my macro pad. I tend to use work-related shortcuts, or maybe create some kind of game that requires turning a rotary encoder and pressing a button in some way.
History Express: Index Typewriter
The index typewriter was invented in 1880, but it was obsolete in the 1940s. There are two reasons why they are called this way: either because it uses a pointer to select from a character index, or because you use your index finger to manipulate the pointer.
In either case, the pointer is mechanically linked to the corresponding type element of the printed character, and you only need to press the joystick after selection to type. The second lever completes the work of the space bar.
There have been several different styles of index typewriters over the years, and Many designs are interestingCompared with typewriters, they are relatively small and light, and they are cheaper to manufacture without a keyboard. Therefore, index typewriters are mainly sold to busy writers.
Index typewriters still exist in the form of hand-held imprinters, which predates today’s electronic label manufacturers.Many label manufacturers and index typewriters are listed in alphabetical order, and Some have their own non-qwerty layout.
In case you missed it
Have you heard of magnetic Hall-effect key switches? You bet they are crunchy height. good, [riskable] They are being brought back to fashion in a modern style. In the sense that the driving force separates the two magnets, these are magnetic separation switches, yes. But they are also magnetic levitation switches—not a spring in the keycap, but a third magnet that helps it return to its original position.
What is better than IBM Model M?Not much if you ask us, but then we saw [Steve M. Potter] Take all these cute curved spring switches and give them handmade wooden keycaps with Scrabble tile veneer. What a high-scoring building!
There is a hot tip, what does it have to do with the keyboard? Help me by sending a link or two. Don’t you want all Hackaday scribes to see it? Feel free to email me directly.