Quirkey Chord Keyboard Mk2

thingiverse

This is version 2 of a keyboard shell for a six-key chord keyboard, based on the Microwriter and Quinkey designs from the 80's. These keyboards allow one-handed touch-typing and are great for use by people with brittle bones or unreliable hand control as the fingers stay in one position and only press down with the finger pads for all characters (Junior and Senior size shells are provided). The hand rests on the palm swell. A typing tutor program can be found at https://github.com/VikOlliver/Quirkey Full assembly documentation is provided in the "Files" as a PDF. If desired, the keyboard base can be laser cut. This allows a clear acrylic base which reveals the guts of the thing. The firmware runs on a couple of microcontrollers: An ATmega32U-equipped Arduino clone available from https://github.com/VikOlliver/Microwriter. A Raspberry Pi Pico-compatible with USB HID capability, code in CircuitPython available from https://github.com/VikOlliver/Quirkey. The only other electronic components are a USB lead and 6 standard lever microswitches. The microswitches used need a lever, and need to entirely fit under the keycap. If the lever sticks out too far it can be truncated with snips. The model suits a switch body of 12.8x6.5x5.7mm but this can be parametrically changed in the OpenSCAD source. The objects should print without support, and the included support infill is easily snipped at to mount whatever size microcontroller you use. 4 Small woodscrews attach the base. It is recommended that you make it more stable and stick non-slip pads on the bottom. The keycaps can be stuck to the levers in the microswitches, taking care not to let the keycap rub on the sides of the switch hole. I use CAPA resin but 5 minute epoxy works well if used sparingly so it does not drip. It should flip for left-handed use, but the keyboard learning mnemonics will no longer make quite as much sense.