row of keys for kensington orbit

thingiverse

This is my print for the Kensington Orbit Trackball. My goal was to add an extra row of buttons next to my fingers where I could assign common shortcuts. To get the correct spacing between my finger and the row of keys, I used DCS keycaps with varying depths so individual keys were easily identifiable without looking down. The part names follow the standard SolidWorks naming convention. Part 1 is a four-button row that worked well for long ball movements but became limiting due to my lack of knowledge on how to create quick macros in QMK software. That's why I made a second and then a third revision. Part 3 features an X-shaped button design, also known as a "stadium" layout, allowing multiple shortcuts right next to your fingertips. It's angled to the left for right-handed users and can be mirrored in slicing software. The keyswitches have hand-soldered leads that are mounted to a breakout board with Dupont connectors for easy removal. This design sits on top of the trackball lead but was initially wobbly, so I adhered it to the contacting surfaces between the 3D print and the trackball using a thin line of hot glue like caulk.