Split Keyboard

thingiverse

I created this keyboard with three key goals in mind. Firstly, I wanted to design a split keyboard that wouldn't require me to relearn how to type. The thumb clusters on the Ergodox or the layout of the Keyboardio would have presented a steep learning curve, requiring significant muscle memory and potentially frustrating when working on a laptop or someone else's keyboard. Secondly, I aimed to create a keyboard that could be split and used individually. An Fn key on the thumb cluster could mirror the other half, allowing individuals with use of one hand to type relatively normally. Lastly, I sought to make it easy to find keycaps for this design. The full keyboard boasts 70 keys, which can be filled with 1u keys from a standard 104-key set of caps. The numpad/arrow/function keys from a full keycap set can also be used on the thumb keys and modifiers of this keyboard. I drew inspiration from both the Ergodox and Keyboardio designs but decided to modify them to suit my needs. While I liked the overall design of the Ergodox, its thumb cluster didn't appeal to me. Conversely, I admired the Keyboardio's layout, but not the arrangement of the outermost columns, which deviated significantly from a standard keyboard due to the asymmetrical nature of most keyboards. To address this, I designed my specific layout with the outermost columns mirroring a normal keyboard as closely as possible. On the leftmost column, you'll find Esc, Tab, Fn (to mimic the Poker2 I was familiar with), Shift, and Ctrl keys in that order. The rightmost column consists of Backspace, ], Enter, Fn (the firmware I used required two Fn buttons, one for each half), and Ctrl keys. By placing the Shift key to the left of the Fn key, I aimed to create a layout that would be easily recognizable by anyone familiar with standard keyboard layouts. If the thumb cluster was merely eight spacebars, nearly anyone could type on it with almost no experience and minimal learning curve. I utilized Soarer's Controller firmware for this project, which can be found at the link provided: https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/soarer-s-keyboard-controller-firmware-t6767.html. I've also uploaded the two firmware files used for my layout, splitkey-LEFT.sc and splitkey-RIGHT.sc. To ensure stability on a desk, I recommend adding some rubber feet to prevent the plastic from sliding around.