this ^ will be replaced with a photo of the actual keyboard once it's built
I type a lot. Like, an insane amount. I write code for my robotics team and a lot for Hack Club, so I need a decent keyboard. I've been using the Apple Magic Keyboard for a long while, and it's honestly quite nice. I originally bought it because my Quest 2 can track it.
However, I also am prone to carpal tunnel and other hand/fingie-issues, so I figured I should get a keyboard. This led me to a discovery: Keyboards, are not cheap.
Then I discovered Highway and had a thought: make someone else pay for my keyboard.
I was tempted to go all out and build a full desk size keyboard contraption, but then I found ergogen and decided to make an ergonomic, split-deck keyboard. I based this off of a lot of random keyboards I saw throughout the internet and had one main focus when designing: comfortable, but not confusing.
I like layers. I plan to use them. I also want to have enough buttons I can do things easily and without thinking. If I wanted chords, I would have made a stenography keyboard.
This isn't the most complicated design, it's not the most simple, but it is mine, and I feel happy with it.
Overall, the cost comes out to about $180 w/ tax.
| ITEM | SUPPLIER | COUNT | UNIT COST | ROW COST | LOW BUDGET USE | HIGH BUDGET USE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nice!nano v2 | typeractive.xyz | 1 | $25.00 | $25.00 | 17% | 7% |
| nice!view | typeractive.xyz | 1 | $20.00 | $20.00 | 13% | 6% |
| PCB | JLCPCB | 1 | $12.00 | $12.00 | 8% | 3% |
| PCB Shipping | JLCPCB | 1 | $25.00 | $25.00 | 17% | 7% |
| Kailh Hotswap Sockets | typeractive.xyz | 60 | $0.15 | $9.00 | 6% | 3% |
| Battery Jack | typeractive.xyz | 2 | $0.50 | $1.00 | 1% | 0% |
| 1.5u Keycap | typeractive.xyz | 4 | $0.50 | $2.00 | 1% | 1% |
| Homing Keycap | typeractive.xyz | 2 | $0.50 | $1.00 | 1% | 0% |
| Keycap | typeractive.xyz | 50 | $0.40 | $20.00 | 13% | 6% |
| Choc Switches | typeractive.xyz | 60 | $0.55 | $33.00 | 22% | 9% |
| Diodes | typeractive.xyz | 60 | $0.08 | $4.50 | 3% | 1% |
| Power Switch | typeractive.xyz | 2 | $0.75 | $1.50 | 1% | 0% |
| Sockets and Pins | typeractive.xyz | 2 | $6.50 | $13.00 | 9% | 4% |
| Encoder | aliexpress | 2 | $1.10 | $2.20 | 1% | 1% |
Something to note about this is a bit of a habit I've picked up from my apple keyboard: I don't like thick keyboards. My magic keyboard is maybe 7 millimeters tall at maximum and about 3 at the minimum. I am okay with something a bit thicker, but I don't want something as thick as a normal keyboard.
This is also part of why I went for low profile keys and keycaps, hence the Choc switches instead of the more common MX switches.
I also don't want a case to help with that. Because of the requirements for Highway, I have one. It's a very thin case designed to be lasercut using acrylic and 3d printed standoffs.