this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2023
29 points (100.0% liked)

ErgoMechKeyboards

5940 readers
3 users here now

Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards

Rules

Keep it ergo

Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)

i.e. no regular non-split¹ row-stagger and no non-split¹ ortholinear²

¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid

No Spam

No excessive posting/"shilling" for commercial purposes. Vendors are permitted to promote their products/services but keep it to a minimum and use the [vendor] flair. Posts that appear to be marketing without being transparent about it will be removed.

No Buy/Sell/Trade

This subreddit is not a marketplace, please post on r/mechmarket or other relevant marketplace.

Some useful links

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Built 2 versions of the MX/KS hybrid zilpzalp, here's aome height comparison when using bottom plates. It may be possible to use shorter stand-offs, but going 1mm shorter, stuff started touching the bottom plate so i left it like this.

Bonus top view: Two rather identical-looking Zilpzalp keyboards

top 4 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] R4_Unit 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Very nice! I’ve been eyeing the KS-33 switches for my next build and this is an informative comparison. To be sure I have it clear in my head: basically any MX compatible keycap works right?

[–] apfel 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I should have really added this to the OP! So actually, it depends on whether you use the switch plate. With it, compatibility is pretty poor, i.e. most caps will hit the plate.

DES actually even interferes with the switch itself, not the plate, making it uniquely unfitting.

I'm planning to get myself some skirtless caps for this plated built, or maybe i'll desolder and remove the switch plate...

[–] R4_Unit 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Interesting! Have you found any caps that fit well? I assume without the switch plate, you need to use soldiered switches, or does hot-swap work?

[–] apfel 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Not entirely sure about the hotswap option as I haven't tried it myself. The footprint is apparently the same as for the KS-27 switches, and there are special KS-27 compatible sockets you can get from AliExpress.

I would also assume that soldering is needed without the plate since it's a 3-pin switch.

Since Nuphy is selling boards with these switches, I believe their own caps fit them :)