this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2023
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ErgoMechKeyboards

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Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards

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Heron v1 (i.postimg.cc)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by sneftel to c/ergomechkeyboards
 

Main view

Introducing Heron, a Dactyl-inspired columnar keyboard with each column mounted on a laser-cut acrylic scaffold.

Frontal view

With this keeb, I wanted to get as far away as possible from the "big plastic brick" look of the Dactyl. I was inspired by the Glove80's sleek look and in particular by its "hey, just bend the FR4!" construction, but I wanted staggered columns and a more "weightless" look and I was sick of flat thumb clusters slowing me down.

Rear view

The columns are 0.8mm FR4 PCBs screwed into 8mm acrylic; FFC ribbons run down the back legs, and diodes are on the mainboard.

Top view

Column positioning is essentially stolen from a Dactyl, with an extra partial row at the top so that I could use the same 4x1 PCB for each column. (It's a 3x6 at heart.) I'm quite proud of the thumb clusters, though, which are inspired by the DataHand: wrapping around the thumb, with a heel-toe motion for the middle, makes it quick and easy to press virtually any combination of keys, and thumb travel is so much less than the flat Manuform cluster.

More pics at https://postimg.cc/gallery/Vwfqb1Q

Video of the thumb cluster in use at https://youtube.com/shorts/eb4dZot1eeI

Everything's open source, because why not, but the files are in a moderately execrable state right now (particularly the main case, which I designed while [and, honestly, before] learning FreeCAD). Repo at https://github.com/Sneftel/heron .

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This thing looks absolutely alien, kudos on the design! Do you have a typing video?

[–] sneftel 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not yet. Truth be told, I'm still working on the firmware :-)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Looking forward to it, then!

[–] RudolpsWings 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Can you write a bit about the base? Is it a single 3d printed piece?

[–] sneftel 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, the base is a single 3d printed part, plus an acrylic bottom plate. The scaffold legs slot into the case and are screwed in at the bottom.

[–] RudolpsWings 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The base looks bigger than a 250mm print area, is it smaller than it looks or so you have a giant printer?

[–] sneftel 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don’t have a giant resin printer, but Elecrow does. They also did the laser cutting and the PCBs. Not the quickest turnaround in the world but they do good work and their prices are remarkably low.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

The Good+Cheap pair from the "pick two" cliche gets overlooked. :-)

Beautiful work, btw. The people who want it will REALLY want it.

[–] crankin 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Wow, this is so well done. I really appreciate the attention to detail and how you went the extra mile to really make it look good.

[–] sneftel 4 points 1 year ago

I'm happy about that now. When I was frantically scrubbing spills from the dye bath I used for the keycaps, less so.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

This is incredibly inspiring. I'm hoping to dive into this hobby. Seeing these custom designs and stretching the standard for what makes a keyboard is so motivating. Seriously, this piece is stunning...I look forward to hearing how it tyoes when you get the firmware sorted!

[–] apfel 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Wow, awesome! I love how different it looks.

[–] sneftel 3 points 1 year ago

Thanks! That, if I’m being honest, was the primary design concern.

[–] DrVader 2 points 1 year ago

To me dactyl keebs never look good, but man this thing is gorgeous. Daresay, elegant

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

That is completely wild, hats off!