this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2023
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ErgoMechKeyboards

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Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards

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¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
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Altenswoop, 34 keys + 2 encoders wireless split with pinky cluster (programming.dev)
submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by [email protected] to c/ergomechkeyboards
16 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I wanted to experiment with a better pinky column, as for me using the bottom row with the pinky felt awkward and sometimes painful. Thus I created an alt version of my arkenswoop (swoop based), and named it the altenswoop because my brain thinks it is very original and funny. It will take some getting used to, and I'll need to get batteries for this prototype too!

Is there a proper name for this kind of pinky formation? I've seen this elsewhere too, and I'm calling it pinky cluster in reference to the thumb cluster but it doesn't feel right

Edit: I forgot to add a link to the PCB files: https://github.com/SuperFola/arkenswoop (under pcbs/3x5_nw_pinky_cluster)

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[–] ComicalMayhem 13 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I know nothing about ergomech keyboards but this looks like a genuine work of art and got me interested in seeing more. Thank you for sharing this!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Thanks! That's truly heartwarming to read

Do not hesitate if you questions, the community is very friendly

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

Cool typing bat-a-rang!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Are those sindarin key caps? That's awesome!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

Yes! Custom ones I ordered on FKCaps. I may have put them hastily, in the wrong orientation and place but since I can't read it (yet... another project!) it does not bother me haha

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I'm not sure, but what are the wheels mapped to? Are they scroll or mouse x/y/something else?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

It depends on the layer. I have volume, screen brightness, tab/shift tab (pair it with ctrl/cmd and this is very versatile), command left/right (browser history), ctrl left/right (macos virtual desktops), undo/redo, scroll up/down, page up/down. Since it can also act as a normal switch, I put play/pause on it when it controls the volume, and mouse click when it scrolls.

You could map them to mouse movement too quite easily!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Thanks! Might steal that for my setup.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I think one of your keys is upside down? Right split, second row, third from the left.

Or maybe it's just the font

[–] apfel 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

awesome look! how are you liking the convex thumb caps?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

The convex caps are awesome ; I felt uneasy with concave ones before, now my thumbs are lying on plastic cushions. They are not textured and allow your thumbs to glide on them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I'm curious, what's the point of having the last pinky key to the side instead of below?

[–] Necromnomicon 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I think the idea is, that is supposed to be the top pinkie key, some people find moving laterally is more comfortable than stretching upward?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Exactly, I tried this configuration on paper and then on a Cantor (42 keys, 6 columns) and this felt better for me and a friend than reaching down.

[–] puppybox 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Looks super cool :) how much did you pay for keycaps?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Thanks! They were like 45€ without shipping, and I got 36 (the thumb ones are concave and I prefer convex caps). That makes the caps more expensive than a MBK legends set but it's 100% your own, which makes it worth it to me.