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28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

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31–40 of 149 posts

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#32
> With 10mm standoffs this is a snug fit, and it is impossible with the standoffs at full length. Reflow your solder if it climbed up the wire

I've never soldered anything before, and I have no idea what this means - does anyone know of a good beginners guide to this kind of soldering?

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#33
post #20

How expensive is it to manufacture the PCB in 1x quantity? It's about 192x60mm, and it has 2 layers.

Would expect this to clock in somewhere in the neighborhood of $80 using my preferred fab of OSHPark, but their min. order is 3 boards. So if you find two other people who want one, you get one from there for under $30 or so.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#36

Pffff. What is this, amateur hour? 20 keys or bust! https://www.gboards.ca/product/butter-stick-limited-edition :P

Hah: > Thanks for buying one of these little guys, it’s a little wonky but I’m sure you’ll have some fun with it! (from http://docs.gboards.ca/Meet-Butter-Stick)

Do you actually use this?

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#37
post #13

If anyone's using modifiers on alpha keys with QMK, let me know what sort of setup works for you. Right now I have ctrls under both pinky fingers (A and S since I'm using dvorac), and it kinda works but but I'm not 100% happy with it. Either I get unintended ctrl-modified presses while typing normal text, or a crtl-modified combo does not register because I do it too quick.

I've tried CTL_T(KC_F) for a single day only. I though it was a good idea to have all the modifiers under the home row. It doesn't seem like the index finger is a strong finger as it started to hurt after only a few hours of heavy use. Neither the other ones seem to be strong enough except (I'm hoping) the thumbs. So for now I'm mapping Ctrl to the thumb cluster (on an Ergodox) and the lesser used modifiers like Alt…

I think lowering makes these unintended presses more likely; raising makes them less likely, but then I'm less likely to get a modifier when I want (because I type the combo too quick).

I initially lowered it from the default of 200 to 150, and I've been slowly raising it back. I think it's 185 now but I might go back to 200. Only that will just make it miss more quick combos.

As for index: I don't think it's so much about strength as it is about getting used to it. Mostly everyone with a normal keyboard probably uses pinky to press ctrl, and I have a hard time imagining the pinky would be stronger than index finger. But yes thumb keys work better if you have them.

My Plank EZ is a bad compromise on that front. Not only does it lack a proper thumb cluster, it also has a 2U spacebar, which removes one precious thumb key. Only the middle 4 (or 3, due to 2u space) keys on the bottom row are easily presesd with thumb. The rest of the bottom row keys go virtually unused for me.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's fashion more than anything - and it's fun to play with something you use on a regular basis. I like the HHKB because of its default layout and how it feels in addition to the way it looks. I wouldn't use these smaller ones, but I understand why people like to play with them.

It's not for me. I like fewer keys because I find that it's easier/more comfortable to use layers rather than have to do a weird reach for some key I need.

Maybe it's my big lanky adult male meat stick hands but "weird reach" isn't a concept I would have ever perceived as being a thing. That's interesting. Is it uncomfortable or painful or just weird?

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#40
post #36

Pffff. What is this, amateur hour? 20 keys or bust! https://www.gboards.ca/product/butter-stick-limited-edition :P

Hah: > Thanks for buying one of these little guys, it’s a little wonky but I’m sure you’ll have some fun with it! (from http://docs.gboards.ca/Meet-Butter-Stick ) Do you actually use this?

I bought a kit and busted one of the pcb pads when trying to solder it together :'(
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