Ben Vallack walks through designing a custom split keyboard PCB from scratch using Ergogen and KiCad.
Go from zero to hero by following along as I design a PCB for a custom keyboard. Follow along as I prepare a gerber file to order boards from PCBWay! The detailed walkthrough contains everything you need to know to create a custom keyboard PCB using Ergogen and KiCad.
Thanks to my sponsor PCBWay for supporting this video. PCBWay offer PCB fabrication, CNC and 3D Printing and more. They have been super efficient and friendly with all the projects I’ve used them for and I’m very happy to recommend them. You can use this link to support the channel. pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=499614
Links:
My fork of Ergogen: github.com/benvallack/ergogen
KiCad: kicad.org
Ergogen UI: ergogen.cache.works
🪛Soldering Essentials!
Tooling up with these links helps me out at no extra cost to you. Thanks! 🙏
Heat Proof Mat:
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3nn8tiB
Amazon US: amzn.to/3nn8tiB
Soldering Iron Kit:
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3Frdw87
Amazon US: amzn.to/3ouxQ1o
Lead Free Solder 0.6 (for sockets and switches):
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3co1GyM
Amazon US: amzn.to/2YSfZZs
Lead Free Solder 0.3 (for smaller work):
Amazon UK: amzn.to/30A2Yog
Amazon US: amzn.to/3HDDU0q
Flux Pen:
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3IemWVP
Amazon US: amzn.to/3Ko9lNm
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Watch this next for more details on my custom keyboard framework: youtu.be/UKfeJrRIcxw
Details on my 16 key layout:
youtu.be/5RN_4PQ0j1A
Or how about 34?
youtu.be/8wZ8FRwOzhU
Or if you're feeling totally excessive, 36:
youtu.be/S0bBmcoVsm8
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Contents:
Intro
My Custom Keyboard Format
Ergogen Basics
Installing Ergogen Locally
Outlines
Creating A KiCad File
Switch Footprints and Nets
Controller Footprint
Keycap Outlines
Additional Footprints
Bind Values
Routing
Adding Artwork
Uploading to PCBWay
Why it's here
3 people recommend this
What people say. Recommended as a great step-by-step guide for beginners wanting to design their own custom mechanical keyboard PCBs.
q
quigley61on Hacker News • Recommends
On “Build Your Own X”
> Build your own keyboard This is something I've been interested in lately as well & came across this video: link to this video It's targeting a split keyboard, but I think it details the general steps involved pretty well.
On “The obsessive pleasures of mechanical-keyboard tinkerers”
In the realm of programmable keyboards, it doesn’t really matter which OS you will use it with… My golden medium is Anne Pro II, even though I own new model F. But more and more I’m getting drawn to an idea of building 36 keys custom. Watch something from a channel of this hugely underrated gent: link to this video Edit: typos (ipad screen kbd…)
You could go one step further and build your own keyboard to match your hands as well. I've watched several of these videos and planning on eventually building one: link to this video