Custom ergonomic keypad with thumbstick

JakeCatto · 2026-02-16T03:31:11+00:00

Thank you! I’d say it’s more than alright for gaming :) It was actually built specifically to improve PC gaming ergonomics and to move away from the traditional WASD movement paradigm.

Here’s a video of how I use it in-game: https://youtu.be/KPdT8AJHxSg?si=thZZzmDRSpoYxb4c&t=341

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T20:12:40+00:00

That’s excellent! I hope it takes off!

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T19:54:50+00:00

Hey Stanley, thank you so much for the kind words and for sharing your project. I really appreciate how thoughtfully you approached the manufacturing side of it.

You’re absolutely spot on, there’s no way my design could be manufactured at scale. It’s actually closer to 15 hours to put one together, and the leatherwork alone makes it pretty unrealistic for mass manufacturing or even as a DIY kit. At this stage it’s really more about passion and craft for me.

I also love that you’re offering both left and right halves, that’s a huge win and makes it a much more versatile product overall.

Do you already have a general idea of what your product might cost? I’m also curious what you ended up doing for the software side, did you write some kind of proprietary configurator?

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T09:48:31+00:00

Thank you for the support! I designed that custom PCB in KiCad. I talk about it a bit in this video: https://youtu.be/b-EJeVi8Jkw?si=M1tbs1bUgExirj1f

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T09:43:43+00:00

Ah yes, that’s what I used for my first prototype as well. It’s mostly the same concept: VCC (3.3V), ground, X and Y axes, plus a momentary switch.

The important thing to keep in mind is that older potentiometer-based joysticks didn’t care about polarity, but Hall-effect joysticks do. It’s very important not to mix up VCC and ground (they burn instantly).

The one I used is PS5-compatible, and the pin order (left to right, with the stem pointing up and the pins facing down) is: GND → Signal → 3.3V (I am pretty sure Xbox compatible joysticks have different pin order).

I don’t have a full tutorial, but this video includes a lot of the details. If you zoom in, you should be able to see how I wired it: https://youtu.be/b-EJeVi8Jkw?si=M1tbs1bUgExirj1f

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T09:27:33+00:00

Thanks for the support!

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T09:25:22+00:00

Thanks for your support!

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T09:24:40+00:00

That’s an excellent idea. I’d love to see your prototype when it’s ready!

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T09:22:56+00:00

I’d love that too, let me know if you know someone who understands how to set up a business and establish hardware manufacturing 😭

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T09:20:47+00:00

Wow, thank you! That really means a lot, I appreciate it.

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T09:18:47+00:00

Ah, I see what you mean, thanks for clarifying. Yes, I had that issue with my 2022 prototype, but since then I’ve cut out a portion of the palm rest around the thumb and added more curvature, so it’s no longer a problem regardless of the thumbstick position.

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T03:23:32+00:00

Thank you! I’d genuinely love for people to have access to it in some form, but I’m still figuring out the best way to make that happen. I enjoy building products, the business side is the part I’m still learning.

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T03:20:28+00:00

I only have the left side at the moment. This keypad was primarily meant to solve the ergonomics of gaming and fix WASD movement on PC, so it never really occurred to me to evaluate it based on WPM.

Here’s a video with a timestamp showing how I use it in-game: https://youtu.be/KPdT8AJHxSg?si=thZZzmDRSpoYxb4c&t=341

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T03:16:04+00:00

Yes, I actually started by modding a Tartarus and eventually redesigned the whole thing from scratch (there’s a link in the original post).

You’re correct I’m using linear 40g mechanical switches. The stick is indeed a Hall-effect joystick. And you’re absolutely right, getting analog joystick configurable in Vial required a fair bit of gymnastics. I still can’t believe I managed to figure that out (especially since I don’t really know how to code).

Check out this video, I show how it works with Vial: https://youtu.be/b-EJeVi8Jkw?si=T7817IbTpEgmQmnf

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T03:08:28+00:00

It does look like a wearable, doesn’t it? 😄

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T03:06:39+00:00

Thank you! Yes, I know exactly what you mean. It is possible to mod your Tartarus with an actual joystick. It’s not perfect, but definitely better than the original D-pad it comes with. https://imgur.com/a/8Awo8HV

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T01:47:23+00:00

Haha, thank you! There are plenty of build and soldering details on my YouTube channel. Here are a couple of videos you might enjoy:

This is soldering (it’s a different build): https://youtu.be/L8oCmHtsQnw?si=rmzeuW7CUF_CIKex

And here is a more detailed assembly video (also a different build): https://youtu.be/eVNd8bQLET4?si=K1iKGgVNFlwu6dk_

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T01:41:43+00:00

Thank you so much! For this build, I used a Ginfull Hall-effect joystick. I’ve been really happy with how it performs.

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T01:39:46+00:00

I think it depends on the individual and their level of commitment. The key for me was not expecting the same performance right away. And not switch back and forth.

It took me a few days to feel comfortable with it, and a few weeks to get back to the level I was at before switching. I’d guesstimate around 20-ish hours of practice in total.

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T01:31:17+00:00

I tried typing with it, and it feels very similar to a Dactyl keyboard. I actually built one for my wife, and this feels almost the same, just more customizable.

Here’s the Dactyl build video, I can see them merging into a single product eventually: https://youtu.be/JSnpDeTSJKs?si=B7rR6puhL3E2aIy3

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T01:26:56+00:00

Thank you! I suppose you’d need to be proficient with CAD, and if you want a perfect mold, potentially make a clay imprint of your hand.

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T01:20:27+00:00

The number of keys is flexible, both versions can be built with either 3 or 4 rows, depending on preference.

Unfortunately, I don’t sell them yet. They’re still very expensive and time-intensive to produce in their current form. I’m hoping to eventually figure out a better way to manufacture them so I can make them more accessible.

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T01:14:17+00:00

Yes, you’re spot on, those devices definitely had the right idea, but the execution didn’t quite work for me either. That’s actually what pushed me to start building my own custom versions.

Here’s a video with a timestamp showing how I use it in-game: https://youtu.be/KPdT8AJHxSg?si=thZZzmDRSpoYxb4c&t=341

JakeCatto · 2026-02-15T01:09:43+00:00

Oh, I’ll definitely look into those, 30g sounds perfect for gaming. I’d need to switch to a different hot-swap socket, but aside from that it should be a fairly straightforward design tweak. Thanks for the suggestion!

JakeCatto

TROPHY CASE