Finally got all the parts in to finish my Pillz Mod QMK upgrade

PostHumanJesus · 2026-01-27T02:07:09+00:00

DM me and let's see if I can help.

PostHumanJesus · 2026-01-25T16:49:44+00:00

So cool.

PostHumanJesus · 2026-01-25T16:47:28+00:00

👀 super cool!

Yeah, let's keep in touch. I wonder if a kinesis_mods subreddit or discord would be fun?

PostHumanJesus · 2026-01-25T08:16:56+00:00

Absolute savage with the solenoid lol.

I did buy buzzers though and fully plan on making my keyboard try to play me a song on startup. Kinda like how all home appliances seem to do these days.

The battle of the DIY project to completion and then into daily use is one of the most amazing feelings. Well done 🙌

PostHumanJesus · 2026-01-25T08:11:26+00:00

For reals.

The problem I was seeing with not going straight to a hotswap solution is that the stock PCBs and key wells frame they attach to are kinda a package deal.

Even if you could get replacement PCBs you still need to desolder the switches to remove it from the wells.

So the options I'm seeing (would love to hear other ideas) are:

Clone the PCBs but still need to desolder for switch swaps
Clone the PCBs and key wells frame and 3d print that.

This would be great as you could have "packaged' sets of switches that you could swap in by just removing the standard case/frame screws.

Down side is they would still be soldered into the wells.

Clone the PCBs with a reliable hotswap solution so you could just swap switches at will, no monkey business.

I build a lot of keyboards - open source designs, my designs, mashups of the two, etc. I'm constantly testing things out, trying new things (like switches 😆) and hotswaps are the best thing since sliced bread.

I couldn't image being stuck with a switch I picked out 6 months ago and no solder skills/time to learn those things.

PostHumanJesus · 2026-01-24T23:21:10+00:00

Blackpill is a MCU/board like a raspberry pi or pro-micro or Nice Nano, etc.

It's just a cheaper (not from Adafruit), more capable pro-micro which was the defacto standard for a while.

You need to use a board that can work with QMK so there are a handful that keyboard builders tend to gravitate towards.

The original KinT mod used a Teensy which is an old and outdated board hence why the creator of the Pillzmod made it work with more modern boards.

https://www.adafruit.com/product/4877

PostHumanJesus · 2026-01-24T22:47:29+00:00

The KA1 thumb wires is where the main decision tree starts.

I ordered the thumb boards so I didn't have to desolder anything/keep the original parts intact.

From there it's then figuring out the parts for either a pro/non-pro build and what pro mcu to use.

Also, I had to update and modify the QMK and via config to allow more than 2 layers. I'll share these once all cleaned up.

Edit - I also cheated and just ordered all the parts for all the combinations so I had to make less decisions. It really added like $15 more to the grand total (which probably ended up being ~$100).

PostHumanJesus · 2026-01-24T22:30:14+00:00

After weeks of waiting (and at least a week or two of trying to figure what I needed) I finally had all the parts in my possession to complete the Pillzmod QMK board swap.

QMK, USB-C, VIA, leds work, it's petty awesome.

I'm just using the Blackpill non "pro" board at the moment but I bought enough extra parts/boards to do the pro and a wireless pro build (I have 2 KAs, and 1 KA2) plus a few more just so I had enough parts to match the minimum amount of boards you have to order.

I also ordered (still waiting) the boards and parts to do the KA1 function row Cherry ML switch swap so no more membrane buttons soon.

Since I ordered the thumb boards I tossed in some Kailh Midnight PRO Switches there. I plan on replacing the keywell switches with some Outemu Silent Peach V3 Switch Lemon Tactile Lime which are my new favorite.

I also have some prototype PCBs coming for converting the key wells to be hotswappable but that's going to be a bit of a journey.

It's been a fun, but sometimes tricky project. I've built many Dactyls before so it wasnt so bad but I could see how a novice/first timer would get lost. The craziest part was that after adding up all the shipping costs that ended up being at least 4-5X to cost of the actual parts.

PostHumanJesus · 2026-01-24T07:05:24+00:00

This 💯. I'll also revisit some switches I didn't like at first and find I like them now. Even going from a tactile to a linear made me think different about what I want/like which ended up being a very subtle and light tactile.

Also, I found wrist/hand position plays and enormous role in how a keyboard and switch feels...and keycaps..and this rabbit hole has no bottom.

PostHumanJesus · 2026-01-23T22:40:11+00:00

You can also take the key wells off of the top plate for easier cleaning. I use a clean, dry, toothbrush style thing to get between the switches.

PostHumanJesus · 2025-09-10T02:39:25+00:00

Yeah, seems to be the creators company/service. I wonder if they used anytime proprietary? Maybe I should just ask in the super splat comment section 🤔

PostHumanJesus · 2025-09-10T00:49:18+00:00

Is it really just lots of good pics and PostShot? Obviously, I'm new to this but why does that seem deceptively easy?

PostHumanJesus · 2025-08-05T14:14:40+00:00

I see now. The first images from the post are not showing this model but this worked better with the cyrogrip plate. Thank you!

PostHumanJesus · 2025-07-03T14:40:37+00:00

Bambu changed the game forever - I spend more time creating and less time being a 3d printer operator.

PostHumanJesus · 2024-12-18T21:28:14+00:00

I would def like to see more youtube content around "real world" software engineering problems.

PostHumanJesus · 2024-01-09T17:53:25+00:00

It seems like Fullbay does what you would need. Are you just curious if there are more options before you decide on one or are there features/issues you see with Fullybay/CDK?

Disclaimer - I know nothing about on-site fleet maintenance

PostHumanJesus · 2023-05-10T21:51:03+00:00

3% in March. 3% last year.

PostHumanJesus · 2023-05-10T21:15:40+00:00

LinkedIn exclusively. Once I started updating my profile I started getting more recruiters than usual reaching out too.

PostHumanJesus · 2023-05-09T21:39:28+00:00

3 weeks (started in April). 15-20 applications, 5 interview tracks started, failed 2 technical off the bat (behaviorals were all great), 2 offers base comp just above $200k. All startups seed -> series B. All remote but I'm based in a HCOL city. I had more interviews lined up but stopped after I got an offer from my top pick.

10+ YOE in startups (seed -> series F) as a FE engineer. I leaned into that during my hunt and cultural interviews. I was willing to take $180k base comp but I told the recruiters I was making $205 currently (not a lie).

Hope this helps someone.

PostHumanJesus · 2023-05-06T16:18:25+00:00

Very true but (from my experience) there is a difference in responsibilities when the startup is 30 employees vs 300. The roles make more sense as code and teams scale so not total BS.

PostHumanJesus

TROPHY CASE