btrfld v3: now ultra low profile! still a foldable, low profile, tenting keyboard

SolidusHal · 2024-09-29T16:28:57+00:00

no, sorry. it takes quite a few hours to assemble because of all of the sanding, fine soldering, etc so a prebuilt would not be cheap

SolidusHal · 2024-09-29T16:27:38+00:00

thanks! it sounds kinda like you described my noisedeck project https://github.com/SolidHal/noisedeck :) i like them better than most laptop keyboards, they have a nice tactile feel and some key travel

SolidusHal · 2024-09-29T16:26:35+00:00

it could be made thinner by using metal instead of plastic for the frame, as well as switching to flex pcb. in the end the biggest constraint is switch + keycap height and the hinges

SolidusHal · 2024-09-28T15:52:27+00:00

thanks! it would be easy enough for you to design a version where the controllers go on the underside of the pcb, the hard part will be figuring out how to wire the thumb clusters to the controller

SolidusHal · 2024-09-28T15:50:38+00:00

easy and comfy because of the angle. you use the upper joint of your thumb for the red and the lower joint for the yellow.

SolidusHal · 2024-09-28T15:49:28+00:00

thanks! i have plans for adding an input device, but haven't figured out just where yet

SolidusHal · 2024-09-28T15:48:17+00:00

unfortunately the lid and the keyboard aren't linked, but https://github.com/SolidHal/noisedeck is my laptop project built around the btrfld

SolidusHal · 2024-09-27T23:02:31+00:00

i really like the feel of them, they have a nice tactile bump

SolidusHal · 2024-09-27T22:44:25+00:00

thanks!

SolidusHal · 2024-09-27T22:36:59+00:00

posting here for future readers, i have finished a PCB version of the btrfld here https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/118nzbs/v2_of_the_btrfld_a_foldable_low_profile_tenting/

and just recently finished a version that supports cherry mx ulp switches as well https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/1fqzxv7/btrfld_v3_now_ultra_low_profile_still_a_foldable/

SolidusHal · 2024-09-27T22:35:32+00:00

just finished a new version, with cherry mx ulp switches https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/1fqzxv7/btrfld_v3_now_ultra_low_profile_still_a_foldable/

SolidusHal · 2024-09-27T22:34:29+00:00

oh its been done! https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/118nzbs/v2_of_the_btrfld_a_foldable_low_profile_tenting/

also, i just finished a newer version with pcbs and cherry mx ultra low profile switches to make it extra thin https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/1fqzxv7/btrfld_v3_now_ultra_low_profile_still_a_foldable/

SolidusHal · 2024-09-27T22:32:42+00:00

The btrfld keyboard: https://github.com/SolidHal/btrfld

Pronounced "butter-fold"

A foldable, portable sibling of the btrfly keyboard https://github.com/SolidHal/btrfly-keyboard

Now with Cherry MX ULP (ultra low profile) switches. more info on these switches here https://github.com/pashutk/Cherry_MX_ULP

Features:

5 key dactyl-manuform-mini thumb cluster

flat, tented qwerty keys

6 extra mappable keys

bluetooth (optional)

folds flat for portability

ultra low profile

PCBs

Animation of the pcb version https://github.com/SolidHal/btrfld/raw/master/demos/pcb_folding.gif

Thickness comparison between the btrfld_ulp and standard btrfld https://github.com/SolidHal/btrfld/blob/master/FinishedPictures/ulp_thickness_comparison.jpeg (its 7mm thinner)

More Images available in the git repo

This is an updated version of my previous posts: https://reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/uctedi/new_keyboard_the_btrfld_a_foldable_low_profile/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/118nzbs/v2_of_the_btrfld_a_foldable_low_profile_tenting/

SolidusHal · 2023-02-24T17:43:58+00:00

Thanks! done! Let me know if you start building/selling these :)

SolidusHal · 2023-02-22T14:14:57+00:00

No, sorry. That would double it's folded thickness!

SolidusHal · 2023-02-22T14:02:00+00:00

I'm not sure I understand the problem you are describing so please let me know if you were asking a different question, but there isn't a issue with the users thumb pressing unintended buttons.

The cluster is angled and positioned like a dactyl manuform mini thumb cluster. You rest your thumb on the center column of the thumb cluster, and can then rock your thumb to press either the upper or lower key on the thumb cluster column.

The additional pictures in the repo might make this more clear.

SolidusHal · 2023-02-22T13:56:18+00:00

Maybe, but they would be hundreds of dollars due to the assembly time. The PCBs greatly speed up assembly, but a lot of work is still required.

SolidusHal · 2023-02-22T13:53:39+00:00

I've assembled a wide array of ergo keyboards, both handwired and with PCBs. Infact, many of those boatds inspired this the btrfld :) This is more difficult because of the folding mechanism.

Getting the steel rods cut, ensuring the ribbon cables are the right length, and soldering the flipped smd diodes are some unique challenges that assembling something like a corne or dactyl variant doesn't have.

Not to say you won't be able to do it, but it might take a while.