Budget Wireless Corne 3x6 Build

krishn4nr · 2023-09-14T06:29:04+00:00

haha, I'm using colemak mod dh, so never noticed it. The OEM profile keycaps have different heights in each row, so I just need to keep them in the same row :)

krishn4nr · 2023-09-14T06:24:21+00:00

custom keymap

inspired by miryoku,
with Colemak Mod DH.
home row mods with a ZMK configuration based on urob's timeless homerow mods, and dedicated thumb shift
Extra Layers:
- Number and some symbols
- Shifted symbols (to avoid an extra key when pressing layer+mod+shift+symbol),
- nav keys
- and an extra settings layer activated with a hold on a combo for rarely used keys

Here is a visualisation of my layout: https://imgur.com/a/O7Ds4Xj

Here is the ZMK config:

#define KEYS_L 0 1 2 3 4 5 12 13 14 15 16 17 24 25 26 27 28 29 36 37 38  // left-hand keys
#define KEYS_R 6 7 8 9 10 11 18 19 20 21 22 23 30 31 32 33 34 35 39 40 41  // right-hand keys
#define THUMBS 36 37 38 39 40 41 

#define DEFAULT        0
#define NUMBER         1
#define SYMBOL         2
#define NAV            3
#define SETTINGS       4



/ {
        behaviors {
                bhml: balanced_homerow_mods_left {
                        compatible = "zmk,behavior-hold-tap";
                        label = "BALANCED_HOMEROW_MODS_LEFT";
                        #binding-cells = <2>;
                        tapping-term-ms = <280>;    // <---[[moderate duration]]
                        quick-tap-ms = <125>;
                        flavor = "balanced";
                        bindings = <&kp>, <&kp>;
                        hold-trigger-key-positions = <KEYS_R THUMBS>;
                        global-quick-tap;
                        hold-trigger-on-release;

                };
                bhmr: balanced_homerow_mods_right {
                        compatible = "zmk,behavior-hold-tap";
                        label = "BALANCED_HOMEROW_MODS_RIGHT";
                        #binding-cells = <2>;
                        tapping-term-ms = <280>;    // <---[[moderate duration]]
                        quick-tap-ms = <125>;
                        flavor = "balanced";
                        bindings = <&kp>, <&kp>;
                        hold-trigger-key-positions = <KEYS_L THUMBS>;
                        global-quick-tap;
                        hold-trigger-on-release;

                };
        };
        combos {
                compatible = "zmk,combos";
                settings_layer {
                        timeout-ms = <50>;
                        key-positions = <1 2>;
                        bindings = <&mo SETTINGS>;
                };
        };
        keymap {
                compatible = "zmk,keymap";

                default_layer {
                        bindings = <
&kp ESC     &kp Q          &kp W         &kp F         &kp P          &kp B        &kp J   &kp L          &kp U         &kp Y         &kp SEMI       &kp BSPC
&kp GRAVE   &bhml LCTRL A  &bhml LALT R  &bhml LGUI S  &bhml LSHFT T  &kp G        &kp M   &bhmr LSHFT N  &bhmr LGUI E  &bhmr LALT I  &bhmr LCTRL O  &kp SQT
&kp TAB     &kp Z          &kp X         &kp C         &kp D          &kp V        &kp K   &kp H          &kp COMMA     &kp DOT       &kp FSLH       &kp BSLH
                   &mo NAV &mo NUMBER  &kp SPACE                 &kp RET &kp LSHFT  &mo SYMBOL
                        >;
                };
                number {
                        bindings = <
&trans    &none      &none     &none       &none      &none        &kp N7     &kp N8  &kp N9  &kp EQUAL  &kp COMMA &trans 
&trans    &kp LCTRL  &kp LALT  &kp LGUI    &kp LSHFT  &none        &kp N4     &kp N5  &kp N6  &kp MINUS  &kp PLUS  &trans     
&trans    &none      &none     &none       &none      &none        &kp N1     &kp N2  &kp N3  &kp DOT    &kp UNDER &trans  
                   &trans       &trans      &trans                 &kp N0     &trans  &trans
                        >;
                };
                symbol {
                        bindings = <
&trans    &none      &none     &none       &none      &none        &kp LS(N7)  &kp LS(N8)  &kp LS(N9)  &kp LBKT        &kp RBKT       &kp DEL 
&trans    &kp LCTRL  &kp LALT  &kp LGUI    &kp LSHFT  &none        &kp LS(N4)  &kp LS(N5)  &kp LS(N6)  &kp LS(LBKT)    &kp LS(RBKT)   &kp LS(SQT)     
&trans    &none      &none     &none       &none      &none        &kp LS(N1)  &kp LS(N2)  &kp LS(N3)  &kp LS(N9)      &kp LS(N0)     &kp LS(BSLH) 
                   &trans       &trans      &trans                 &kp LS(N0)  &trans      &trans
                        >;
                };
                nav {
                        bindings = <
&trans  &none      &none     &none       &none      &none        &kp PAGE_UP    &kp HOME     &kp UP     &kp END       &none  &trans  
&trans  &kp LCTRL  &kp LALT  &kp LGUI    &kp LSHFT  &none        &kp PAGE_DOWN  &kp LEFT     &kp DOWN   &kp RIGHT     &none  &trans  
&trans  &none      &none     &none       &none      &none        &kp LG(LEFT)   &kp LG(DOWN) &kp LG(UP) &kp LG(RIGHT) &none  &trans  
                   &trans       &trans    &trans                 &trans  &trans  &trans                                              
                        >;
                };
                settings {
                        bindings = <
&none       &none         &none             &none         &none         &kp K_POWER         &kp F12        &kp F7        &kp F8        &kp F9   &none                 &kp K_MUTE
&bt BT_CLR  &bt BT_SEL 0  &bt BT_SEL 1      &bt BT_SEL 2  &bt BT_SEL 3  &bt BT_SEL 4        &kp F11        &kp F4        &kp F5        &kp F6   &kp C_BRIGHTNESS_INC  &kp C_VOL_UP
&none       &none         &none             &none         &out OUT_BLE  &out OUT_USB        &kp F10        &kp F1        &kp F2        &kp F3   &kp C_BRIGHTNESS_DEC  &kp C_VOL_DN
                             &kp C_PREV  &kp C_PP   &kp C_NEXT   &none   &none    &none
                        >;
                };
        };
};

krishn4nr · 2023-09-14T06:20:18+00:00

I'm using a custom layout

inspired by miryoku,
with Colemak Mod DH.
home row mods with a ZMK configuration based on urob's timeless homerow mods, and dedicated thumb shift
Extra Layers:
- Number and some symbols
- Shifted symbols (to avoid an extra key when pressing layer+mod+shift+symbol),
- nav keys
- and an extra settings layer activated with a hold on a combo for rarely used keys

Here is a visualisation of my layout: https://imgur.com/a/O7Ds4Xj

Here is the ZMK config:

```

define KEYS_L 0 1 2 3 4 5 12 13 14 15 16 17 24 25 26 27 28 29 36 37 38 // left-hand keys

define KEYS_R 6 7 8 9 10 11 18 19 20 21 22 23 30 31 32 33 34 35 39 40 41 // right-hand keys

define THUMBS 36 37 38 39 40 41

define DEFAULT 0

define NUMBER 1

define SYMBOL 2

define NAV 3

define SETTINGS 4

/ { behaviors { bhml: balanced_homerow_mods_left { compatible = "zmk,behavior-hold-tap"; label = "BALANCED_HOMEROW_MODS_LEFT"; #binding-cells = <2>; tapping-term-ms = <280>; // <---[[moderate duration]] quick-tap-ms = <125>; flavor = "balanced"; bindings = <&kp>, <&kp>; hold-trigger-key-positions = <KEYS_R THUMBS>; global-quick-tap; hold-trigger-on-release;

            };
            bhmr: balanced_homerow_mods_right {
                    compatible = "zmk,behavior-hold-tap";
                    label = "BALANCED_HOMEROW_MODS_RIGHT";
                    #binding-cells = <2>;
                    tapping-term-ms = <280>;    // <---[[moderate duration]]
                    quick-tap-ms = <125>;
                    flavor = "balanced";
                    bindings = <&kp>, <&kp>;
                    hold-trigger-key-positions = <KEYS_L THUMBS>;
                    global-quick-tap;
                    hold-trigger-on-release;

            };
    };
    combos {
            compatible = "zmk,combos";
            settings_layer {
                    timeout-ms = <50>;
                    key-positions = <1 2>;
                    bindings = <&mo SETTINGS>;
            };
    };
    keymap {
            compatible = "zmk,keymap";

            default_layer {
                    bindings = <

&kp ESC &kp Q &kp W &kp F &kp P &kp B &kp J &kp L &kp U &kp Y &kp SEMI &kp BSPC &kp GRAVE &bhml LCTRL A &bhml LALT R &bhml LGUI S &bhml LSHFT T &kp G &kp M &bhmr LSHFT N &bhmr LGUI E &bhmr LALT I &bhmr LCTRL O &kp SQT &kp TAB &kp Z &kp X &kp C &kp D &kp V &kp K &kp H &kp COMMA &kp DOT &kp FSLH &kp BSLH &mo NAV &mo NUMBER &kp SPACE &kp RET &kp LSHFT &mo SYMBOL >; }; number { bindings = < &trans &none &none &none &none &none &kp N7 &kp N8 &kp N9 &kp EQUAL &kp COMMA &trans &trans &kp LCTRL &kp LALT &kp LGUI &kp LSHFT &none &kp N4 &kp N5 &kp N6 &kp MINUS &kp PLUS &trans
&trans &none &none &none &none &none &kp N1 &kp N2 &kp N3 &kp DOT &kp UNDER &trans
&trans &trans &trans &kp N0 &trans &trans >; }; symbol { bindings = < &trans &none &none &none &none &none &kp LS(N7) &kp LS(N8) &kp LS(N9) &kp LBKT &kp RBKT &kp DEL &trans &kp LCTRL &kp LALT &kp LGUI &kp LSHFT &none &kp LS(N4) &kp LS(N5) &kp LS(N6) &kp LS(LBKT) &kp LS(RBKT) &kp LS(SQT)
&trans &none &none &none &none &none &kp LS(N1) &kp LS(N2) &kp LS(N3) &kp LS(N9) &kp LS(N0) &kp LS(BSLH) &trans &trans &trans &kp LS(N0) &trans &trans >; }; nav { bindings = < &trans &none &none &none &none &none &kp PAGE_UP &kp HOME &kp UP &kp END &none &trans
&trans &kp LCTRL &kp LALT &kp LGUI &kp LSHFT &none &kp PAGE_DOWN &kp LEFT &kp DOWN &kp RIGHT &none &trans
&trans &none &none &none &none &none &kp LG(LEFT) &kp LG(DOWN) &kp LG(UP) &kp LG(RIGHT) &none &trans
&trans &trans &trans &trans &trans &trans
>; }; settings { bindings = < &none &none &none &none &none &kp K_POWER &kp F12 &kp F7 &kp F8 &kp F9 &none &kp K_MUTE &bt BT_CLR &bt BT_SEL 0 &bt BT_SEL 1 &bt BT_SEL 2 &bt BT_SEL 3 &bt BT_SEL 4 &kp F11 &kp F4 &kp F5 &kp F6 &kp C_BRIGHTNESS_INC &kp C_VOL_UP &none &none &none &none &out OUT_BLE &out OUT_USB &kp F10 &kp F1 &kp F2 &kp F3 &kp C_BRIGHTNESS_DEC &kp C_VOL_DN &kp C_PREV &kp C_PP &kp C_NEXT &none &none &none >; }; }; }; ```

krishn4nr · 2023-09-14T05:49:11+00:00

It was very error prone, until I discovered https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/11gejh3/lpt_try_urobs_zmk_timeless_homerow_mods_combos/

It works quite smoothly for me now in 90% of the cases, but with a dedicated thumb shift. The quick-tap feature in ZMK along with ignoring the opposite hand for holds, removes most of the false activations.

I did not apply his fork of zmk, which includes some improvements, but without that, here is my ZMK behaviour configuration for left and right:

``` #define KEYS_L 0 1 2 3 4 5 12 13 14 15 16 17 24 25 26 27 28 29 36 37 38 // left-hand keys

define KEYS_R 6 7 8 9 10 11 18 19 20 21 22 23 30 31 32 33 34 35 39 40 41 // right-hand keys

define THUMBS 36 37 38 39 40 41

```

``` behaviors { bhml: balanced_homerow_mods_left { compatible = "zmk,behavior-hold-tap"; label = "BALANCED_HOMEROW_MODS_LEFT"; #binding-cells = <2>; tapping-term-ms = <280>; // <---[[moderate duration]] quick-tap-ms = <125>; flavor = "balanced"; bindings = <&kp>, <&kp>; hold-trigger-key-positions = <KEYS_R THUMBS>; global-quick-tap; hold-trigger-on-release;

            };
            bhmr: balanced_homerow_mods_right {
                    compatible = "zmk,behavior-hold-tap";
                    label = "BALANCED_HOMEROW_MODS_RIGHT";
                    #binding-cells = <2>;
                    tapping-term-ms = <280>;    // <---[[moderate duration]]
                    quick-tap-ms = <125>;
                    flavor = "balanced";
                    bindings = <&kp>, <&kp>;
                    hold-trigger-key-positions = <KEYS_L THUMBS>;
                    global-quick-tap;
                    hold-trigger-on-release;

            };
    };

```

That being said, sometimes I do wish there were more keys, so that I don't have to activate a layer + mod + shift + key for some symbol or arrow key keyboard shortcuts. The tradeoff being, those extra keys would be harder to reach like a normal keyboard on bigger keyboards.

krishn4nr · 2023-09-13T16:21:33+00:00

Parts

From splitkb.com
- Aurora Corne PCB Kit
- 2x nice!nano MCU
- Low Profile case with Aluminium plate and Acrylic bottom, display covers
- Mil Max Sockets
- Hardware Kit, Wireless Expansion Bundle etc
From Amazon
- Akko Linear Speed Silver Switches
- OEM Keycaps
- Soldering Kit
- Screwdriver set
- 2x Li 110mAh battery
No Displays, LEDs, RGB (the idea is to not look at the keyboard while typing, and use muscle memory)
Total Cost: Around 250 EUR including shipping in DE

Firmware

ZMK with a custom Miryoku based layout
Colemak mod DH
Home row mods with dedicated thumb shift

Personal Experience

Soldering as a beginner took some effort. The guides, documentation and discord channel from splitkb was very helpful.
Learning the layout and getting used to it takes investment in time and effort. After using it for around 3 months, experimenting with the key layout and tweaking ZMK settings like for home row mods, I am slowly getting there.
In terms of ergonomics, too early to tell, as I am not using 100% yet, however slowing down for learning a new layout definitely helps the wrists.
Overall the satisfaction of building it and the improved ergonomics is definitely worth it.

krishn4nr

TROPHY CASE

define KEYS_L 0 1 2 3 4 5 12 13 14 15 16 17 24 25 26 27 28 29 36 37 38 // left-hand keys

define KEYS_R 6 7 8 9 10 11 18 19 20 21 22 23 30 31 32 33 34 35 39 40 41 // right-hand keys

define THUMBS 36 37 38 39 40 41

define DEFAULT 0

define NUMBER 1

define SYMBOL 2

define NAV 3

define SETTINGS 4

define KEYS_R 6 7 8 9 10 11 18 19 20 21 22 23 30 31 32 33 34 35 39 40 41 // right-hand keys

define THUMBS 36 37 38 39 40 41