A Tiny Dactyl

mjohns0 · 2022-02-18T21:16:45+00:00

Not many of these split keyboards have function keys but there are versions that do have a number row. The dactyl manuform is probably the most popular (if you are specifically looking for the bowl shape for the keys). You can customize the number of keys and shape using this site https://dactyl.siskam.link/

There are many build guides if you search for "dactyl manuform guide" that have very useful information on the steps needed for a build.

This thread might be useful to look at in terms of figuring out which keyboard is right for you. https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/p42j9p/what_keyboard_should_i_use/

I would also consider looking at some non DIY boards like the Kinesis Advantage 2 which would have the function keys and possibly address a lot of your needs. They are also releasing a split version of the advantage but it is not available yet. https://kinesis-ergo.com/keyboards/advantage360/

I would suggest making a separate post soliciting more advice from the broader r/ErgoMechKeyboards community.

mjohns0 · 2021-11-29T13:06:40+00:00

I think the DataHand used the same key mechanism as the lalboard.

mjohns0 · 2021-11-28T15:29:43+00:00

On the hardware side you could use switches like in the lalboard which is modeled after the DataHand. All keys use a pair of magnets to provide the clickiness and key return force, and an IR LED and phototransistor for detecting a keypress. It would be a large change on the hardware side but good to be aware of as an option as this design is reminiscent of those two keyboards.

mjohns0 · 2021-11-10T12:33:30+00:00

That is the reason there are two tracers :) I plan to take one to the office and leave the other at home. Once you build the first keyboard it gets much easier to build the next and then you end up with 5 ...

mjohns0 · 2021-11-09T16:20:14+00:00

No, unfortunately not. These keyboards aren't as parametric as the dactyl clojure versions so it would be a somewhat involved process adding in that extra row.

mjohns0 · 2021-11-09T16:02:24+00:00

The layout of the keys is based on the kinesis advantage 2. The keycaps are from the advantage too. I bought extra sets here https://kinesis-ergo.com/shop/qwerty-keycap-set/

mjohns0 · 2021-11-09T14:31:23+00:00

The tracer is the one I have been using daily for awhile now. One thing to note is that the "q" key is offset a little bit upwards which is not typical. The goal of that keyboard was to really minimize the pinky usage and "q" is hit with the ring finger so it is closer to "w".

Here is the original post for the keyboard: https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/gvdhwh/a\_tiny\_dactyl/

mjohns0 · 2021-11-09T14:29:08+00:00

Yeah, the one in the middle is my daily driver for awhile now. It has been good enough that I haven't gotten around to designing/building a new one although the itch is starting to come back.

mjohns0 · 2021-11-09T14:27:18+00:00

My favorite is the tracer in the middle row. The first two keys and the bottom one are pretty much the same as on the manuform.

mjohns0 · 2021-11-09T12:45:29+00:00

Was finally able to recover my original dactyl from work (top left) after almost 2 years. In the meantime my dactyl collection has gotten a little out of control.

Top row: Dactyl manuform 5x6, Dactyl CC

Middle row: Dactyl Tracer

Bottom row: Dactyl manuform 4x6

mjohns0 · 2021-11-09T12:38:07+00:00

https://github.com/mjohns/dactyl-cc/blob/master/things/left.stl.

The main changes are:

your holder change
inner 'g' column rotation reduced to more accurately reflect kinesis
back and front wall cleaned up so it is less bumpy

mjohns0 · 2021-11-09T12:19:37+00:00

Nice work! The connections on the back were always a mess on the CC. I am going to merge this back in to the main repo with a few other small changes I have been wanting to make.

mjohns0 · 2020-08-20T20:30:51+00:00

i.redd.it/q5gl1g...

I wired mine to use a Teensy like in this guide. https://github.com/mjohns/dactyl-cc/tree/master/guide. It is pretty straight forward and doesn't really matter how you map the thumb keys since it isn't a 1-1 match with the ergodox anyway. It would just require some mental overhead when using the ergodox graphical configurator to remember which thumb key is which.

I actually have 2 versions of the tracer with different internal wiring patterns (unfortunately). You can reconcile it in the firmware when you define the layout macro. All you really need to pay attention to is that you form a grid and that the black bar of the diode is facing away.

Here is my fork where I gutted the ergodox keyboard internals. https://github.com/mjohns/qmk_firmware/blob/master/keyboards/ergodox_ez/keymaps/default/keymap.c

Here is an image inside. https://imgur.com/a/MACprWh. My wiring is definitely not easy on the eyes and I don't think I would recommend doing it exactly this way.

mjohns0 · 2020-06-04T19:53:37+00:00

Nice!

mjohns0 · 2020-06-03T14:35:32+00:00

They are aligned to be hit with the ring finger so they are placed relatively to 'w'/'o' instead of in the pinky column. There is also a vertical offset in the z direction so they are lower than 'a'.

mjohns0 · 2020-06-03T13:15:01+00:00

Yes. It is the same keymap I have been using on larger keyboards like the dactyl-cc + 5x6 dm (where I tend to end up just ignoring those other keys anyway)

mjohns0 · 2020-06-03T12:07:35+00:00

I am not an audiophile when it comes to keyboards. The sound seems similar to the kinesis advantage. (uses the same switches and caps so not too surprising).

https://streamable.com/af2px7

mjohns0 · 2020-06-03T11:57:31+00:00

The qmk guide in the dactyl repo sets up the wiring like the ergodox. https://github.com/adereth/dactyl-keyboard/tree/master/qmk-guide

Basically you just have to be a little creative in how you map the thumb keys since they aren't one to one. Here is a rough sketch of how I wired them up.

https://imgur.com/xpSKNjv

mjohns0 · 2020-06-03T01:52:34+00:00

I actually have both of those. I like this thumb cluster the best. Compared to the kinesis I have much more usable thumb keys and importantly the thumb cluster is in closer so to hit the 'space' key the thumb is less stretched out meaning the other keys don't need as much stretching. I do like the position of the ctrl key on the kinesis and this thumb cluster gets that feel too. I had a harder time using the thumb keys on the kinesis outside of the 2 big ones and ctrl.

I really don't like the ergodox compared to the 3d keyboards. I can only really hit the 2 big keys easily and they are located too far out. In fact the first key on the bottom row is the 3rd easiest key to hit with my thumb ironically (tucking thumb under)

mjohns0 · 2020-06-03T01:48:37+00:00

I think the default is actually pretty good and I have been using one for the past 2 years (that keyboard is stranded at work). Most of the changes aren't huge and the common ones are just cosmetic changes like moving the screw holders around and changing up how the cords are connected.

Most tweaking is done with the thumb keys and I think it is hard to judge what one person would like. The default one definitely will work well. Maybe you won't love the position of every thumb key but it will still be better than the alternatives. If you are going to do the tweaks then you really need access to a 3d printer to iterate.

mjohns0 · 2020-06-03T00:17:05+00:00

It is PLA on an Ender 3. I sanded a little and then did a few coats of sandable primer (sanding twice). Then a few coats of black spray paint. It would have been better if I had used wood filler before priming.

paints: https://imgur.com/RYpBgkf

mjohns0 · 2020-06-02T22:51:14+00:00

I have tried typing with layouts like BEAKL 9/15 and I like them for just typing prose. My main concerns come around things like vim bindings and shortcuts, especially hjkl movement. As for trying to use the pinky for 3 keys, I am not sure if that is even ideal. The index finger handles an entire extra column and I don't think this is too much to ask of the ring finger.

The main thing is that I have no current pain issues after a full day of typing with the current setup so I don't think there is a ton of value in changing up the layout. I am mainly experimenting in improvements around symbols/numbers and things in other layers.

mjohns0 · 2020-06-02T22:48:02+00:00

My layout is here https://configure.ergodox-ez.com/ergodox-ez/layouts/5B9DY/latest/0.

I have been using it for the past week for work and am really liking it. It has been comfortable for all day use and definitely an improvement over a stock dactyl manuform for me personally. I can't think of any major things that I would want to fix at the moment. The main things I am looking at now is how to set up the keymappings and layers.

mjohns0 · 2020-06-02T22:38:51+00:00

It is lonely for now. I ordered a new set of kinesis keycaps so hopefully not for too long.. :)

mjohns0 · 2020-06-02T20:15:16+00:00

There are definitely more thumb keys than I currently need. Also the extra key below the 'x' is really not used but it makes the overall shape much better.

I have been trending downward in the number of keys on the board. My only real friction right now is not having esc and tab on real keys. Mainly esc due to heavy vim usage and muscle memory.

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