EVERYTHING GOT WIPED CAUSE I FORGOT TO SAAAVEEE

i spent like waaay too much time learning how ZMK works for my Split Keyboard project, then submitted it, and guess what - i forgot to save (since i recently switched to nvim) AND MY LAPTOP POWERED OFFF. Anyway now i gotta write the code AGAIN T-T

the green dot of nvim doom that tells you you haven’t saved changes :

Actually done this time. Too many mistakes lol
check it out at

https://github.com/mail2adnanyazik-bit/Splitboard

Completely Done !

I got my grant :D

Done with the Project ! All that is left is to tidy everything up in a repo, and im done !

Done with right side !

I was able to modify the design for the left side enough to make it fit the right side, unfortunately KiCad was being a real beach, and wouldnt let me flip the components on the 3d model properly, so i dont have a 3d model of the PCB on the right side D:

Case Bottom, and right side assembly

Im done with the SplitBoard Case Bottom !

I started by using the PCB as a reference model, then made the outline bigger, symmetrical, added holes, made the inside hollow, and then started to polish :

I rounded the edges, added a hole for the USB port thats rounded off (see below), then adjusted the case top to fit the bottom, and added chamfering and polish for the less tall components, while making it match the case body.

I also just finished making an approximation of how it will look in the end :

Unfortunately, this is only the Assembly and 3D Model for half the Keyboard (the right) - next i will be working on the same thing for the left side

3D Modeling - Case Top

After a long time of being lazy and working on the schematic for my other current project AquaPuck (Psstt … U should check it out ! Its also on Stardance …)
im back !

I started working on the 3D modeled Case for my SplitBoard ! I had a bit of experience from the PandaPad (My hackpad stardance project) for this part, only difference is, the Hackpad was 6 keys and 2 other Parts -
compared to that this thing is MIND BLOWING !

So what i did today was first plan - Just like for the PandaPad, i decided to use just 2 parts :

• The Case Bottom (A kind of hollow shell with space for the PCB)
• The Case Top (Basically a flat top for the Case Bottom with holes where the switches and screen or other components can poke through)

For now i decided to start with the Case Top, as the Bottom would be a lot complexer than the Top. Im realzing now that could be a mistake.

Anyway, to make the Top, this is what i started with - the 3D model for my PCB :

I started counting the components that would poke through - these were :

• The Keyswitches
• The Power Switch
• The OLED Screen
• The screws

So i started drawing cutouts for all of them :

This is just the first sketch with cutouts, as i will have to make the entire thing bigger later (this is currently only as big as the PCB - Since this attaches to the Case itself it will need to be as big as the case - and the case walls will also have thickness, get it ?)

After extruding (just for show !) :

I started working on 3D Modeling !

Since i wanted a final assembled version of the Splitboard with all components for visualization of the final Project, and just to have some help modeling the Case , i decided to add 3D models of all my components to the PCB directly in KiCad - and damn were these CAD models bloodsuckingly hard to find little things. They eluded me for literal hours while i was searching every damn corner of the web for these things, and when i found them they wer too vague to be used. Only through persistence did i manage to find the correct or at least as good as models as i could find - and now i have a complete model of my PCB, as long as a good guideline for the case, and how it will end up in the final ship.

Here is the PCB in KiCad’s built in 3D renderer :

I finished the PCB !

I changed the Edge.Cuts from just a rectangle to this - it fits the keyboard more, and looks a bit better !

I finished wiring, and it was a CHALLENGE ! It took around 1 and a half hours, and it was a monster - this is only the second PCB im making, and my goal was to not use any vias, because i had’nt needed any for my Hackpad. Unfortunately, i severely underestimated the difficulty jump from a mere 6 key switch matrix with rotary encoder and OLED to this whole ass keyboard. So unfortunately my PCB is littered with via’s, which isnt bad per se, but is still bad practice. I had to sometimes use 6 or more via’s for ONE wire. Anyway, im finally done, and will move on to the case next !

I arranged all my switches and other components on the PCB meticulously, and drew the Edge.Cuts - its rectangular for now, but i might change that - Im not sure

NEXT UP : I have to route the PCB (wire spider nest coming up !)

Finished the whole Schematic for my Wireless Split keyboard - with ALL components.

it was challenging to find the correct symbols and footprints, as for example the microcontroller symbol used physical pins instead of digital pins like normal - i needed to map the physical pins to the corresponding digital pins. Also the battery doesnt actually have a symbol - same with the OLED. I had to use alternatives like using test points or pin headers and assigning different footprints.

Next up : The PCB (its gonna be hell)

I researched on which components are best for a split keyboard, and made Decisions on how the final design will look :

What i’ve decided :

• The Keyboard will be completely wireless

• It will be split in two symmetrical halves (split keyboard, duh)

• It will use a Supermini nrf52840 microcontroller for both halves

• It will follow the standard Corne layout instead of a bigger one - Corne layout means 3x6 switch matrix with 3 thumb keys per half, which means it will have 42 total keys

• It will use a 110 mAh battery instead of 600, as otherwise it would’nt fit under the microcontroller, and the case could’nt be as low-profile as i want

• It will have 2 OLED’s - most probably one for layers (im a kb warrior) and one for battery level/connectivity

• I decided against backlighting as it causes HUGE battery drain, and my microcontroller is cheap, but the tradeoff is a bigger battery consumption

• im havent decided if i will use the official Cherry mx switches which are expensive (dollar per key) or cheap ones (0.30cts a key)

• I will use 1 reversible PCB instead of a breakoff pcb that u split down the middle with mousebites

Next steps :

• I will have to first find footprints and symbols for all the components - all i found till now is the symbol and footprint for microcontroller
• Then i will make my Schematic with all components, then arrange and wire the PCB
• Then i will depending on my final PCB, I will make a case according to how i want it to feel and how low/high profile it should be, how thick, mounting method, etc.