Quick Summary

• ✔️ 5x12 Ortholinear Keyboard
• ✔️ Hotswappable
• ✔️ Modular Spacebar 1x4u (57 keys) or 2x2u (58 keys)
• ✔️ Wireless Bluetooth /w nice!nano running ZMK firmware

Why?

I'm a clumsy man and I often hit the corner of my 96% keyboard when I move my mouse.

So instead of doing the sensible thing and getting a TKL or smaller keyboard, I took the nuclear option of going straight into ortholinear keyboards (because I wanted one and to be honest, they look cool).

There was a problem though.

Of all the current 5x12 ortholinear keyboards on the market, I couldn't find one that was a) wireless and b) using a 1x4u spacebar or 2x2u spacebar setup.

Either I wait for someone to make and sell it or I build it myself.

So... here I am, learning how to make it from the ground up over the course of a few months with no knowledge of pcb design and keyboard form factors.

Here are some of the steps I've taken to make it.

PCB Design

• USB port on the left since it couldn't fit on the top
• Added a reset switch into the board for quick firmware flashing

Schematic	Trace Routing

PCB Front	PCB Back

_{^{Routing traces is literally playing the Tron Light Cycle game with copper lines instead of bikes.}}

Top Plate

• 3D Printed with PLA filament at 100% infill
• 4x M2 screws for support

4U Spacebar Top Plate	2x2u Spacebar Top Plate

Enclosure

• Inclined at a 7° angle as suggested by the MT3 Profile Creator
• Bezeled inner case to support the PCB
• 3D Printed at 100% infill for structural integrity as well
• Print time was roughly ~60 hours

Top View	Left View	Right View

Wireframe Right View	Back View	Wireframe Back View	Bottom View w/ hex screwholes & reset port

5x12 Ortho Build

• Added an on/off switch to quickly manually reset the battery powered MCU

Soldering hotwap switches & diodes	Note scribbles trying to figure out the row & col pinouts

Assembled Board	3.7v 350mAh DS 602035 LiPo Battery + Foam Inserts

4u Spacebar Setup

• Tactile Browns on Alphas, Space & Enter
• Clicky on Modifiers, Arrows and Numerals

Box Kailh Switches

2x2u Spacebar Setup

Box Brown, Orange, Royal Navy Switches

Completed Board \o/

		On/Off Switch for easy access

Shoutout to the wiki guides on /r/MechanicalKeyboards and the people over @ Nice Keyboards & ZMK for the great tutorials and help.

current keymapping

Apr.25.23 Update: Added gerber file for pcb manufacturing.

Feedback on 1x4u Spacebar setup

It isn't perfect or great, would need a custom 4u springboard made to increase rebound sensitivity. Using 2 additional 1u modified switches does not make it a great spacebar experience. 2x2u spacebar setup is still by far superior in feel and feedback responsiveness.

^{_{I'm on reddit.}}