[ a custom split keyboard ]
[ for portably and comfortably interfacing with computing systems ]
Glyph is the keyboard I wish I had. It's a finger-staggered split mechanical keyboard with hotswap support, powered by the Raspberry Pi Pico and KMK QMK firmware. The main gimmick is a joystick next to each thumb switch that acts as a novel way to switch layers, run macros, and navigate documents.
I had made the Hexapad (a macropad) before, but I wanted something to replace my Keychron. It was a pretty nice board, but it had a boring standard layout, non-customizable firmware, and no extra features apart from a per-key white backlight. I saw a video on youtube about someone making their own custom split keyboard, and that planted the seed in my head. When Highway was announced I was sure that this would be my first project. Glyph has a 6x3 main grid on each side, and instead of a vanilla thumb cluster, it has one thumb button and a joystick.
[ made with Hack Club's Highway, a hardware grant program for teen hackers ]
| prices in CAD | ITEM | INFO | COST PER ONE | QUANTITY | TOTAL COST | SOURCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMPONENTS | MX switches | It's a keyboard | ~$0.29 | 38 | ~$12 | Already own | |||
| Hotswap sockets | To swap out switches if needed | $0.15 | 40 (comes in packs of 20) | $10.68 | https://www\.aliexpress\.com/item/1005008954571807\.html?mp=1 | ||||
| Raspberry Pi Pico (or equivalent) | So that the fifteen minutes I spent writing firmware doesn't go to waste | ~$4 | 2 | ~$8 | Already own | ||||
| COM-09032 joystick | [glyph]'s gimmick | ~$8 | 2 | ~$16 | Already own | ||||
| Diodes | The Matrix | $0.04 | 36 (thumbs are directly wired) | $3.91 | https://www\.aliexpress\.com/item/1005007131309837\.html?mp=1 | ||||
| TRRS jack | for communication with the other side | $0.29 | 10 (will use 2) | $2.89 | https://www\.aliexpress\.com/item/33029465106\.html?mp=1 | ||||
| Capacitors | for RGB | $0.39 | 10 (will use 6) | $3.93 | https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009302222368.html?mp=1 | ||||
| RGB LEDs | glowy :3 | $0.16 | 20 (will use 12) | $3.15 | https://www\.aliexpress\.com/item/1005005193716172\.html | ||||
| Components total | $23.96 | AliExpress | |||||||
| PCB | Left-side PCB | Handwiring is hard | $12.59 | 1 | $12.59 | JLCPCB | |||
| Right-side PCB | $12.87 | 1 | $12.87 | JLCPCB | |||||
| Estimated shipping | Cheapest option | $14.84 | 1 | $14.84 | JLCPCB | ||||
| PCB total | $40.30 | ||||||||
| MISC | M4 nuts and bolts | ~$0.50 | 16 | ~$8 | Already own | ||||
| Keycaps | MOA profile for my nonstandard layout | $22.99 | 1 | $22.99 | https://www\.aliexpress\.com/item/1005009118477177\.html | ||||
| TOTAL | Parts already bought | ~$44 | |||||||
| Subtotal | $87.25 | ||||||||
| With tax (5% GST) | $91.61 | ||||||||
| With tax + buffer | in case of e.g extra taxes | etc | $100 |