Custom split ergo/ortho keyboard with screens and encoders.
My initial idea was to create a keyboard specifically for my hands, where I could reach all the keys I need for programming without moving my hands, using only my fingers.
After discovering QMK and learning about its capabilities, I wanted to add encoders and a screen. This is the result.
It’s a split keyboard with encoders for arrow keys, mouse wheel, page up/down, and undo/redo.
One of the two screens shows the active layer and the status of Num and Caps Lock. The other screen is for Bongo Cat...
It’s also possible to use just one side. (Gaming or Macro Keyboard)
There are two nearly identical default layouts—one for Windows and the other for macOS.
The differences are key combinations for undo/redo and other hotkeys.
There is also a gaming layer, which shifts most buttons on the left half to the right by one row.
This moves WASD to the optimal position.
The last layer, FN, is for F1–F12, arrow keys, and the number pad.
This is the first PCB I ever created. It’s designed so it can be used for both the left and right sides.
A row of solder jumpers and a few resistors are located behind the OLED screen.
Shorting the jumpers on one side defines which side the board is used for:
JP_L1 to JP_L6 for the left side, JP_R1 to JP_R6 for the right.
The Elite-C must be flipped depending on the side. (See images)
The case is a simple sandwich-style design with a clear part covering the controller and screen.
For the keyboards I built, I used CNC-cut carbon fiber plates. (Purely for aesthetics)
The main case uses 8 mm standoffs, while the clear top uses 11 mm. (See BOM)
A list of all parts used and their approximate prices as of March 2022.
I'm sharing this in June 2025.
Started programming when I was 12.
Started working with electronics when I was 15.
Built my first 3D printer in 2013.
Built my first drone in 2014.
This project was originally created in March 2022.
It was a way to explore a new field.
I’ve been developing internal software tools at my company since 2015.
In January 2023, I transitioned into a hardware and software prototyping role at the same company.
That shift was unplanned, but a happy coincidence.