Intro
Two years after buying my first mechanical keyboard, I decided to built a custom mechanical keyboard. While I'm still satisfied with it, there are a few things that I like to improve with the custom mechanical keyboard, which I as follows:
Tactile feedback
Although I generally like the feel of Cherry MX Reds (linear), I mostly use the keyboard for typing/programming and, therefore, may prefer a tactile feedback to recognize when a key was triggered without needing to bottom out the keys. This is also possible with linear switches but I never got a reliable feeling for when the linear key switch triggers.
Ergonomics
Concerning ergonomics, two things bother me with my standard-sized keyboard. First, as a right-handed person centering the keyboard for typing leads me to placing my mouse uncomfortably far to the right. If the keyboard is not centered for typing, the position of the mouse is better but the angle in which I have to place my hands for typing becomes uncomfortably. The second ergonomic disadvantage of a standard-sized keyboard comes from staggered key rows. On a regular keyboard, the key row above the home row is staggered to the left. For the right hand, the fingers have to move slightly inwards to reach the keys above the home row while the fingers of the left hand have to move slightly outwards to reach the keys above the home row. As I place my hands slightly angled to on the keyboard, the staggering of the rows benefits my right hand while it comes as a disadvantage for my left.
Programmability
All keyboards that I used so far, were standard keyboards without support for programming any keys, at least no without any extra software or customizing the keyboard layout. Since I use Windows and Linux, I prefer to solve the lack of programmability without installing and configuring software.
My New Custom keyboard
I hereby present my new custom keyboard.
TODO: insert image of keyboard here.
The keyboard is a Katana60 v2, which is a 60% keyboard with a split space bar and symmetrically-staggered key rows. It runs the QMK firmware and is therefore programmable. The switches are Glorious Panda tactile switches. Assembling the keyboard required soldering the switches to the PCB.
As someone who is not the best solderer, I would definitely recommend to practice soldering a bit before starting to solder the keyboard.
Conclusion
The keyboard is great. The switches work well for typing and programming, although the switch from linear to tactile switches requires , the layout feels comfortable and the small size allows me to better place my mouse. I'm especially satisfied with my soldering job. All keys have decent solder points and ,except for one switch, which is slightly twisted, all switches are nicely aligned. The only things that's bothering me are the key caps that fit the layout. I participated in a group by for a set of GMK key caps with all the necessary key caps to fit the layout but the set was not yet delivered as it has to be manufactured first.