KarlKB

The KarlKB is a wireless, split, 6x3+2 mechanical keyboard. It features:

• nice!nano v2 microcontrollers (wireless, running ZMK)
• pads & through holes for a JST battery connector (or just solder it directly to the pads)
• a power switch
• a reset buttons
• 3 rows with 6 keys each and 2 thumb keys per half
• no OLED ⚡
• no RGB anywhere ⚡️
• no TRRS jacks 📶

It is in fact my first custom keyboard and is currently still WIP.

Hardware

The PCB layout is built with Ergogen. The karlkb.yaml file is used as input. The generated PCB layout is then routed with KiCad (6 and above).

To generate the PCB files with Ergogen, do

cd ergogen
npm install
node src/cli.js ../karlkb.yaml

You should now see and output folder, which contains a KiCad PCB. Route this PCB and send it off to be manufactured.

Software

This keyboard uses ZMK as its firmware. See my zmk-config repository for the corresponding configuration.

Thanks to

• Ben Vallack for exposing me to Ergogen (even though his tutorial is not really comprehensive 😉)
• The Ergogen devs. Without them, these keys would never have been straight!
• The ZMK devs for providing an awesome and customizable wireless firmware
• Josef Adamčík for my first ever wireless split keyboard, the Sofle
• Anarion for the Porcupine keyboard. This is basically what tought me to use Ergogen. This keyboard is also using his fork with added footprints.