类型: IC
作者: shensmobile
发布时间: 2019-05-08
18:13:02
更新时间: 2019-05-26 11:13:21
原链接:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=100592.0
Introduction
The Bireme has been a passion project of
mine that was heavily inspired by two great boards: The
Ergodox and the UniGo66. The Ergodox Infinity is the
keyboard that got me into custom keyboards and unique
layouts. I joined the community towards the tail-end of the
Ergodox’s peak as the go-to “show your friends how weird
Keyboards can be” DIY keyboard, when Massdrop would
regularly bring back the Ergodox Infinity drops. Over time,
I’ve watched as Ergodox interest has waned, with Ergodox
keycap kits being harder and harder to hit MOQ. Even though
IC and Ergodox EZ were continuing development the board in
their own ways (hot swap, per-key RGB, underglow), they
stuck to the same design principles of the Ergodox that
seemed to hold it back:
• The thumb cluster was too
large, unwieldy, and mostly useless
• Lack of high
end/interesting cases.
• Interconnecting cables are a
nuissance on your desk or when you’re on the go.
To be
honest, I myself had moved on and have been typing on
Boardwalks for more than a year now. When the UniGo66 IC and
GB launched, I immediately thought about how it solved the
above two problems, and the interest from the community
supported my theory about why the Ergodox had become passe.
While I really admire the UniGo66 for its creativity and
stellar mechanical quality (and to be transparent I was all
over that GB like stink on cheese), I had a feeling I would
really miss the Ergodox’ columnar stagger. I started
tinkering in Solidworks to see if I could mash the two
together to make something greater than the sum of its
parts. I wanted to design a keyboard that would be the
missing link between high end customs and ergonomic typing.
A kind of “Metal Gear,” if you will.
Shoutouts
I’d
like to thank alex_at_panc, dollartacos, and un_related for
helping with the development process. I wouldn’t have been
able to get here without the support of these three
gentlemen!
Gallery
More
I apologize in advance for my potato phone camera
The thumb cluster will support a number of different
options. For 2u keys, they are stabilized with PCB mount
stabs.
The case has gone through several revisions to get to
what it is today!
The interior of the case. The plate is mounted via 4
(and a 5th has been added) M3 screws around the case. This
makes the build quite rigid!
3D printed bottoms will be offered a marginal cost to
test out various tenting angles. If people like the tented
bases for typing, I can look into an organized GB of
machined polycarb bases in the future.
Specs
Electronics:
•
Bluetooth 5.0, with supported wired mode as well
•
Internal 3000 mAh LiPo battery that can be charged by USB
•
Kailh Hot swap sockets, with via-reinforced pads
•
Powered by QMK
Mechanicals:
• CNC Aluminum case
(20mm thick), powder coated by /u/alex_at_panc
• Top
mounted 5mm Aluminum or brass plate
• Acrylic or 3d
printed bottom
Tentative Pricing
CNC Case +
Electronics + Stainless steel plate + Powdercoating: $300
Brass
plate: +$50
Extra set of PCBs: +$100
Tented 3d
printed bottom: +$10
2019-05-26 Update: Prices have been reduced due to
switching to a new manufacturer with an even better
reputation. This new manufacturer has more experience with
keyboards and has the right equipment to produce what I
want, which has led to the inclusion of the 5mm plate as
part of the new reduced produced price point.
Ongoing Development
This is where I’m going to
need everybody’s help. This project is definitely still
fluid and between optimizing costs and redesigning the damn
electronics every 2 weeks, there’s time for plenty of input
from you guys! I’m excited to expand this to the wider
community and get more feedback about how to move forward.
If you’re interested in this project at all, please fill out
the survey and let me know where we should take the
Bireme!
Electronics
The first iterations of the
keyboard were meant to use a modified Mitosis/Redox Wireless
design. That is to say, it would have featured the Waveshare
Core51822(B) modules, coin cells, and the use of a USB
receiver that is tethered to your PC. I loved this design
because of how simple it was, and the option to sell kits
unassembled and have users solder the parts themselves.
However, the coin cell taking up space on the PCB was a
major challenge, as well as having to flash the modules
using an ST Link debugger. As the design started to evolve
and I wanted to make the product feel more premium, I made
the decision to shift to a new BT implementation with the
features listed above in the specs.
I am currently
redesigning the PCB with the help of an unnamed contributor
who wishes to remain anonymous for now. I’m hoping to have
PCBs ordered this month and assembled and tested. I’m going
to be honest, I’m decent at PCB design but flat out garbage
at programming so firmware may slow me down, but it’s coming
along at a fair pace and I want to make sure I do it right
the first time.
I’m currently also looking for the
largest, thinninest LiPo battery. There will be quite a bit
of space for batteries but the limiting factor is thickness.
The thicker the battery, the thicker the case. So far, it
looks like around 1000 mAh is about the largest single
battery with a thickness that’s safe for the case. There’s
enough space to fit 4 of them inside though, if we wanted to
go wild.
Update 2019-05-26: Left PCB is done, working
on right side PCB now. Have also sourced a massive 3000 mAh
lipo battery that will fit in the case
Mechanicals
The general case design language is
frozen and I don’t want to //// around
with it anymore (seriously, it’s gone through enough
revisions). However, I’m still working out the details of
support components, namely the plate. I will be offering
both brass and stainless steel versions of the plate, but
I’m looking into offering a 5mm plate, or even an integrated
plate, depending on how many people are interested.
Update
2019-05-26: A 5mm aluminum and brass plate option will be
the two options for plates now, even at the reduced price
point.
After printing the prototype and throwing some
caps in the case, I’m also not very happy with the gap
between the caps and the bezels. Would you be supportive of
shrinking this distance or would you rather error on the
side of caution?
Update 2019-05-26: I have shrunk the
gap by 0.5mm. Waiting on a resin printed prototype to get a
higher accuracy comparison.
Low Cost Alternative
Is
there enough interest in the layout itself to warrant
releasing PCB files for a wired version of the board, with
acrylic/3d printed case files? I’m happy to whip up a DIY
wired PCB that uses TRRS jacks and Pro Micros on each side.
I know not everybody is ecstatic about dropping $300+ on a
keyboard, or people would want to try the layout before
committing to something more extravagant.
Update
2019-05-26: Due to the amount of time the Bireme is taking
up for me, I have decided to put the low cost alternative
PCB aside for now. I will 100% be releasing gerbers for a
pro-micro DIY wired version in the future but right now I
don’t have the bandwidth to design another PCB.
Survey
I’m
happy to carry on dialog and discuss the design with
everyone here but it’s way easier to digest data when it’s
tabulated in some format. Please, if you have a chance, go
through this survey and let me know your thoughts! If you
want to join the mailing list to get my updates first,
there’s an option to leave your email address!
https://forms.gle/oXn9vuA9b7qxfWVD7