Building The Ultimate Portable Keyboard

Video Description

I finally built a portable unibody version of my tiny 18 key keyboard that I could use with my iPad. In this video I look at how using split keyboards distracted me from my original goal of finding a keyboard I could use with both my iPad and my Mac. Thanks to my sponsor PCBWay for supporting this video. PCBWay offer PCB fabrication, CNC and 3D Printing and more. They have been super efficient and friendly with all the projects I’ve used them for and I’m very happy to recommend them. You can use this link to support the channel. https://www.pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=499614 Learn how I type on an 18 key keyboard: https://youtu.be/5RN_4PQ0j1A My video on split keyboard ergonomics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C2bJkzIaPE Learn about building your own keyboard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_VuXVErD6E More DIY keyboard videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCZYyvXAdQpte8dkCPz72m_O-Od9fVEqD -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gear seen in this video: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The iBeani laptop stand: https://amzn.to/3QAXqQ7 (UK) https://amzn.to/3GsCp5m (US alternative) Mini clamps used to mount my keyboard to the treadmill: https://amzn.to/3H1va64 (UK) https://amzn.to/3X7eWxx (US) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- My new keyboard specific channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BenVallacksKeyboards -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Downloads: My fork of Ergogen: https://github.com/benvallack/ergogen (See this video for details: https://youtu.be/M_VuXVErD6E ) KiCad: https://www.kicad.org Ergogen UI: https://ergogen.cache.works Layout firmware: https://github.com/benvallack/zmk-config-piano -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🪛Soldering Essentials! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tooling up with these links helps me out at no extra cost to you. Thanks! 🙏 Heat Proof Mat: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3nn8tiB Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3nn8tiB Soldering Iron Kit: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3Frdw87 Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3ouxQ1o Lead Free Solder 0.6 (for sockets and switches): Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3co1GyM Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2YSfZZs Lead Free Solder 0.3 (for smaller work): Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/30A2Yog Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3HDDU0q Flux Pen: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3IemWVP Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3Ko9lNm Snips: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3PCkX22 Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3GedYYR -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🎬 My YouTube camera gear: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Using these links to buy items helps support this channel at no cost to you! 📷 Camera: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3fFHMQO and https://amzn.to/3Zjn9QH Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2VasWIQ and https://amzn.to/3vLBdVM 📸 Lenses: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/36cawNP https://amzn.to/36eVZ3W https://amzn.to/3VOIkat Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3q8QY4Y https://amzn.to/3QkVOJQ 🎤 Mic: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/36cVgjM Amazon US: https://amzn.to/36bAyAU 🎧 Audio interface: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3mfkAeN 💡Studio light: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3Csigdo Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3IYDimb 🎶The music in my videos: https://artlist.io/Ben-572654 🔌Save £50 when you switch to Octopus Go with this link (UK): https://share.octopus.energy/aqua-eagle-751 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contents: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Background 1:59 Barriers to a desktop-grade portable keyboard 3:35 Transparent solder mask on dark substrate 4:22 Controller orientation blunder 5:21 Ergogen & KiCad workflow 5:52 Overcoming iPad connectivity issues 6:41 Case-less boards and short circuits 7:18 Pinkie column stagger 9:00 Beanbag ergonomics