Introducing Heron, a Dactyl-inspired columnar keyboard with each column mounted on a laser-cut acrylic scaffold.
With this keeb, I wanted to get as far away as possible from the “big plastic brick” look of the Dactyl. I was inspired by the Glove80’s sleek look and in particular by its “hey, just bend the FR4!” construction, but I wanted staggered columns and a more “weightless” look and I was sick of flat thumb clusters slowing me down.
The columns are 0.8mm FR4 PCBs screwed into 8mm acrylic; FFC ribbons run down the back legs, and diodes are on the mainboard.
Column positioning is essentially stolen from a Dactyl, with an extra partial row at the top so that I could use the same 4x1 PCB for each column. (It’s a 3x6 at heart.) I’m quite proud of the thumb clusters, though, which are inspired by the DataHand: wrapping around the thumb, with a heel-toe motion for the middle, makes it quick and easy to press virtually any combination of keys, and thumb travel is so much less than the flat Manuform cluster.
More pics at https://postimg.cc/gallery/Vwfqb1Q
Video of the thumb cluster in use at https://youtube.com/shorts/eb4dZot1eeI
Everything’s open source, because why not, but the files are in a moderately execrable state right now (particularly the main case, which I designed while [and, honestly, before] learning FreeCAD). Repo at https://github.com/Sneftel/heron .
This thing looks absolutely alien, kudos on the design! Do you have a typing video?
Not yet. Truth be told, I’m still working on the firmware :-)
Looking forward to it, then!
Can you write a bit about the base? Is it a single 3d printed piece?
Yes, the base is a single 3d printed part, plus an acrylic bottom plate. The scaffold legs slot into the case and are screwed in at the bottom.
The base looks bigger than a 250mm print area, is it smaller than it looks or so you have a giant printer?
I don’t have a giant resin printer, but Elecrow does. They also did the laser cutting and the PCBs. Not the quickest turnaround in the world but they do good work and their prices are remarkably low.
The Good+Cheap pair from the “pick two” cliche gets overlooked. :-)
Beautiful work, btw. The people who want it will REALLY want it.
Wow, this is so well done. I really appreciate the attention to detail and how you went the extra mile to really make it look good.
I’m happy about that now. When I was frantically scrubbing spills from the dye bath I used for the keycaps, less so.
This is incredibly inspiring. I’m hoping to dive into this hobby. Seeing these custom designs and stretching the standard for what makes a keyboard is so motivating. Seriously, this piece is stunning…I look forward to hearing how it tyoes when you get the firmware sorted!
Wow, awesome! I love how different it looks.
Thanks! That, if I’m being honest, was the primary design concern.
That is completely wild, hats off!
To me dactyl keebs never look good, but man this thing is gorgeous. Daresay, elegant
