Purple Tentacle keyboard

[Yuri Khan]

Testing a prototype of a DIY keyboard. My cat seems to like it so far.

11-feline-test.jpg (3.21 MiB) Viewed 4463 times

[hoggy]

Cool name!

Interested to see how this turns out.

[Scottex]

now that's a fat cat
nice keyboard btw

[livingspeedbump]

I have a hard time visualizing how the thumb cluster/buttons will feel. Would definitely be interested in seeing a video of it. Cool project for sure though!

[Yuri Khan]

Cool name!

That’s after the countershape that the split makes, together with the tabs above the thumb keys and the three LEDs.

now that's a fat cat
nice keyboard btw

She’s not fat, just fluffy!

I have a hard time visualizing how the thumb cluster/buttons will feel. Would definitely be interested in seeing a video of it. Cool project for sure though!

I don’t think I can do a video, but will try to explain in text, using the left hand as an example.

There are three keys which are explicitly for the thumb tip, one in the 5TGB column (second from the middle, neutral thumb position), two to the right of it (reachable by slightly extending the thumb). The latter two can be pressed individually or together; the intent is to have Ctrl and Alt there. Other thumb key combos are not convenient.

For the time being, I have put R4 (digit row) keycaps on them, ’cause they are plentiful. I may swap them later for something that better accommodates pressing from the side.

The 1.5-unit key below is for the base of the thumb, inspired by Keyboardio. No, it does not get pressed accidentally when pressing any of the thumb tip keys. The keycap is an inverted R1.

The four keys in the 2WSX, 3EDC and 4RFV columns are the navigation cluster (Home/PgUp/PgDn/End), and the corresponding keys on the right are the arrow cluster. They are intended for the ring/middle/index fingers, although I will probably at least sometimes press some of them with my thumb. Keycaps are R3 for the upward key and R1 for the other three (becasuse R2 are scarce).

[Findecanor]

Any reason why the pinky columns are on different offsets on the left and right sides? Just for trying out different arrangements?

That’s after the countershape that the split makes, together with the tabs above the thumb keys and the three LEDs.

Any plans to take over the world?

[IKSLM]

Any plans to take over the world?

Anyway, how did you come up with such name?

[Yuri Khan]

Any reason why the pinky columns are on different offsets on the left and right sides? Just for trying out different arrangements?

Exactly. There is another discrepancy between the halves — the palm key is 1/4 unit higher on the right. These two differences are pretty much the whole reason for this plate prototype.

Any plans to take over the world?

After I get this done, I’ll release it (well, the blueprints, schematics and thought processes anyway) into the world and let it decide for itself.

Anyway, how did you come up with such name?

I can’t tell if you’re joking or just miss the cultural background, so I’ll just leave this here: Day of the Tentacle.

[kbdfr]

[…]

Anyway, how did you come up with such name?

I can’t tell if you’re joking or just miss the cultural background, so I’ll just leave this here: Day of the Tentacle.

I, too, obviously lack what you call the "cultural background".
I say "lack", not "miss"

[IKSLM]

I can’t tell if you’re joking or just miss the cultural background, so I’ll just leave this here: Day of the Tentacle.

Ah, i know the DOTT by heart (still have the original in the box and one in the scummvm and the remake ) i just did not get the connection between the name and the keyboard.

[Yuri Khan]

Ah, i know the DOTT by heart (still have the original in the box and one in the scummvm and the remake ) i just did not get the connection between the name and the keyboard.

Okay, now look at the triangular area between the halves, where the three holes for the LEDs are. That’s the tentacle’s body. How do I know it’s Purple and not Green? It has hands. They are barely visible at this angle, though.

[IKSLM]

yes it's probably the angle because it looks more like the green one, causing the confusion

[Yuri Khan]

I got my case cut!

Purple Tentacle is temporarily blue due to protective film on the acrylic which is actually colorless.

case-assembled.jpg (3.26 MiB) Viewed 4217 times

Layers, bottom to top: stainless steel 1mm, acrylic 10mm, stainless steel 1mm, acrylic 10mm. (Actually should have made that last one thinner.)

case-side-view.jpg (2.94 MiB) Viewed 4217 times

Palm supports: Matias Ergo Pro.

[Yuri Khan]

And it’s done! For now. Eventually, I may want to replace the 10 mm top frame with a thinner one, and possibly put some different-feel keycaps on editing and navigation keys.

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