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ghostfaceschiller OP t1_j4w7la1 wrote

I'm an r/ergomechkeyboards cretin, and I posted this over there a couple days ago, if not allowed here please remove! Thought some people here might be interested tho

"After a few months of use, I'm happy to introduce the Fulcrum Keyboard - a 20-key ergo-mechanical split keyboard, with two rotary encoders, and two 5-way switches. It runs on KMK.

The sideways-mounted 5-way switches are such a game changer. It's like adding a force-multiplier to your board.

Our thumbs aren't the same as our other fingers (they are “opposable”, after all) so it makes sense that we shouldn’t give them same type of keys as our other fingers.

If you think about how you type on a iPhone keyboard (which most people can do quite well), this joystick mimics a similar type of movement. Our thumbs are very dexterous in this dimension.

The 5-way joystick, plus the regular key switch placed directly below it, puts six (SIX!) different actions at the tip of each thumb, all with minimal movement. Crucially, all of these actions are easily and comfortably paired with other key presses elsewhere on the keyboard.

Previously I had thought of this board as a fun, almost gimmicky side project. Now it's been my daily driver for about three months, and I can regularly type faster than what my all-time high speeds were with my other boards."

​

Other Fulcrum Features, including stuff r/mk might be interested in:

  • All non-thumb keys are MX-style switches (Momoka Frog)
  • Thumb switches are low-profile Red Chocs (bc your thumbs sits lower)
  • Key caps are XDA, except thumb keys which are custom designs that I 3d printed for max comfort (my models are on the github, but I think they were originally remixed from here
  • Two rotary encoders: tilted for ergo reachability
  • Word keys: "the" & "and" each have their own key in this layout. I could take or leave the "and" key, but I don't think I'll ever type again without a "the" key

​

Keymaps/photos/info/etc on the github repo if anybody is interested. Hope you like!

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Full_Time_Hungry t1_j4wd66v wrote

This is absolutely wild! I wouldn't even know where to begin with something like this.

How long did it take you to become efficient at using this board?

If I just Google words from your comment should I be able to find the parts to have my own?

Again... This is absolutely freakin wild!!!

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ghostfaceschiller OP t1_j4we9qz wrote

I'd say it took me about a month to become efficient, and about two months to surpass my typing speeds with old boards. At this point my avg speed is now higher that my previous all-time highs.

And yeah, I think the github should have basically all the info you need to get started! If you look up "Ben Vallack Too Many Keys" on youtube, you will find a solid intro to the topic of boards with very few keys like this and how they work - he makes really solid content

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Full_Time_Hungry t1_j4wg0r5 wrote

Dang, that is really fast, did you just full convert to try and learn?

I appreciate you taking the time to give me a very helpful response. I am already on the way to this video ;)

This is absolutely happening this year! I might not be good at it this year, but dang it this is just too cool to pass up.

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ghostfaceschiller OP t1_j4whms7 wrote

Well I already was a Colemak-DH user, and the layout is very loosely based on that. So that helped. Plus, I find that once you learn one alternate layout, it's a lot easier to learn another. YMMV!

But I highly suggest doing it. One thing haven't really mentioned is how this board made my RSI (a serious issue for me) completely disappear. So it's worth is for that alone imo

If you do pursue it please lmk know how it goes! Join us on r/ergomechkeyboards and tag me when you post ur build :)

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Temanyl t1_j4wkcx1 wrote

This is awesome. I will definitively try to build this one day. This is not as scary as the 18 key Board Vallack uses

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ghostfaceschiller OP t1_j4wlbs8 wrote

I think even he has backed off that one lol

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Temanyl t1_j4wm4ts wrote

I recently moved to 36 keys and I am super happy with this. At some point I will get board and have to try something New.

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Androuil t1_j4wy9g6 wrote

Would be curious to see a video of how you type on it!

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eedodeedo007 t1_j4xbp3a wrote

Yea same, I'm having a hard time understanding how this work

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ghostfaceschiller OP t1_j4yfrk6 wrote

I tried to make a video last night for somebody else who asked but unfortunately I don’t have a tripod and it’s actually really difficult to get an angle where you can actually see how the thumbs use the joystick :/

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Albert_dark t1_j4x3z4l wrote

Loved the design but for a completely different purpose, I'm thinking in use this layout for an all button joystick (something like a mixbox controller), the 8 main buttons on the right looks really confortable to play.

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cormor-ant t1_j51e578 wrote

Always great to see people innovating. Even though I’m a big board user (120%, 1800, etc.) I think these kinds of builds are important to the community as a whole. They introduce new ideas that have a chance to catch on and new ways of accomplishing things we already do.

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FireDuckz t1_j4x97g3 wrote

5 way switches.. how brillant are you? That's such a cool feature

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ghostfaceschiller OP t1_j4xbb2c wrote

Well I’m definitely not the first person to use the 5-way switches but I think(?) I might be the first person to use them in this way so that thumb can operate them more ergonomically. Glad you like it, you should try it out! Very fun and intuitive to use

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onebigdoor t1_j4xa7ke wrote

very cool project! i'm going to have to try one of these.

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BlockEnthusiast t1_j4xuecn wrote

wow this is fascinating. Never heard of these 5 way switches but I absolutely love what you did with them with the sideways mount!

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EncomCTO t1_j4y94wj wrote

Allowed and encouraged I’d say.

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concentus7 t1_j4wbgg6 wrote

.....how tho

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ghostfaceschiller OP t1_j4wcj1d wrote

which part

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concentus7 t1_j4wjhm2 wrote

Yes

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ghostfaceschiller OP t1_j4wl604 wrote

If you're asking how the 5-way switch joysticks are added, each direction just acts like a normal keyswitch, so they are just wired into the regular key matrix as if it were 5 regular keys (this is a hand-wired build , no PCB). The are mainly used for Modifier keys and Layer keys (switching to the number layer, etc)

Here is a guide to the key layout and layers

https://imgur.com/a/CRcHTBl

3

concentus7 t1_j4wm9b7 wrote

Thanks for the gracious answer. I'm aware of how this generally works, and I guess I was just being dramatic. This kinda stuff always blows my mind, and I know I would never have the courage to try this myself.

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ghostfaceschiller OP t1_j4wmrjd wrote

it's amazing what debilitating RSI will drive one to do

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concentus7 t1_j4wn4n1 wrote

May I ask which desk mat/cutting mat that is?

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ghostfaceschiller OP t1_j4wohch wrote

yeah it's this one. I bought it bc I thought it was one of those soft desk mats - it is not. lol

It's a "self-healing" cutting mat, which I was unfamiliar with. It's feels sort of like a PVC material.

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concentus7 t1_j4wt5ow wrote

Thanks! That's actually exactly what I was hoping for. Need something like this for my build space.

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vo_th t1_j4xizlx wrote

Do you have a typing test clip? Would be interesting to see!

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forcemana t1_j4xnsqw wrote

I want to see a video of you typing on this thing

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futureconditions t1_j4zsyed wrote

What desk mat is this?

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ghostfaceschiller OP t1_j51dyos wrote

Here ya go

Just a heads up, it’s a “cutting mat” not a desk mat, so it’s not soft. It’s a plastic-y material

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futureconditions t1_j558gab wrote

Thank you! I went with the one from us art supply cause I like the black/green sides. Do you ever have issues with your mouse sliding on it? I have always preferred “hard” plastic mouse pads vs soft ones

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Tormint_mp3 t1_j50jr85 wrote

Does it go much further than that? Need I say more?

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Intelligent-Gas9179 t1_j50ncmc wrote

Would anyone wanna explain what an ergo keyboard Is and the use of it?

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ghostfaceschiller OP t1_j51d6sd wrote

Keyboard that doesn’t make your hands/arms hurt

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Intelligent-Gas9179 t1_j51gzlm wrote

Ah ok, I never really found mine hurt my hands even after typing for hours guess other peole don’t have the same experience

1