barnacle

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README

barnacle

The barnacle is unibody ortho keyboard with an Alice-like split on the pinky columns, a fixed layout that's compatible with keycap base kits and a modular middle piece.

inspiration

I love the look of the boardrun classic and desperately wanted to get one myself but things happend so that's not likely anymore unfortunately.
The creativity of designers with colorful keycap designs and interesting keyboard designs got me hooked with the hobby. I bought a bunch of keycap sets over the years that I don't use anymore since I switched to ortho/colstagger keyboards a couple of years ago, because the different asymmetrical key sizes of standard keyboards make it difficult. I don't like the layout or the asthetics of most keyboard designs that are trying to work around this issue. That's why I created the barnacle.

design goals

5x6 unibody ortho keyboard
base kit compatibility
3d printable on 220mm build plates
symmetric design (amap)
outer thumb keys next to space bars
easily expandable later on
no stabilizers

layout

The main layout you use to type is fixed but the different cores offer some variety. The default keymap is based on my Sol 3 keymap but you can modify it in QMK of course.

The base layout is pretty much compatible with every base kit. These are the keys you could look out for beforehand as they are sometimes missing:

a second R3 1.75u key (capslock/control)
if ISO is omitted and the bottom row is another profile than the row above: a 1.25u shift key. If they are the same profile you can use the 7th 1.25u mod key
2u and 2.25u space bars, alternativly you can use shift keys

[!TIP] Some 40s kits have accent colored R3 1.75u enter keys so thats something you could look out for if you like accent keys.

pcb

The barnacle uses a two part pcb design which are connected via hotswap sockets:

shell pcb
core pcb in different variations

It uses the 0xCB Helios as its controller. It's an affordable open-source pro-micro-compatible RP2040 controller with ESD protection and additional pins and features.

Comments

barnacle

The barnacle is unibody ortho keyboard with an Alice-like split on the pinky columns, a fixed layout that's compatible with keycap base kits and a modular middle piece.

inspiration

design goals

5x6 unibody ortho keyboard

base kit compatibility

3d printable on 220mm build plates

symmetric design (amap)

outer thumb keys next to space bars

easily expandable later on

no stabilizers

layout

The main layout you use to type is fixed but the different cores offer some variety. The default keymap is based on my Sol 3 keymap but you can modify it in QMK of course.

The base layout is pretty much compatible with every base kit. These are the keys you could look out for beforehand as they are sometimes missing:

a second R3 1.75u key (capslock/control)

if ISO is omitted and the bottom row is another profile than the row above: a 1.25u shift key. If they are the same profile you can use the 7th 1.25u mod key

2u and 2.25u space bars, alternativly you can use shift keys

[!TIP] Some 40s kits have accent colored R3 1.75u enter keys so thats something you could look out for if you like accent keys.

pcb

The barnacle uses a two part pcb design which are connected via hotswap sockets:

shell pcb

core pcb in different variations

It uses the 0xCB Helios as its controller. It's an affordable open-source pro-micro-compatible RP2040 controller with ESD protection and additional pins and features.

barnacle

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barnacle

inspiration

design goals

layout

pcb

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barnacle

inspiration

design goals

layout

pcb

case

firmware

bom and assembly

pictures

acknowledgements