The KiBo splitboard

An awesome custom split keyboard, at least I think so 😉. Made by Max Kivits and Timon Borg, the KiBo!

This keyboard is loosely based on the Piantor and Cantor keyboards. It's a 42-key diodeless non-flippable cherry-mx hotswapable mechanical split keyboard with aggressive column staggering. It's powered by 2 RP2040, completely overkill! I redesigned the PCB to use cherry-mx style hotswap switches and adjusted the margins so it fits my hands better. The pcb features an artsy silklayer, because why not?

The casing is designed by Timon Borg, a god amongst fusion360 users!

KiBo uses the amazing qmk firmware to become a keyboard.

Features

• RP2040 MCU - A low-cost, easy-to-source, powerful microcontroller with dual Arm Cortex-M0+ @ 133MHz, 264kB on-chip SRAM and 2MB (up to 16MB, depending on the breakout board) off-chip external flash memory. You can enable a lot of features and layers. Never worry about the firmware size limit.
• Cantor layout - Ergonomic strong column staggering for short pinkies.
• Non-flippable PCBs - Fewer ways to make mistakes when you install the controller breakout boards. Great for first time keyboard builders.
• Diodeless - A more robust build with fewer things to solder or break.
• Hybrid hotswap and soldered-in low profile choc switches - Experiment with different key switches with the hotswap sockets, or solder the key switches for a more stable build.
• Breakable pinky column - Easily convert the PCB from a 42-key to 36-key layout. You can snap off the pinky column without specialized tools.

Bill of Materials (BOM)

Quantity	Item	Notes
1	KiBo PCB (Left)
1	KiBo PCB (Right)
2	RP2040 breakout boards (such as Raspberry Pi Pico or WeAct RP2040)
42 (or 36)	cherry-mx style switches of your favorite flavor
42 (or 36)	cherry-mx style keycaps of your favorite variety
2	TRRS jack (PJ-320A)
1	3.5mm TRRS cable	TRS cable cannot be used
42 (or 36)	cherry-mx style hotswap sockets	Optional, you can solder the switches directly if you do not use hotswap sockets
4	Pin headers (20p) or sockets	Only required for boards without castellated holes
2	10kΩ 1206 (3216M) SMD resistor	Only required if you do not want to use SPLIT_USB DETECT, and for boards without a built in VBUS_SENSE circuit
2	5.6kΩ 1206 (3216M) SMD resistor	Only required if you do not want to use SPLIT_USB DETECT, and for boards without a built in VBUS_SENSE circuit
1	KiBo Case (Left)	3D print your own
1	KiBo Case (Right)	3D print your own

• Note: Raspberry Pi Pico comes with castellated holes and a built in VBUS_SENSE circuit