Industrial design files for Keychron keyboards and mice

stingraycharles

Keychron just open-sourced their design files, which I didn’t expect. I’m a happy user of their keyboards.

ZeWaka

The Keychron K4/related (K4 HE here) compact 96% layout is definitely my favorite keyboard layout. Just a solid brick of keys.

OsrsNeedsf2P

Hah, I just bought the Q6. Seeing they released their design spec makes me much happier with the purchase!

skrtskrt

A Keychron has always been a great introduction for friends that want a good home desk setup without too much fuss. I have stuck with the System76 Launch keyboard but I basically always consider Keychron first when looking.

chaosharmonic

On the source-available piece: I'm not saying I'm for those over open source licenses in general, but Prusa brought up some fair questions when discussing the OCL. Essentially: define "personal use." Have I violated a non-commercial license if I print this keyboard and then use it to build someone a website? Does CC-NC mean a Prusacaster -- or any guitar knob with such a license for that matter -- is strictly barred from being taken on tour? Or used to record albums that are then sold? (And I say "guitar" knob, but I'm choosing an example a little consciously that could exist in any variety of controls, instrument and otherwise.) Where are the lines of that when it's physical things? How far downstream does that go if it isn't CC-NC-SA in particular? I'm not really sure that Creative Commons had the idea of physical production in mind, given that it dates back to a time when we were more broadly talking about digital piracy, and I honestly haven't kept up with its evolution much in more recent years. But maybe it just doesn't make the same sense for designs of physical things, for comparable reasons to why it wouldn't make sense for code -- and, conversely, open source projects that opt to use CC licenses for assets. (None of this would stop me from attempting to build/mod one for fun, mind you. It just raises what a more averse person might call risks, and what I will at least call curiosities.)

dmarinus

Wooting has done this already for many years: https://github.com/WootingKb/wooting-design

nickvec

Love my Keychron Q1 Max. Awesome to see them open source their design files.

burnt-resistor

The only problems I have with the Q6 Max are: - It's way, way too heavy. Heavier than my Northgate Omnikey Ultra. Like it's more adept as an improvised weapon as much as any keyboard ever was. - Didn't come with all black enter and escape caps (they were red orange), requiring purchasing an expensive complete replacement set. Minor areas for improvement: ~ Battery life could be better. ~ Charging takes a long time and I'm unsure if there's a charge finished indicator. ~ Would be nice to have an offline flash update & macro programmer to not depend on cloud-based software that will eventually evaporate like everything else. I do like: + Replaceability of switches as I've tried a bunch, settling on Kailh Box White V2. + RGB effects can be turned off completely or show a solid color at low brightness. + Native USB proprietary wireless dongle, BT with 3 profiles, or wired. + Wired or wireless connection while charging. + PC vs. Mac layout as a physical switch.

lofaszvanitt

I have an IBM Model M, but after prolonged sessions of coding, my finger joints are aching. Are these Keychron keyboard have better switches or what are the experience using these mechanical ones?

arikrahman

I love the design for the ergonomic mouse. Are there any plans for split keyboard or something Corne style?

cosmic_cheese

I have their Q60, which is a retro-themed HHKB layout 60% board. Paired with a set of beige-Mac-themed MT3 Extended 2048 keycaps, out of my collection it's one of my favorites and sees some of the most use. It goes head to head with pricier one-off hobbyist boards. I wonder how suitable these CAD files would be for either CNCing or resin-printing a translucent fruit-colored plastic case for a different flavor of retro. That'd be really cool.

exmadscientist

"Production-grade hardware design files... Study real CAD... Learn from how real products are built... STEP" I'm sorry, I hate to be that guy, but while STEP files are often used as the final export to the contract manufacturer to cut the molds, or for some level of fit checking, they're not used for anything else . The real engineering that you can actually learn from is in the SolidWorks (or equivalent) part files, and you'll note that they're not offering those .

HugoDias

I still use my K2, which I bought in 2019 from Kickstarter, non-stop. What a piece of hardware! I have no plans to switch and will use it until it dissolves, which doesn’t seem to be happening in the next decade or so

AlBugdy

What's so special about these designs that makes it copyrightable? The keyboards in the image look very much like any other keyboard I've seen.

yc-kraln

Great that these are source-available, but I wish they had a human copy edit the README, it's unbearable.

moo-jason

Very cool. I have the V7. I'm a fan. Just did this golang project: https://github.com/mbarlow/saengsation Can control the LEDs from commandline. Includes claude skill and hooks. I'm using it to now see claude state. Rainbow animation while claude is working, glows amber when need to switch back to give permission to command, etc. Configurable. Works well.

sinsterizme

I have the k10 he special edition! I am so happy with my purchase, I love the magnetic switches (they feel much nicer to me than mechanical), it's nice to look at, the build quality is great, and the software is really solid. Very impressed overall :)

glaslong

Their Q10 Max has hit an amazing sweet spot for me. Being able to keep DIYing on that base is like Xmas, this is awesome.

gregsadetsky

Sort of tangent - but I've always thought there would be physical stores in big cities (like NYC, where I am) where I could try a number of different keyboards and keys since it's such a tactile experience. But there seems to be no stores like this? So... is everyone ordering keys and keyboards, returning them, trying others, etc.? I know there are key switch samplers... is that it? Thanks

alfiedotwtf

Keychron :heart: I’ve got 2 ortholinears (home and work), and a compact for another machine. Is any or them dies, instabuying another Keychron! PS: IF you’re listening, PLEASE release a split wireless ortholinear