keyboards on Randa is

watching The Navigator — Totally Worth It (ft. ZSA Voyager)

Thu, 28 May 2026 22:00:35 +0000

The Navigator — Totally Worth It (ft. ZSA Voyager)

making a custom keyboard PCB

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

previous: making a TOTEM

I built my own keyboard

I wanted to learn how to make a printed circuit board (PCB) for a keyboard, and after switching to Helix, I found myself wanting just a few more keys. I used KiCad and referenced PCBs from open source boards (mostly the TOTEM) to see how they were laid out.

I learned that the ZSA Voyager uses a stainless steel bottom plate with locating holes for its magnetic accessories and copied that concept. I planned on making a 3D-printed case for it, but at this point I might not bother because I already have the desire to make another slightly different board.

making a TOTEM

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

previous: making an Aurora Sweep
next: making a custom keyboard PCB

I built a TOTEM

Switches: Choc sunset (tactile)

The board is gorgeous and the resin printed case makes it look like a “real” keyboard. However, something about the layout doesn’t work for me and I constantly hit the wrong keys or hit the space below a column instead of the bottom key in the column. 😭

making an Aurora Sweep

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

previous: making a Sweep
next: making a TOTEM

I built an Aurora Sweep

Switches: Gazzew Boba U4T (tactile), Choc Sunset (tactile)

I made it hotswap choc and MX, and I use choc switches for the thumb keys and MX switches for the rest. I attached the SplitKB tenting pucks and two manfrotto pocket tripods) for tenting just like I did on the Kyria.

I initially put a low profile rotary encoder on the right thumb and a nice!view on the left half, but I didn’t use either one as much as I thought I would, so I removed them.

making a Sweep

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

previous: making a Kyria
next: making an Aurora Sweep

I built a Sweep

Switches: Choc silver (linear)

This one is choc-spaced and fits in a zippered case designed for a MacBook power brick. I thought the choc spacing would feel cramped but it doesn’t - I actually like it a lot.

making a Kyria

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

previous: making a Levinson
next: making a Sweep

I built a Kyria

Switches: Gazzew Boba U4 (tactile) 🥰

I broke off the outer column because I wasn’t using it much on the Corne; I moved everything I did use to the thumb keys. I started experimenting with home row mods and found out they’re actually very useful and not as disruptive to normal typing as I expected. I found the layout (with “aggressive pinky stagger”) more comfortable than the Moonlander or Corne. (See https://jhelvy.github.io/splitKbCompare/ to compare layouts.)

making a Levinson

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

previous: making a Corne
next: making a Kyria

I built a Levinson

This was my first wireless build, and getting that working for the first time felt like magic: the two halves show up as one keyboard to pair just like any other Bluetooth device. I learned how to use mill-max sockets to convert a non-hot-swap board to a hot-swap board, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. I love the look of the entire top surface being covered in keys with no screen or wasted space. I thought I might like the grid layout, but it just wasn’t comfortable for me to type on. I also learned that I don’t like uniform keycap profiles.

making a Corne

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

next: making a Levinson

Earlier in 2021, I bought a ZSA Moonlander and loved it. I adapted to the column-staggered layout quickly, and I couldn’t stop tinkering with the key mappings in Oryx. I discovered layers and stopped using the number row altogether, and I moved a lot of keys that would usually be in the outer columns to the thumb keys.

However, the tenting-leg thumb key panel didn’t work with my hand shape - the thumb keys felt too far away to reach with my fingers still resting on the home row - so I took them off and moved everything up one row.