Keyball46 Keyboard with Trackball: Post-Launch Development Stories
Hello, this is Yowkees.
This article is for the 22nd day of "KEEB_PD Advent Calendar 2021 - Adventar."
The article for the 21st day was e3w2q's "How I take photos of my keyboards." To think that they've won the most likes twice already! I'd love to win it just once.
The Keyball46 launched in the summer of 2021. Here's a brief summary of the development activities since its release.
*Sales of Keyball46 have been suspended. Please consider Keyball39 / Keyball44 / Keyball61.
Table of Contents
1. I made an attachment for Keyball46
2. I played with billiard balls and bearings
3. I made the Keyball65 with a happy layout
4. I changed the up/down/left/right motion of the trackball
5. Keyball38, which encompasses the trackball in your palm
6. I made so many things, I'm opening a store!
1. I made an attachment for Keyball46
This is the realization of an idea I had since the Keyball concept stage.
The ProMicro protection sheet is designed to be secured with three screws so that it can be replaced with an attachment. The plan was to add a 7mm trackball that could be used for scrolling, and it worked as expected.
However, this attachment. I had planned it assuming I would eventually want a dedicated scrolling device, but this prediction turned out to be wrong.
The Keyball's trackball switches to scrolling while Layer 3 is active, and it's incredibly easy to use. I can switch between modes as naturally as if I'd been using it for years, and it feels great to use. As a result, I gradually stopped touching the 7mm trackball and eventually removed it.
I liked the cool look, but there's no point in having something attached that I don't use. For now, I'm closing this project.
If I hear enough demand, I might restart it.
2. I played with billiard balls and bearings
I looked for 34mm diameter billiard balls, but I couldn't find them anywhere. It seems only 32mm and 38mm are sold.
So, I specially designed a ball case that could attach a 32mm billiard ball to the Keyball46, and I 3D printed it. It's supported by three 6mm diameter bearings.
Although the ball is a bit smaller, it's perfectly comfortable to use with no issues at all. You might wonder why I don't just sell it, but there's an unexpected bottleneck: there are no good quality 32mm billiard balls (´；ω；`)
I sourced from about three different companies on Aliexpress, but not a single one was clean. The numbers were smudged or blurry.
If I could just find a source for clean 32mm billiard balls, I'd love to sell them. When I uploaded this photo to KEEB_PD, I was followed by pool bar accounts and professional billiard players, connecting me with some interesting people LOL.
3. I made the Keyball65 with a happy layout
When I look at split happy layout keyboards, doesn't the rightmost edge of the low-staggered layout look like it would fit a trackball case perfectly?
Moreover, since there's more space, it seems possible to mount a 38mm billiard ball. I've already confirmed that good quality 38mm balls are available.
I can't write everything, but the PCB required a lot of ingenuity to make it thinner.
This seems to have a lot of demand, so I'd like to ask for opinions in stores and then sell it.
4. I changed the up/down/left/right motion of the trackball
I noticed something while staring intently at the ball part of the Keyball46. Even when using a normal mouse, horizontal movements are easy, but vertical movements are a bit difficult. However, most displays are widescreen, so it makes sense. Since most text is written horizontally, horizontal movement is crucial for selecting lines.
For a thumb trackball, it's as follows:
So, the story is that I swapped the up/down/left/right movements of the trackball.
Immediately after swapping them, I thought, "Ugh, this is hard to use," but within about a week, I was able to use it without any difficulty. When I switched them back, I needed rehabilitation again.
It seems like it could reduce the burden on the thumb, so it might be interesting to try.
5. Keyball38, which encompasses the trackball in your palm
Whenever I'm idly gazing at the Keyball46, I'm usually brainstorming ideas. And here's another one.
Doesn't a horizontally oriented trackball case fit perfectly under the column-staggered layout?
It just so happened that the sensor part was about 1U in length, and I had designed it with a rounded shape, so it wouldn't feel uncomfortable to the touch. Isn't this a golden, miraculous, Cinderella fit brought about by these two coincidences?
I immediately made it.
When making it low-profile, I figured a 34mm ball would stick out too much and be in the way, so I gave up on choc sockets. Thanks to that, I was able to increase the number of LEDs, and it's sure to look great at KEEB_PD! Or so I thought, but I haven't won yet...
6. I made so many things, I'm opening a store!
I really made a lot of things in 2021. The Keyball series lineup and options have also expanded. There might be some people who are waiting for finished products because they're not confident in soldering.
In that case, I'll step up!
It's an audacious attempt, on par with injection molding, but I'm opening the second DIY keyboard specialty store in Japan! For the time being, it will be a specialty store for keyboards with trackballs, so in that category, it will be the first in Japan!
This store is in an excellent location, making it easy to visit for sightseeing in Takayama. For now, this store can only be rented for one year, so plan your visit soon!
Please come and visit us!!