3/3/2026 - Splito Keyboardo !

Planning

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Project name is Splito Keyboardo, 'cause its going to be a split keyboard. Im going to use one of my own personal keyboard for referance to build an split keyboard around it. The Main goal is to use my own keyboard as an idea and split it in half, My keyboard is a compact 78-key mechanical Redragon K688 keyboard with a numpad init.

So my plane is to remove the numpad as its not-necessary and will increase the COST of this project, So yeah i'm excluding it. For the MCU, I'm gonna use nice!nano as its good in split keyboard according to my research because it has good bluetooth connectivity and draws low battery power.

In the image below I'm showing how im goona split my keyboard in half and reverse its making. I made a rough sketch and by showing the outlines of the keyboard, that way things will be clear and I'll know the key matrix and keymap by doing so.

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Next step will be working on Keymap after I figure out total rows and columns inthe keyboard.

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Timeline

Project Started: 03-March-2026 | 09:33 PM
Jornal Entry Written: 03-March-2026 | 11:00 PM

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3/4/2026 6 AM - Keyboard Layout !

Layout

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Generated my keyboard layout using Keyboard Layout Editor with the same formate that I needed and defined in my planning phase !

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This should help us in identifying total rows and columns to split the keyboard in half.

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Timeline

Start: 04-March-2026 | 5:30 AM
End: 04-March-2026 | 7:00 AM
Journal Entry Written: 04-March-2026 | 7:00 AM

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3/4/2026 10 AM - Schematic

Schematic

Done with the schematic in KiCad.

Now I'll explaing my progress, first I downloaded ScottoKicad folder from joe-scotto Github repo for KiCad Libs, such as nice!nano v2, OLED_128x32, Kailh Choc switches, and many more, I used the one I needed. Then I added them all in KiCad, with other footprints as well, such as JST Connector and Power switch.

Then I started working on the schematic using my layout as referance.
The left half consists 5-Rows and 6-Columns (30-Keys) and the right half consists 5-Rows and 8-Columns (37-Keys), In the middle of the page there are 2 nice!nano v2, each has JST Connector for battery connectivity, Power and Reset Switch. and also 2 - 0.91 inch OLED_128x32 as displays. Every connections are connected via Global lables for organization and cleanliness.

After connection I inspected my schematic with ERC (Electrical Rule Checker), and its clear with no errors, ERC is looking clean and good to move on PCB design.

Next step is to design the PCB.

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Timeline:

Start: 04-March-2026 | 7:00 AM
End: 04-March-2026 | 9:00 AM
Jornal Entry Written: 04-March-2026 | 11:00 AM

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3/4/2026 12 PM - Footprint assigning !

Assigning Footprints:

Before designing PCB, I've assigned all the required footprints. For normal key for example "A, B, Z, 1, 2, 3, etc... i've assigned them with HotswapChocV11.00u and for key like "Shift, Enter, Space etc... I've used HotswapChocV11.50u.

And For Diodes, I've used Diode_SOD-123.

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Timeline:

Start: 04-March-2026 | 12:00 PM
End: 04-March-2026 | 12:30 PM
Jornal Entry Written: 04-March-2026 | 12:30 PM

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3/16/2026 - Positioning Footprints.

Positioning

Done positioning every footprints to its desired position, to be honest its looking grate.

Next Step

Next is to draw the Edge.cut lines for our PCB outline before routing the PCB.

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Timeline

Start: 16-March-2026 | 7 AM
End: 16-March-2026 | 9 AM
Jornal Entry Written: 16-March-2026 | 10:10 AM

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3/19/2026 9 AM - PCB Outlines:

• Done with PCB outlines

next Step is Routing the PCB as clean as possiable, 'cause I dont like messy routing and clean routing looks cool.

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Timeline

Start: 19-March-2026 | 9:20 AM
End: 19-march-2026 | 9:30 AM
Jornal Entry Written: 19-March-2026 | 9:35 AM

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3/19/2026 10 AM - Changed Pin assigning

• While I was routing I noticed that It's getting difficult to wire everything as Pin are not close enough to rought everything without using so-many via, and its creating sucs a mess. SO I just tweak the Schematic a bit by changing pins.

Now everything should be clean and will wire properly!!!

Timeline

start: 19-March-2026 | 10:15 AM
End:: 19-March-2026 | 10:20 AM
Jornal Entry Written: 19-March-2026 | 10:22 AM

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3/19/2026 8 PM - Routed The PCB

• Done with the routing of the PCB, with 0 unrouted connection.
• Next is to add Mouse bites or V-Cut, I'm still confused which one to use, So i'll first research onit then apply one of those on my PCB to split the PCB in half...
• Then Next step will be to Fill the board with copper.

Timeline

Start: 19-March-2026 | 8 PM
End:: 19-March-2026 | 8:30 PM
Jornal Entry Written: 19-March-2026 | 8:30 PM

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3/26/2026 3 AM - Completed PCB

I was struggling with the outline of the PCB, But somehow I managed to work around it and completed my PCB.

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• First I added Mousebite and Mounting Hole footprints.

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• Then I created outline shape on Edge.cut layer using polygone tool.

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• Then created a single PCB shape by removine extras

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• Then I added coppor fill.

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And yeah, DRC is also clean, with Zero violations, just Silkscreen warnings.

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Timeline

Start: 26-03-2026 | 2:30 AM
End: 26-03-2026 | 3:30 AM
Jorunal Entry Written: 26-03-2026 | 3:40 AM

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3/26/2026 4 AM - Branding

• Done with branding !

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Next Step is to create case of our Keyboard.

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Timeline

Start: 26-03-2026 | 3:50 AM
End: 26-03-2026 | 4 AM
Journal Entry Written: 26-03-2026 | 4:10 AM

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3/31/2026 10 PM - CAD Completed

• completed the case around PBC.
• No PCB Plate. it will be without plate.
• Mounting hole are included...

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Left-half

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Right half

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next Step is to write the Firmware in python based on KMK, and then Complete BOM then Submite for review... Hope it gets approved.

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Timeline

Start: 31-March-2026 | 10AM
End: 31-March-2026 | 10:45PM
Journal Entry Written: 10:45PM

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3/31/2026 11:05 PM - Firmware

• Done with firmware, it was quite easy, 'cause i know who to code, not like creating CAD. it was damn hard. and i struggle with CADs....
• Created two Coode.py one for left-half and other for right-half...

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Next step is to create BOM, as cheap as possiable...

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Timeline

Start: 31-March-2026 | 10:50 PM
End: 31-March-2026 | 11PM
Journal Entry Written: 31-March-2026 | 11:05 PM

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3/31/2026 11:55 PM - BOm

• Completed BOm.

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Next step is to take screensot of the cart and submite the project for review.

Timeline

Start: 31-March-2026 | 11PM
End: 31-March-2026 | 11:55PM
Jorunal Entry Written 31-March-2026 | 11:56PM

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