It started as a joke for my friend who doesn’t understand how I use a 35% but then some people seemed interested so I actually made it.
I’ve been using it for about a month now and use the QAZ keys for macros. I have tried actually using them as Q, A, and Z, too and it was actually easier than I expected.
Even for people who do touch type, there’s a definite learning curve when you move to a 40% or lower board. I found that the muscle memory starts to build up pretty quickly so after a bit of stumbling around I got used to smaller keyboards without too much trouble. The main problem now is when I try to write code on anything larger than a 40% I make constant typos.
I started designing the Qazimodo in February and just got the first aluminum case from the manufacturer a couple days ago. Very happy with how it turned out.
It started as a joke but then I posted the layout from KLE on the 40% Discord and things got out of hand and the next thing I knew I was reaching out to manufacturers on Alibaba.
Haha so I posted my layout from KLE on a Discord server that Noah is on and he sent me a DM asking if he could use the layout in his video. It worked out perfectly because he posted that video as I was starting to design my PCB and I used his template.
For sure! As far as process, I came up with the layout using keyboard-layout-editor.com and from there I designed the PCB in KiCad and the switch plate and case with Fusion 360. The case took a lot of trial and error to get everything fitting right so I made a lot of 3d printed prototypes before I was satisfied with it. After I had my printed prototype done I basically went on Alibaba and searched for manufacturers who had keyboard cases listed as products they could make and I messaged a bunch of them asking for quotes on 1, 3, and 25 cases (I was trying to decide on 1 or 3 prototypes and then 25 will be the minimum order quantity if it makes it to group buy). The one that gave me the lowest price was also the company that someone I’ve been getting advice from has used on group buys he’s done, so I ended up going with them since he vouched for their quality.
The cost goes up quite a bit as the order quantity decreases, so this prototype was expensive. After shipping and fees and everything, it was over $600. I probably wouldn’t have paid it if I hadn’t just gotten a tax refund honestly. Some of the other manufacturers that I talked to had slightly lower prices for smaller order quantities but they were too expensive for the group buy quantity.
When you hit Q, A, and Z at the same time it spits this out
You guys always kill me because it’s like you come up with a funny idea for a keyboard meme product and then someone spends actual effort mocking it up or making a CAD model and then someone decides to actually make it and you spend real money on it because nobody had the sense to just say “this is actually stupid” somewhere along the way.
Oh I was very worried that something wouldn’t fit right once I got the prototype; mostly the USB cutout. I did like 20 printed prototypes with little adjustments to the cutout until I was as confident as I could be, but I still wasn’t positive it would fit because of differing tolerances but thankfully my printer was pretty much spot on with what I got from the manufacturer.
Family photo (lemmy.world)
Top: KBt RE: 66, Akko Mod 005 Middle: Zoom 65, Qazimodo Bottom: Vault 35, Daisy 40, mISO 34
[IC] Qazimodo (lemmy.world)
Qazimodo interest check is now open!...
Obsessed with GMK Polybius (lemmy.world)
GMK Polybius on Qazimodo. Plus a modded Game Boy Pocket.
Qazimodo prototype (lemmy.world)
I started designing the Qazimodo in February and just got the first aluminum case from the manufacturer a couple days ago. Very happy with how it turned out.