a fancy pants keyboard i'm making
1# The thyme keyboard
2
3<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/taciturnaxolotl/thyme/main/.github/images/tanabata.svg" width="150" align="right">
4
5> ### More deets coming soon 👀
6> A split, low-profile, wireless mechanical keyboard inspired by the Corne design. Made possible through the [`hackpad`](https://hackpad.hackclub.com) grant from Hack Club.
7
8## BOM
9
10| Part | Quantity | Price | Link | Description | Notes |
11| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
12| SuperMini NRF52840 (Nice!Nano footprint) | 2 | `$4.15` | [AliExpress](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805848952479.html) | Wireless Microcontroller | |
13| Machine Sockets 2.54mm | 1 | `$1.75` | [AliExpress](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832794091942.html) | 26x2 needed to socket the two MCUs | comes in a 10 pack of 40x1 rows |
14| Machine Pins | 1 | `$3.99` | [AliExpress](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832672116019.html) | 26x2 needed to socket the two MCUs | comes in a 100 pack of 4 per header |
15| Power Switch | 4 | `$0.39` | [DigiKey](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/same-sky-formerly-cui-devices/SLW-1277744-3A-N-D/24399208) | one for each half | added an extra switch for each side as backup |
16| JST PH 2.0mm 2-pin Connector | 4 | `$0.10` | [DigiKey](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/jst-sales-america-inc/S2B-PH-K-S/926626) | for battery connection | |
17| 301230 3.7V 110mAh LiPo Battery | 2 | `$6.30` | [AliExpress](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805162053912.html) | comes pre jst ph-ifised | two lot |
18| PCB | 1 | `$25.15` | [JLCPCB](https://jlcpcb.com) | 2-layer, 1.6mm, black, leaded Hasl | I wanted to get ENIG but that bumped the price by `$20` |
19| Diodes | 42 | `$1.43` | [DigiKey](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/diotec-semiconductor/1N4148/13164514) | 1N4148 | |
20| Choc v1 switches | 50 | `$27.50` | [Chosfox](https://chosfox.com/products/kailh-chocs?variant=42514648006850) | pink variant: `20+-5 gf` linear | |
21| 1u keycaps | 40 | `$14.00` | [Chosfox](https://chosfox.com/collections/low-profile-keycaps/products/chocfox-cfx-choc-keycaps) | White PBT low profile | |
22| 1u homing keycaps | 2 | `$0.80` | [Chosfox](https://chosfox.com/collections/low-profile-keycaps/products/chocfox-cfx-choc-keycaps) | White PBT low profile | |
23| 1.75u keycaps | 2 | `$1.65` | [Chosfox](https://chosfox.com/collections/low-profile-keycaps/products/chocfox-cfx-choc-keycaps) | White PBT low profile | |
24
25Total cost: `$85.11`
26
27### Store breakdown
28
29| Store | Shipping | Subtotal | Total | Items |
30| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
31| AliExpress | `$9.43` | `$26.64` | `$36.07` | 2x SuperMini NRF52840, Machine Sockets, Machine Pins, 2x LiPo Battery |
32| DigiKey | `$6.99` | `$4.49` (tarrifs and tax) | `$11.48` | 4x Power Switch, 4x JST Connector, 42x Diodes |
33| Chosfox | `$5.00` | `$43.95` | `$48.95` | 50x Choc v1 switches, 40x 1u keycaps, 2x 1u homing keycaps, 2x 1.75u keycaps |
34| JLCPCB | `$10.55` | `$14.60` | `$25.15` | 1x PCB |
35
36Total shipping: `$31.97`
37Total cost: `$122.67` (including shipping, tax, and tarrifs)
38
39## Schematics
40
41
42
43
44
45## Build Notes
46
47Panelization is the most annoying bit of this whole process. I was able to finally get it work work by using `kikit` to generate rails and tabs.
48
49```bash
50kikit panelize \
51 --layout 'grid; rows: 1; cols: 1; space: 3mm;' \
52 --tabs 'fixed; width: 3mm; vcount: 8;' \
53 --cuts 'mousebites; drill: 0.5mm; spacing: 1mm; offset: 0.2mm; prolong: 0.5mm;' \
54 --framing 'railstb; width: 5mm; space: 3mm; chamfer: 1mm;' \
55 --tooling '3hole; hoffset: 2.5mm; voffset: 2.5mm; size: 1.5mm;' \
56 --fiducials '3fid; hoffset: 5mm; voffset: 2.5mm; coppersize: 2mm; opening: 1mm;' \
57 --post 'millradius: 1mm;' \
58 --text 'simple; text: "THYME v1.14"; anchor: mt; voffset: 2mm;' \
59 --text2 'simple; text: Created on {date} JLC Order: JLCJLCJLC; anchor: mb; voffset: -2.5mm; hjustify: center; vjustify: center;' \
60 thyme.kicad_pcb panelization/panelized.kicad_pcb
61```
62
63
64
65<p align="center">
66 <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/taciturnaxolotl/carriage/master/.github/images/line-break.svg" />
67</p>
68
69<p align="center">
70 <i><code>© 2025-present <a href="https://github.com/taciturnaxolotl">Kieran Klukas</a></code></i>
71</p>
72
73<p align="center">
74 <a href="https://github.com/taciturnaxolotl/thyme/blob/master/LICENSE.md"><img src="https://img.shields.io/static/v1.svg?style=for-the-badge&label=License&message=MIT&logoColor=d9e0ee&colorA=363a4f&colorB=b7bdf8"/></a>
75</p>