deskthority

Metal top plates for the Quark are now available at Ortholinearkeyboards.com.

Taking inspiration from the Planck (40% grid keyboard), I wanted to make a small keyboard that was also staggered. My first attempt was a 35% layout, which I originally posted to /r/mechanicalkeyboards. and then also here at Deskthority. There was enough interest over at /r/MK that I followed up with an interest check survey and then partnered with Jack over at Ortholinear Keyboards in order to produce the mounting plates for the Quark. The Quark is essentially an improved version of my 35% DIY project.

Quark Keyboard Layout


At 12 columns x 4 rows, the 40% footprint is the same as the Planck keyboard. Also, all of the modifier keys are standard sizes (1.25U and 1.5U) and the spacebar on the Quark (2.75U) is the same size as most right shift keys, so it shouldn't be difficult to reuse or find keycaps for this board.

Quark Top Plate


The metal top plates for the Quark will fit on all of the Planck cases and bottoms available at Ortholinearkeyboards.com. Another cool feature of this mounting plate is that it fits both Cherry MX and Alps/Matias switches. This also allows for the removal of the top part of Cherry MX keyswitches (i.e. disassembly).

Orders are being placed now (direct link). It will take some time to produce the plates and ship them, but I think the current ETA is mid-May (need to check on this).

So, what do you think?

I do quite like this layout. But I am not yet convinced on the viability of 40% boards.

RoastPotatoes wrote: ↑I do quite like this layout. But I am not yet convinced on the viability of 40% boards.

They're definitely a unique niche. I'm so used to the full-sized ANSI board that transitioning to any other layout has been a challenge just in remembering where things are. But therein lies the nice thing about custom layouts - you can modify it to your needs. What you lose in familiarity you gain in desk space and reduced finger/hand movement.

i wanted to buy this but shipping is too expensive to Portugal.. Is there any way to order this in Europe or with a less expensive shipping solution?

sphinx wrote: ↑i wanted to buy this but shipping is too expensive to Portugal.. Is there any way to order this in Europe or with a less expensive shipping solution?

What all are you interested in buying? If it's just plates/cases and no switches/keycaps, I can probably reduce it to 15USD - shoot me an email after checkout and I'll refund you right away!

jackhumbert wrote: ↑

sphinx wrote: ↑i wanted to buy this but shipping is too expensive to Portugal.. Is there any way to order this in Europe or with a less expensive shipping solution?

What all are you interested in buying? If it's just plates/cases and no switches/keycaps, I can probably reduce it to 15USD - shoot me an email after checkout and I'll refund you right away!

I'm interested in the planck formed bottom and the quark top plate, with the 10mm assembly kit, assuming everything is compatible..

sphinx wrote: ↑

jackhumbert wrote: ↑

sphinx wrote: ↑i wanted to buy this but shipping is too expensive to Portugal.. Is there any way to order this in Europe or with a less expensive shipping solution?

What all are you interested in buying? If it's just plates/cases and no switches/keycaps, I can probably reduce it to 15USD - shoot me an email after checkout and I'll refund you right away!

I'm interested in the planck formed bottom and the quark top plate, with the 10mm assembly kit, assuming everything is compatible..

Yeap! All of that is compatible. I could ship that for $15 - I can refund you the difference after checkout (I'm still working on using a coupon code/option for that)!

wscarlton wrote: ↑
They're definitely a unique niche. I'm so used to the full-sized ANSI board that transitioning to any other layout has been a challenge just in remembering where things are. But therein lies the nice thing about custom layouts - you can modify it to your needs. What you lose in familiarity you gain in desk space and reduced finger/hand movement.

This is true. I have enjoyed adapting to a 60% and now prefer the layout. So maybe it's time to get just a little bit smaller.

RoastPotatoes wrote: ↑I do quite like this layout. But I am not yet convinced on the viability of 40% boards.

I was the same way, so I bought the parts for a Planck and assembled it just to try out the size. Sometimes, it's annoying to have the numbers on a layer, but that's about my only complaint. Everything else is fine.

prdlm2009 wrote: ↑
I was the same way, so I bought the parts for a Planck and assembled it just to try out the size. Sometimes, it's annoying to have the numbers on a layer, but that's about my only complaint. Everything else is fine.

Could I see your layout? I would be interested to see a working example of someone's layout

Ordered mine this week, really looking forward to the build.

Definitely going to be a learning curve to adapt to the size, but I think this will be a nice alternative to carrying around a tkl when I'm going between two offices several days a week.

This just the perfect KB that i want.

RoastPotatoes wrote: ↑I do quite like this layout. But I am not yet convinced on the viability of 40% boards.

I think that really depend on what you use the KB for, Im a coder, need shift most the time anyways, now instead of shift i used FN.

TurtleMaster wrote: ↑

RoastPotatoes wrote: ↑I do quite like this layout. But I am not yet convinced on the viability of 40% boards.

I think that really depend on what you use the KB for, Im a coder, need shift most the time anyways, now instead of shift i used FN.

I now have a planck coming so I will give it a go.

RoastPotatoes wrote: ↑I do quite like this layout. But I am not yet convinced on the viability of 40% boards.

I am searching for a 40% keybaord but with Bluetooth support, for using with the tablet! That could be a nice usage option for these small keyboards. Quark or simial do not have BT support? Planned in the future? Like the GON MobiK.

Madhias wrote: ↑

RoastPotatoes wrote: ↑I do quite like this layout. But I am not yet convinced on the viability of 40% boards.

I am searching for a 40% keybaord but with Bluetooth support, for using with the tablet! That could be a nice usage option for these small keyboards. Quark or simial do not have BT support? Planned in the future? Like the GON MobiK.

Bluetooth is nice, but if you are a mac user, somehow I have an impression that most of the BT module will have interference between apple mouse the keyboard.

Any update on this project please, I have sent an email to OP, but not got reply yet.

RoastPotatoes wrote: ↑

TurtleMaster wrote: ↑

RoastPotatoes wrote: ↑I do quite like this layout. But I am not yet convinced on the viability of 40% boards.

I think that really depend on what you use the KB for, Im a coder, need shift most the time anyways, now instead of shift i used FN.

I now have a planck coming so I will give it a go.

Planck is nice, im just a little picky about the layout, I prefer the stagged layout, Quark is the prfect combo of JD40 and planck IMHO.

TurtleMaster wrote: ↑Any update on this project please, I have sent an email to OP, but not got reply yet.

Just saw your email and came back to check. There is much more activity with this project over on Reddit (r/mechanicalkeyboards). Several people have finished building the keyboard (it is a handwiring only board at this point).

You can see a lot of the relevant posts here: https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyb ... rict_sr=on

Parts available for purchase here: http://ortholinearkeyboards.com/quark

As for the slight shifting of the switches you were asking about, it is very minor. I have MX Clears on my board and they stay in place unless I push them from side to side (which I don't consider to be normal use). If I do try to dislodge the keys on purpose, they will move less than 1mm.

Thanks wscarlton for your reply, just wondering if anyone is working on PCB design?

TurtleMaster wrote:Thanks wscarlton for your reply, just wondering if anyone is working on PCB design?

I think jack said that is a way in the future. The focus is on ortholinear keyboards after all.

It"t not that hard to design PCB just time consuming... I would really like to design the PCB but too many things...