Quark keyboard - 40% staggered layout that fits all Planck cases
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- Main keyboard: Max Nighthawk
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: -
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?
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?
- RoastPotatoes
- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: HHKB
- Main mouse: PC-TRAC Deluxe +
- DT Pro Member: -
I do quite like this layout. But I am not yet convinced on the viability of 40% boards.
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- Main keyboard: Max Nighthawk
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: -
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.RoastPotatoes wrote: ↑I do quite like this layout. But I am not yet convinced on the viability of 40% boards.
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- Main keyboard: Planck/Atomic
- Favorite switch: MX Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
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!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?
- sphinx
- Major Bummer
- Location: Lisbon, Portugal
- DT Pro Member: -
I'm interested in the planck formed bottom and the quark top plate, with the 10mm assembly kit, assuming everything is compatible..jackhumbert wrote: ↑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!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?
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- Main keyboard: Planck/Atomic
- Favorite switch: MX Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
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)!sphinx wrote: ↑I'm interested in the planck formed bottom and the quark top plate, with the 10mm assembly kit, assuming everything is compatible..jackhumbert wrote: ↑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!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?
- RoastPotatoes
- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: HHKB
- Main mouse: PC-TRAC Deluxe +
- DT Pro Member: -
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.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.
- vivalarevolución
- formerly prdlm2009
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: IBM Beam spring
- Main mouse: Kangaroo
- Favorite switch: beam spring
- DT Pro Member: 0097
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.RoastPotatoes wrote: ↑I do quite like this layout. But I am not yet convinced on the viability of 40% boards.
- RoastPotatoes
- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: HHKB
- Main mouse: PC-TRAC Deluxe +
- DT Pro Member: -
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
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- Main keyboard: Custom Build
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Trackpad
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: -
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.
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.
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- Main keyboard: Pok3r
- Main mouse: Apple Mouse
- Favorite switch: Red
- DT Pro Member: -
This just the perfect KB that i want.
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- Main keyboard: Pok3r
- Main mouse: Apple Mouse
- Favorite switch: Red
- DT Pro Member: -
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.RoastPotatoes wrote: ↑I do quite like this layout. But I am not yet convinced on the viability of 40% boards.
- RoastPotatoes
- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: HHKB
- Main mouse: PC-TRAC Deluxe +
- DT Pro Member: -
I now have a planck coming so I will give it a go.
- Madhias
- BS TORPE
- Location: Wien, Austria
- Main keyboard: HHKB
- Main mouse: Wacom tablet
- Favorite switch: Topre and Buckelings
- DT Pro Member: 0064
- Contact:
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.RoastPotatoes wrote: ↑I do quite like this layout. But I am not yet convinced on the viability of 40% boards.
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- Main keyboard: Pok3r
- Main mouse: Apple Mouse
- Favorite switch: Red
- DT Pro Member: -
Madhias wrote: ↑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.RoastPotatoes wrote: ↑I do quite like this layout. But I am not yet convinced on the viability of 40% boards.
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.
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- Main keyboard: Pok3r
- Main mouse: Apple Mouse
- Favorite switch: Red
- DT Pro Member: -
Any update on this project please, I have sent an email to OP, but not got reply yet.
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- Main keyboard: Pok3r
- Main mouse: Apple Mouse
- Favorite switch: Red
- DT Pro Member: -
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.RoastPotatoes wrote: ↑I now have a planck coming so I will give it a go.
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- Main keyboard: Max Nighthawk
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: -
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).TurtleMaster wrote: ↑Any update on this project please, I have sent an email to OP, but not got reply yet.
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.
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- Main keyboard: Pok3r
- Main mouse: Apple Mouse
- Favorite switch: Red
- DT Pro Member: -
Thanks wscarlton for your reply, just wondering if anyone is working on PCB design?
- RoastPotatoes
- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: HHKB
- Main mouse: PC-TRAC Deluxe +
- DT Pro Member: -
I think jack said that is a way in the future. The focus is on ortholinear keyboards after all.TurtleMaster wrote:Thanks wscarlton for your reply, just wondering if anyone is working on PCB design?
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- Main keyboard: Pok3r
- Main mouse: Apple Mouse
- Favorite switch: Red
- DT Pro Member: -
It"t not that hard to design PCB just time consuming... I would really like to design the PCB but too many things...