I’m thinking about printing my own Dactyl exactly to my measurements but I don’t want to print too many iterations before landing on my preferred layout. Any tips on how I could achieve that?

  • wolfwood@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    my suggestion is to use a skeleton-edition style case so you print the minimum amount needed, and reuse the base plate. ie print only thumb plate til you get the position close, etc.

    I’ve build a framework for this approach: https://github.com/wolfwood/tryadactyl

    trying to link the keyboard parameters to measurable features of your hand helps some, but honestly there’s no substitute for typing on it and realizing what you don’t like :)

    i’ve has a recent breakthrough (implementing hierarchical/delegated column placement) that makes merging multiple plates with differing centers of rotation just work when switching from an open case style to a closed case.

    • Drudge@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Wow, that’s a pretty wild looking keyboard… Would be interested to see a typing video ⌨️

    • __lb__@feddit.nlOP
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      1 year ago

      Do you have a configuration for starting in a more dactyl manuform like place?

      • wolfwood@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        you could take my model and replace the cylindrical column spacing for pinkie and index with a flat spacing to have something less intense.

        i don’t have a clone, but it would be easy to do, for the dactyl fingers. the columns have a standard spacing I believe and the rows are placed on a cylinder with some radius and and a fixed angle (π/32 radians maybe?). then you can either replicate the column and Z stagger they use or tune your own.

        the DM thumb is actively bad for me tho so if start with a simple 3 key arc (i think there is a tester for the arc placement) and add and remove keys as you try it out.

    • __lb__@feddit.nlOP
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      1 year ago

      Wow. That looks very interesting! I like the approach of using real world numbers. I’m going to try it out tonight!

    • nottheengineer@feddit.de
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      1 year ago

      Congratulations, you made the rabbit hole within the ergo rabbit hole within the keyboard rabbit hole.

      Does it ever end?

      Edit: Spelling

  • Skree@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Cut it up! Print only thumbs for a while that you can “locate” to a standard set of finger keywells. Do the same for other features you’re wanting to customize.

  • 𝕸𝖔𝖘𝖘@infosec.pub
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    1 year ago

    I know this is not part of your question, but I those wrist rests are beautiful. When you do get the layout you like, make the rest. Haha

  • iZRBQEcWVXNdnPtTV@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    There’s a 3D hand model roaming around somewhere that you can put into the Dactyl model and give it a try. Also, if you know anyone with a Kinesis Advantage (2 or 360) you can test drive a default Dactyl (it’s based on that). I 3D printed mine blindly knowing that I have smaller than average hands and want more aggressive stagger + tent and it worked out really well for me.

    Also check out Ergogen and Ergopad for truly customized to your hand experiences. This video is a great primer.