The ScottoAlp is a 35 or 43-key ortholinear keyboard with a 3u spacebar and is compatible with both MX or Alps. The neat part about this board is that it uses Alps SKCM Orange tactile switches which are from way back in 1987. These switches are by far the best tactile I’ve ever used and I can only really describe the feeling as a perfectly smooth rounded bump. I ripped them out of an old Apple M0116 and also used the keycaps from that same board for the build. For the spacebar, I used an NK Blueberry lubed with Krytox 205G0 and filmed with Deskeys Switch Films.
Getting One
If you’re interested in getting one assembled, contact me and we can discuss the components and other details for a commissioned build. However, the files are available for free here if you want to build one yourself.
In addition to the 3D printed case, heat shink tubing, wire, and copper, you'll also need tools along with the following components:
- 1 Arduino Pro Micro
- 35 1N4148 diodes
- 1 3u plate mount stabilizer
- 10 M2x8mm standoffs
- 20 M2x6mm screws
- 34 MX or Alps switches
- 34 1u keycaps
- 1 3u keycap
Wiring
When looking at the back of the board, the columns (blue) go to the following pins on the controller from right to left: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A3, A2, A1, A0
Then the rows (red) go from top to bottom: 15, 14, 16, 10
If building the 12 column variant, connect pin 2 (before 4) and pin 3 (after A0) for the extra columns.
Keep in mind, you can connect anywhere on the column or row to the controller, it doesn't need to just be at the end.
Firmware
You can find the firmware files on the qmk_firmware repository or you can compile them online using the QMK Configurator. However, QMK is often slow at getting changes merged and because of that you can find the most up-to-date firmware on the ScottoKeebs Github repository. Also available are the pre-compiled firmware files that you can simply download (right click, save as) and flash using QMK Toolbox:
default.hex - Default QMK keymap in QWERTY.
vial.hex - Default QMK keymap in QWERTY with Vial configurator support.
scotto.hex - My personal QMK keymap in Colemak.
After flashing vial.hex, you should load the vial.vil configuration file within the Vial application to ensure everything functions as expected.
Videos
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