The ScottoStarter is a 52-key ortholinear keyboard designed to help ease the transition into smaller layouts. I specifically built this keyboard for my mom after she kept asking me to build her one. The switches are Razer Greens ripped out of an old Razer Blackwidow keyboard along with the keycaps from it. They’re honestly not that bad, and definitely much better in a DIY board. For the spacebar, I used a superior clicky switch, the Box Jade.
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
- 52 1N4148 diodes
- 1 3u plate mount stabilizer
- 14 M2x8mm standoffs
- 28 M2x6mm screws
- 52 MX switches
- 44 1u keycaps
- 7 1.5u 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: RX1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A3, A2, A1, TX0
Then the rows (red) go from top to bottom: A0, 15, 14, 16, 10
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.
After flashing vial.hex, you should load the vial.vil configuration file within the Vial application to ensure everything functions as expected.
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