Ferris Is a Minimalist Split Mechanical Keyboard You Can Make Yourself

Your typing performance is heavily dependent on the keyboard you’re using. Part of that is simply getting used to the specific keyboard you’re typing on, but the keyboard model you choose can also make a big difference. Most cheap keyboards are made with a membrane that the key squishes down to make electrical contact. That gives a muddy feel and makes typing less efficient as you have to overcome the mush. Mechanical keyboards are much better because they have actual switches with a clean “break.” If you want to build your own split mechanical keyboard, Ferris is an attractive DIY option.

Unlike most of the other mechanical keyboards out there that have Cherry MX key switches, this design utilizes Kailh Choc key switches. Those are unique, because they have a much lower profile while still retaining the mechanical switch feel. The downside is that those switches are quite new and dramatically reduce the key cap options available to you. You’ll likely be stuck using either black or white keycaps, at least until those switches get more popular. Fortunately, there are still options for the key switch feel and sound. Ferris’s designer says it would also be fairly easy to modify the design for Cherry MX switches.

Ferris has a 34 key split design, so the keyboard is divided up into two halves connected by a cable. That makes it possible to move each half to whatever position is most comfortable for you. Each half is made with a custom PCB, which you can have fabricated by any PCB house. The keyboard matrix is monitored by a Microchip ATmega32U4 and a MCP23017 I/O expander. The microcontroller is running the Quantum Mechanical Keyboard (QMK) firmware. The current design is meant to be minimalist, and is pretty basic. Variations and upgrades are in the works, so be sure to keep an eye on the project if you like the concept but aren’t quite ready to jump on this early version.