What is SpaceFN and why you should give it a try
The SpaceFN concept - setting up your space key as a layer switch when held - is probably one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby. Let me explain how it works. My SpaceFN article on kbd.news made some rounds recently - quite surprisingly given the age of this concept. This piece you're reading is a condensed version of the full post. If you're left with unanswered questions, you'll most likely find the info you're looking for in the original write-up. On my imaginary top list of the most useful keyboard features, tweaks and hacks, SpaceFN would deserve a podium finish for sure. But what makes it so special? In short: SpaceFN is easy to implement, easy to learn, costs nothing, can be used with any keyboard, and can improve your productivity instantly. I will list its benefits below, but can state right at this point that the SpaceFN concept, setting up your space key as a layer switch when held, is clearly one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby....
Apr 30, 2024
I just finished building my first custom keyboard and thought it would be cool to start a discussion page where we could all share our custom builds.
I joined Massdrop's Vortex backlit keycap drop a couple months ago and designed and built the keyboard while I waited for the caps to ship. I went with gateron brown switches, an acrylic case (with a steel backplate), blue LEDs, and a Teensy 3.2 microcontroller for my primary components. For some reason I though it would be fun to hand-wire all of the keycaps and LEDs, so I spent a couple days soldering resistors to LED's and trying to avoid creating shorts while putting together the switch matrix. (Next time I'm definitely going to use a PCB).
Here's a picture of the wiring before I added the LEDs
Here's a couple other pictures