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2 layers267.4 × 131.4 mmSplit keyboard, the printed circuit board in 3D

Split keyboard

Anycircle11139s/split-keyboard

I created a split keyboard, because I really enjoyed making the hackpad and I spend a lot of time on my computer and don't wanna get carpal tunnel.

Open in PCBKitView on GitHub.kicad_pcb
Size
267.4 × 131.4 mm
Copper layers
2
Thickness
1.6 mm
Parts
123
Nets
91
Pads
434
Tracks, vias
1,507, 300
Routed
Yes
KiCad
KiCad 9.0 (file 20241229)
Created
13 Apr 2026
Updated
29 Jun 2026

Overview

Split keyboard is an open-source printed circuit board by Anycircle11139s, from the Anycircle11139s/split-keyboard repository on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board of 267.4 × 131.4 mm with 123 parts on 91 nets, routed with 1,507 tracks and 300 vias.

Its parts include 50 diodes, 50 switches and 2 ICs. It belongs with the keyboards and input boards and the nRF52 and nRF5x boards of this library.

README

README.md

split-keyboard

Readme time...

I created a split keyboard, because I really enjoyed making the hackpad and I spend a lot of time on my computer and don't wanna get carpal tunnel. I spent a really long time making the split keyboard and it's a bit basic, but I like it.

Screenshot 2026-04-14 at 10 44 15 am This is the code, its pretty simple, but I didn't want to make it too complex as it is my first time working with zmk (I used kmk for the hackpad before) Screenshot 2026-04-13 at 3 55 50 pm This is my PCB, I spent a while placing the keys in a format that I liked, but I spet a lot longer routing the thing. I lowkenuinely spent like 7 hours just routing it :I Screenshot 2026-04-13 at 3 56 20 pm Screenshot 2026-04-13 at 3 56 32 pm

Here, I have the case, I'm pretty proud of it because there was no tutorial and I had to wing it, but it still turned out pretty well.Screenshot 2026-04-14 at 10 56 33 am

The schematic was pretty fun, I made hierarchial sheets and a rlly big keyboard matrix, it was overall pretty easy (the schematic)

BOM:

NamePurposeQuantityTotal Cost (USD)LinkDistributor
Soldering iron tip cleanerTo get solder off my soldering iron when soldering the split keyboard12.51https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005011767599627.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.27.7328c2f2shmCH7&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3Apc_back_same_best%7Cx_object_id%3A1005011767599627%7C_p_origin_prod%3A&algo_pvid=cc685b5f-8751-4102-90f8-53ff884c5232&algo_exp_id=cc685b5f-8751-4102-90f8-53ff884c5232&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%229%22%2C%22fromPage%22%3A%22search%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21USD%215.70%212.51%21%21%2138.78%2117.11%21%402101d6ff17761259441958065e0e06%2112000056487277700%21sea%21AU%217402515296%21X%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29911%3Bd%3Aef1e07f3%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895%3BpisId%3A5000000204651200ali-express
TweezersSo i can place small stuff on a board13.80https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008096741092.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.9.4c38be661axNMB&algo_pvid=bf336258-f5d2-4640-9eb9-c3400287f7d3&algo_exp_id=bf336258-f5d2-4640-9eb9-c3400287f7d3-8&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%22112%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22fromPage%22%3A%22search%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21USD%2110.78%213.77%21%21%2173.30%2125.65%21%402101d97817761258015788989ee059%2112000043710740481%21sea%21AU%217402515296%21X%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29911%3Bd%3Aef1e07f3%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895&curPageLogUid=Mt26q52kHGuW&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A%7Cx_object_id%3A1005008096741092%7C_p_origin_prod%3AAli-express
WickSo if I make mistakes i can suck up the solder11.90https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005111965242.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.3.1f37DXflDXfl2M&algo_pvid=1c46e9b7-bb70-4c58-9f79-255ede25b328&algo_exp_id=1c46e9b7-bb70-4c58-9f79-255ede25b328-2&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%2245%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22fromPage%22%3A%22search%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21USD%211.88%211.88%21%21%211.88%211.88%21%402101c59117761256926156551e99f7%2112000031701100437%21sea%21AU%217402515296%21X%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29911%3Bd%3Aef1e07f3%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895&curPageLogUid=mRkJDXXkg8eW&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A%7Cx_object_id%3A1005005111965242%7C_p_origin_prod%3AAli-express
Helping handsto allow me to solder all the stuff11.50https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005011766151305.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.481cVm5XVm5Xzy&algo_pvid=d26a067d-f485-4524-b116-90d984bdbd17&algo_exp_id=d26a067d-f485-4524-b116-90d984bdbd17-0&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%2227%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22fromPage%22%3A%22search%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21USD%2112.18%210.99%21%21%2182.78%216.69%21%402103212b17761255550781608e26da%2112000056480873900%21sea%21AU%217402515296%21X%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29911%3Bd%3Aef1e07f3%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895%3BpisId%3A5000000204047332&curPageLogUid=XIfqg1kNm8Ci&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A%7Cx_object_id%3A1005011766151305%7C_p_origin_prod%3AAli-express
M3X4X5 Heat Insert Nut M3 Threadedfor inseting pcb t case502.88https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010775775055.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.5.8270VWLgVWLgfU&algo_pvid=5d20a7d9-fe9d-46a3-99e0-bb8002b99240&algo_exp_id=5d20a7d9-fe9d-46a3-99e0-bb8002b99240-4&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%2227%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22fromPage%22%3A%22search%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21USD%216.95%212.88%21%21%2147.28%2119.58%21%4021030a6217761254961261252e2bd4%2112000053469867927%21sea%21AU%217402515296%21X%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29911%3Bd%3Aef1e07f3%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895%3BpisId%3A5000000204651200&curPageLogUid=NCSO1LTRLGJM&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A%7Cx_object_id%3A1005010775775055%7C_p_origin_prod%3AAli-express
Case printing and shippingThe case17.00Printing Legion
PCBThe board which the components go on131.50JLCPCB
xiao nRF52840microcontroller213.62https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006988954136.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.59c9qZFNqZFNqM&algo_pvid=59a296da-82e0-4b65-b5b5-be68fc8709da&algo_exp_id=59a296da-82e0-4b65-b5b5-be68fc8709da-0&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%221989%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22fromPage%22%3A%22search%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21USD%2135.89%2113.62%21%21%21244.00%2192.57%21%402101eecd17760577752436478e83e2%2112000042942288178%21sea%21AU%217402515296%21X%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29911%3Bd%3Aef1e07f3%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895%3BpisId%3A5000000204047332&curPageLogUid=Ylmc5XGHF4Vx&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A%7Cx_object_id%3A1005006988954136%7C_p_origin_prod%3AAli-express
Diodesto prevent ghosting1000.86https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32947233235.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.4.d94d2d8bu6I5TB&aem_p4p_detail=2026041222120919273074358951920002316458&algo_pvid=8d9d299d-7065-4467-aa40-a1696623dfeb&algo_exp_id=8d9d299d-7065-4467-aa40-a1696623dfeb-3&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%2274%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22fromPage%22%3A%22search%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21USD%210.86%210.82%21%21%210.86%210.82%21%402101eee917760571299056119ee961%2166204047427%21sea%21AU%210%21ABX%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29910%3Bd%3Aef1e07f3%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895&curPageLogUid=F7ZBmq9h6Im1&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A%7Cx_object_id%3A32947233235%7C_p_origin_prod%3A&search_p4p_id=2026041222120919273074358951920002316458_1Ali-express
M2 screwsto hold it together501.90https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005070119421.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.2.346548ab4NZzwl&algo_pvid=d25a0667-c54a-4cf3-a1e0-3a0220de0126&algo_exp_id=d25a0667-c54a-4cf3-a1e0-3a0220de0126-1&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%2247544%22%2C%22spu_best_type%22%3A%22price%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22fromPage%22%3A%22search%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21USD%212.54%210.99%21%21%212.54%210.99%21%402103274e17760568275421650e83f3%2112000031519353295%21sea%21AU%210%21ABX%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29910%3Bd%3Aef1e07f3%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895%3BpisId%3A5000000203295528&curPageLogUid=QL9hN1rPFrTw&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A%7Cx_object_id%3A1005005070119421%7C_p_origin_prod%3AAli-express
Keycapsto cover the keys1243.93https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007360831985.htmlAli-express
SwitchesButtons for keyboard11016.00https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004285423123.htmlAli-express


Building keyboard:
So I spent a rlly long time sodlering everything together and after a couple bugs and troubleshooting, I finally got it working. I'm really proud of my design and I can't wait to show this off to all my friends and family!

WhatsApp Image 2026-06-30 at 09 35 08 (1)

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/18d752bb-31d4-4ef4-a61a-be9153cc65bb

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/6f350401-69de-47bb-a7fa-8a00cfc4a692

WhatsApp Image 2026-06-30 at 09 35 08

Parts

123
QtyValueFootprintReferences
50DDiode_THT:D_DO-35_SOD27_P7.62mm_HorizontalD1, D2, D10, D11, D12, D13, D14, D15, D16, D17, D18, D19, D20, D21, D22, D23 +34
50SW_PushButton_Switch_Keyboard:SW_Cherry_MX_1.00u_PCBSW1, SW2, SW10, SW11, SW12, SW13, SW14, SW15, SW16, SW17, SW18, SW19, SW20, SW21, SW22, SW23 +34
10MountingHoleMountingHole:MountingHole_2.2mm_M2_DIN965_PadH1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, H7, H8, H9, H10
3break offmouse bits?:mouse-bite-1mm-slotB1, BO1, BO2
2BATTestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D2.0mmTP1, TP3
2GNDTestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D2.0mmTP2, TP4
2R2Resistor_SMD:R_0805_2012Metric806k1, R1
2R3Resistor_SMD:R_0805_2012Metric2M1, R2
2XIAO-nRF52840-SMDsplit:Modified XIAO nRF52840 SMDU3, U4

Questions

How big is the Split keyboard PCB?

It measures 267.4 × 131.4 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.

What parts does the Split keyboard use?

123 parts. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.

Where can I download the Split keyboard KiCad files?

From the Anycircle11139s/split-keyboard repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is Split keyboard PCB/Split keyboard.kicad_pcb and its schematic Split keyboard PCB/Split keyboard.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.

Can I use the Split keyboard design in my own project?

Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask Anycircle11139s before reusing the design.

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