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2 layers115.5 × 95 mmWave pcb, the printed circuit board in 3D

A small, minimalist and reversible elite-c based split keyboard that builds on previous designs to fit your needs.

Size
115.5 × 95 mm
Copper layers
2
Thickness
1.6 mm
Parts
28
Nets
27
Pads
586
Tracks, vias
342, 21
Pours
110
Routed
Yes
KiCad
KiCad 7 (file 20221018)
Created
7 Sep 2023
Updated
8 Apr 2025

Overview

Wave pcb is an open-source printed circuit board by etiennecollin, from the etiennecollin/wave repository on GitHub, published under the GPL-3.0 licence. It is a 2-layer board of 115.5 × 95 mm with 28 parts on 27 nets, routed with 342 tracks and 21 vias.

It belongs with the keyboards and input boards and the AVR (ATmega, ATtiny) boards of this library.

README

README.md

Wave

Wave v0.0.1 + MBK Blank Keycaps Image Wave v0.0.1 + MBK Blank Keycaps


What Is It

The Wave is a small, minimalist, reversible keyboard inspired by the Ferris, the Ferris Sweep, the Swoop, the Sweep36, the Piantor and the Chocofi (thank you to the amazing creators of these keyboards). It aims to put together everything I like about these other models and to solve a few issues I found with them.

Features

  • Choc V1 switches
    • The switches can be soldered, or hot swapped using either Mill-Max or Kailh hot swap sockets
  • Choc spacing (supports MBK keycaps)
  • The same column stagger you loved on the Ferris Sweep
  • 1.5u thumb key support
  • Diode-less build
  • Reversible PCB
  • USB-C
  • Mini DIN 4 (S-Video) connector used to connect both halves of the keyboard
    • The issue with TRRS connectors is that they are not hot swap; disconnecting the cable while the keyboard is powered via usb risks damaging/breaking the controller by shorting the VCC pin to a GND or data pin.
    • The Mini DIN 4 connector solves this issue and is readily available on the market, being the cable used for S-Video.
  • Switch plate and back plate available
  • No LEDs

Components List

Keyboard

Here are the required components to build the Wave:

  • 2x Keyboard PCBs (PCB manufacturers usually sell them in multiples of 5)
  • 2x Elite-C V4 controllers
  • 36x Choc V1 switches
  • 36x MBK compatible keycaps
  • 2x Mini DIN 4 Jack (MDJ-004-FS)
  • 1x Mini DIN 4 (S-Video) cable
  • 1x USB-C Cable to connect to computer

Here are the optional components to build the Wave:

  • Hot swap sockets, either:
    • 36x Kailh hot swap sockets for Choc switches
    • 72x Mill-Max hot swap sockets (preferably 3305 or 7305 sockets as they have a thinner profile)
  • 2x reset switches (B3U-1000P-B)
    • The B3U-1000PM, B3U-1000P-B and B3U-1000PM-B variants will work as they have the same footprint.
  • 10x Rubber feet/bumpers (I like these RBS-12BK)

Plates Kit

  • 2x Switch plate PCBs (PCB manufacturers usually sell them in multiples of 5)
    • The switch plates may be used without back plates.
  • 2x Back plate PCBs (PCB manufacturers usually sell them in multiples of 5)
    • The back plates require switch plates to screw into.
  • 5x M2 6mm spacer (970060244)
  • 10x M2 3mm screws (I like these torx screws)

Ordering the PCBs

Keyboard

Wave PCB Image

Wave PCB

To order the keyboard PCB, the following settings are recommended1:

DetailValue
Gerber fileWave_0.0.1.zip
Base materialFR-4
Layers2
Different design1
Delivery formatSingle PCB
PCB thickness1.6mm
PCB color(Personal preference)
Silkscreen(Personal preference)
Surface finish(Personal preference)2
Outer copper weight1oz
Via CoveringTented
Board Outline Tolerance±0.2mm(Regular)
Confirm production fileNo
Remove order numberYes
Gold FingersNo
Castellated holesNo

Plates kit

You will need to order two different PCBs; the switch plate one and the back plate one.

Switch Plates

Wave Switch Plate PCB Image

Wave Switch Plate PCB

Wave v0.0.1 Switch Plate Image Wave v0.0.1 Switch Plate

To order the switch plate PCB, the following settings are recommended1:

DetailValue
Gerber fileWave_Switch_Plate_0.0.1.zip
Base materialFR-4
Different design1
Layers2
Delivery formatSingle PCB
PCB thickness1.2mm
PCB color(Personal preference)
Silkscreen(Personal preference)
Surface finish(Personal preference)2
Outer copper weight1oz
Via CoveringTented
Board Outline Tolerance±0.2mm(Regular)
Confirm production fileNo
Remove order numberYes
Gold FingersNo
Castellated holesNo
Back Plates

Wave Back Plate PCB Image

Wave Back Plate PCB

Wave v0.0.1 Back Plate Image Wave v0.0.1 Back Plate

To order the back plate PCB, the following settings are recommended1:

DetailValue
Gerber fileWave_Back_Plate_0.0.1.zip
Base materialFR-4
Different design1
Layers2
Delivery formatSingle PCB
PCB thickness1.6mm
PCB color(Personal preference)
Silkscreen(Personal preference)
Surface finish(Personal preference)2
Outer copper weight1oz
Via CoveringTented
Board Outline Tolerance±0.2mm(Regular)
Confirm production fileNo
Remove order numberYes
Gold FingersNo
Castellated holesNo

QMK Firmware

The latest firmware can be found on the official QMK repository.

Footnotes

  1. Settings are for JLCPCB, but should be similar with other manufacturers. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  2. ROHS or lead-free options should be preferred (LeadFree HASL). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

Parts

28
QtyValueFootprintReferences
17SW_Pushcustom:Kailh_socket_PG1350_1.00u_optional_millmax_reversibleSW_1, SW_2, SW_3, SW_4, SW_5, SW_6, SW_7, SW_8, SW_10, SW_11, SW_12, SW_13, SW_14, SW_15, SW_17, SW_18 +1
5Holecustom:Würth_Elektronik_970060244_M2_spacer_hole_padH_1, H_2, H_3, H_4, H_5
1Elite-Ccustom:Elite-C-upsideDown_reversibleU_1
1MiniDIN4custom:AdamTech_MDJ-004-FS_reversibleJ_1
1SW_Pushcustom:Kailh_socket_PG1350_1.50u_optional_millmax_reversibleSW_16
1SW_Pushcustom:Omron_B3U-1000P-B_reversibleRSW_1
1logo_usernamecustom:logo_usernamename
1logo_wave_backcustom:logo_waveLOGO***

Questions

How big is the Wave pcb PCB?

It measures 115.5 × 95 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.

What parts does the Wave pcb use?

28 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 Wave pcb KiCad files?

From the etiennecollin/wave repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is pcbs/main/wave_pcb.kicad_pcb and its schematic pcbs/back-plate/back_plate_pcb.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.

Can I use the Wave pcb design in my own project?

Its repository publishes it under the GPL-3.0 licence: you may reuse it on that licence's terms (keep the author's notice, and for a copyleft licence share your changes alike).

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