2 layers159.9 × 129.5 mm
NomadKeyboard
fiendie/NomadKeyboard
PCB and case designs for the Nomad low-profile, split mechanical keyboard
98 parts90
2 layers159.9 × 129.5 mm
NomadKeyboard
fiendie/NomadKeyboard90PCB and case designs for the Nomad low-profile, split mechanical keyboard
- Size
- 159.9 × 129.5 mm
- Copper layers
- 2
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 98
- Nets
- 137
- Pads
- 1,051
- Tracks, vias
- 2,737, 403
- Pours
- 2
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 8.0 (file 20240108)
- Created
- 18 Aug 2024
- Updated
- 24 Nov 2025
Overview
NomadKeyboard is an open-source printed circuit board by fiendie, from the fiendie/NomadKeyboard repository on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board of 159.9 × 129.5 mm with 98 parts on 137 nets, routed with 2,737 tracks and 403 vias.
Its parts include 34 diodes, 34 switches, 2 resistors, 2 connectors and 2 inductors. It belongs with the keyboards and input boards of this library.
README
README.mdNomad Keyboard
The Nomad is a 7×5 keys, column-staggered split keyboard based in part on the Sofle Choc by Brian Low. It uses low profile Kailh Choc v1 switches with hotswap sockets and features per-key RGB lighting via SK6812 Mini-E LEDs. Compared to the Sofle Choc the nomad offers an additional thumb cluster key, an additional modifier key in the 5th row and a 7th inner column with 3 keys each. An MX version is also available.
If you are a non-EU resident you can buy pre-made keyboards from Lucky Boy Store on AliExpress.
Table of Contents
Firmware
Nomad uses QMK firmware
Currently there is a default keymap for and a vial keymap to configure your keyboard in real time.
Bill of Materials
| Item | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nomad PCB | 2 | Custom left and right halves. |
| Kailh Choc v1 or MX switches | 68 | Choose based on version, the Choc version is only compatible with v1 switches!. |
| Keycaps (MBK, ChocFox, or MX) | 68 | Must match switch type and profile preference. |
| SMD Diodes (1N4148, 0805 package) | 68 | One per switch; surface-mount only. |
| SK6812 Mini-E LEDs | 68 | One per switch, make sure you get the Mini-E version specifically. |
| RP2040 Controller | 2 | Tested with SplitKB Liatris and 42.Keebs Frood. |
| TRRS jacks | 2 | For inter-half communication. |
| TRRS cable | 1 | Male-to-male, preferrably with 90 degree plugs |
| ALPS EC12 Low-Profile Rotary Encoder | 2 | Optional rotary input. |
| Tactile Reset Button | 2 | Optional but useful. |
| OLED Display (SSD1306 128x32) | 2 (optional) | Optional I2C displays. |
| SMD Resistors (0805 package) | 4 | I2C pull-up resistors, ony needed for the displays |
| Header Pins | Varies | For MCU, OLEDs. |
| 3D-Printed Case | 2 halves | Top shell only; open-bottom design using included STL files. |
| Acrylic Cover | 2 halves | Laser-cut cover layer using included DXF file. |
| M2 Standoffs (12 mm) | 8 | For mounting cover to case. |
| M2 Countersunk Screws (top) | 8 | For securing the acrylic cover to standoffs. |
| M2 Hex Screws (bottom of standoffs) | 8 | Attach standoffs from underneath the case edge. |
| Rubber feet | 8+ | Optional, for grip and elevation. |
Default layout
Base Layer
┌──────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐ ┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬──────┐
│ Esc │ 1 │ 2 │ 3 │ 4 │ 5 │ < │ │ > │ 6 │ 7 │ 8 │ 9 │ 0 │ Bksp │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ Tab │ Q │ W │ E │ R │ T │ { │ │ } │ Z │ U │ I │ O │ P │ ? │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ = │ A │ S │ D │ F │ G │ | │ │ - │ H │ J │ K │ L │ + │ # │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┘ └─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ LSft │ Y │ X │ C │ V │ B │ │ N │ M │ , │ . │ ↑ │ RSft │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┬─────┐ ┌─────┬─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ Ctrl │ L3 │ L2 │ Opt │ GUI │ │ Spc │ Del │ │ L1 │ Rtn │ │ GUI │ Opt │ ← │ ↓ │ → │
└──────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴──────┘Symbol Layer
┌──────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐ ┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬──────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ ^ │ │ ° │ │ │ │ │ │ │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ │ Q │ │ € │ │ │ [ │ │ ] │ │ Ü │ │ Ö │ │ │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ │ Ä │ ß │ │ │ │ \ │ │ / │ H │ │ │ @ │ │ │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┘ └─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ~ │ │ │ │ │ │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┬─────┐ ┌─────┬─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
└──────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴──────┘FN/Media Layer
┌──────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐ ┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬──────┐
│ │ F1 │ F2 │ F3 │ F4 │ F5 │ F6 │ │ F7 │ F8 │ F9 │ F10 │ F11 │ F12 │ │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ B+ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ B- │ │ │ │ │ │ │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┘ └─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ PgU │ Ins │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┬─────┐ ┌─────┬─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ │ │ │ │ Rwd │ │ Pla │ Mut │ │ V- │ V+ │ │ Fwd │ │ Hom │ PgD │ End │
└──────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴──────┘RGB Settings Layer
┌──────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐ ┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬──────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ Tgl │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ Md- │ │ Md+ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ Sp- │ │ Sp+ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┘ └─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
├──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┬─────┐ ┌─────┬─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┤
│ │ │ │ │ Va- │ │ H- │ H+ │ │ S- │ S+ │ │ Va+ │ │ │ │ │
└──────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴──────┘Build Instructions
Still a work in progress
Images
Parts
98| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | D | SofleChoc:crkbd-diode | D1, D2, D10, D11, D12, D13, D14, D15, D16, D17, D18, D19, D20, D21, D22, D23 +18 |
| 34 | SW_PUSH_LED | SofleRGB:SK6812MINI-E_and_cherry | SW1, SW2, SW10, SW11, SW12, SW13, SW14, SW15, SW16, SW17, SW18, SW19, SW20, SW21, SW22, SW23 +18 |
| 8 | Jumper_NO_Small | SofleChoc:Jumper | JP1, JP2, JP3, JP4, JP5, JP6, JP7, JP8 |
| 5 | HOLE | SofleChoc:HOLE_M2_TH | TH1, TH2, TH3, TH4, TH9 |
| 4 | HOLE | SofleChoc:M2_HOLE_PCB | TH5, TH6, TH7, TH8 |
| 2 | LOGO | Nomad:Nomad_Logo_20 | L1, L2 |
| 2 | OSHW-Logo_5.7x6mm_SilkScreen | Symbol:OSHW-Logo_5.7x6mm_SilkScreen | OH1, OH2 |
| 2 | QRCODE | Nomad:Nomad_QR_Code | QR1, QR2 |
| 2 | R | Nomad:R_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.30x1.75mm_HandSolder | R1, R2 |
| 1 | 4PIN | SofleChoc:MJ-4PP-9 | J1 |
| 1 | OLED | SofleChoc:OLED_4Pin | J2 |
| 1 | RotaryEncoder | Rotary_Encoder:RotaryEncoder_Alps_EC12E_Vertical_H20mm | RE1 |
| 1 | SW_RST | SofleChoc:TACT_SWITCH_TVBP06 | RSW1 |
| 1 | ~ | Nomad:RP2040_CE | RP2040_CE1 |
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Questions
How big is the NomadKeyboard PCB?
It measures 159.9 × 129.5 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the NomadKeyboard use?
98 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 NomadKeyboard KiCad files?
From the fiendie/NomadKeyboard repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is PCB_MX/NomadKeyboard.kicad_pcb and its schematic PCB/NomadKeyboard.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the NomadKeyboard design in my own project?
Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask fiendie before reusing the design.