2 layers312.4 × 114 mm Split keyboard, the printed circuit board in 3D

Split keyboard

Shadow220108/Split-Keyboard-with-Joystick

Its a split keyboard custom designed for most effective use ( for me ) with an integrated trackball , maximizing productivity and ergonomics

Open in PCBKit

Size: 312.4 × 114 mm
Copper layers: 2
Thickness: 1.6 mm
Parts: 125
Nets: 110
Pads: 740
Tracks, vias: 932, 107
Pours: 2
Routed: Yes
KiCad: KiCad 9.0 (file 20241229)
Created: 1 Dec 2025
Updated: 7 Dec 2025

Overview

Split keyboard is an open-source printed circuit board by Shadow220108, from the Shadow220108/Split-Keyboard-with-Joystick repository on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board of 312.4 × 114 mm with 125 parts on 110 nets, routed with 932 tracks and 107 vias.

It is built around the 74HC165D and SK6812MINI-E. Its parts include 56 diodes, 48 switches and 3 ICs. It belongs with the keyboards and input boards and the nRF52 and nRF5x boards of this library.

Main components

README

README.md

Split-Keyboard-with-Joystick

Its a split keyboard custom designed for most effective use ( for me ) with an integrated joystick ( to be used as cursor) , maximizing productivity and ergonomics
I am using XIAO NRF58240 rather than ESP32 cause the zmk firmware support is currently experimental/non-existent in the main branch, and the battery life of the keyboard which will be reduced to days rather than months in NRF58240

HERE IS THE DESIGN OF SPLIT KEYBOARD

CAD

HERE IS THE CASE ( WHICH WILL BE 3D PRINTED )

CASE

HERE IS THE PCB DESIGN

PCB

HERE IS THE LEFT HALF SCHEMATIC

LEFT

HERE IS THE RIGHT HALF SCHEMATIC

RIGHT

Firmware

For firmware , i will be using ZMK the files used for them are in the folder i will be flashing it after the build

BOM

ITEM	DESCRIPTION	QUANTITY	UNIT PRICE	TOTAL PRICE	URL	RUNNING TOTAL ( with tax )

PCB MANUFACTURE	PCB	5(minimum on jlpcb)	3.50$	17.50$	https://cart.jlcpcb.com/quote?stencilLayer=2&stencilWidth=100&stencilLength=100&stencilCounts=5&spm=Jlcpcb.Homepage.1010	24.50$

Seeed XIAO nRF52840	MICROCONTROLLER	2 ( one left and one right )	12.50$	25$	https://robocraze.com/products/seeed-studio-xiao-nrf52840-development-board-supports-bluetooth-5-0	49.50$

Kailh MX Hotswap Sockets	SWITCH SOCKETS	Set of 50	0.10$	5$	https://meckeys.com/shop/accessories/keyboard-accessories/key-switches/kailh-hot-swap-socket/	54.50$

Cherry MX Switches	SWITCH	Set of 50	0.36$	18$	https://meckeys.com/shop/accessories/keyboard-accessories/key-switches/cherry-mx-rgb-switch/	72.50$

Blank Keycaps 1.0u	KEYCAPS	Set of 50	0.20$	10$	https://meckeys.com/shop/accessories/keyboard-accessories/keycaps/blank-dsa-keycaps-1u/	82.50$

3.7V LiPo Batteries	BATTERIES	2 ( one left and one right )	1$	3$	https://quartzcomponents.com/products/3-7v-1000mah-li-po-rechargeable-battery?variant=44131981295850	85.10$

1N4148 - Fast Switching Diode SOD-323	DIODES	50	0.02$	1.0$	https://quartzcomponents.com/products/1n4148ws-t4-switching-diode-sod-123-smd-package?variant=45540031627498	86$

74HC165	SHIFT REGISTOR	1	0.2$	0.2$	https://quartzcomponents.com/products/74hc165-ic-8-bit-parallel-in-serial-out-shift-register-ic-smd-package?variant=44714752901354	86$

SK16812 MINI	LED	10				self sourced

Joystick and breakout board	Joystick	1	0.40$	0.40$	https://robu.in/product/joystick-module-ps2-breakout-sensor/	87.00$

					TOTAL	90$ approximate with shipping and 3d parts

Parts

125

Qty	Value	Footprint	References
46	1N5819	Diode_SMD:D_SOD-123	D1, D10, D11, D12, D13, D14, D15, D16, D17, D18, D19, D20, D21, D22, D23, D24 +30
46	SW_Push	footprints:SW_MX_HS_KS-2P02B01-01_1u	SW2, SW10, SW11, SW12, SW13, SW14, SW15, SW16, SW17, SW18, SW19, SW20, SW21, SW22, SW23, SW24 +30
10	MountingHole_Pad	MountingHole:MountingHole_2.2mm_M2_Pad_Via	H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, H7, H8, H9, H10
10	SK6812MINI	LED_SMD:LED_SK6812MINI_PLCC4_3.5x3.5mm_P1.75mm	D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D25, D26, D30, D31, D32
4	TestPoint	TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D2.5mm	BAT_NEG_LEFT1, BAT_NEG_RIGHT1, BAT_POS_LEFT1, BAT_POS_RIGHT1
3	Break off	marbastalib:mouse-bite-2.54mm-slot	H11, H12, H13
2	SW_SPDT	Button_Switch_SMD:SW_SPDT_PCM12	SW1, SW44
2	XIAO-nRF52840-SMD	opl:modified-XIAO-nRF52840-SMD	U1, U2
1	74HC165	Package_SO:SOIC-16_3.9x9.9mm_P1.27mm	U3
1	joystick_analog	Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x04_P2.54mm_Vertical	JS1

Questions

How big is the Split keyboard PCB?

It measures 312.4 × 114 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.

What parts does the Split keyboard use?

125 parts, built around the 74HC165D and SK6812MINI-E. 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 Shadow220108/Split-Keyboard-with-Joystick repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is PCB/Split keyboard.kicad_pcb and its schematic 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 Shadow220108 before reusing the design.

Category and platform

Keyboards and input nRF52 and nRF5x

Project files

Show this board on your page

A live frame, for any web page

<iframe src="https://pcbkit.io/embed/boards/shadow220108-split-keyboard-with-joystick" title="Split keyboard in PCBKit" width="100%" height="480" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" allow="fullscreen" loading="lazy"></iframe>

A picture

<img src="https://pcbkit.io/embed/boards/shadow220108-split-keyboard-with-joystick.jpg" alt="Split keyboard" width="1200" height="900">

A picture that opens the board, for a README

[![Split keyboard](https://pcbkit.io/embed/boards/shadow220108-split-keyboard-with-joystick.jpg?size=s)](https://pcbkit.io/boards/shadow220108-split-keyboard-with-joystick)

Source

Repository: Shadow220108/Split-Keyboard-with-Joystick
Board file: PCB/Split keyboard.kicad_pcb
Commit: f9e8e5d
Licence: Not stated

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