Tsuka60 - the Katana60 v2 PCB Interest Check [IC]

Symmetrical staggered layouts are among early attempts at more ergonomic layouts for typists. The Katana60 brought these layouts to a new and engaged mechanical keyboard community. I’ve explored the layout further and identified improvements that both simplify the transition from traditional layouts and allow further customisation and engagement with contemporary community trends (read: keycaps and cases). Introducing Katana60 v2.






PCB Supported Layouts



The Katana60 fits in standard 60% cases, so you can choose from a wide variety of pre-existing cases. The added support of standard bottom rows (new in v2) adds further flexibility to your custom keyboard. For example, the addition of the popular 7u space bar bottom row allows the buyer to try 60% WKL cases or HHKB style cases with 1.5u blockers.



v2 Universal layout example (default)



The default layout adds the benefits of a symmetrical stagger to a traditional legacy keyboard layout, and little more. The layout is 100% row-profile correct and key positioning follows the common qwerty positioning. Unlike other variants, international keycap sets are supported with this layout.

Non-standard keycaps required
2x row 4 - 1.5u
1x row 3 - 1.75u (extra)

The required caps can be found in GMK group buys or other premium keycap sets.

Here it is shown with the standard bottom row. An alternative asymmetrical bottom row is also supported, with additional thumb keys.



v2 Symmetrical layout example



This layout is also 100% row-profile correct. Key positions have been relocated for the symmetric aesthetic. The optional 2u backspace key is shown here, alongside a split, symmetric space bar arrangement. The alternative bottom row with a 7u space bar is shown, this allows support for HHKB style cases with 1.5u blockers.



Katana60 v1 'Classic'



The default layout of the original Katana60 has its benefits. Although it didn't support any 100% correct row profile layouts, it could be covered using a stand ANSI keycap set and nothing more.

Support for the v1 layout can be built in to the v2 PCB, but there are some caveats to this approach, so I'd like to guage interest in the Classic layout before devoting time to adding it to the v2. Firstly, and importantly, implementation of the Classic bottom row would require us to drop support for the 6.25u bottom row option (since the stabilisers will overlap). Another caveat is the offset of the alphas between the two layouts. Implementing this is possible, but it adds complexity (and therefore time) to the process.

I have prepared an interest check form to measure the interest in the options before developing the PCB. Here's a link, please fill it out and leave any comments or suggestions in the thread below.



Thank you for your interest and your time.

RominRonin