Cantor Keyboard

The Cantor keyboard is a 42 key diodeless split keyboard, designed with simplicity in mind. It is inspired on the popular corne, ferris and sweep keyboards, aiming to provide a more ergonomic (stronger column stagger) corne-like layout with a simple, easy to assemble and cheap design.

There are two versions of the Cantor:

The Cantor Classic uses choc switches with choc spacing. Therefore, only MBK keycaps can be used.

The Cantor MX uses either choc V1, choc V2, or MX switches with the slightly larger MX spacing. Keycaps for MX stems can be used. (OEM/SA/XDM/Cherry, etc.)

Why diodeless?

A diodeless design reduces the keyboard assembly time, as the amount of components to solder is significantly reduced. Moreover, soldering diodes can cause trouble during the keyboard build. Diodes need to be placed in the correct direction, if not, the keys won't work well! Eliminating diodes will prevent many errors during the assembly process.

Disclaimers

All the designs and files are provided "AS IS" without any warranty or support.

Design philosophy

The Cantor is designed with the following goals:

• Comfort
• Powerful
• Low cost
• Simplicity
• Ease of build
• USB-C
• No diodes

The PCB is reversible to reduce manufacturing costs.

Getting started

Would you like to build this keyboard? Then continue reading!

You can also buy a kit to build the Cantor keyboard from one of the honorable sponsors:

Bill of Materials

To build the keyboard, you will need the following materials:

Cantor Classic:

• 2x PCB boards (both are equal since they are reversible)
• 2x STM32F401CC blackpill microcontrollers (they are cheap on aliexpress)
• Pins and sockets for the microcontrollers (blackpill needs 20 pin stripes)
• 42 Choc v1 switches
• 42 MBK keycaps
• Some little rubber feet/bumpers (recommended 6 mm of diameter)
• 2x TRRS jacks (PJ-320A)
• 1x TRRS cable
• 1x USB cable compatible with your computer and the blackpill

Cantor MX

• Same as the classic, but switches can be choc v1, choc v2, MX 5 pin, or MX 3pin, and the compatible keycaps for chosen switches. MX 5 pin are preferable to 3 pin because they have more points of contact with the PCB.

• Cantor MX has slots for optional 'Tenting pucks'. They can be purchased or 3d printed.

Order the PCB

Download the gerber file from releases, and submit it to your favorite PCB manufacturer. The keyboard designs have been tested with JLCPCB. More details on the ordering process can be found in the PCB Ordering Guide.

Note: if you don't want a random tracking number to be printed in the PCB, make sure to select the option 'Remove Order Number' in JLCPCB.

How to Build

To build the keyboard, you'll also need a soldering iron and some tin. Follow the build guide.

Firmware

The Cantor keyboard uses the QMK firmware. Firmware for this keyboard is coming soon to the main QMK repository with this PR.

To flash the firmware to the microcontroller connect the blackpill to your computer and set it to bootloader mode. To do this the first time:

1. Press and hold the BOOT0 button.
2. Press and release the NRST button.
3. Release the BOOT0 button.

The following times you want to flash the keyboard, it is much simpler thanks to bootmagic. Hold the top left key of the keyboard and plug the microcontroller. If flashing the right part, hold the top right key.

Feedback

If you have build this keyboard, please fill this form to provide feedback. This will help to improve the keyboard design in future revisions.

Also, you can open an issue reporting any problem or feature request.

Support

The development of a keyboard takes time and money. If you like this keyboard a want to support me for the work and to develop future revisions of the keyboard, consider donating:

PayPal: GitHub: Here

Honorable sponsors

Thank you very much to everyone contributing and/or sponsoring this project. Special thanks to the honorable sponsors: