Rev 1.5

[pmd-coutinho]

hey hey @Lefuneste83 . first of all thank you for this amazing fork. very nice QOL improvements particularly the LED changes xD.
I just wanna to ask if you are planning on distributing the gerber for the 1.5 rev any time soon?

if not i will order rev 1.4 pcbs.

thanks in advance

[Lefuneste83]

Thank you for your feedback. I haven't validated the 1.5 hardware integration yet. It is required as the linking cable is now transferring USB VCC (5v) instead of post regulator VCC (3.3v in most cases) from master MCU so I need to clamp the voltage down to 3.3v in order to protect the RX/TX GPIO rails in case of cable disconnection while the keyboard is powered. I will be using a dual Schottky diode to clamp the voltage on these rails but obviously this must be validated in real life. For the moment I recommend sticking to 1.4 which is good enough for most users. The main drawback of these pre 1.5 versions is the overload on the master MCU voltage regulator when using a 3.3V rated MCU. And also the less than optimal voltage to drive the LEDs strings. Also keep in mind that the 1.5 version will have an integrated haptic buzzer and driver along with several SMD passives which require advanced SMD soldering skills and equipment.

[joeblackwaslike]

@Lefuneste83 reading the changelog the improvements included in 1.5 seem worth waiting for, especially since my previous 5 attempts to build the original 1.3 all failed for different reasons, sometimes the mcu would overheat instantly, sometimes the oled would fail to work, sometimes a short would develop among the mcu pins of both sides, sometimes they would be fine on their own but would stop working the moment they were connected, etc.

It took me 5 attempts to get both sides of the board working w/o overheating, encoders, oled, switches all worked but when I connected them together over trrs, it stopped working at all. I tried 3 different trrs cables and even a trs for good measure. I enabled debug in qmk and connected to the debug monitor over usb and the errors were all related to the split keyboard communication.

I realized later that I had made the mistake of using the mini-e led modules, although the original docs said not to use these, the illustrations showed the mini-e modules (with the 4 leads coming out) instead of those on the BOM list.. very confusing. I'm really happy to see that your refactor included these instead, as I have little interest in using a solder iron to hand solder smd leds one leg at a time.

I strongly prefer the workflow of ordering a smd stencil, using it to apply solder paste, placing the components with a tweezer and using a hotplate to melt the paste vs hand soldering countless smd components one leg at a time.

When do you expect to have 1.5 validated and a zip of 1.5 gerbers available? I don't have kicad experience, so I'm worried using the gerber files directly will miss something important. I think I will hold off ordering from jlc until 1.5 is verified.

Thanks again for helping revive the klor, we're lucky to have someone as skilled as you to update the original design!

[Lefuneste83]

Hello. I should be able to put the 1.5 online early next year. Be aware that it requires equipment and skills for SMD soldering the parts especially the haptic components which are now directly integrated on the PCB. If you just want an easier to solder solution still using better LED packages you can stick to 1.4

[joeblackwaslike]

Hello. I should be able to put the 1.5 online early next year. Be aware that it requires equipment and skills for SMD soldering the parts especially the haptic components which are now directly integrated on the PCB. If you just want an easier to solder solution still using better LED packages you can stick to 1.4

@Lefuneste83 I strongly prefer smd soldering, will this be something I can order a solder stencil for and finish on a hotplate? Or will it require smd compononents on both sides?

[Lefuneste83]

It has smd on both sides and because it is a symmetrical PCB for right and left keyboard halves you have to solder the face with switch sockets looking upwards plus other components then go on the other side. So in any case you need both techniques hotplate and manual soldering. This is due to the compactness and the symmetry of the design.

[joeblackwaslike]

@Lefuneste83 any idea when we can get the files to order rev 1.5 of the pcbs? thx!

[Lefuneste83]

@Lefuneste83 any idea when we can get the files to order rev 1.5 of the pcbs? thx!

Sorry for the delays I will try to validate the 1.5 design in the coming days

[Lefuneste83]

Sorry for the delays in publishing the new design, I am in the process of relocating to another country, having to bring all my lab equipment with me. I should be updating this repo with the 1.5 design in the near future before summer for sure. The designs have been ready for a while and I must build one prototype to make sure safety features are properly implemented. It evolves around a set of clamping diodes to avoid frying the MCU when plugging/unplugging the cable link while main PCB it is powered by USB. As the new design is using 5V between keyboard halves, and the MCU is only 3.3V compliant, there may be a surge of 5V on the serial pins when hot plugging/unplugging the link cable. I am not sure how resilient the MCU is to this, so I have added a set of clamping diodes to avoid issues, but obviously I need to test it! Be aware that 1.5 design will bring the haptic module/controller to the main PCB (no more module). This is done so it allows more freedom for switch positioning. You will be able to mount it or not obviously as this module can be disabled in the FW. But if you chose to mount it, you would better be prepared to get to a higher degree of soldering skills. The module must be soldered with proper equipement such as hot air or even better, a hot plate. Also the controller is a small chip making it difficult if you have no experience in SMD soldering. For this reason I will be considering selling prebuild PCBs once the design is validated.

[psi4j]

Hope your move is has gone (or is going) well, @Lefuneste83. I own a 1.3 Polydactyl that I made several years back, but I was looking for a low-profile build without having to switch my layout (Totem would require remapping my muscle memory). I was wondering if the new 1.5 PCB will have the option for the low-profile switches as well. I would much rather keep using the Polydactyl layout with a slimmer build for travel if at all possible. Please let me know if I should wait on the 1.5 or if I should go ahead with the 1.4 KS33 build. Thank you for the hard work you've put in modernizing the KLOR to 2025 standards.

[rrajaste]

@Lefuneste83 How's the progress with the v1.5? I'm currently working on a brand new case design and wondered if I should wait until the v1.5 releases. Thanks!

[MatthewJD]

Hi @Lefuneste83 - any ETA for the 1.5 board in 2026? Would be great to use the updated schematic. Thanks for all your hard work on this project.

[LHSmicius]

I started to trace v1.5 because I realized I want "Kailh" low profile switches (this will be separate PCB variant) and hall effect joystick from Nintendo Switch. I know, ZMK doesn't support joystick due to ADC reading may increase energy consumption, so maybe this will be experimental branch or removable part of PCB. Getting back to v1.5, main changes I'm thinking of:

1. Second (right) side will get 5V directly from USB and will use it's own LDO for powering MCU, LEDs and etc.
2. Aux connector (3,5mm jack) pinout change to avoid 5V shorts and damage.
3. NRF52840 pro micro footprint changes. Add 3 unused pins (preparing to connect joystick) and I want to solder this little board on top to get better bluetooth signal, so my idea is to reverse silkscreen so that it shows right when NRF52840 puts on top. As I saw many users solder this way. Let me know if this design has drawbacks.
4. Updates in KiCad project, because now it conflicts with KiCad 10.

Let me know if you want something more in v1.5 or any of changes above seems debatable.