The Tanuki is a 40% keyboard that uses a split spacebar design to comfortably switch between layers. The design goal for the Tanuki was to make a staggered 40% keyboard out of materials I had lying around in my workshop. This is also where it gets its name. A Tanuki or Japanese raccoon dog is also known as a trash panda on the internet, which I felt was a fitting name for something build out of leftover materials.
The reason I am not doing a group buy or anything else of the sort is because I want people to experiment. To try different things with a keyboard that is not going to ruin your bank account if you get it wrong the first time. I feel that running a group buy or outright producing this keyboard will take away the experimental nature of the project. I want people to take what I designed and mold it into something that is theirs. To use this more as a platform of departure rather than a guide to follow. Ok, I will stop rambling about design philosophy now.
You are of course more than welcome to run your own group buy! If you intend to use this design for commercial use, please go right ahead!
- A staggered design.
- Extremely small bezel.
- Interactive RGB underglow that shows what layer you're on.
- Buttons to turn off or reconfigure your underglow.
- The ability to modify and adapt the keyboard to your wildest dreams! (and perhaps learn new skills doing so!)
The Tanuki works by having a split spacebar design. Holding either side of the spacebar will shift the keyboard to a different layer giving you access to the characters on that layer. Please note that while playing video games you should switch to the game layer. Some games to not handle the spacebar hold interaction well and will eat your inputs. (not good when playing your high adrenaline games) Switching to the game layer will remove the hold function from the spacebar, fixing the problem.
The Tanuki has 3 layers, if the key you want is not on any of these layers you will have to dive into the firmware and put it somewhere you like!
Base layer:
Up layer:
Down layer:
Game layer: (sort of a bad name I know more like arrow layer ah well)
Visit the Assembly and Parts folder to get an idea of how to construct a Tanuki. Otherwise start by making a case by going to the Case folder. From there you can decide to handwire your Tanuki or have a pcb made. After that comes assembly and firmware!
