Since you aren’t giving any details it’s hard to answer your question. There are plenty of diy keyboards around that have unique layouts, maybe one will fit you.

If not the most popular way to make your own keyboard is to 3d print the case and have the plate cut by a laser cutting service, and then hand wire the circuit together.

Tell us more, and we can help more.

Why does your keyboard need a raspberry pi or "functions that don't even exist". Your going to be connecting it to a computer, I presume.. make the computer do the work..

Sorry, should have given a bit more. Needs to be ortholinear, every key the same size (with the exception of one that is 2 wide). Sort of similar to this actually https://spacehop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Ortholinear-keyboard-design.jpeg but a column or two narrower. Will be my own custom layout (because qwerty is garbage). But also I want to chord with it and use additional modifier key to adjust the cords, so I need to be able to fully program output based on which keys are pressed/held.

I'm going to be connecting it to various computers and I want it to behave the same on all of them without any setup on the computer side.

So basically a preonic? And you would need QMK to program it.

Hmm, yeah almost. A little wider though. I'll have to look into how programmable that actually is. But definitely on the right track!

It’s 100% customizable once loaded with base QMK.

Btw if you figure out your size, just google it. Likely someone made it if it’s just grid ortho.

>I want it to behave the same on all of them without any setup on the computer side.

That's exactly what QMK does on a tiny microcontroller. No need for a Pi.

I'm not sure what exactly you're looking for but ai03 has a PCB design guide which you can follow. For physical design of the case, I like to start at Keyboard Layout Editor, since that gives me a visualization of the layout, plus I can use it to help with firmware stuff and case/plate design, with the help of ai03's plate generator. The ras pi interfacing stuff I don't have anything to help with off the top of my head. But reading your other comment, that can already be done in QMK, just make sure the keyboard layout on host side are all consistent and voila. For instance, my Reviung39 runs a custom workman layout that's tailored to me and as long as host side all use standard US intl layout, it works all the same regardless.

You can program almost any function :)

Pi is inefficient for this task. What you want is a microcontroller, which is fully dedicated and draws less power. Plus there’s more support via QMK, which will do everything you need. Remap keys, change debounce algorithms, add macros, tweak polling rate, cycle RGB effects, you name it.

My advice is to just get an existing PCB and make a custom case. Throw a STM32 in there if you want the best stuff. If you’re dead set on designing everything from the ground up and sticking with a Pi, you’re going to spend months developing the damn thing and it’ll still need an external power source.

Buy an Elite-C microcontroller board and build with QMK

Do you have silica and other raw materials to make the pcb boards? You need raw plastics and copper to for wires

Cool, ill not familiar with QMK, I'll have to check it out.

My original plan was an ESP32, but the pi has the advantage of showing up as HID keyboard. That was the only reason I we thinking of thing that route. I'll definitely check out QMK first.

That's a cool looking one, I'll definitely have to check more into that!

Haha, maybe not quite that far from scratch

It will make your life easier. To get up and running quickly,

• use http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/ to create your layout
• https://kbfirmware.com/ to map your matrix to pins and export your .hex
• then flash using https://github.com/qmk/qmk_toolbox from your desktop

You can export the code files from kbfirmware if you want to make more advanced changes, like adding a rotary encoder.

Excellent information, than you so much!

checkerboards has quite a few ortho boards in 40/45/60/65% sizes.

I think I want to do 5x14, and I don't see anything quite that size on there.

well okay Mr Badass

But not split ;)

Also you didn’t look that hard then

Maybe I'm following the link wrong or something, but that's a 6x19

It is. I wasn’t sure how exacting you needed it to be. The id75 Is 5x15 and fits a 60% case perfectly, so your desired 5x14 layout might need a custom PCB and case If you’re rigid on that layout option.

I'm pretty solid on that size. I could go 5x15, but it would just be a whole column of keys that I don't have a use for. But if it fits in a 60% case, it'll likely save me a whole pile of other headaches, so might be worth it.