Wave

_{Wave v0.0.1 + MBK Blank Keycaps}

• What Is It
• Features
• Components List
  • Keyboard
  • Plates Kit
• Ordering the PCBs
  • Keyboard
  • Plates kit
    • Switch Plates
    • Back Plates
• QMK Firmware

What Is It

The Wave is a small, minimalist, reversible keyboard inspired by the Ferris, the Ferris Sweep, the Swoop, the Sweep36, the Piantor and the Chocofi (thank you to the amazing creators of these keyboards). It aims to put together everything I like about these other models and to solve a few issues I found with them.

Features

• Choc V1 switches
  • The switches can be soldered, or hot swapped using either Mill-Max or Kailh hot swap sockets
• Choc spacing (supports MBK keycaps)
• The same column stagger you loved on the Ferris Sweep
• 1.5u thumb key support
• Diode-less build
• Reversible PCB
• USB-C
• Mini DIN 4 (S-Video) connector used to connect both halves of the keyboard
  • The issue with TRRS connectors is that they are not hot swap; disconnecting the cable while the keyboard is powered via usb risks damaging/breaking the controller by shorting the VCC pin to a GND or data pin.
  • The Mini DIN 4 connector solves this issue and is readily available on the market, being the cable used for S-Video.
• Switch plate and back plate available
• No LEDs

Components List

Keyboard

Here are the required components to build the Wave:

• 2x Keyboard PCBs (PCB manufacturers usually sell them in multiples of 5)
• 2x Elite-C V4 controllers
• 36x Choc V1 switches
• 36x MBK compatible keycaps
• 2x Mini DIN 4 Jack (MDJ-004-FS)
• 1x Mini DIN 4 (S-Video) cable
• 1x USB-C Cable to connect to computer

Here are the optional components to build the Wave:

• Hot swap sockets, either:
  • 36x Kailh hot swap sockets for Choc switches
  • 72x Mill-Max hot swap sockets (preferably 3305 or 7305 sockets as they have a thinner profile)
• 2x reset switches (B3U-1000P-B)
  • The B3U-1000PM, B3U-1000P-B and B3U-1000PM-B variants will work as they have the same footprint.
• 10x Rubber feet/bumpers (I like these RBS-12BK)

Plates Kit

• 2x Switch plate PCBs (PCB manufacturers usually sell them in multiples of 5)
  • The switch plates may be used without back plates.
• 2x Back plate PCBs (PCB manufacturers usually sell them in multiples of 5)
  • The back plates require switch plates to screw into.
• 5x M2 6mm spacer (970060244)
• 10x M2 3mm screws (I like these torx screws)

Ordering the PCBs

Keyboard

_{Wave PCB}

To order the keyboard PCB, the following settings are recommended[^1]:

Plates kit

You will need to order two different PCBs; the switch plate one and the back plate one.

Switch Plates

_{Wave Switch Plate PCB}

_{Wave v0.0.1 Switch Plate}

To order the switch plate PCB, the following settings are recommended[^1]:

Back Plates

_{Wave Back Plate PCB}

_{Wave v0.0.1 Back Plate}

To order the back plate PCB, the following settings are recommended[^1]:

QMK Firmware

The latest firmware can be found on the official QMK repository.

[^1]: Settings are for JLCPCB, but should be similar with other manufacturers. [^2]: ROHS or lead-free options should be preferred (LeadFree HASL).