foostan/crkbd

★ 7,413MakefileAudience · generalComplexity · 4/5Setup · hard

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((Corne Keyboard))
    Variants
      Cherry MX switches
      Kailh Choc low profile
      Hotswap or soldered
    Build Resources
      PCB schematics
      Assembly guides
      English and Japanese docs
    Firmware
      QMK compatible
    Design
      Split halves
      Thumb cluster keys
      Compact 42 key layout

mindmap root((Corne Keyboard)) Variants Cherry MX switches Kailh Choc low profile Hotswap or soldered Build Resources PCB schematics Assembly guides English and Japanese docs Firmware QMK compatible Design Split halves Thumb cluster keys Compact 42 key layout

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Build your own split ergonomic mechanical keyboard using the included PCB files and step-by-step assembly guide.

USE CASE 2

Flash and customize key layouts using QMK firmware, which the keyboard is designed to support.

USE CASE 3

Order the low-profile Kailh Choc version for a thinner, more portable keyboard build.

Tech stack

QMKMakefileKiCad

Getting it running

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1day+

Requires ordering PCBs, purchasing components, and soldering, v4 boards have a known wireless interference issue when near mobile phones.

In plain English

The Corne keyboard (also called crkbd) is an open-source hardware project for a custom mechanical keyboard. It is a split keyboard, meaning the left and right halves are two separate pieces that can be positioned independently, which some people find more comfortable for long typing sessions. The layout uses 42 keys arranged in a compact 3x6 grid per side, plus 3 additional thumb keys on each half, for a much smaller footprint than a standard keyboard. This repository contains the design files, PCB schematics, and step-by-step build guides for assembling the keyboard yourself. There are two main variants: the "Cherry" version, which uses the standard Cherry MX style mechanical switches found in most gaming keyboards, and the "Chocolate" version, which uses shorter Kailh Choc switches for a lower-profile build. Both variants are available in hotswappable form (where switches can be swapped without soldering) and in traditional soldered versions. The repository has been through multiple design revisions, and version 4 is the current release. Earlier versions (v2, v3) are also documented for people who have older PCBs. Build guides are available in both English and Japanese. The README includes an active known-issue notice for v4 boards: some units experience connectivity problems caused by electromagnetic interference from nearby mobile phones. The workaround is to reconnect the USB cable and keep phones more than 30 centimeters away from the keyboard. The Makefile language tag reflects the firmware build system used (QMK, a common open-source keyboard firmware), rather than the keyboard itself being software. This is primarily a physical hardware project with assembly instructions.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

I'm building a Corne v4 keyboard. Walk me through flashing QMK firmware onto both halves and getting them to communicate via TRRS cable.

Prompt 2

I have a Corne Cherry v3 PCB. What soldering steps do I need to complete, and in what order, to avoid damaging components?

Prompt 3

Help me create a QMK keymap for the Corne 42-key layout with a base QWERTY layer, a number and symbol layer, and a navigation layer.

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