I'm thinking about printing my own Dactyl exactly to my measurements but I don't want to print too many iterations before landing on my preferred layout. Any tips on how I could achieve that?
Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards
Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)
i.e. no regular non-split¹ row-stagger and no non-split¹ ortholinear²
¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid
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my suggestion is to use a skeleton-edition style case so you print the minimum amount needed, and reuse the base plate. ie print only thumb plate til you get the position close, etc.
I've build a framework for this approach: https://github.com/wolfwood/tryadactyl
trying to link the keyboard parameters to measurable features of your hand helps some, but honestly there's no substitute for typing on it and realizing what you don't like :)
i've has a recent breakthrough (implementing hierarchical/delegated column placement) that makes merging multiple plates with differing centers of rotation just work when switching from an open case style to a closed case.
Do you have a configuration for starting in a more dactyl manuform like place?
you could take my model and replace the cylindrical column spacing for pinkie and index with a flat spacing to have something less intense.
i don't have a clone, but it would be easy to do, for the dactyl fingers. the columns have a standard spacing I believe and the rows are placed on a cylinder with some radius and and a fixed angle (π/32 radians maybe?). then you can either replicate the column and Z stagger they use or tune your own.
the DM thumb is actively bad for me tho so if start with a simple 3 key arc (i think there is a tester for the arc placement) and add and remove keys as you try it out.