Progress so Far
The Key Layout
While designing the rest of this project in Solidworks I kept track of the tools I felt needed a distant button on the Keypad. The "Alt" key acts like a normal Shift key allowing for the user to access the alternative functions of the buttons.
The Model
While I was designing the case for this keypad I wanted to make sure that I didn't make the same mistakes I made when designing my Engineering Keyboard like ergonomics and the sturdiness of the case. I solved the ergonomics problem by making the pad thin and having it angle towards the user. And to solve the flimsiness I made the walls thicker, added more screws and added more support for those screws.
What's Next
Wiring
The next step in the process will be to wire the whole keyboard together. I am going to use the same diode array design as my last keyboard. However this time I will be using smaller gauge wires and better common rails.
Coding
After the wiring is complete I can move onto coding and flashing the firmware onto the Arduino pro micro. The library I use is called QMK and its a C based firmware writer.
Testing
After the keyboard works it's time to product test. I use it for a few projects and come back and see if I want to make any changes or improvements to the layout of keys or the design,