PRODUCT ENGINEERING // KEYBOARD DESIGN

CUSTOM KEYBOARDS

A gallery of custom keyboards I have designed and manufactured.

PROJECT SUMMARY

I have designed a wide range of keyboard projects, much of it through self-taught work that grew from layout and concept development into production-minded mechanical design. The process has covered CAD, materials, finishes, tolerance decisions, and the practical tradeoffs that separate a visually interesting board from one that can be manufactured cleanly and consistently.

Across these projects I worked with polycarbonate, steel, brass, acrylic, and aluminum while designing around CNC machining, injection molding, PCB integration, vendor limits, and small-run or larger production realities. Some boards were manufactured or prepared for production, some were commissions or boutique runs, and some remained unreleased but still involved real development work. Even when collaborating with PCB designers, factories, or outside partners, I typically drove the core product decisions and used each project to build stronger judgment around what makes a design worth manufacturing.

More to see on chickenman.studio.

16 boards currently surfaced from the source archive.

PROJECT GALLERY

Keyboard Archive

Selected boards, shown as a compact archive for quick scanning rather than a long-form case study.

KEYBOARD PROJECT

Ciel

Ciel 60

CNC Bakeneko-derived 60% keyboard with an internal weight and revised rear profile.

Offered in Burgundy, Blue Grey, Lilac, E-White, and Black.

Ran in mid November 2021 and delivered in early March 2022.

[GB] Ciel - Gasket 60% | Oct 7-31 (geekhack.org)

KEYBOARD PROJECT

Jixte

Second-generation Ciel platform with a gummy O-ring mount, large external backplate, internal weights, centered daughterboard, and high-grip side profile.

Internal and external weights use flat sheet parts to reduce cost.

Jixte was planned as an in-stock product.

KEYBOARD PROJECT

Ciel65

65% continuation of the Ciel platform.

KEYBOARD PROJECT

Ciego

Commission for San Diego Mechanical Keyboards.

All-brass Ciel variant with replaceable HHKB, WK, and WKL tops.

Two engraving options were offered: the GMK Cluck enter novelty and the San Diego skyline. Finish options included matte and polished brass.

KEYBOARD PROJECT

Adware

Collaboration between Mechkeys Helpers and ParamountKeeb with sculpted sides, a through-hole weight, multicolor and splash anodizing options, and multiple layouts.

The design supports plateless tadpole mounting or plated top mounting. A standard AI03 daughterboard supports centered bottom USB.