YOU CAN BUILD THIS SPLIT ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD YOURSELF, EVEN IF IT IS YOUR FIRST ONE
A split ergonomic keyboard designed so a beginner can solder it, with no diodes and non-flippable boards.
by beekeeb
Open-hardwareWorkshop
Built withRaspberry Pi Pico / RP20403D printing
- difficulty
- ●●○○○
- time
- a weekend
- license
- GPL-3.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE867 stars
●●○○○ · a weekend · GPL-3.0 · 867 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
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COMPAREE VERDICT
The Piantor is a 42-key split keyboard (36 if you snap the pinky columns off) that removes the two biggest traps in a first keyboard build: it has no diodes, which takes out dozens of tiny solder joints, and the PCBs are non-flippable — there is a dedicated left and right board, so you cannot mount the controller on the wrong side. Each half runs on a Raspberry Pi Pico or compatible RP2040 board, and the halves talk over a 3.5 mm TRRS cable (a plain TRS audio cable will not work). The aggressive column stagger follows finger lengths instead of typewriter rows. Switches can drop into Kailh hotswap sockets so you can swap them without an iron, or be soldered for a more rigid build. The repository has the BOM, KiCad files and STLs for the case, with the build guide and precompiled firmware on the beekeeb docs site. What will go wrong: if you have never soldered surface-mount hotswap sockets before, those will be harder than the switches, and if you snap off the pinky columns you need a different case. The column stagger is aggressive — if you want something close to a normal keyboard, this is not it. But if you want to build a split keyboard and have never done it, this is the on-ramp.
IN THE REPO
GOOD TO KNOW
- —Full KiCad source files for both PCBs are in the repo
- —STL files for the printed case and switch plate are provided
- —Bill of materials in the README with part types and numbers; purchase links are given for the PCBs (PCBWay) and for beekeeb's kits.
- —Build guide and precompiled Vial firmware (UF2 files for Pico and WeAct boards) are on docs.beekeeb.com, linked from the repo; QMK and Vial are both supported.
- —GPL-3.0 license permits commercial use
- —The README's PCBWay link is an affiliate sponsorship link; the KiCad files are in the repo, so you can have the boards made anywhere.
Parts to buy
6 itemsFrom our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
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Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the build guide on docs.beekeeb.com (linked from the repo) (Covers both hotswap and direct-solder builds)
- 2.Order the left and right PCBs from the PCBWay shared projects linked in the README (or export Gerbers from the KiCad files), or buy a DIY kit from beekeeb(The repo links a PCBWay affiliate page — you can use any board house)
- 3.Source the BOM(The bill of materials is a table in the README with part types and a few part numbers (PG1350 switches, PJ-320A jacks, CPG135001S30 sockets). It has no purchase links, so source the parts yourself or buy beekeeb's DIY kit.)
- 4.Print or order the case and switch plate(STLs for the case and optional switch plate are in the repo; the README also links community cases on Printables, including a 36-key case with tenting. Use M2 screws and do not over-tighten them.)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- If you have never soldered surface-mount hotswap sockets, those will be harder than the switches — watch a tutorial first and use flux
- Snapping off the pinky column needs no special tools, but the included case is for the 42-key board, so a 36-key build needs a different case (community 36-key cases are on Printables).
- The column stagger is aggressive and will feel wrong for the first few days — this is not a compromise layout
- Choc v1 keycap selection is much narrower than MX, and most sets are flat profile — factor that into your budget
- The Raspberry Pi Pico and WeAct RP2040 are the tested boards, and each has its own precompiled firmware. A WeAct needs pin headers or sockets, plus two SMD resistors (5.6 kΩ and 10 kΩ) on each half for USB detection, or the firmware variant that does not need them. Flash the UF2 that matches your board.
- The link between the halves must be a 4-pole TRRS cable; an ordinary 3-pole TRS audio cable will not work. Never plug or unplug it while USB is connected.
Can I use MX switches instead of Choc?
No, the PCB footprint is Choc v1 only. If you want MX, look at the Corne or Lily58.
Do I need to flash firmware or does it come preloaded?
You need to flash it. Precompiled Vial UF2 files are on the beekeeb docs site and the Pi Pico is drag-and-drop, so no toolchain is needed.
What if I want more or fewer keys?
The pinky column snaps off to go from 42 to 36 keys. If you want more, this is not the board — look at the Sofle or Iris.
Can I build just one half to try it?
Technically yes, but a single half is not useful as a daily driver and you will still need a full BOM to test it properly.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
The pinky column snaps off to go from 42 keys to 36, and there are community cases on Printables made just for the 36-key version. Would you snap it off, or is 36 keys too few to start?
beekeeb
beekeeb adapted diepala's diodeless Cantor keyboard into the Piantor, a name combining Pico and Cantor: it swapped the controller for a Raspberry Pi Pico or other RP2040 board, made dedicated non-flippable left and right PCBs, added optional hotswap sockets and a breakable pinky column, aiming it at first-time builders.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM1mo agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the repository has the KiCad files for separate left and right PCBs, a 3D-printable case and a clear BOM, and the PCBs can be ordered through linked PCBWay shared projects or bought as a kit from beekeeb. The diodeless design is real, which means fewer parts to solder than on a typical keyboard with one diode per key. The PCBs are non-flippable, so each half can only be assembled one way, which removes a classic beginner mistake. The pinky column snaps off without special tools to turn the 42-key layout into 36 keys. The hotswap sockets are surface-mount and will be the hardest part if you have never done SMD before; if that worries you, solder the switches directly and skip the sockets. Precompiled firmware and the build guide are on docs.beekeeb.com rather than in the repository. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.