I’ve been enjoying arc raiders with a gamepad for a few weeks now but missed the precision of a keyboard and mouse. Unfortunately my existing split keyboards just didn’t work due to lack of a number row etc… so I built this little guy and then grunged it up to feel like it was made in a workshop in Speranza! The case is 3d printed on my Prusa Mk4 and painted with Panduro hobby acrylics and some weathering powder. I’m still perfecting the keymap but what I have is working pretty well for me so far!
would not recycle
Sell for 1000€
He he… in the real world it’s about €20 of switches, €5 microcontroller, a couple of euros in wires and about a fiver in plastic. The biggest expense was the time I put into the design, wiring and painting.
Sounds like $150 retail
That definitely looks like it's worth around 110-150. I wouldn't buy for more than 150.
However, knowing how companies are with these things, they can go for around 250-335
-1 sensor -10 plastic parts -2 wires
Don’t forget 5 rusty screws
..and one processor.
Which button says “don’t shoot”
Heh heh, the emote wheel is on the wider button on the bottom row. But I prefer to just cry down the microphone 😂
How he build it:
All buttons mapped to "don't shoot".
That's so cool. Very much in the spirit of Arc Raiders.
I guess some people Dont mind the one hand on the keyboard. Man I could never. But I could see how it's better for some people
How would you play with two hands on the keyboard?
I meant a full keyboard. I use two hands to type
Oh right
This is just half of a full split keyboard.
For more examples, check out the Corne and Iris split keyboards.
Edit: I don't know why you're being downvoted
Sort of but it would be crap for typing on due to the layout of the keys. I usually use split keyboards as my daily driver but the 40% layout I’m used to was kind of a pain. I’m actually really enjoying this keyboard though and might make a slightly saner full wireless split version for day to day typing.
Why the f are you typing?
It's an integral part of using a keyboard. I dunno. Maybe I'm just built different
I only use this keeb for playing Arc Raiders. I still have me regular keyboard on the desk for normal use
I don't have a joystick so I used to play elite dangerous with one hand on wasd for throttle/yaw and the other one arrow keys for roll and pitch.
Same with helicopters and jets in battlefield.
You’re not aiming with your arrow keys? Is there a better way?
I have a razer tartarus and use the thumbstick as my WASD, so I have mouse accuracy with control movement, allowing immediate use of any keybinds without ever giving up my movement with WASD.
This makes me a decent player for most games, because I have awful reaction speed with kb/m and I have terrible accuracy with controllers.
Now that is actually sick. I'd be so down to try that
Yeah its perfect QOL for things like jumping, crouching, sliding, reloading and never giving up WASD. It's perfect for games with shoulder swap or a lean left or right function too, I keep moving while adjusting as needed.
What's wild to me is how uncommon a product like this is, its pretty much razer or some specialty item like the Move Master.
That sounds awesome but I think I'd have a hard time unlearning the movement keys from wasd 😂
How so? The same fingers that WASD can do everything else they do (reloading, jump, interact) but without interruption. And if you've ever played any console games, then your brain knows how to use the thumbsticks. I never have to sacrifice my right strafe or lean right around a corner and can still be able to jump all while moving.
That's a pretty cool way to play but there isn't interruption when using WASD normally. Reloading while moving, jumping while moving, interacting while moving, using emotes while moving... all very normal things to do on a standard keyboard.
There is no comfortable or reasonably fast way for you to strafe diagonally with W and D while also reloading at the same time without stopping movement. This makes it so I never have to sacrifice movement for interaction.
Agree to disagree. I can press R without releasing D, and do so all the time. I really can't think of a situation where I need to stop moving to take any action. I guess if you don't have a nice keyboard or good control that might be tough.
How would you select numbers 1-5 without lifting your fingers off WASD?
I remember trying one of those thumbstick/keyboard controllers years ago but I didnt stick with it for whatever reason. still seems like it could be advantageous.. maybe ill try it again
Might check out Azeron. Been using one for a couple years. Really enjoy not having to use my fingers for movement
Actually I’m in the process of modeling something similar, I like to aim with my mouse but love to move with joystick
I'd love to see what you make! I've been using the Tartarus for almost a decade but the downfall is the switches in the thumbstick are ass, like the weird ass switch randomly snaps within 6 months these days... but I'll still keep buying it because it's the perfect solution for me.
Thus I'm looking at finally upgrading to the Move Master.
I’ll post when I get to a prototype that I like, so far struggling to model a comfy shape for the hand rest!
check out this guys mods for the razer tartarus v2 and pro it has hot swappable switches and a real joystick https://discord.gg/WSpMfuEb
I have about three functional brain cells so I get confused with too many keys (I literally can’t switch between games because I get the controls mixed up).
How do you use a keyboard with two hands?
Looks like you found it in the garbage 10/10
I think that’s a compliment? It’s what I was aiming for so I guess mission successful?
It’s a compliment
its perfect cuz there is no search engine in the game. WHY IS THERE NO SEARCH ENGINE
I have to admit, I find no search in the inventory hella annoying!
That’s a fantastic idea! If it were a standard selling item I’d definitely get one.
https://shop.custommk.com/collections/ergostrafer/products/ergostrafer
cool, but expensive (though less expensive than sourcing a new merc stealth)
that thing is beautiful
$400+
Crazy how expensive a keyboard can be
Very expensive! This Arc Surfer costs less than €50 in parts (and this one was made with parts I had sitting around doing nothing)
There are lots of split keyboards around with similar layouts on the thumb cluster. I’ve never seen the rest of the layout on a keyboard though!
This guy's workshop must be tier 3
Sadly I spent all my resources on upgrading Scappy :D
I'm lucky enough to have a Razer Tartarus which is a big help, I'd trade it for this in a heartbeat lol
Which of these keys are the sound board for trolling rats?
Dig it! Plan on uploading the design? Did you use a resistor on each connection? I have an unfinished macropad on my shelf bc I haven’t acquired scrap copper for the ground wire. Just using regular jumpers to the esp32 for control.
Yes I’ll put it on Printables in the coming days for sure!
Looking forward to it!
!remindme 1 week
As promised: https://www.printables.com/model/1523913-arc-surfer-the-mechanical-keyboard-for-arc-raiders
I will be messaging you in 7 days on 2025-12-28 17:55:32 UTC to remind you of this link
CLICK THIS LINK to send a PM to also be reminded and to reduce spam.
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it looks like you took a fried motherboard & made it into a keyboard lol. this is sick!!
Completely unnecessary, but still cool as fuck.
"ANDY built this keyboard in a cave... WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS."
~said Dumbledore calmly...
i would cope this, very cool brotha
You can put stickers in the keys like a flashlight for f, or a mic whichever the "push to talk" key is. A smiley for the emotes, "RUN" written very bold on sprint key
I have a Cricut arriving soon so I could do this for sure!
I'm using a Logitech G600 mouse for basically the same thing. It's a shame Logitech discontinued them, they're fucking awesome. A gamepad like yours would stop me from banging that mouse into the numpad of my keyboard and accidentally firing a round every thirty seconds.
You can just get a smaller keeb (60% sized keyboards are popular with games for exactly this reason)
This is awesome! Well done!
How did you learn to make stuff like this? Really cool.
Errrm… I’ve been into electronics since about 2014 and did all sorts with Arduino and Raspberry Pi. I saw other nerds making custom keyboards while researching one for working from home in 2020 and found a tutorial and copied it to make a little Macropad. That was about five years ago (before I even had my own 3d printer). At some point I ordered a plate and case but the fit was wrong for the PCB I had so I just scaled up what I knew and handwired a full keyboard. Since then I learnt a lot from Joe Scotto (on YouTube) and that’s improved the wiring, cases and such.
Thanks man, I considered getting myself a Raspberry PI and Arduino with a 3D printer a few months ago but didn't know what to make lol, guess this gives me something to try out :)
Definitely check out Joe Scotto on YouTube if you want to learn about hand-wiring keyboards
Which microcontroller / software are you using? Looks great
I’m running a Seeed Xiao RP2040 with KMk firmware
Awesome, thanks
you have a lot of tutorials for this on the internet, it's really quite basic and fun to learn, don't be afraid to try it out!
That is so fucking cool
Very cool!
where is dont shoot button
dope!
thinking about doing something similar for a while. my Razer Tartarus is dying and not much out there I 100% like. kinda crippled myself by playing for ~10-15 years only with a keypad, can't work with a normal keyboard anymore 😅
you have several options for the smaller format like this, some even with hall effect switches (Hitboy HK25/35, don't know what happened with the prices, I got it for 40 eur). The other option is to get a split layout keyboard, and that way you can just use the left half or both if you need to
yes, lots of options out there.
but I'll probably end up making my own thing.
My hand hurts just staring at it. Looks sick tho!
Bro modded it to take out the "Dont" part of "Don't shoot!"
Now we know who’s been taking all the rusted gears.
Nerd alert! Pretty cool though :-)
Neat
This is all i ever wanted
Is swap shoulders still x? That feels like a really big reach for such a common action.
Great work though, has fantastic rust belt vibe.
I actually have that bound to the side button on my mouse but I put the key there just in case
Third pic should be first pic, awesome
Which split keyboards do you normally use?
All custom. The only keyboard I ever bought was a Keychron k2. Since then I’ve been building my own. You should be able to find a few on the hand wired keyboards sub
Piece of Art!
Nice! You got an STL or STEP uploaded somewhere?
Also what switches are you using? They look like choc low profile. Is that right?
I’m going to put it on Printables when I get a minute (I’m Hellweaver666 on there). The Switches are Kailh Choc Browns (just what I had on hand but I’m wishing I had bought something a bit nicer).
As promised! https://www.printables.com/model/1523913-arc-surfer-the-mechanical-keyboard-for-arc-raiders
This is super cool man. You could legitimately sell these
I’ve already had someone reach out to me offering to buy it or pay for me to make another 🫠
Did you write a program to get it to work? Like a driver or something?
I use an open source firmware called KMK which uses a type of Python optimised for Microcontrollers (CircuitPython)
Interesting! Just learning Python, so I was curious how hard it would be to set something like this up.
The code is pretty easy. The wiring isn’t rocket science once you’ve done it a couple of times. The bit that takes the longest for me is the design of the enclosure but there are lots of tools that make this easier. I should probably write up my process some time!
Creative folks like you make me jealous as hell
What’s the buttons on the right bound to?
The big keys are crouch, jump and roll (sprint is on my left pinky). The smaller keys are for volume (normally I just them during the menu’s to shut up the voice overs etc)
This is awesome. I’ve been wanting to build a super specific use case keyboard but idk where to start. I have a 3D printer, tons of switches and keycaps, stabilizers, etc. I guess I need an arduino and a soldering iron then I can get started?
RP2040 based boards are really good for keyboards. They’re available in a ton of form factors (I use either the Xiao RP2040 or the RP2040 Zero from Waveshare but the bog standard Raspberry Pi Pico also works great!). Aside from that you just need some wires and diodes!
I like that you made it look rusty for the Lv.I aesthetic. Looking forward to Lv.II, Lv.III, and Lv.IV.
4 metal parts. Easy recycle
Where the dedicated "don't shoot" button?
So which one is space and shift ?
Shift is under my left pinky (usual shift location). I have crouch bound to the biggest key in the bottom right, jump in the middle and dodge roll next to that.
Obviously you’ve done this before, but why not reinforce that mount for the teensy? I’d make a mount for it that screws to the case so the load is on the screws and not just a bead of hot glue.
Yeah I didn’t have a good idea for how to mount it going in but hot glue is pretty tough and does the job.
What do you do with the buttons on the bottom right?
Jump, Crouch and dodgeroll on the big buttons and volume is controlled by the smaller two.
Ah very nice!
What a time to wish had no eyes.
Bro… this is seriously impressive.
Any chance of getting the 3d files for the case?
Just published on Printables: https://www.printables.com/model/1523913-arc-surfer-the-mechanical-keyboard-for-arc-raiders
Awesome, very much appreciated. Have a dead mechanical keyboard i can salvage switches out of and at least one RP2040 kicking about, so its almost a free project :)
Enjoy! Please share a make on Printables when you’re done. I’d love to see it!
I would buy one of these if I saw it. That just looks incredibly convenient
This would be a Tier 1 keyboard for sure
Needs upgraded to IV for that polished junk tech look, it’s all the rage in speranza 😎🤌
reminds me of when I use to game with that razer nostromo (newer version called Tartarus).
Beautiful attention to details 🔥
sick paint job! The rust looks great
What the fuck does "∞" do???
I’m not sure… everytime I press it I wake in my bed and start the day again 😳
It's been a long time since I played on PC, but.. direction arrows over WASD seems.. sacrilegious
Then I will burn in hell 😈
I respect someone who stands by their convictions. Good day sir.
Not using a PCB and wiring everything like that = icing on the cake. Very fitting.
what the fuck.. thats so sick
Which button do you have mapped for jump? One of the angled 1.75u?
Yup it’s the middle one (crouch is the big one)
I fuck hard with custom keyboards and weird layouts
This is awesome. Is there something similar I could find online? Not sure if i can use mouse and keyboard on console?🤔
you’re so cool
What are you using for the keys to go up and down?
The real arc-raider
What’s your latency like?
It should be around 1000hz according to the docs but I’m old so it’s not like I’m at a level where my reactions are slowed by the keyboard
Did you get the extra parts from seed girl?
i think gamers sleep on ergo keyboards. i've been using ergodox ez for gaming and it's night and day compared to a regular keyboard.
Gaps in-between buttons are way to big.
It’s deliberate. I have lanky fingers but it also allows me to feel my way around the keyboard without looking down.
How do you move? you dont have WASD
The arrows in the middle are WASD, I just have arrow key-caps on them
/s ?
With up down left right.
not sure if trolling, but you can actually rebind keys so they trigger anything you want, it's not the magic label on the keys that makes it work