ZodiarkPi Low Profile Case & Cirque Mount

I wanted the cirque as close as possible so that I didn't have to reposition my hand to use it. The original ZodiarkPi had it mounted higher. This case is the result of my reworking.

Parts Used

Based on the ZodiarkPi my Aleblazer. PCBs should be in stock again soon on the Split Logic Keyboards website.

40mm SPI Cirque with curved surface

MBK Low Profile Keycaps

Screen: 1.3" OLED sourced here

Screws used: M2x8, M2x3(screen), Heat set (M2 x OD3.5 x H4.0)

Printing

Pay attention to the direction of printing and make sure you've got your printer reasonably well tuned for dimensional accuracy. It can be useful to print a section of a switchplate before printing the whole thing. Adaptive layer heights can be helpful for ensuring details are retained, but otherwise a standard 0.2 layer height works. All should print without supports if printed in the right orientation.

Make sure to orient the large chamfers slope facing up because the overhang is too steep for most printers. This applies to the switchplate and the choc blank. The cirque plates should be printed face down.

Mirror the choc switch plate and base to get the left hand side.

The choc blank infill could use something interesting like Archimedean Chords as the infill as it is translucent.

Assembly

Base/Switchplate: Press fit the heat sets from the bottom until flush with the base. Install switches first before screwing down the switch plates. The reason is to support the plate as you screw it into the base. The large chamfer faces down. If screwed together correctly it should meet with base seamlessly.

With the cirque plates the M2 x 8 screw is just big enough (don't screw too hard). An M2x10 if screwed too hard could break the standoff legs. Attach the cirque before screwing down. It is suggested you configure your keyboard to have a settings layer and a reset key for updates as the reset button on the right is hard to reach. On the left there is a helpful Z shaped window!

The choc blank is there to disperse the light from the ZodiarkPi switch I don't have room for.

Function

The dual cirques are set up with different purposes and utilised with an auto mouse layer and relevant mouse keys for easy operation. The right is used for mouse control. The left is used for scrolling. The left can also be used to scroll volume and other features as configured in QMK. Tricky to figure out, but very very functional.

The screen is set up to indicate layers and lock keys. If you wanted the screen on the other side there is no technical reason not to. My QMK code allows for either (or both).

There are a few future ideas in the works, but this is it for now. If you have a different screen, talk to me about a different plate. If your keys are taller than my MBK ones (16.5mm), you may need more clearance for the plate and so I could help you with that also.

Redesigned switch plate and made bottom case as well as plates to hold cirques.