The BLE Chameleon - Prototype / Pre-production

Please Note !!!

This is a limited pre-production run to verify the hardware, test ESD and implement small tweaks as well as catch my unavoidable doh moments in things like the silkscreen (Yeah, I know my history here). The design will change slightly to the final version, but functionally this is the same as what will be produced/sold later. This is sold as-is, with no supplied firmware or boot-loader. This means that anyone buying this will need to have the appropriorate ISP-programmer to load firmware, as well as some experience making/compiling/flashing firmware.

Buyers Beware!! This is NOT a finished/polished product you can start using out of the box. This is a project that requires your own work, and it will need you to iterate and test the firmware, and solve your own bugs! The price reflects this, as this is basically sold at the production cost, with absolutely no profit made on this limited number! The expected sale price for the full production equivalent is roughly $65/€55.

Anyone buying this is eligble to exchange their purchase price in return (minus shipping/taxes) for a verified/tested firmware with ZMK studio support. So yes, you are basically beta-testing, making the firmware in exchange for a very cheap keyboard, or basically a 'free' one, to make it possible for me to find faults that I would possibly miss myself until this reaches the customer.

ALL Pre-production PCB's are delivered fully soldered.

Features

The Chameleon is a grid type orthogonal keyboard with two optional layouts in one single PCB. Being able to break off the bottom row allows both a 5x12 layout similar to the popular Preonic and a 4x12 layout similar to the equally popular little brother Planck on the same PCB.

Having waited patiently for someone else to offer a Bluetooth/BLE capable replacement PCB that fit's the original Preonic case, and being gravely dissapointed with only a tempting Planck offering, I finally broke down and simply made one myself.

Building on the success of the Skinny Chameleon, The BLE Chameleon uses the same unique 19 mm key spacing as the original OLKB Preonic & Planck, making this PCB a drop in replacement PCB if you have a failed Planck or Preonic PCB and want to re-use that case.

Being fully hot-swap and with PCB mounted stabilizers¹, Chameleon support a bottom row allowing either a single stabilized 2u key (MIT layout) or two 2u keys in the middle, allowing for a layout that suits most users.

The PCB is designed such that you can install hot-swap sockets for all the options of the bottom row, and dynamically swap the keys and stabilizers, and have either a full 1u grid, or your choice of 2u keys without any soldering needed.

Please Note! his PCB fits only an original OLKB Planck/Preonic case or aftermarket equivalent!

Main Features:

• Fully ZMK compatible, with every aspect of it being programmable.
• No Boot-loader or Firmware currently supplied !!!
• Nordic nRF52840 chipset, with 1MB Flash & 256KB RAM.
  • USB-C connector to host computer, (USB 2.0 device).
  • Low-power sleep and dormant modes.
  • Drag-and-drop programming using mass storage over USB.
• Ti BQ24075R battery charger, 4.2V Lithium @ 50/150mA charge rate.
  • Power Path, charges the battery as optimal even when the keyboard is used.
  • Supports a 90-110 or 110-300 mAh size battery.²
• Can be built with a pigtail battery connector for easy battery installation. (Standard JST connector).
• Kaihl hot-swap sockets for Cherry MX compatible switches (3 & 5-pin).³
• Cherry Style PCB mounted stabilizers (Clip-in type preferred).
• Two main layouts:
  • Preonic - 5x12 with 58 to 60 keys
  • Planck - 4x12 with 46 to 48 keys (Break off bottom row)
• Configurable bottom row (Full hot-swap, no soldering):
  • Full 1u grid
  • 1x centered, stabilized 2u key (MIT Layout)
  • 2x centered, stabilized 2u keys (Either can be used, or both)
• Fully drop-in compatible with all existing Planck & Preonic cases. You can swap out your PCB in mere minutes.
  • Optional mounting studs - 2.5 mm tall M2 studs as on the original Planck/Preonic PCB (6 pcs Planck / 5 pcs Preonic).

Basic Components

Parts included in the DIY-kit:

Assembly

Little or no tools at all needed! The PCB can be delivered fully built and ready to use, either as a full matrix, or with your selection of 2u keys without any changes to the PCB. If ordered ready to use, the PCB is fully populated with hotswap sockets according to the default layout for the size (Planck/Preonic). The default option is to have all sockets solderered and be able to swap between them without soldering.

The middle ground is a to have the PCB delivered as "Partially Built ", where the main bulk of hotswap sockets are already soldered, and only the areas with optional placement and encoders are left for you to solder in place according to your preference. (This includes the mounting studs, as the various size cases need different patterns, see below).

Or as a "DIY Kit" with soldering required. As a full DIY kit all the hotswap sockets, studs and RGB are left unsoldered, while the small and more difficult SMD components, the USB port etc, are already fully soldered and tested. This option is for those that prefer soldering as an experience, or simply want too save a few bucks. All components are very DIY friendly and easy to solder, and no previous experience soldering is needed. ⁴

Case & Plate

The design is made to fit any Planck or Preonic case and plate, and act as a drop-in replacment PCB. It does not fit any case not advertised as specific fitment for these PCB's.

Any mounting hardware should accompany the case, and is not supplied with the PCB. This means you will have to save and re-use the hardware like the screws and plate from your original case.

The optional solder on studs match the mounting dimensions of the original PCB. This means the PCB can easily be mounted in an original OLKB case. Ordering the PCB as Pre-Built and adding the studs means it comes with the studs already soldered to the PCB and ready to use.

You can remove and re-use the studs from an original PCB if you want too, but beware it takes some amount of skill to solder them without damaging the PCB as it needs a lot of heat, and you will need to first clean off all excess solder from the stud to fit it to the rather snug hole on the new PCB. This is only recommended for more experienced DIY'ers.

Case Fitment

Planck

Confirmed to fit OLKB/Drop Rev 2 -> current revision (DROP v7) cases

OLKB/Massdrop Rev1 - Unconfirmed, but should match rev 2. Please PM for confirmation before order or leave a message and I will contact you.

Preonic

Confirmed to fit OLKB/Drop Rev 3

Partial fitment for OLKB/Massdrop Rev 2 - Upper case holes match, lower holes do not. Case can be drilled or spacers can be left without a bolt, as supports only.

OLKB/Massdrop Rev1 - Unconfirmed, but should match rev 2. Please PM for confirmation before order or leave a message and I will contact you.

Known Sellers/Stores for cases

SM Keyboards - Planck & Preonic cases in stacked acrylic available.

keycapsss - Planck & Preonic sandwich type cases available.

Datamancer - Planck & Preonic cases in hardwood available.

Version

Version 1.00 - Production prototype. Initial version

¹ Clip-in stabilizers are preferred, as they can clip into the PCB holes with all sockets installed. Bolt-in stabilizers can still be used, but you will need a felt/plastic washer or similar to avoid short circuiting the sockets with the metal bolt heads.

² Calculate battery time

³ Please note that the Chameleon & Skinny Chameleon supports only Cherry MX type switches (3 & 5 pin), NOT Kaihl Choc, as they require a different PCB and plate design.

⁴ Soldering experience is not needed, but it certainly helps. And if you have never ever held a soldering iron, please ask in discord, and I'm happy to help recommend tools, or how to practice first, and how to solder to avoid destroying things.

Normal handling time is 3-5 working days (Predominantly done on weekends) Build items usually take 1-2 weeks. All packets are represented to courier services and customs at their true value, and all responsibility for import fees, taxes and tariffs resulting there of lies with the buyer.

All items (as originally delivered) are sold with a 24 month limited warranty, as per (2011/83/EU). Shipping of items returned for repair is solely the responsibility of the buyer. (This includes taxes/customs fee's from incorrect/incomplete documentation.)

The SE "Act on Distance Contracts and Off-Premises Contracts" (SFS 2005:59) & The EU "The Distance Selling Directive" (97/7/EC) allows returns of the items initiated within 14 days of receiving it. Shipping of returned items is solely the responsibility of the buyer.

(Please note that in the case of kits as is mainly sold here, this does no longer apply once you start soldering/building the kit as it is then no longer in it's original condition, and you have at that point explicitly accepted the purchase contract! Please test components and initiate a warranty claim BEFORE you solder them!)