Steno key tops for Cherry MX switches

thingiverse

This is a set of key tops that convert a regular Cherry MX-based keyboard into a steno keyboard. Then that board can be used with Plover software and turn your computer into a stenography machine. The set consists of two different variants. One has a stem right a middle, another has the stem moved 4.9 mm sideways. For a regular staggered board you need 13 pairs of the staggered keys and 5 pairs of the straight ones. The picture shows a Let's Split, PCB-based orthogonal keyboard with the keytops installed.The keys under middle and ring fingers use the straight keytops, those under indexes, pinkies and thumbs - are staggered. This way those fingers movements are shortened, and pressing two (or more) keys at once is much easier. The same keytops fit the regular Cherry-MX style switches. (I don't have such keyboard to show them on at the moment, so I used the split one. Actually it is used in the shown form at one of my workplaces.) The prior version required some filing around the stem, this one is pretty much ready right from the press. Also the previous version were a bit too flimsy, the top surface got out disturbed, some small quirks and knots appeared in the middle. I made the new ones thicker, so if there are any issues - they are contained in the middle of the body somewhere. At least the working surfaces are nice and smooth.