Vault 35 is an 11-unit-wide 30% mechanical keyboard kit for enthusiasts interested in a minimalist typing experience. Expanding on the pioneering concept introduced to the community with the QAZ keyboard designed by tominabox1, this design removes a column from the left side of a typical 12-unit-wide 40% keyboard while keeping the right side the same.
The idea behind this and many other 30% keyboards is removing the command and modifier keys (Enter, Tab, Escape, Shift) from the outer columns of the board and replacing them with alphas only. There’s no more need to reach to the left and right with your pinky fingers when everything’s within reach of home row.
**This listing is for the Vault 35 HHKB case only. Plates/PCBs are available here. Please refer to the kit contents below for an understanding of what comes with this purchase**
Case Features:
- Single-piece frosted milled polycarbonate HHKB-style clear case *These cases have a slight lavender hue*
- 2.5 degree typing angle
- Custom MechVault silicone feet. These black opaque bumpons are placed in specific bottom locations so that they are not visible from the top during normal use.
- Designed by projectcain
- Sold as in-stock shipping within one week while supplies last
Kit Contents:
- Milled polycarbonate case
- Screws, Black silicone MechVault feet
Frequently asked questions:
Is this just a novelty board?
- If you want it to be, sure. However, the amount of people that use this size of keyboard for daily work (regardless of number/symbol/navigation key usage frequency) is growing at a fast pace. With a bit of commitment to the learning curve, most people experience typing speed either returning to what they could achieve on a larger board, or getting even more efficient.
But where are the Q, A, and Z, keys?
- They never left, though a couple of them are a little wider now that they occupy what used to be command or modifier keycap locations. The layout option picture on this product page gives a good example of what a typical base layer for this type of keyboard looks like.
Okay, but how do I use my enter, tab, esc, and shifts now?
- However you want with the power of QMK and Vial firmware. Popular suggestions: Combos. Hit A+S at the same time to get Tab. Hit Q+W at the same time to get Esc. Make the Z and / keys function as shifts when held instead of tapped. These are just a few possibilities of the extensive keymap customization possible.