Kinesis are known worldwide for their ergonomic keyboards, and Michael Stapelberg’s replacement controller for the Kinesis Advantage is almost as well known.

When the Kinesis Advantage 2 was released in 2017, Michael created a new Teensy-based replacement controller board for both Kinesis models, using it as well as a chance to switch from Eagle to KiCad for PCB layout.

The PCB houses a Teensy 3.x or 4.x, as well as the required connectors, directly replacing the original electronics. It supports the popular open-source QMX keyboard firmware, meaning a plethora of features out of the box, and extensive customization potential. More about the project can be found on Michael’s blog, with source, KiCad/Gerber files, and extensive instructions on GitHub. A lengthy stream covering even more detail can be found below.