How To Build A Corne Keyboard: The Complete Beginner's Guide

This is a complete beginner's step-by-step guide to build a corne keyboard including RGB lights. I go over everything you should know including all the parts you'll need, the soldering equipment I like to use, how to solder each of the components, how to flash the keyboard and finally how to put the PCBs into a case. Hope you enjoy it!
📧 Subscribe To My Newsletter: buttondown.email/josean
🛠️⌨️ Visit the SplitType Shop & Build Your Corne: splittype.com
📋 Full breakdown of everything you'll need below:
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⌨️ Corne Keyboard Parts
1. Cherry MX Corne V3 Kit:
- Partially Assembled Kit (now with everything except microcontrollers and oled screens!): bit.ly/3wPLofX
- Regular Kit: bit.ly/3PicaE5
2. Elite-C Microcontroller:
- Little Keyboards: bit.ly/48Q9CDR
- Keebio: bit.ly/3Pm9lBJ
3. Low Profile Sockets & Mill-Max Pins: bit.ly/3wkiRPz
4. 128x32 Oled Screens: bit.ly/4a0gUFK
5. Corne Keyboard Case: bit.ly/48W6bLP or etsy.me/4ca7fPc
6. Corne Display Covers: bit.ly/48QgkJW
7. Switches & Keycaps: bit.ly/3Vbvrus
8. TRRS Cable: amzn.to/3PjyfBX
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⚡️Flashing Your Keyboard
- QMK Online Configurator: config.qmk.fm/
- My Corne Keyboard Layout: bit.ly/3TfZ8Ik (upload this file to the configurator)
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🛠️ Soldering Equipment Recommendations (choose what you need)
- Yihua 926 Soldering Station: amzn.to/49EtLhv
- Solder Wick: amzn.to/3v3NacL
- No Clean Flux: amzn.to/4cdlD9y
- Better Lead Free Solder (0.5 & .08): amzn.to/3Pcyajl
- Better Desoldering Pump: amzn.to/3PhnPD8
- Heat Resistant Tape: amzn.to/3v3NB6T
- Precision Tweezers Set (includes revers-action): amzn.to/3TeIgkZ
- Wire/Flush Cutters: amzn.to/3TzeM2V
- Soldering Mat: amzn.to/49PXZy8
- Solder Smoke Absorber: amzn.to/43cKtC8
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🎥 Helpful Soldering Tutorials
- SMD Soldering Tutorial: • SMD Soldering Tutorial...
- Soldering Crash Course: • Soldering Crash Course...
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⏰ Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
01:22 - Corne Keyboard Parts
05:38 - Soldering Equipment Recommendations
08:19 - Solder Diodes
09:40 - Solder Underglow LEDs
11:10 - Solder LEDs For Switch Lighting
12:36 - Solder Kailh Hotswap Sockets
13:29 - Solder Trrs Jack
13:59 - Solder Oled Screen Socket
14:16 - Solder Reset Button
14:30 - Socket Microcontroller
16:46 - Install Oled Screen
17:37 - How To Flash With QMK
22:32 - Install PCBs Unto Case
27:07 - Conclusion
Correction:
21:51 - CONNECT TRRS FIRST, THEN USB. Connecting the trrs while the keyboard is connected to power has a risk of damaging the microcontroller.

[@joseanmartinez]

CONNECT THE HALVES WITH TRRS FIRST AND THEN CONNECT YOUR KEYBOARD TO THE COMPUTER. FOR DISCONNECTING, DISCONNECT FIRST USB THEN TRRS. Connecting/disconnecting the trrs while the keyboard is connected to power via USB has a risk of damaging the microcontroller. I didn’t know this before making this video, but someone mentioned this in the comments. I also wanted to mention that the soldering equipment is just my recommendations and what I like to use. Don't feel like you need to have everything I mention in the video to be able to build this if you don't have any soldering equipment already. The most important things I would say are the soldering station with adjustable temperature, no-clean flux and heat resistant tape. The other things already included in the solder station will be most of what you will need. If instead of the partially assembled pcb you are going to be soldering the diodes and LEDs I'd also recommend the reverse-action tweezers and thinner 0.5mm solder to make things a bit easier.

[@enginerdy]

Oof that’s just a bad design… :(

[@JonnyD000]

This is by far the best keyboard build tutorial I've found!

[@nabilaldhaleai5213]

Wonderful tutorial just in time, I am building a new one soon... thank you so much

[@ciruspunk6771]

Man you nailed it with on soldering section, the video was super entertaining to watch, well done! 😎

[@bobrovalex]

9:30 apply flux not only for removing solder, but more important ( ! ) apply flux on pads for easy soldering... much-much easier. Main function of flux is to remove oxide layer from pads. P.S. sorry for bad english

[@yeerehneh]

been watching your wireless corne video at least 20 times, can't wait to build my own after exams!!!! tysm for this video

[@joseanmartinez]

Awesome!!

[@wasaabbi]

Second. High quality content, wish you sky rocketing subscriber numbers🤙

[@joseanmartinez]

Thank you!

[@Rushil69420]

Great build and I was really impressed by the prices!

[@yours-truely-sir]

I would really love to see a full kit on the website, including the pub the case and the microcontroller really liked the vid.

[@vmbra6255]

Awesome Video! It made me subscribe!

[@anneallison6402]

Love this channel! Will suscribe!

[@danielsweb2]

Love this, thank you for sharing.

[@joseanmartinez]

Happy to hear that!

[@notgate2624]

Awesome walk-through ... not sure if I ever want to do this lol Keyboard makers have incredible patience

[@joseanmartinez]

Thank you! Yeah building keyboards is definitely not for everyone, but once you understand and get things down, it can be a pretty satisfying experience.

[@dmytroparfeniuk2670]

A real "high quality content". Thanks!

[@joseanmartinez]

Really appreciate it!

[@2011RGM]

You need more subscribers! Awesome content.

[@joseanmartinez]

Thank you!

[@Nandafirmans]

thanks man you make me buy corne keyboard

[@johnr3936]

Really good video

[@reo-8555]

nice vid! thx a lot

[@JefCollier]

@joseanmartinez: you're one of the primary YTers that convinced me to build my own crkbd about a year ago. I kind of wish you released this vid 14 months ago! :-P

[@joseanmartinez]

Hey! I sure would have wanted to! I knew enough back then to make a video on my Corne but I don’t think I was ready for an in depth tutorial like this as it took me a long time to get better at soldering and figure out the best way to record myself while I was doing it, etc… Hope you’re still enjoying your Corne!

[@JefCollier]

Thx@@joseanmartinez! I am still enjoying it, but I'm also stuck on a keymap that isn't quite what I wanted. I'll circle back to it one of these days. In the meantime, I just wanted you to know that you really started me down this journey. I even have a hefty bit of my dotfiles that were just a clone of yours while I figured out how to personalize my Yabai/skhd/nvim/etc.

[@hectorserrano9314]

Can you please continue making more content on the corne?? ❤️ I'd love a video where you show how it is to code with it. Like show how it feels like type symbols like (){}[] or accents or backticks, etc… I'm so eager to buy one of these 🙌🏻

[@joseanmartinez]

Sure! Sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the feedback.

[@stefan_luptak]

@@joseanmartinez this is something I wonder about too. Showing the usual keyboard workflow. I code in Elixir and there's a ton of % () {} [] / & # and all module names are capitalized. :-) Thanks!

[@JacquesvanWyk]

I love your channel you amaze me everytime because I also look at same things to do and then find you have done it already hehehe. I have question. I like the voyager blank keys that just have the dot, is there anywhere you have seen these key caps?

[@TAMusic]

Thanks so much for this amazing tutorial, I think you've finally convinced me to build one of these! Are the 3D models of your cases available for download? I would buy from your shop but I'm outside of the US unfortunately, but do have a 3D printer! I don't think you'd lose any sales by making them available, because people who have 3d printers would 3d print their case anyway. I just don't want to have to design one myself!

[@chandragie]

I like this process so much, but don't want to do this so much 🤣

[@emf9]

Nice video.... Consider using a hot plate or a reflow to solder those... Way faster

[@ivanpeng959]

this is SO awesome!! but can it be wireless?

[@jadam42]

If you ever offer fully completed kits I’d be interested.

[@emersonbarros6815]

Amazing content! I just wish it was possible to buy all the parts in Brazil without importing, the price practically doubles if imported.

[@stefanipereira1641]

hey Josean, how you doing? I was able to flash correctly one side on the left side of my keyboard but the right side is the same as the left.. any idea how to to flash correctly the right side? Thanks

[@taylorfrench8570]

Are the 3D printable models available anywhere? I would like to try printing the case in my own colors using a home 3D printer :)

[@anonymouscommentator]

id love to see a followup video on via!

[@joseanmartinez]

Sounds good!

[@parikshithpalegar4699]

Hey, can you make a video showing how to set up QMK on a Mac? I'm running into issues installing it with Brew.

[@joseanmartinez]

Definitely considering to make a QMK deep dive video in the future. Thanks for the feedback!

[@QuinlanShanley]

I had no interest in doing a custom keyboard build... and then I watch this video and I'm serious considering it.

[@andre.ramos.1234]

Where can I get the "Elite-C Microcontroller" at low price on europe? Does it allows rgb leds? Currently I am using ATmega32U4 and didn't figure out how to have leds with it. I want to have a different color per layer so I know what layer I am

[@tokimaheryramarozaka2116]

Nice, I type this comment using a Corne V3 myself, but want another one with nice!nanos instead. Could you please make a video on how it is to code with it ? I saw your svelteKit blog video a couple times, but we need more. One of the questions I had is : isn't your right thumb tired from all the spacing and backspacing ? That's one of the things that made me switch the backspace key to the right pinky again.

[@joseanmartinez]

Awesome! A video on how I use it to code in Neovim could be interesting! I haven't really noticed my right thumb getting tired, but if you prefer to use your pinky for backspace, that makes sense too!

[@user-sx4gx7vn9b]

Hey nice vidéo, I have a question: I want to build it with choc low profiles, is is the same pcb for both mx keys and choc? :)

[@joseanmartinez]

Hey! The pcb is actually different. You'd want something like this: www.littlekeyboards.com/collections/corne-pcb-kits/products/corne-choc-hotswap-kit. I think this particular kit doesn't include the leds, but there might be others that do.

[@rodhash]

at 19:00 .. where is the Windows or Command key? is that one with an Apple logo? What about Option key? have you moved it to some other layer not shown here?

[@MCroppered]

Any videos of you doing any actual software engineering coming up?

[@LoculusB]

Hi, and thank you so far. The soldering technique really helped me out a lot. I'm fairly new to split keyboards, and I probably made a big mistake. Since I couldn't find any microcontrollers in stock on the website, I searched on Google (not enough research) and thought that a microcontroller based on RP2040 could be compatible. I bought 2 ProMicro RP2040s on AliExpress. Later on, I noticed that there are more pins in the microcontroller, and on both the left and right sides, there are 13 pins instead of 12. How can I make the microcontroller compatible? What should I read? I know it's a newbie question, but I am lost.

[@joseanmartinez]

Happy to hear you found the video helpful! I haven’t used rp2040 microcontrollers before but after doing some research this is what I found: www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/19bmddk/corne_rp2040_13_pins_new_to_this_help_appreciated/. According to this looks like you can ignore the top two pins and trim off the headers if you’re not using sockets. Also note that the flashing process might be a little different, but you should be able to get it working.

[@LoculusB]

@@joseanmartinez really thansk for the info, il will read and in the next couple of week try the proposed solution. Thanks again :)

[@santosvision]

Do you deliver to Europe? (Spain)

[@carshoesch]

Love the video! Are you planning on keeping the keyboard or sell it? (Asking for a friend)

[@joseanmartinez]

Happy to hear that! I'm not currently planning on selling the keyboard I made for the video, but the parts you would need to build it are mostly available on splittype.com. I have a list of everything you would need in the description, though I realize you might be looking for an already assembled board. Some shops offer soldering services for the Corne and you would then just need the case, switches and keycaps I'm using.

[@carshoesch]

sick, will have a look at it and thanks for the fast response. But yes, I'm indeed looking for an already assembled one@@joseanmartinez

[@joseanmartinez]

@@carshoesch Happy to help! One option would be the little keyboards pre-soldered Corne: bit.ly/4cdEmS5. Then you would just need the keycaps, switches, case and cables which I have links for in the description. Pre-soldered will be more expensive than soldering it yourself, but of course saves you time and removes the extra initial expense of buying soldering equipment if you don't have any already. Hope that helps!

[@rikkrome]

🔥🔥🔥

[@joseanmartinez]

Thank you!

[@jjaimealeman]

How's Linux (Arch) compatibility?! 🤔

[@ayushsingh1315]

can you ship internationally?

[@ayoubelmhamdi7920]

is there any idea to build a potable split keyboard, because I am always going to the coffee shop.

[@joseanmartinez]

There are options for a wireless corne making use of Nice!Nano microcontrollers and small batteries microcontrollers makes the keyboard more portable.

[@miguelv06]

Do you have the 3d printer files for the cases? Or do you sell the files?

[@joseanmartinez]

Hey! So I currently sell the case itself as a kit with with all of the hardware you’ll need and the switch plates as well: bit.ly/48W6bLP

[@morpheus4564]

you sell them also 😊

[@izakayachu]

via corne plssssssss

[@ethanmoss3412]

5:32 Ooo please dont insert your TRRS cable whilst your split keyboard is plugged in and powered, you can cause damage to your microcontrollers! EDIT: You can even see the halves both flickering.

[@joseanmartinez]

I had no idea about this, thank you!

[@ethanmoss3412]

No problem, glad I was of help!

[@thoniorandriamialisona3933]

Is it any way to buy it without DIY?

[@basharkhan5161]

etsy

[@Bogdanko93]

is there any way to make them wireless?

[@dorferino]

There's a wireless microcontroller which is a drop in replacement, besides running different software. Can't remember the name though and you'd need one for each half.

[@joseanmartinez]

That’s right, you can use Nice!Nanos for this and small batteries. I wouldn’t use RGB lights with it though. I can look into making a future tutorial on this. I actually own a wireless corne and did a video on it a while back: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYWwlHttqpKpq5I

[@JefCollier]

My Nice!Nano runs ZMK. I struggled with custom mappings for a few weeks and kept going back to the default layout until I finally got my head around the firmware. The mapping is simple, but you also have to learn about how you plan to toggle layers...total layer raise/lower...held keys to switch layers temporarily? It's also helpful to know how empty layers allow your lower layers to "peek" through...essentially preserving important command keys available across all the layers. It sounds complicated at first, but it's totally worth the effort to learn. Besides, you wouldn't be reading this comment if you weren't interested in expanding your knowledge and skillsets while customizing your own environment!

[@adamrodriguez7598]

Yes with the nice nanos and ZMK software

[@adamrodriguez7598]

@@joseanmartinezwhy not use the leds with wireless battery life? I’m going to try my wireless sofle rgb build with a big battery. And I don’t mind connecting power at nights.

[@JustABigFan2010]

Why no letters and numbers on keycaps?

[@joseanmartinez]

I like blanks because I don't really look at my keyboard and its easier to just change my layout if I want to and not need to move keys around.

[@user-xx4ru4bl7n]

Looks cooler, imho

[@phineas0053]

Why did I got here so late😢😢😢

[@joseanmartinez]

If you’re looking for a kit, it’ll be back in stock soon!

[@OfficialGotbrick]

you a real one for this but fuck mac os, ALL my homies hate mac os

[@ambuj.k]

I like the idea of the video but the amount of sense of perfection while doing everything wrong just hurts to watch.

[@BalthazarMaignan]

Could you exolain what he did wrong ? I'm New to this

[@ambuj.k]

@@BalthazarMaignan Your first soldering job doesn't have to be perfect. Like in the video he shows how to adjust the diode's position after soldering one leg but that isn't necessary as long as the other leg is close enough to the other pad on the pcb. Same with LEDs, you don't need to buy expensive flux to solder them, you can easily follow the soldering method for diodes just in an X shape and it'll be fine. I built my own soldered split keyboard with smaller diodes that this guy used (SOD 323 package) without any perfect solders and the keyboard turned out to be absolutely amazing no matter the quality of the soldering job because as long as there is a connection, it's going to be alright and you're not gonna see your not so perfect soldering job everyday as it stays hidden. My advice would be to that you don't aim for the perfect positioning of the components while soldering as long as it works, it can all be fixed if some connection is loose or wrong. Just get started, because perfection is enemy of the good.

[@BalthazarMaignan]

@@ambuj.k ah I see, Thanks for the advices !