Monorail is a trio of MiniVan and V4N4G0N-compatible PCBs designed by community member NoahK.
15 prototype Monorail PCBs (5 of each layout) were sold on March 1, 2022 for $50 each. The prototype PCBs are green with white soldermask and came partially assembled. End users were required to source and solder their own hotswap sockets onto the PCB.
A full run of V1 PCBs were put up for pre-order in April 2022 for $50 each and sold through by the end of August 2022. V1 PCBs are black and included pre-soldered hotswap sockets.
A preorder for V2 Monorails was open in March-April 2023. V2 PCBs include rotary encoder support and are powered by the RP2040 microcontroller. PCBs were $45 and skeleton kits with a PCB and FR4 plate/bottom case were $65.
Discussion about Monorail can be found in the #monorail channel in Kiser Designs's Discord server and the #kiser-rolls designer channel in the 40% Keyboards Discord server.
¶ Design
| Designer | Kiser Designs |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | MiniVan |
| V4N4G0N | |
| Firmware | VIAL source (R2) |
| Layouts | KLE link |
| Plate files | Buy at Kiser Designs |
| DXFs on GitHub | |
| Switches | Hotswap MX |
| Encoder | 2x knobs (R2) |
| LEDs | 3x 3mm indicators |
| 12x RGB underglow | |
| Addon RGB strip | |
| Connection | Integrated USB-C |
| USB-C Daughterboard | |
| Controller | ATmega32u4 (R1) |
| RP2040 (R2) |
DO NOT plug in USB cables to both ports of a Monorail PCB. Doing so may cause irreperable damage to the PCB, USB ports, or host computer.
Check the MiniVan Compatibility Matrix for case compatibility
Monorail is a series of modular, hotswap PCBs designed to be compatible with both MiniVan and V4N4G0N cases. The full PCB includes a 4u x 12.75u bottom section with a 1u x 6u half-numrow attached to the top via snappable tabs. The full PCB is designed for V4N4G0N cases while removing the top section enables installation in MiniVan cases. Two sets of through-hole pads on the main PCB and removable top sections allow the numrow to be electically reconnected if it is ever removed.
Two USB ports are installed on the PCB - one in the top-left on the numrow for V4N4G0N cases and one in the top-right for MiniVan cases. The top-right port is located on a small snappable section, allowing it to be removed for installation in a V4N4G0N. This USB port cannot be reconnected if it is removed. A JST connector footprint is included for compatibility with Pomelo and other cases that use USB daughterboards.
The PCBs include all 7 mounting holes to maintain compatibility with tray mount cases cases. The bottom-right hole on the Monorail Steam PCB interferes with a hotswap socket. Check the layouts below and the MiniVan Compatibility Matrix for compatibility information.
There are 12 RGB LEDs on the underside of the board for underglow. Due to the position of some LEDs, Monorail is incompatible with several tray mount cases designed by TheVanKeyboards that have support rails between the tray mount standoffs. The list includes:
- Plastic MiniVan cases
- Later revisions of the MiniVan aluminum case
- Rackmount and PCrack
- MHKB
¶ Layout
Monorail PCBs come pre-flashed with VIAL-compatible firmware.
Monorail supports three distinct sets of layouts depending on the PCB:
- Diesel - features common bottom rows based on the MiniVan, including Standard, Southpaw, and Arrows
- Jet - based on the Minisub bottom rows. Includes 6.25u and 2.75u/2.25u/1.25u split spacebars
- Steam - includes the split 3u/3u spacebar layout from m3n3van and a few unique bottom rows found on Omnibus. Note that the hotswap socket for the 1.25u key in purple interferes with a standoff in tray mount cases.
¶ Revisions
¶ Rev 1.0
There are three variants of the V1 PCB which all feature unique bottom row layouts. All three PCBs are powered by the ATmega32u4 controller.
¶ Diesel
¶ Jet
¶ Steam
¶ Rev 2.0
The V2 PCB includes several upgrades including two positions for a rotary encoder and a swap to the RP2040 microcontroller.