Monorail PCBs are available for pre-order at Kiser Designs
Universal V4N4G0N FR4 plates are available here
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.
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
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 plate files are available on GitHub: https://github.com/KiserDesigns/Monorail
KLEs here: http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/1ffcde9818445ecc33d85ce244c66583
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
¶ Diesel
¶ Jet
¶ Steam
