PsychicTaco has returned from their absence. They are working to fulfill outstanding Taco Truck orders from the first group buy.
Taco Truck is a hotswap and uniform-stagger MiniVan-compatible PCB designed by community member PsychicTaco.
A limited group buy was run for the board in June 2021 on https://tacokb.com. Discussion about the board can be found in the #taco-truck channels in the 40% Keyboards Discord server and Taco Keyboards Discord server.
¶ Design
Taco Truck is incompatible with tray mount cases due to the arrangement of the underglow LEDs. Check the MiniVan Compatibility Matrix for information on compatible cases.
Taco Truck features uniform row stagger, RGB underglow LED lighting, and hotswap switch mounting using Kailh sockets. The board went through several iterations during the early design process. Many bottom row layouts were considered and feedback was gathered through a series of interest check forms.
A USB C connector is located under the Backspace key to maintain compatibility with MiniVan cases. The board includes hotswap sockets for all switch locations with all switches oriented in the south-facing position. PsychicTaco was adamant about avoiding rotated switches due to potential issues with keycaps. There are eight RGB LEDs installed on the underside of the PCB to provide underglow. The LEDs in the middle of the board block tray mount hole positions and interfere with the PCB support ridges on the aluminum and plastic MiniVan cases designed by TheVan Keyboards.
¶ Layout
DXF files for plates are on the Files page
QMK firmware files are available in this GitHub repo: https://github.com/r2d5198/Taco-Truck/tree/main/keyboards/tacotruck
KLE available here: http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/9e17e73ada7b6d2c3099557a055aaa9c
Taco Truck is the only MiniVan-compatible PCB to feature uniform 0.25u row stagger. The board is based on the MiniVan Arrows layout with an adjusted 3rd row and additional 7u spacebar support. 4.25u HuB spacebar support is included since the board uses the same 2.25u/2u split spacebar layout as other MiniVan PCBs.
ISO Enter support is possible on the final PCB thanks to the uniform row stagger. However, the hotswap sockets for the ANSI layout interfere with the socket and stabilizer holes for the ISO key. Swapping between ANSI and ISO layouts requires desoldering and soldering in the relevant hotswap sockets.
¶ Revisions
¶ Prototype
Several early prototype PCBs were produced during the design process. The boards were yellow with white silk-screened food trucks. ISO Enter was not supported by prototype boards.
The USB connector on these prototype boards is offset several millimeters towards the middle of the PCB to avoid interference with the hotswap socket for the Backspace key. This offset causes the port to be misaligned with the cutout on most MiniVan cases, though it will still work with cases that have larger USB cutouts such as 3D printed and layered acrylic cases. Later revisions of the board resolved this issue.
¶ Rev 1.0
Rev 1.0 PCBs are yellow with white solder mask. The USB connector is located in the proper position to be compatible with MiniVan cases. This revision includes ISO Enter support, however two hotswap sockets must be desoldered and rotated to support the switch and stabilizers.
