What is SpaceFN and why you should give it a try
The SpaceFN concept - setting up your space key as a layer switch when held - is probably one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby. Let me explain how it works. My SpaceFN article on kbd.news made some rounds recently - quite surprisingly given the age of this concept. This piece you're reading is a condensed version of the full post. If you're left with unanswered questions, you'll most likely find the info you're looking for in the original write-up. On my imaginary top list of the most useful keyboard features, tweaks and hacks, SpaceFN would deserve a podium finish for sure. But what makes it so special? In short: SpaceFN is easy to implement, easy to learn, costs nothing, can be used with any keyboard, and can improve your productivity instantly. I will list its benefits below, but can state right at this point that the SpaceFN concept, setting up your space key as a layer switch when held, is clearly one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby....
Apr 30, 2024
If you're looking into buying a kit to make your own number pad, the soldering work is not that hard. Most kits you can find will have a guide on assembly, and you're only soldering 4 kinds of things to a PCB- the single microcontroller(which should come with the usb adapter), switches and LEDs.
The switches and LEDs only have 2 prongs each, and you can buy things called "holtites" that slot into the holes on the PCB that make your board "hot-swappable"(AKA you don't have to solder the switches and LEDs, they'll plug into the holtites and work.
The only annoying thing will be the 4th item you have to solder- resistors for the LEDs. Some boards like the Fenix are really easy to see (https://unikeyboard.io/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/felix-mf-1.png) where you need to solder, others are not as good with the layout.
Edit: A really cheap kit, if you're interested in doing this yourself. It doesn't come with switches/keycaps/switch LEDs, so you'd have to get those yourself. https://goo.gl/PNnCgx