Levels54 dual-trackball split keyboard goes fully open source
Vincent Franco’s Levels54 just crossed from product to platform, opening its PCB, case and board files to split-board tinkerers. The 54-key dual-trackball build is now easier to mod, repair and fork.
Vincent Franco’s Levels54 has moved from a finished split keyboard into something closer to a living reference design. The 54-key board, built around a 6x4+3 layout and dual 34 mm Perixx trackballs, went fully open source on May 7, 2026, and the release includes the files for the board itself rather than a teaser or a partial hardware dump. For the split-keyboard scene, that changes the project from a clever commercial build into something builders can study, remake and extend.
The hardware mix is what made Levels54 stand out in the first place. It pairs MX hotswap support with an integrated E73 wireless MCU, VIK connectivity for expansion, a 3D-printed case and ZMK firmware. That combination puts it squarely at the intersection of portability, ergonomics and serious tinkering, while the integrated pointing devices push it beyond the usual keyboard-only split. It is not just a compact wireless board; it is a dual-trackball platform designed to keep hands on the halves and eyes on the work.
What fully open source changes in practice is access. Builders can inspect the PCB and case files, study the wiring and trackball implementation, and adapt the design to their own layouts or enclosure ideas instead of reverse-engineering it from photos. That matters for repairs too. A worn case part, an altered thumb cluster, or a different approach to mounting the pointing hardware can be reworked from the source files instead of waiting on one maker to decide whether a revision exists. In a niche where documentation quality often decides whether a board becomes a platform or just a product, that is a serious upgrade.
For enthusiasts weighing a buy or a build, the payoff is obvious. Open sourcing Levels54 lowers the risk of single-maker lock-in and gives split-board tinkerers a path to customize, fork and keep the project alive if interest shifts or parts go out of stock. It also makes the board easier to trust as a long-term piece of desk gear, because the knowledge is no longer trapped in one workshop. In a hobby built on layouts, layers and iteration, that kind of openness is often the difference between a novelty and a keyboard that can keep evolving.
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