On October 9, 2026, GIZMODO Japan announced that it had released the 3D data for the “Orca echo,” a split keyboard developed in collaboration with Keychron.
The data can be downloaded from Keychron’s official GitHub repository and can be used to verify the structure of cases and plates, create custom parts for personal use, and design compatible accessories.
Keychron has long demonstrated its commitment to supporting the keyboard community’s learning and customization efforts by making the design data for its products publicly available.
This release marks the expansion of that initiative to Orca echo as well.
Review the design data for Orca Echo
Data published on Orca Echo
On GitHub, hardware design data for the following components of Orca Echo has been made public.
| Scope of Disclosure | Main applications |
|---|---|
| Top Case | Verification of the Shape and Dimensions of the Upper Case |
| Bottom Case | Verification of the Shape and Dimensions of the Bottom Case |
| PCB | Verification of PCB Dimensions and Component Placement |
| plate | Switch Plate Shape Verification and Customization |
| Full Model | Verification of the Overall Structure in the Assembled State |
In the Keychron repository, the Orca Echo is listed as having the following parts available for release: “Top Case, Bottom Case, PCB, Plate, and Full Model.”
See: GitHub
It is important to note that the release of “PCB” does not necessarily mean that the entire set of circuit diagrams and PCB manufacturing data is being made public.
This GitHub repository primarily contains CAD data used to verify the product’s hardware geometry.
Complete design documentation that would allow for the manufacture of an Orca Echo from scratch has not been released.
Intended for the production of custom parts using a 3D printer
The Orca Echo project page explains that the published data can be used to create original parts and custom accessories using 3D printers and other tools.
Source: costory.jp
For example, here are some possible uses:
- Prototyping cases and stands tailored to the desktop environment
- Design of Palm Rests and Tilt Adjustment Parts
- Making Accessories for Storing Cables and Receivers
- Verifying the Dimensions of Cases and Plates
- Development of Peripheral Components Compatible with Orca Echo
- Learning CAD Using Product Structures as Teaching Materials
The Orca Echo is a distinctive keyboard with a split-keyboard design featuring a trackball in the center.
Compared to standard integrated keyboards, individual differences—such as the tilt angle, the distance between the left and right sides, and wrist position—have a greater impact on usability.
For that reason, the ability for users to design peripheral components seems like an initiative that complements Orca echo well.
Not fully open source, but “source-available”
The published design data is not fully open source, meaning it cannot be used freely for any purpose.
Keychron describes this initiative as “source-available.”
For personal and educational use, users are permitted to view, study, and modify design data, as well as create derivative parts for personal use. Additionally, users may manufacture and sell their own compatible accessories, provided they meet the specified conditions.
However, it is not permitted to use the publicly available data to replicate and sell Orca echo or Keychron products themselves. There are also restrictions on the redistribution of modified design data. GitHub
For detailed information on the scope of use, you need to check the license on GitHub.
Keychron Source-Available License
Putting Keychron’s Commitment to Community into Practice with Orca Echo
Since April 2026, Keychron has been publishing CAD data for the mass production of its keyboards and mice on GitHub.
At the time, Greenkeys noted that what Keychron had released was not merely a set of blueprints, but rather a starting point designed to encourage learning, customization, and the development of compatible accessories based on the finished product.
Has Keychron Really Gone “Open Source”?
The official Keychron repository states the following objectives:
- Learning through Real-World Product Design Projects
- Remixing Cases and Plates
- Check the dimensions and component configuration
- Creating Modification Parts for the Community
- Developing Compatible Accessories
- Propose revisions or new variations
Orca echo, which was developed through crowdfunding, has now been added to the list of products to be released.
The fact that Keychron applied this same policy not only to its existing mass-produced models but also to specialized split keyboards developed in collaboration with external companies suggests that the company views the release of hardware data not as a temporary promotional tactic but as an ongoing initiative.
These efforts clearly demonstrate their desire to contribute to the community.
Summary
That concludes our coverage of the news that Keychron has released hardware design data for the Orca Echo—including the top case, bottom case, PCB, plate, and a fully assembled model—on GitHub.
I’m looking forward to seeing what kinds of custom parts users and creators will come up with in the future.
Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing aluminum case data released by a third party.
- Originally published:
- Last updated:
- Source: Keychron GitHub and official social media posts
- References/Citations:
- Conflicts of Interest: Product Offering: None Monetization Link in this paper: Yes
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