The Hot Dox is more than a typical ErgoDox — it's the first ever hot-swap socket equipped ErgoDox DIY kit. This is a great way for newcomers and long-time hobbyists to enter the world of ergonomic mechanical keyboards.

Guide to building your Hot Dox at Keychatter - Setup Guide

hot-swap is the future

Swappable switches and the ErgoDox Hot Dox work together in a sandwich-inspired way. Have your keyboard any way you want it — you’re not locked into a single sound or feeling. Put in different switches at will. Use a lighter switch for your pinky fingers to improve ergonomics. Modify switches with lube and explore other tweaks to your heart's content. Everything is fair game.

You can complete your kit with different switches (order 8x 10 packs or 3x 36 packs, 76 switches total):

View Switch Collection

The Hot Dox is designed for every DIY skill level. You can assemble the entire kit without soldering — this is a perfect project for beginners and experienced enthusiasts alike. Building and customizing a keyboard yourself is far more rewarding than purchasing a preassembled version.

acrylic and aluminum

The Hot Dox's CNC-machined aluminum plate is comfortably sandwiched in a hex-screw secured acrylic case. This acclaimed combination provides a lightly cushioned typing experience. It also showcases a sleek maker aesthetic.

pbt keycaps

Blank PBT keycaps in DSA and XDA profile are available with the Hot Dox. PBT is a superior plastic that strongly resists wear, finger grease, shine, and yellowing. Its wonderful texture is a welcome bonus on any mechanical keyboard. ABS, a cheap standard from many manufacturers, is known for its sticky to slick feel and gradual yellowing.

open source firmware

The ErgoDox 76 Hot Dox runs on QMK — a mainstay in the vibrant mechanical keyboard community's Open Source projects. That means the Hot Dox is fully programmable.

﻿completing your kit

﻿Alpaca Keyboards' hot-swappable ErgoDox 76 kits come in different configurations. Some Hot Dox kits offer blank PBT keycaps, though you can source other options from Kono Store and various keyboard sites. We're offering an awesome deal on select switches — you can add different options to your cart separately. Kaihua Box, Input Club Hako, and Cherry MX switches are available on this page.

Find other options in the Kono Store Switch Collection:

View Switch Collection

If you don't know what to select, view this article to learn more.

features

﻿76 key split ergonomic layout

DIY kit, no soldering required

Hot-swap sockets for easy customization and assembly

Open Source firmware — immense customization

Acrylic and aluminum case-plate sandwich for comfort and style

Optional PBT DSA / XDA keycaps in black and white

Optional switches — 108 total

One (1) year manufacturer warranty against production defects

base components

2 PCBs, left and right

Acrylic cases and aluminum plates

Screws and screw tool

Stabilizers

Hot-swap tool

Rubber feet

USB Cables (Type A to C and Type A to A)

measurements