Author Topic: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard | Cerakote Samples In!  (Read 20953 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline fruitykeeb

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 68
  • Location: Texas, USA
    • Storefront
[IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard | Cerakote Samples In!
« on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 10:48:50 »
Menhir

A Premium 40% Keyboard by Fruit




IC Form: https://forms.gle/qyCKsrgwQMDFksLd9
Discord: https://discord.gg/ZnQ9ZwA6sy


Typing Tests
More

Brass Plate
L+F Lavenders
GMK Future Funk
Big Bar Layout


Polypropylene Plate
L+F Lavenders
GMK Paperwork
Split Space Layout



Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Design and Specifications
3. Group Buy Details
4. Renders and Pictures
5. To-do
6. Credits


1. Introduction
Menhir is a Premium 40% Keyboard sporting a modified HHKB layout and a flexible, leafspring mounting style. I was inspired by the aesthetics of the Titan65 and KBD661, and by the unexpected heft of the Neuron. Menhir weighs in at just over 2kg (4.5lbs) thanks to a 5mm brass weight, and rocks a natural, 6-degree typing angle.


2. Design and Specifications
- Design -
Inspired by the Monoliths and large stone formations of Prehistoric Europe, Menhir is designed to pay homage to their unwavering persistence. The angled exterior provides seamless integration with your desk while the curved bezels are pleasing to see and feel. The exterior and weight is intentional in an effort to make this a pain to move and pick up. The plate is designed to provide an enjoyable typing experience focused on flexibility.

- Specifications -
Typing Angle : 6 degrees
Mounting Style : Top Leafspring mount
Body : Aluminum 6061 ~900g
Weight : CNC Brass ~1.1kg
Layouts :
More

Color : 8 Cerakote Options
   Premium: White, Yellow, Beige, Pink
   Standard: Black, Light Blue, Purple, Wine


Includes
   Keyboard Body/Weight
   Aluminum Plate
   Solder PCB
   Daughterboard + JST Cable
   O-Rings
   Rubber Feet pre-applied

Optional Extras
   Brass Plate
   Polypropylene Plate
   Extra PCBs

Plate materials ranked in order of least flexible to most flexible :
   Brass - Aluminum - Polypropylene


3. Group Buy Details
Site : https://www.fruitykeeb.xyz
Date : May 2022
QTY : 100 units
Delivery : est. Q3 '22 / Q4 '22

Prices : $500 Premium, $425 Standard
  Color QTYs :
    5 of each color : White, Yellow, Beige, Pink
    80 total : Black, Light Blue, Purple, Wine
  Extras :
    Brass Plate : est. $45
    Polypropylene Plate : est. $35
    Aluminum Plate : est. $25
    PCBs : est. $35


4. Renders and Pictures
Huge thank you to TheBlackHammer for the renders <3

Color Samples are in! Pics below!



Full album available here: https://imgur.com/a/Py4QALl
Photo credit to Meepergon, @Kalis_keebs, absolutely banger dude and even better pics <3


- Renders with Keycaps -
More

White + GMK Mika (GB Live!)

Thank you to PL23 for this render


White + SA Copper






Black + GMK Night Runner







Please note: GMK Night Runner did not come with a 1.5u Shift


- Renders of Colors -
More

White (Bright White)


Beige (Light Sand)


Yellow (Corvette Yellow)


Pink (Pink Sherbet)


Black (Cobalt)


Light Blue (Polar Blue)


Purple (Crushed Orchid)


Wine (Black Cherry)



- Prototype Photos -
More

Note: First prototype is beadblasted but unfinished aluminum, it's dirty because that's what happens :P











Metal Plate Design:


Alternate Materials Plate Design:



- Rev 2 Prototype Photos -
More

Note: This blue is not GB blue.








5. To-do
[X] - Order Second Prototype
[X] - Test Plastic materials for plates
[X] - Finalize QTY and Price
[X] - Finalize Groupbuy Format
[X] - Cerakoting Samples
[  ] - Finalize Groupbuy Timeline
[  ] - GB Begins!

- Change log -
2021-09-17 - IC Posted
2021-09-19 - Added Changelog
2021-09-21 - Updated Pricing and added more info
2021-10-05 - First Sound Test
2021-10-29 - Second Sound Test and new prototype
2021-11-28 - Updated Pricing, GB Format and Timeline, third prototypes, and tons more!
2022-04-07 - Cerakote Samples have arrived. Quantity changes coming soon. 



6. Credits
First, a HUGE thank you to BlindAssassin111 - with his design knowledge and expertise, this board would still be pencil on paper.

Also, much thanks to TheBlackHammer for the awesome renders, to Taylor for his help prototyping plates and finding manufactures, to OCM, to the 40s fam, and to the degens - this project would not be possible without all the help and support.

Thank you all so much <3
« Last Edit: Thu, 07 April 2022, 14:28:47 by fruitykeeb »

Offline Finite

  • Posts: 65
  • peer pressured into mk hobby, pls send help
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 10:51:54 »
This is hot af. Also reserved.

Offline AASH

  • Posts: 45
  • Location: France
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 10:54:09 »
Finally officially in IC! LETS ****ING GO it's hot as ****. Reserved
40s, with love

Offline paperassgasket

  • Posts: 469
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 10:54:14 »
I'm in.

Offline StanleyLelnats

  • Posts: 42
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 10:54:54 »
This is such an awesome little board. Really hoping I can snag one!

Offline MelonBred

  • Posts: 80
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 10:56:51 »
Fantastic work, Fruit. This is a beautiful plate design. GLWIC!

edit/ I am very interested in this, of course.

Offline BandoBorris

  • Posts: 1
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 10:57:31 »
Beautiful. Gib.  :eek:

Offline kameron

  • Posts: 62
  • Location: Canada
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 11:01:29 »
i really really like this board and this is seems like an excellent project :thumb:

Offline PeppyToad

  • Posts: 51
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 11:18:42 »
I'm one of the menhir who's totally in.

Offline HappyB0T

  • Posts: 435
  • Location: Midwest, USA
  • I'm a Piggie
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 11:20:06 »
What a little chonker!

Offline adi

  • Posts: 120
  • Location: Bay Area, CA
  • adi.kbds; Consider ePBT Fruit Chew
    • Adi Nikumbh
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 13:12:38 »
gib

Offline Havattack

  • Posts: 723
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 13:18:25 »
Nice bezels on that broad board bro! Gotta clap clack them cheeks!

Offline pool

  • Posts: 87
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 13:46:19 »
I **** with this hard

Offline surplusofchairs

  • Posts: 92
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #13 on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 14:56:23 »
whoa that crushed orchid colour has me by the throat. this will be the third board i get with that cerakote.
will there be a role for this in 40s discord?

Offline fruitykeeb

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 68
  • Location: Texas, USA
    • Storefront
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #14 on: Fri, 17 September 2021, 15:05:53 »
whoa that crushed orchid colour has me by the throat. this will be the third board i get with that cerakote.
will there be a role for this in 40s discord?

yes! you can grab the role in #join-ic-roles-here with ?rank Menhir

Offline P103

  • Posts: 112
  • Location: Pending
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #15 on: Sat, 18 September 2021, 07:52:22 »
Dem nails

Offline lush_bunny

  • Posts: 797
  • Location: Philippines
  • TBR Prime | 7V | Pandora | Kaze
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #16 on: Sat, 18 September 2021, 09:04:33 »
oh good lord, it's the keyboard equivalent of a shortstack. hawt.

Offline Wangson

  • Posts: 2
  • Location: Bay Area
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #17 on: Sun, 19 September 2021, 11:43:01 »
Love the bezels. glwic

Offline Vizir

  • Posts: 298
  • Location: Tulsa, OK
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #18 on: Sun, 19 September 2021, 21:50:44 »
Any possibility of an Ortho version?

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk


Offline ggggggg

  • Posts: 127
  • Location: Danmark
  • schmeiß die forties durch den club
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #19 on: Mon, 20 September 2021, 02:54:22 »
Any possibility of an Ortho version?

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

How would that even work? The board is 12.75u wide, there's a .5u blocker in the zxcv row.

Offline Vizir

  • Posts: 298
  • Location: Tulsa, OK
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #20 on: Mon, 20 September 2021, 06:48:19 »
Any possibility of an Ortho version?

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

How would that even work? The board is 12.75u wide, there's a .5u blocker in the zxcv row.
Would need a different cut out, without the blockers, or a 12u wide cutout which steps down to 8u in 1u decrements. But that could be cost prohibitive...

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk


Offline fruitykeeb

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 68
  • Location: Texas, USA
    • Storefront
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #21 on: Mon, 20 September 2021, 14:30:32 »
Any possibility of an Ortho version?

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

How would that even work? The board is 12.75u wide, there's a .5u blocker in the zxcv row.
Would need a different cut out, without the blockers, or a 12u wide cutout which steps down to 8u in 1u decrements. But that could be cost prohibitive...

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

Could go a similar route of the v4n4g0rth0n with 2 6u clusters and a .75u gap in the middle. The zxcv and bottom row add difficulty with the dimples.
More

Offline Space_Case88

  • Posts: 96
  • Location: Oakland, CA
  • keebs, anime, video games and coffee
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #22 on: Mon, 20 September 2021, 16:43:03 »
Please please please make a polycarbonate option. This would be a beautiful chunk of plastic.

Offline treeleaf64

  • Posts: 1837
  • Location: United State
  • Traveler
    • treeleaf64
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #23 on: Mon, 20 September 2021, 20:21:31 »
Premium and 40% is among the most cursed combination of words in the English language  :p
treeleaf64: https://discord.gg/rbUjtsRG6P

This is the cat and pat!!!!!!!!

Offline Mecxs

  • Posts: 201
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #24 on: Mon, 20 September 2021, 21:37:06 »
Small things are beautiful.

Offline William_S_Jones

  • Posts: 721
  • Location: Charlotte, NC
  • Best Prime Ever!!!
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #25 on: Tue, 21 September 2021, 00:12:37 »
I like this board, getting ready to fill out the IC!

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk


Offline fruitykeeb

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 68
  • Location: Texas, USA
    • Storefront
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #26 on: Tue, 21 September 2021, 11:32:57 »
Please please please make a polycarbonate option. This would be a beautiful chunk of plastic.

Definitely considering this for a R2  ;)

Offline William_S_Jones

  • Posts: 721
  • Location: Charlotte, NC
  • Best Prime Ever!!!
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #27 on: Tue, 21 September 2021, 12:47:34 »
@fruitykeeb , great that's means a rd1 & 2 for me

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk


Offline herbologist

  • Posts: 91
  • Location: out of it
  • beige enjoyer. send help.
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #28 on: Tue, 21 September 2021, 15:14:54 »
Very excited for this board. I am so happy to see light sand cerakote offered, such a beautiful color :nut: I am 100% in.

Offline fruitykeeb

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 68
  • Location: Texas, USA
    • Storefront
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #29 on: Tue, 05 October 2021, 19:28:46 »
Quick sound test:

Brass Plate
L+F Lavenders
GMK Future Funk
Sony a6000 built in mic

« Last Edit: Tue, 05 October 2021, 19:32:51 by fruitykeeb »

Offline TM_K

  • Posts: 3
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #30 on: Thu, 07 October 2021, 18:40:53 »
nice! I need this!

Offline fruitykeeb

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 68
  • Location: Texas, USA
    • Storefront
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard
« Reply #31 on: Fri, 29 October 2021, 00:32:05 »
Another sound test

First Board:
 - Brass Plate
 - L+F Lavenders
 - GMK Future Funk
 - Big Bar Layout

Second Board:
 - Polypropylene Plate
 - L+F Lavenders
 - GMK Paperwork
 - Split Space Layout
 Note: This is not GB color.

Again, Sony a6000 built-in mic


Weight Engraving example
« Last Edit: Fri, 29 October 2021, 00:35:32 by fruitykeeb »

Offline SmitH1y

  • Posts: 27
  • Location: UK
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard | Second Prototype!
« Reply #32 on: Tue, 02 November 2021, 10:14:17 »
This is super cute I love it

Offline Kuj0

  • Posts: 30
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard | Second Prototype!
« Reply #33 on: Sun, 28 November 2021, 22:13:43 »
I'm so in for one of these.



Offline fruitykeeb

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 68
  • Location: Texas, USA
    • Storefront
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard | Cerakote Samples In!
« Reply #34 on: Thu, 07 April 2022, 14:29:42 »
Cerakote Color Samples are in!
Check out the full album here: https://imgur.com/a/Py4QALl

Super happy with how these turned out!

Offline neoknob

  • Posts: 30
    • Neo knob
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard | Cerakote Samples In!
« Reply #35 on: Sun, 10 April 2022, 02:25:00 »
Prototypes is looking fab!

Offline General_Pretzel

  • Posts: 39
  • Location: USA
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard | Cerakote Samples In!
« Reply #36 on: Sun, 10 April 2022, 12:33:04 »
Wow! These look great! I'm gonna have a hard time choosing between Black Cherry and Light Sand. Very exciting!

Offline codecoffeecode

  • Posts: 42
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard | Cerakote Samples In!
« Reply #37 on: Sun, 10 April 2022, 21:27:58 »
Link to the KLE no longer works

Offline granola bar enthusiast

  • Posts: 316
  • Location: USA
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard | Cerakote Samples In!
« Reply #38 on: Mon, 11 April 2022, 09:31:32 »
looks pretty good but then again 40%... i dont think i have the dedication to learn hhkb 40% layout

Offline fruitykeeb

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 68
  • Location: Texas, USA
    • Storefront
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard | Cerakote Samples In!
« Reply #39 on: Mon, 11 April 2022, 11:29:13 »
Link to the KLE no longer works

Double checked, should be working

Offline DrHigsby

  • Posts: 243
  • The doctor is in.
Re: [IC] Menhir - Premium 40% Keyboard | Cerakote Samples In!
« Reply #40 on: Tue, 10 May 2022, 09:26:13 »
I can haz pink?