OrbitDesigned by Machina
Hello there, I am Ra66it from Australia. Introducing my first keyboard project Orbit by Machina, a 65% silicon pin mounting style keyboard.
I have been wanting a 65% keyboard ever since I tried the tadpole mounting on Frog TKL. Started last year as a personal project, I received my first prototype this October. The main idea of the design is to keep the keyboard as slim as possible. Internally, trying to make a clean-sounding keyboard with the least amount of foam.
The external curves and internal weight pattern give me an astronomy vibe, I hope this keyboard is also in your orbit 
The look of this keyboard is influenced by the HHKB series (HG variant and Pro2).IC FORM: https://forms.gle/pCphkNEkyidLt7gPA
DETAILS
- Typing angle 7.0°
- Front height: 17mm
- Mounting style: Silicon pin/ Tadpole ( 3 hardness options)
- Screwless exterior design (detachable silicon feet hiding all the screws at the bottom)
- PCB: Inhouse design with USB-C daughterboard - configurable with QMK/VIA, hotswap, and solder option available.
- Will come with a matching carrying case
- Materials:
- Aluminium Top Case
- Two bottom case designs:
- Full PVD Aluminium Bottom Case with 4 internal brass weights
- Full Brass Bottom Case with clear coat finish
LAYOUT
PHOTOV1 Prototype photos
DESIGN CHANGELOGV1 Prototype- 1.2mm PCB with flex cut
- 4 screws between the top and bottom case
- 4 separate rubber feet
V2 Prototype - 1.6mm PCB with no flex cut
- 8 screws between the top and bottom case
- Changed to 2 long rubber feet instead of 4
- Testing Brass Patina
- Quality of life changes to the PCB
- Silicon pin positions redesigned
V2 Prototype Exploded View
PROJECT STATUS [V2 Proto is underway]After typing with V1 proto for a month, overall I am happy with the look and typing feel, the typing experience is firm but not stiff, and the 50A silicon pins allow some bounciness in the board. Personally, I always build my keyboards with plate foam, it reduces those tiny noises and still keeps the characteristics of the board. The sound is quite clean without case foam, more on the clacky side. I bearly noticed any hollowness, but it is a bit loud for my liking.
For the V2 proto, the goal is to keep the sound profile more isolated. I added more screws between the two cases and lengthen the rubber feet, hopefully, it can reduce resonance between the metal pieces, and the thickness of the top case has been increased by 1mm to make the sound more isolated.
Red arrows indicate the newly added screw holes, the placement won't affect how the space bar sound.
I will upload typing test sound later, may ping it in the Najakeys Discord.
One thing I am currently testing is the patina on the brass bottom, I have included the photo in the IC form, please feel free to check it out and leave some feedback. If you are a patina artist who enjoys my design, please please reach out to me.
VENDORAU: www.najakeys.com
Rest of the world: TBD (please recommend)
PRICE & SALES STRUCTUREI will have an estimate after gathering enough feedback from IC form here:
https://forms.gle/pCphkNEkyidLt7gPA
Thank you all for reading till the end! Vincent - Special thanks for the amazing photos!
https://www.youtube.com/@vincentchen1985Eureka Foundry - Much much love for the stunning work from you guys! amazed by the quality of the prototypes.
The feedback on my design really helped me in the early stage.
https://www.eurekafoundry.com/ANZKEEB - Shoutout to my keeb mates, I won't be able to make this without your guys！
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