Author Topic: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made of MARBLE : "FirstSlab60"! (GB on 06/13)  (Read 64747 times)

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Offline MarbleKeeb

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Hello All !

GB thread with all the details : https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=113222.09

History
Here I am, MarbleK (MarbleKeeb) with my ongoing projects.
I am currently known for offering Wrist Rests made out of marble.

I am still selling some marble wrist rests on my website :
https://marblek.com/

By the way, I am very thankful to the persons who purchased those wrist rests in my 3 GBs, as even if it is a simple object, that also pushed me to invest myself in the following bigger and more complex project :

60% Case Project
I have been working for several months on making a case for 60% keyboard made out of marble.
That would be a first worldwide !!

Update (05/01)
Finally, we are not far from opening the GB for this marvelous marble keyboard case.
I am typing with the final prototype right now  :thumb:

Design of the metal parts have been finalized and ordered from the manufacturer.

We recently tested our packaging for international shipping : Taiwan =>  France and it arrives smoothly without issue :)

We are planning to open the GB around end of May for 20 pieces.   :eek:





Update (10/03)
The ones following my Instagram may have noticed, there have been some news :)

First of all, I did receive the second prototype and it looks amazing  :thumb:
Still in Carrara marble !
Please. enjoy these few photos :

252907-0
252909-1
252911-2
252913-3

Complete Album : https://imgur.com/a/DulQHWu

As well:
The standoffs can be unscrewed and are CNC aluminum with a adhesive rubber stick on the top for damping.
The fixation plate for these standoffs will be a bit different than on the picture and made of stainless steel.
The adhesive rubber feet (die-cut) have been received from the factory, while they look simple, they are of good quality.

I am still missing some quotations, but we are still in the ballpark of 300USD for the case. :eek:

The prototype is back to the factory for some minor modifications, then I should be almost ready for the GB, let's hope for end of this year !


Update (06/27)
Time for an update on everything going-on in the back ! And a lot happened !

First, of all, the photos of the first prototype made out of Italian Carrara Marble :
Let's make it clear, it is an unfinished, unpolished, not angled prototype, mainly to check the dimensions are good and doable.
245868-4

245870-5

245872-6

245874-7

Following this prototype, I decided to made a few changes on how the PCB will be fixed to the marble.
I will use a aluminum plate glued to the marble.

Original announcement :
The first prototype is currently in the work by the manufacturer. I had several technical limitations to solve or workaround..
Therefore I tried to go for a simple design at first.
It will be compatible with the popular DZ60 PCB.
The price should not be too crazy, from the first estimations it should be between 200 to 300 USD.

I have some new renders made with Blender :
235434-8

235436-9

About the design, the holes in the case will have threaded inserts, which will be used to screw small Nylon standoffs and then place the PCB on those standoffs.
One of my objective was to have the case made out of one single piece of marble.
Also, the case will be inclined thanks to 2 aluminum feet. (around 5 degrees angle)

To give a better idea of the base material, those are my current offering :
229348-10

Comments and feedbacks are more than welcome !

Thanks a lot !
« Last Edit: Mon, 07 June 2021, 07:07:21 by MarbleKeeb »

Offline MadsMe

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 03 November 2019, 03:36:45 »
Sounds really interesting, will keep an eye out for this!

Offline consumer

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[IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 03 November 2019, 03:50:05 »
Is anybody using marble cases out there in the wild? I’d like to know how fragile or heavy the material is.

Offline jooobe

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 03 November 2019, 07:49:15 »
Is anybody using marble cases out there in the wild? I’d like to know how fragile or heavy the material is.
Definitely brittle

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk


Offline myyrddraal

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[IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 03 November 2019, 08:02:55 »
Is anybody using marble cases out there in the wild? I’d like to know how fragile or heavy the material is.
Definitely brittle

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
Nah, marble is not very brittle. Nothing to worry about as keyboard case. You are not going to hammer on it are you? Btw. The case will be so heavy that I don't think someone will use it differently than statically on the desk.

Btw., sick project! Pity I am not into staggered keyboards.


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Offline Rob27shred

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 03 November 2019, 08:11:18 »
Hmm, very interesting! I take it these will need to be sealed & cared for just like a marble countertop?
« Last Edit: Sun, 03 November 2019, 10:50:45 by Rob27shred »

Offline piercejenkins

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 03 November 2019, 08:30:19 »
I’m in.

Offline MarbleKeeb

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 03 November 2019, 09:01:24 »
Is anybody using marble cases out there in the wild? I’d like to know how fragile or heavy the material is.
Definitely brittle

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
Nah, marble is not very brittle. Nothing to worry about as keyboard case. You are not going to hammer on it are you? Btw. The case will be so heavy that I don't think someone will use it differently than statically on the desk.

Btw., sick project! Pity I am not into staggered keyboards.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I definitively agree! As long it is not used to smash something, it will not break. I remind that marble is commonly used for kitchen countertops.

The weight should be around 2.5 kg or more (5.5 pounds).

Offline MarbleKeeb

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 03 November 2019, 09:04:41 »
Hmm, very interesting! I take it these will need to be sealed & cared for just like a marble countertops?

Yes, it will be polished and coated for protection.

Offline DukeEsquire

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 03 November 2019, 09:24:24 »
Very cool project. Any chance you would do a 65% board? Lack of arrow keys kill it for me.

If not the round, hopefully for a future project.

Offline Mcnos

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 03 November 2019, 10:19:48 »
Let’s just hope this doesn’t turn out like another project out there that’s made out of a similar material lol

Offline DJ Shoko

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #11 on: Sun, 03 November 2019, 10:23:20 »
$250-400 is a wide estimation, but I would love to see this happen!


Offline Joaquox

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #12 on: Sun, 03 November 2019, 10:48:52 »

Btw., sick project! Pity I am not into staggered keyboards.



XD75re

Offline myyrddraal

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[IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #13 on: Sun, 03 November 2019, 10:52:18 »

Btw., sick project! Pity I am not into staggered keyboards.



XD75re

Must be split and columnar staggered... not many fancy that format.


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Offline MarbleKeeb

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #14 on: Mon, 04 November 2019, 05:47:40 »
$250-400 is a wide estimation, but I would love to see this happen!

It is more likely to be at $300, but I cannot confirm that yet, I am only at the prototyping stage.

Offline MarbleKeeb

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #15 on: Mon, 04 November 2019, 05:58:01 »
Very cool project. Any chance you would do a 65% board? Lack of arrow keys kill it for me.

If not the round, hopefully for a future project.

That is my next project after the 60%  ;D

But, I have arrow keys on my DZ60.


Offline KingOfMemes

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #16 on: Mon, 04 November 2019, 08:23:12 »
Will we get an HHKB option? If so I'm in 100%

Offline krey

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #17 on: Fri, 08 November 2019, 09:21:47 »
Yes, I wanna flex my wooden desk with a marble case! :)
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Offline MarbleKeeb

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #18 on: Sat, 09 November 2019, 06:40:23 »
Will we get an HHKB option? If so I'm in 100%

Unfortunately, that looks too complex to be made out of marble.
I can only do a case in one solid part, I could not do a sandwich/gasket case :/

Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #19 on: Fri, 22 November 2019, 11:44:11 »
Sounds amazing, too bad my wallet is currently completely empty; a case made of carrara marble would definitely be my endgame. If you keep it at the low end of the estimate, I might be able to convince myself (and significant other) to go for it. I'm interested in how the acoustics would be.... I'm guessing because of how dense the stone is it would produce superior thoccy tones.
|

Offline piercejenkins

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #20 on: Fri, 22 November 2019, 16:23:01 »
This is amazing!!!! Instead of using attached feet would it be possible to build in the angling?

Offline asdds22

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #21 on: Mon, 16 December 2019, 22:43:25 »
Is there a color combination like this one?
 https://imgur.com/a/3uCjVNO
I personally love the color layout of white and gold

Offline asianfork

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #22 on: Mon, 16 December 2019, 22:55:32 »
Wow that's insane. I would be so scared of dropping it

Offline MarbleKeeb

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #23 on: Tue, 17 December 2019, 09:50:15 »
This is amazing!!!! Instead of using attached feet would it be possible to build in the angling?

I start with a simple design for the first product. That is already a complex product to do in marble.

The angling would add some difficulties but I hope it will be possible to do later on.

Offline MarbleKeeb

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #24 on: Tue, 17 December 2019, 09:59:04 »
Is there a color combination like this one?
 https://imgur.com/a/3uCjVNO
I personally love the color layout of white and gold

It doesn't look like natural marble, maybe artificial (quartz) stone ?
Unfortunately, I don't have this in my current catalog :/
The white / green / black, should be my basic colors.

Offline Cruxx_.

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #25 on: Tue, 17 December 2019, 14:04:22 »
That sounds really neat. Would you offer a kit with the PCB packaged with it?

Offline kaisn

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #26 on: Tue, 17 December 2019, 16:01:57 »
My Waifu would love this

Offline gminso

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #27 on: Tue, 17 December 2019, 23:47:41 »
Hmm, very interesting! I take it these will need to be sealed & cared for just like a marble countertops?

Yes, it will be polished and coated for protection.

the wrist rests are polished or will it be more shiny?

Offline asdds22

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #28 on: Wed, 18 December 2019, 00:06:53 »
Is there a color combination like this one?
 https://imgur.com/a/3uCjVNO
I personally love the color layout of white and gold

It doesn't look like natural marble, maybe artificial (quartz) stone ?
Unfortunately, I don't have this in my current catalog :/
The white / green / black, should be my basic colors.

Oh I thought that also is natural marble.
When I investigated that pic, I found that it is quartz.
Thanks for the info.
I'm Sooooo waiting for GB.
 hoping that the gap between the pcb is narrow so that I can't see any internal pcb, switch things when I complete the build so that make the cool, seamless look!
« Last Edit: Wed, 18 December 2019, 00:10:50 by asdds22 »

Offline Rayndalf

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #29 on: Wed, 18 December 2019, 00:08:10 »
White marble would go great with on of those vaporwave inspired sits that ran recently, the 'neoclassical' (neo-retroclassical maybe, who knows? they use Greek/Roman busts and columns anyway) look seems like a perfect fit. Alternatively Mito Pegaso would look sharp too.

Offline bananasplit_00

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #30 on: Wed, 18 December 2019, 01:19:22 »
Damn this would be very sexy, any price speculation? I assume loads and loads and loads :P

Offline dugihk

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #31 on: Wed, 18 December 2019, 03:19:46 »
Shipping will be nerve-racking , marble sounds so brittle

Offline MarbleKeeb

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #32 on: Wed, 18 December 2019, 10:34:38 »
Hmm, very interesting! I take it these will need to be sealed & cared for just like a marble countertops?

Yes, it will be polished and coated for protection.

the wrist rests are polished or will it be more shiny?

They are already polished on the photos and are quite reflective, but not like mirrors.
I also tried to took my photos without seeing reflections, you can see more photos in my link below :
https://imgur.com/a/Eq0rLYl

That sounds really neat. Would you offer a kit with the PCB packaged with it?
I am basing it on a widely available DZ60, so I do not plan to include it.
To be frank, to manage the logistic to add the PCB would be a bit too much for me.

Damn this would be very sexy, any price speculation? I assume loads and loads and loads :P

Currently, estimation is around 250 to 300 USD.
One of the manufacturer's machine is currently broken so I am still waiting for the prototype.

Shipping will be nerve-racking , marble sounds so brittle

No issue for the shipping, I already shipped dozens of marble wrist rests worldwide without any issue :)


Offline MALLOW

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #33 on: Wed, 18 December 2019, 11:09:57 »
I'm in. This sounds to freaking cool to pass up.

Offline child

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #34 on: Wed, 18 December 2019, 11:46:10 »
What would be the angle of the case? With screw-in standoffs I'm afraid it will be quite high and I prefer 5-7 degrees...

Offline famguy07

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #35 on: Wed, 18 December 2019, 16:33:32 »
I am definitely interested, but I won't go down to 60%. Any chance you could do the simplest of 65% layouts? like the Tada 68? If yes, I would definitely be in for one.

Offline famguy07

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #36 on: Wed, 18 December 2019, 16:36:27 »
Very cool project. Any chance you would do a 65% board? Lack of arrow keys kill it for me.

If not the round, hopefully for a future project.

That is my next project after the 60%  ;D

But, I have arrow keys on my DZ60.

Just saw this post from earlier... Guess I'll be waiting this one out. I hope the second round still has that beautiful green marble.

Offline coffeeshopcoder

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #37 on: Thu, 19 December 2019, 00:52:08 »
Take my money... will ya ??

Offline xantiema

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #38 on: Thu, 19 December 2019, 06:26:35 »
Also highly prefer a 65% layout. If I were to join, the angle would need to be part of the case.

Offline OBL17

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #39 on: Thu, 19 December 2019, 15:04:25 »
I see an issue with the aluminum feet. I feel like it would be a far better option to create a 6 degree wedge out of aluminum or acrylic that goes the whole underside of the marble board. The way I see it now, you have created stress points in the marble by drilling into it to install the aluminum feet and the pcb mounting points. You have a fulcrum point where the feet are drilled and having the weight of the board, and your hands supported by these feet will cause that material to crack over time due to the forces on those mounting points. Marble tiles for flooring frequently crack from the floor not being perfectly level and I feel like that would happen here with the current feet set up.

Offline SighKenny

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #40 on: Thu, 19 December 2019, 17:57:04 »
Definitely interested!

Offline dwarflemur

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #41 on: Thu, 19 December 2019, 19:29:15 »
hell yea, looks rad, will join, especially at 60%
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Offline SighKenny

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #42 on: Thu, 19 December 2019, 22:30:41 »
Definitely interested

Offline Daban

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #43 on: Sun, 22 December 2019, 10:01:36 »
This would be sick! Would join if this comes to fruition.

P.S would prefer 65%, but I assume it's easier to get 60% to MOQ?

Offline gminso

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #44 on: Sun, 22 December 2019, 10:06:50 »
can the feet be optional? i do not mind flat and i do not prefer those conic feet

Offline MarbleKeeb

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #45 on: Mon, 23 December 2019, 10:47:54 »
Hello All !

Thanks a lot for the feedback !! I recently created my Instagram account, if you like my work and want to follow me : https://www.instagram.com/marblekeeb/  :thumb:

What would be the angle of the case? With screw-in standoffs I'm afraid it will be quite high and I prefer 5-7 degrees...

I checked my CAD files and the angle is about 6 degrees.


I see an issue with the aluminum feet. I feel like it would be a far better option to create a 6 degree wedge out of aluminum or acrylic that goes the whole underside of the marble board. The way I see it now, you have created stress points in the marble by drilling into it to install the aluminum feet and the pcb mounting points. You have a fulcrum point where the feet are drilled and having the weight of the board, and your hands supported by these feet will cause that material to crack over time due to the forces on those mounting points. Marble tiles for flooring frequently crack from the floor not being perfectly level and I feel like that would happen here with the current feet set up.

I will consider that and stress test the prototype on that point, but the bottom plate is 7mm thick (defined with the designer of the manufacturer) and nobody will walk on it, so I believe it should not be a problem.
I promise I will mistreat the prototype to double check  ;D

My problem with adding other materials as aluminum to cover the whole underside would be the difference in thermal expansion.
I do not want it to finish like the Royal Glam wood/marble wrist rest and have the marble break.

can the feet be optional? i do not mind flat and i do not prefer those conic feet

Yes, the feet are optional

Offline MarbleKeeb

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #46 on: Sun, 12 January 2020, 08:18:46 »
Hello !

Just a small update to say this project is still on-going for me.
The manufacturer told me he is lacking the manpower to be able to do the prototype before the rush of Chinese New Year (reminder : I am in Taiwan as well as the manufacturer), so it will not be before February ..

Not really a surprise for me, as it was the same situation last year for my very first prototype.
Yes, the Marblekeeb adventure started about one year ago and I about to write an article on that ! :thumb:

I am not empty handed and I have a less ugly render that I did by playing a bit with Blender.
I will need nice textures, but my poor macbook air is really at its limits... (I will probably need to find someone to do it for me when I start the GB)
233446-0

If you like my stuff and marble, do not forget to follow my Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/marblekeeb/


Have a good day !


Offline pixelpusher

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #47 on: Sun, 12 January 2020, 10:40:27 »
Still think you should lose the weird corners and angles.  I think a rounded top edge would look and feel far better.  Also easier to machine and less prone to chips if accidental ding. 

For the standoffs, have you considered something like the mekanisk type-x?  Would make the typing experience softer.

I did something similar in my F62-PE.  It's a very heavy/hard tray mount.  But I put 2 o-rings around the 4 interior standoffs post so it gives the slightest gasket cushion to the PCB.  Very nice and easy to achieve.  2 of the o-rings I used stack up to be about .75mm taller than the built-in standoffs
« Last Edit: Sun, 12 January 2020, 10:51:03 by pixelpusher »

Offline asdds22

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #48 on: Tue, 21 January 2020, 01:53:33 »
from blender, It looks good.  :thumb:
Worth to try

Offline MarbleKeeb

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Re: [IC] 60% Keyboard Case made out of MARBLE !
« Reply #49 on: Sun, 09 February 2020, 04:24:16 »
Small update :

I made some better renders ! They are now in my original post :)

Chinese New Year recently finished, I will see soon when I can get the prototype. :thumb: