New URSA keycaps profile for Topre keyboards

[fkcaps]

Hey everyone,

It has been a while (2020!) since we first polled GeekHack for Topre keycaps. Well I hope you didn't lost hope, because we are back!

Ursa is a new keycap profile designed specifically with Topre keyboards in mind (so Topre stems, not MX!) by 23_Andreas. And we started taking pre-orders on Sunday! You can check out all the options on the website:

➡️ ursa.fkcaps.com



Features

• Deep dish
• Spherical top surface
• Rows numbered from 1 to 5
• Convex bottom row
• Doubleshot PBT

Technical specs of URSA profile

Designer collab: MiniCom x biip

We are thrilled to have biip as our first designer collab colorway.

Inspired by the golden age of computer terminals and taking on the colorway of the iconic Minitel, Ursa MiniCom brings a touch of nostalgia while remaining timeless paired with the new vintage-inspired URSA keycap profile.

Read more and preview URSA MiniCom

Renders


Classic colorway


Black colorway


MiniCom colorway


Blue colorway


Red colorway



Artisans

We made a few gorgeous metal artisans to match URSA unique aesthetics. They are CNC Aluminum, coated with a shiny PVD finish for extra durability and sparkles ✨.


URSA artisans prototypes in black, silver and gold colors

Updates and GB process

So far we have ordered a test mold, and received and approved the samples that came out of it. We did R1 1u to start, make sure the manufacturer can deliver up to our expectations in terms of quality in every aspect. The result has been satisfying so we decided to start that GB.

We will be posting regular updates on each round of samples in the coming months, until the GB is fulfilled.

Price & Kits

There are 4 kits available for now: “Base”, “Alphas”, “Mods” and “Extension”.

You only need Base kit to cover HHKB and FC660C layouts. For the rest you will need an extension kit.

Base kit = Alphas + Mods kits, they have been split to be able to mix and match (see for instance the Blue colorway)

Blanks kits include all keys (so base + extension) and are compatible with all keyboards. They only come in Black and Classic colorways.

Prices are as follow:

• Base kit: $80
• Alphas kit: $50
• Mods kit: $30
• Extension kit: $40
• Blanks kit: $60
• Artisans: $42

We really wanted to make sure the price point is affordable enough, yet allows us to offer a very premium product.

Details of URSA kitting


Vendors

We (FK) are the main vendor, and have been joined by a few vendors:

• URSA x FK (worldwide)
• KLC's hobbyist playground (Korea, link TBA)
• ZFrontier (China, link TBA)

There will be no custom duties for our EU customers <3

➡️ Join the GB

[mohawk1367]

One small step for keyboards, one giant leap for Topre

[incrediblejr]

Looks interesting, I'll grab a few blanks. I can't help but think it's a missed opportunity not to offer the red/blue mods in blanks as well.

[tacomn]

I could be wrong but I be they may do that. They said they don't have it now atm. Just thinking they may do it after alot of people are asking for it.

[fkcaps]

please keep asking yes, it helps us realize how many people want them!

[zslane]

I love the idea of turning my Realforce 104U into the equivalent of a HighProfile Realforce with some nice, tall spherical keycaps.

[phinix]

I love the idea of turning my Realforce 104U into the equivalent of a HighProfile Realforce with some nice, tall spherical keycaps.

Yep, I'm thinking of grabbing that Minicom set.

[Hucifer]

Logged into GH for the first time in ten years just to say that I would be happy to take one set of black alphas + mods + extension kits, should any end up going spare.

Just bought my first Topre board and am gutted to have missed the pre-order on these funky-lookin' caps.

~ hucifer

[jacobolus]

Kudos for this. Seems broadly similar to old school Alps dished caps, e.g. from Canon typewriters of the 1980s, or signature plastics's DSS profile but with a deeper scoop and perhaps more aggressive step between rows. Big thumbs up for more keycaps of this style, for any type of switches. Also nice work making convex thumb keys.

For folks who didn't click through, here's the drawing from ursa.fkcaps.com:

and here are Alps Canon typewriter caps from the side:


For reference, Canon typewriter caps from above:

SP's DSS:


(Nobody's asking my advice, but in my opinion you get faster and more accurate typing if you get even more aggressive with the step on the upper rows, e.g. leave the Z row alone, use either A- or Q-row keycaps on the A row, use 1-row keycaps on the Q row, and make an even taller set of keycaps for the number and F rows, or I guess take some from a Hi-Pro set. See https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=62417.msg1459093 for more. But maybe that's too hard a sell to a wide audience. Anyway, this looks significantly better than the stock profile.)

Aside: it would be great to also have a ISO/JIS enter key on any kind of Topre project, since there are so many Japanese Topre keyboards out there. Or even tiny 2.5u and 3.5u spacebars for full support.