Menhir
A Premium 40% Keyboard by Fruit
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/719962897123377205/886987780654239844/Menhir_Proto1.jpg)
IC Form: https://forms.gle/qyCKsrgwQMDFksLd9 (https://forms.gle/qyCKsrgwQMDFksLd9)
Discord: https://discord.gg/ZnQ9ZwA6sy (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
http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/280cc7ec541cd2424605c2a9e3e78f55 (http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/280cc7ec541cd2424605c2a9e3e78f55)
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 (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!
(https://i.imgur.com/uhWbdu1.jpeg)
Full album available here: https://imgur.com/a/Py4QALl (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!)
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/871866039737147403/886151217351385088/Beauty.png)
Thank you to PL23 for this render
White + SA Copper
(https://i.imgur.com/gmhY34L.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Mua6c0o.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/FS2ExIO.jpeg)
Black + GMK Night Runner
(https://i.imgur.com/QylH3lW.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hvoOlsM.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/x2PbzMx.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/vSuCOwm.jpeg)
Please note: GMK Night Runner did not come with a 1.5u Shift
- Renders of Colors -
More
White (Bright White)
(https://i.imgur.com/JVfz0RM.png)
Beige (Light Sand)
(https://i.imgur.com/iBvtVE6.png)
Yellow (Corvette Yellow)
(https://i.imgur.com/kZHM0Iv.png)
Pink (Pink Sherbet)
(https://i.imgur.com/YcqjbrI.png)
Black (Cobalt)
(https://i.imgur.com/spGUffa.png)
Light Blue (Polar Blue)
(https://i.imgur.com/gevqNL0.png)
Purple (Crushed Orchid)
(https://i.imgur.com/9SDSXHd.png)
Wine (Black Cherry)
(https://i.imgur.com/foaOwUv.png)
- Prototype Photos -
More
Note: First prototype is beadblasted but unfinished aluminum, it's dirty because that's what happens :P
(https://i.imgur.com/gRZQcN0h.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/TL2alOCh.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lGqmhcRh.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/y5kFb0Hh.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/86QLLc5h.jpeg)
Metal Plate Design:
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/872878715535753286/873639234026766386/image0.jpg)
Alternate Materials Plate Design:
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/872878715535753286/880244505771647016/Assembly5.jpg)
- Rev 2 Prototype Photos -
More
Note: This blue is not GB blue.
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/872878715535753286/900487979389304882/image0.jpg)
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/872878715535753286/900487902495125534/image0.jpg)
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 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=114633.msg3086585#msg3086585)
2021-10-29 - Second Sound Test and new prototype (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=114633.msg3090920#msg3090920)
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
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
(https://trashman.wiki/photos/v4n4g0rth0n/v4n4g0rth0n-header_crop.jpg)