[IC] SolidBrass 60% [v2 UPDATE]

[Ranger_Trivette]

SolidBrass 60%
a solid brass 60% keyboard.


Discord - Instagram - InterestCheck - Solid-Brass.it

   

Shortly: gasket mount, 304x110, 18mm front, 30mm back, 7°

Something about me:

My name is Corrado and i'm from Italy.
I'm a naval and mechanical engineer.
I currently work as product engineer and i'm relatively new to this hobby.

During the first Corona lockdown, i started gaming. I bought a cheap mechanical keyboard from aliexpress... that's how it started

I started designing this keyboard on september '20.
On march '21 i completed all the 3d components, ipt/stp file, dwg drawings and i started asking for quotations all around the world.
A month later i decided to order 4 complete board samples.
Factory got closed for few week due to Corona virus.
10 days ago, i finally received the samples i ordered.

Everything work, but i'm not happy with the overall quality. This is why, while these keyboards will go to the plating plant, i'm ordering a new sample from another supplier.

[UPDATE]
v2 samples arrived this week.
i'm finally happy with the quality
now blockers are gone.
you can finaly see the laser engraved logo and number.

Layout and PCB:

The keyboard has been designed aroud the Wilba Graphite 60%.
A custom PCB give you the possibility to further personalize your design. But force customers to buy extra pcb to avoid problems in the future.
A custom PCB may generate issues that i'm not able to solve (i've no experience with pcb and electrical circuits). Especially now, with components shortage, this can cause huge delay.
That's why i've preferred a standard one.

The plate allow all the layouts of the Graphite; ISO ANSI 6.25u and 7u spacebar.
The plate will be brass made. But i will share all the necessary files to produce by other materials.

Blockers allow you to remove the switches you don't like.

Backside plug allow you to chooce left/right/central positioning of the Usb-C.
Three different wirings will be provided to connect the PCB with the daughter board.
An oring on each plug avoid every possible vibration.
A brass set screw secures the plug in position.





(laser engraving is missing, must be done after the plating)





Please note that every photos show natural brass (no protective treatment). Oxidation and spots are absolutely normal.


Material and colors:

When you use quality materials, there is no reason to cover and hide them.
My idea is to use Electroplating instead of painting/anodizing.
3 keyboards are now on their way to the plating plant.

I'll show you soon:
                                - Gold plating
                                - Silver plating
                                - Copper plating
                                - Natural brass with a transparent protector







Quantity and target price:

I don't have a MQO. Keyboards will be numbered from 1 to 100.
nr. 1 will be used as samples for photos and test. it will be sent to a content creator.
nr. 2 to 100 will be sold through a GB.

Target price under 500€. I'll do my best to decrease it.
Copper, silver and gold plated will have the price (but i'll confirm that soon).
EVA handbag, extra screews, are included.
No extras. I'm working on a keycap with the logo.
If it works, it will be included.
A brass cap will be included 





More Photos:








What's now?
We wait. In few week i should receive back samples from the plating factory.
I ordered another sample from a new supplier, trying to improve the quality.

the content creator will be announced soon 

[Ranger_Trivette]

not sure how i feel about the removable blockers

I would highly recommend not to go removable blockers, not only does it make the board look and feel cheap, but that’s a lot of small brass pieces that you have to QC, which would make the price a lot higher.

Removable blockers always make them feels like a afterthought

+1 of not using removable blockers. Otherwise this looks promising, GLWIC!

thanks for your replies
about the blockers. if the form shows that people don't like them, i'll remove them.
but i want to explain why i like them.

ordering 100 keyboard WITH blockers means ordering:
- 100 top body
- 400 small blockers
- 400 big blockers
100 pcs are a good number for cnc components. with 100pcs price will start decreasing.
(consider that 400+400 blockers cost less than half of 100 top body)

ordering 100 keyboard WITHOUT blocker means ordering:
30-40 top body for each version.
a 30pcs order isn't so good. cnc works require different program and the time spent programming cnc machinery will be spread over 30 pcs instead of 100.
(moving from 100 to 30-40pcs may easily double the price)

having said that, this won't be a cheap keyboard.
i don't like the idea of someone watching this and thinking i made cheap choices
give me some days to think about that and redroming the models without blockers

Will the "clear protector" on the brass be noticeable?

Could also just offer a raw brass, I can just add keyboard polishing to my list of pastime activities

brass get oxidized by the oxygen present in the air.
when you mill brass you remove the oxidized layer and you get the shiny, polished material that you imagine when you think "brass".
after few days, brass start being darker and less shiny.
the "protector" is a transparent paint. it will preserve brass at his original state.

yes, you can have raw brass. and i think is super cool. you will have a keyboard that grows old...
it will change his look during his lifetime. oxidation is a natural process and it doesn't damage brass at all.
indeed, brass get oxidized himself to self protect from oxygen.
on the contrary, if you want a always shiny product that even after 50years looks like a teenager, plating or transparent protection is your way

[growler]

I *think* I like this

Sent from my SM-G980F using Tapatalk

[Baka Bot]

not sure how i feel about the removable blockers

[ee]

now THIS is epic

[yuutsu]

I would highly recommend not to go removable blockers, not only does it make the board look and feel cheap, but that’s a lot of small brass pieces that you have to QC, which would make the price a lot higher.

[kylekwong1]

Removable blockers always make them feels like a afterthought

[whirlwind]

+1 of not using removable blockers. Otherwise this looks promising, GLWIC!

[Havattack]

Bezels too skinny for me unfortunately.

[Cornelius240]

I’m in.

[zebus]

This is freakin' awesome

Will the "clear protector" on the brass be noticeable?

Could also just offer a raw brass, I can just add keyboard polishing to my list of pastime activities

[quinnwinn1]

Looks great! I'm in 

[Ranger_Trivette]

not sure how i feel about the removable blockers

I would highly recommend not to go removable blockers, not only does it make the board look and feel cheap, but that’s a lot of small brass pieces that you have to QC, which would make the price a lot higher.

Removable blockers always make them feels like a afterthought

+1 of not using removable blockers. Otherwise this looks promising, GLWIC!

since many of you ask about the blocker, i updated the second post.

Will the "clear protector" on the brass be noticeable?

Could also just offer a raw brass, I can just add keyboard polishing to my list of pastime activities

raw brass is a cool idea i've replied on the second comment!

[brodiegrizz]

thoccy

[Reign-E]

This would look cool with Malachite blank keycaps

[AlexCore89]

Whoah! This is very nice! I'm definitely loving it!

[Joaquox]

I don't like the visible seam.
Make it seamless, charge whatever you want and I'll buy it.

[Ranger_Trivette]

I don't like the visible seam.
Make it seamless, charge whatever you want and I'll buy it.

i've never thought about that. i like the idea. definitely possible.
this increase the amount of brass that have to be milled.
but may it worth a try.

let me work on it

[SmitH1y]

This is going to be one heavy boy, not to mention the shipping costs

[windlabs]

nice board

[Tree_]

I'm a fan of everything except the blockers and changeable USB positions.

• If the argument for and against blockers is around the cost of producing tops, I'd prefer the options were limited to just WK and WKL.
• There doesn't seem to be any reason specified for the three different USB cut outs? Why wouldn't you just have the one slot? The additional slots and visible seams from the blockers isn't very visually appealing.

[Ranger_Trivette]

This is going to be one heavy boy, not to mention the shipping costs

about 3kg, 70*380*180mm.
shipped from italy.
you can check the freight to your city

but, if we reach 100pcs, i'll probably include the shipping cost.

nice board

thanks!

I'm a fan of everything except the blockers and changeable USB positions.

• If the argument for and against blockers is around the cost of producing tops, I'd prefer the options were limited to just WK and WKL.
• There doesn't seem to be any reason specified for the three different USB cut outs? Why wouldn't you just have the one slot? The additional slots and visible seams from the blockers isn't very visually appealing.

1) the argument around frontal blockers is related to producing costs. in the second comment you can read the explanation. let me know if there is something unclear. 
yesterday i've sent all the updated drawings to the cnc supplier. i'll get a quotation for WK, WKL and HHKB.
this will impact the production cost for sure. but target price is still under 500€ for now.
i expect to have the updated quotation by the end of next week.
once i get the price for polishing/transparent protective/plating, i'll let you know the final price.

2) the reason isn't related to producing cost. on the contrary, a single position would decrease the cost.
i like the fact that everyone can choose the position of their usb cable. is something personal and depends of your desk layout.
right now the seam is visible. overall quality need to be improved.
the new sample will have 0,2mm seam between the two components.
let's see what the new supplier can do. we have time to decide if the back blockers need to stay.

[derpanda]

I think your intent with the movable USB ports is well-intended, but it is almost close to standard default to always have it in the same position as it makes PCB compatibility easier to achieve, so I don't think anybody would mind only having a cutout on the left side. I think the best idea would be to just create a poll on the port placement. Definitely looks interesting though, so I will also be keeping an eye out for this board.

[Mandabanker007]

This is super cool

[windlabs]

nice work

[Ranger_Trivette]

I think your intent with the movable USB ports is well-intended, but it is almost close to standard default to always have it in the same position as it makes PCB compatibility easier to achieve, so I don't think anybody would mind only having a cutout on the left side. I think the best idea would be to just create a poll on the port placement. Definitely looks interesting though, so I will also be keeping an eye out for this board.

you need a PCB with daughterboard. and the daughterboard must have the right center-to-center distance between screws.
i don't think there is a compatible PCB other than the wilba graphite.
let me know if i misunderstood something.

This is super cool

thanks!

nice work

thanks!

[twgecko02]

I don't like the visible seam.
Make it seamless, charge whatever you want and I'll buy it.

i've never thought about that. i like the idea. definitely possible.
this increase the amount of brass that have to be milled.
but may it worth a try.

let me work on it

Seconding this, I would also love a seamless solid brass board. I also like the idea of offering a raw finish, gives people the option to either patina it or mirror polish if they want to.

[Ranger_Trivette]

I don't like the visible seam.
Make it seamless, charge whatever you want and I'll buy it.

i've never thought about that. i like the idea. definitely possible.
this increase the amount of brass that have to be milled.
but may it worth a try.

let me work on it

Seconding this, I would also love a seamless solid brass board. I also like the idea of offering a raw finish, gives people the option to either patina it or mirror polish if they want to.

raw finish is confirmed. it will also have a lower price. 

the seamless design impact the design and the price very hard.
the upper part would be made by a 30mm thick brass block.
this keyboard will be proposed in a buy group with the seam.

i promise that in the first quarter of 2022 i'll be back with a new version without seam.
if seamless design is a must have for you, i'm sorry but you have to wait few months more.
i'm already working on it while i'm waiting for samples of this one.

[Ranger_Trivette]

[UPDATE]

v2 arrived! 
blockers has been removed.
now quality is high enough 

new photos 

[trekt]

Do you have any pictures of the back of the board, connector side?

[marici22]

Protective coating damages easily and will end up being nasty looking if there's even a scratch. Plating it will change the color and tone of the material. So I would opt for PVD coating if I were to make it.

As much as I like the idea of raw brass, oxidation will inevitably make the material dull and even green in the long run.
As a jeweler(in the past, not anymore) I'd recommend against raw brass. Although it isn't worn on the body it still will oxidize from occasional contact with skin, unevenly at that, which wouldn't look pretty. After it turns green, it comes off on the skin too so..

If it was silver then I'd go raw. Speaking of silver, that would look and sound awesome abeit very expensive.

[Ranger_Trivette]

Do you have any pictures of the back of the board, connector side?

hi, photos updated! 

[Ranger_Trivette]

HHKB photos added.
there was a gap between the frame and the keycaps, the problem has been solved 

i'm now looking for a content creator to present the keyboard 

[rossi94]

I really like the spirit of the board. But I don't like the styling so much. I would have wanted the seam to be on the bottom of the top case, maybe no exposed screws. I really think the styling could be more elegant the chamfer on the top could be nice and rounded. I don't like the 3 daughterboard positions and I hate the font ... so much.

I think just having a center one makes more sense. They all add machining time and I don't like the blockers.

Did you think about nickel plating instead of silver? It would not oxidise or Argentium Silver? Would be nice to see the side profile =D
Or making versions from stainless?

[Ranger_Trivette]

I really like the spirit of the board. But I don't like the styling so much. I would have wanted the seam to be on the bottom of the top case, maybe no exposed screws. I really think the styling could be more elegant the chamfer on the top could be nice and rounded. I don't like the 3 daughterboard positions and I hate the font ... so much.

I think just having a center one makes more sense. They all add machining time and I don't like the blockers.

i'll made a new one without seam.
you are not the only one asking to remove seam. unfortunately is't a complete different keyboard. is not so easy 

Did you think about nickel plating instead of silver? It would not oxidise or Argentium Silver? Would be nice to see the side profile =D
Or making versions from stainless?

nichel plating should work too. less expensive for sure.
stainless is a difficult argument. i work in a field where oxidation is a real problem. i usually work with aisi316L, aisi316 and aisi304.
but machining these is very expensive. there is a high usury of the tools.
Aisi303 could be possible. not sure about the price. i'll ask to some supplier 
i added few photo for you