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NUE - 60% PCB Gasket Mount
Thanks for the interest! Nue will be going into group buy soon so I'll be locking this thread and creating a new one in Group Buys.
IC FORM LINK: https://forms.gle/e454QypTEHdam3D47 (https://forms.gle/e454QypTEHdam3D47) closed, IC results here (https://imgur.com/dOo8bay)
IC II (finalizing GB details): https://forms.gle/p72923Kk8htdaTx47 (https://forms.gle/p72923Kk8htdaTx47) closed
DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Sv9a37n (https://discord.gg/Sv9a37n)
NEWSLETTER: https://store.studiokestra.ca (https://store.studiokestra.ca)
PRODUCT PAGE: https://studiokestra.ca/nue (https://studiokestra.ca/nue)
PREFACE
Hi Geekhack. I'd like to share a project I've been working on.
Nue is a 60% plate-less keyboard, using a gasket mount style via tabs on the PCB. My goal was to design a keyboard with a simple aesthetic but also offer something a bit different from other customs, with a specific focus on typing feel and acoustics. Nue is french for "nude", in reference to its plate-less design.
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DETAILS
- Case Angle: 6 degrees
- Mounting: PCB gasket mount
- Materials: 6063 aluminum, clear coated brass weight
- Front Height: ~18mm
- Plate: optional
- PCB: Solder-only STM32 PCB + unified C3 daughterboard. QMK/VIA compatible
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Sound and feel are very important to me, and most of the time prototyping was spent on these aspects. Things I am testing include a combination of:
- PCB with and without flex cuts
- 8+ different types of gasket material ranging from different materials, densities, and thicknesses
- Case foam
- Optional FR4 full/half plates
A USB-C daughterboard is utilized to alleviate any tension or stress on the port due to flex.
LAYOUT
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Extra PCBs will be available, but it will also be open sourced after the group buy is over.
COLORS + TOP OPTIONS
Based on the previous IC, rose and slate blue were the most popular colors. I will be running these two alongside two top options, WK and WKL. Sorry HHKB :(
PRICING & AVAILABILITY
- 60 public units (tentative), will be released at https://store.studiokestra.ca and will ship from Canada.
- Group buy will happen sometime closer to the end of this month or early next month (still readying a couple things for group-buy).
- GB format TBD - vote in the second IC!
Please subscribe to the newsletter or join the discord server to stay updated.
CURRENT STATUS
Latest updates here: https://studiokestra.ca/2020/12/21/december-2020-preparing-for-group-buy/ (https://studiokestra.ca/2020/12/21/december-2020-preparing-for-group-buy/)
Older:
More
09-19-2020
First aluminum prototype has arrived and I've been putting it through the paces. The anodization is really good with only minimal streaks on the interior. Fit is great and no major revisions are needed. The color is not what I was expecting though, it's more mauve/lilac than pink depending on the lighting. I may order a second prototype with small adjustments as well as a different top and color (HHKB maybe).
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More prototype pictures. (https://imgur.com/a/tNHbfUM) Proto PCB is green but production version will be black.
As for typing feel, I think it's acceptable but a bit too soft with the flex cuts. I've designed and ordered another round of PCB prototypes with different flex cuts to see how this changes the typing dynamic.
Sound is great in my opinion, but it is always subjective. There is no audible ping that I can hear coming from the case. At this point I don't think case foam is necessary, but I may decide to make this an optional add-on.
TO-DO
- finish gathering feedback
Order second PCB prototypeOrder second case prototypeContinue testing gasket/PCB/plate combinationsDesign and order custom packagingStart a discord server and newsletter for updatesBuild Stream- Prepare for GB
A bit of a progress update.
(Attachment Link)
First off, thank you to the users that filled out the interest check form! I'm blown away by the amount of feedback I received especially since I haven't posted the IC anywhere other than GH.
I have been testing the 2nd PCB prototype which features a 1.2mm thickness and modified leaf-spring style cuts on the tabs.
(Attachment Link)
Typing experience is much better than R1 since the lack of full-row flex cuts prevent the whole rows of keys from bouncing around too much, (something you normally wouldn't experience with a full/half plate). At the same time, the gaskets allow for a soft bottom out and the thin PCB provides a firm but flexible feel.
Here is my boomer attempt to illustrate the flex, it's a bit more pronounced in person:
Show Image
(https://media.giphy.com/media/rUMQu7BWNWW5zDWCrr/source.gif)
IC Feedback
- Some people have asked about whether the side tabs are really necessary since you never see side mounts on plate designs. Without them, the modifiers don't have as much support and the typing force feels very uneven, especially with gasket mount. So yes, they are necessary.
- I've received requests for in-switch LEDs - at this time I won't be adding them in just to keep things simple. If I decide to run another round, it will be included
- Also requests for split-spacebars. It would require a PCB re-design so unfortunately that is also out of the picture for this round
- Lighter rose gold color. The first prototype was a custom pantone that my manu had never worked with before so color matching was a challenge. I am making adjustments to a more reproducible, lighter rose gold color.
- Only 20% polled like HHKB so unfortunately that is out of the picture
- Green PCB. Sorry but it will be black.
- Polycarb case. If I run another round, I will look into it.
Next Steps
2nd case proto has been ordered with a couple changes:
- Removed the text logo at the back based on feedback
- Slightly increased the space between PCB and case to provide more room to flex
- Added alignment tabs for the brass accent piece
- Polished brass just to see if I like it
- Changed the rose anodization color to a lighter one
I will probably include optional FR4 plate and case foam to allow for user to tune to their preference. Personally I think it feels and sounds great without.
Tentatively, I am planning 70 boards for public sale, in Light Rose and Slate Blue colorways, WKL and WK. It will ship from Canada and will be in CAD$.
Updated to-do:
- Sound test
- Design and order custom packaging (samples in transit)
- Look into reasonable intl shipping costs (30% of IC is outside North America!)
- Prepare for GB - hoping for 2020 but we'll see
New color renders and discord coming soon - bear with me, I'd love to dedicate more time to this but work and family come first. Thanks all!
Oh look so good. Good job!
So how many board will this gb have, 70 or unlimited?
Tentatively, I am planning 70 boards for public sale, in Light Rose and Slate Blue colorways, WKL and WK. It will ship from Canada and will be in CAD$.
Here is my boomer attempt to illustrate the flex, it's a bit more pronounced in person:
Show Image
(https://media.giphy.com/media/rUMQu7BWNWW5zDWCrr/source.gif)
I love this gif.