(https://i.imgur.com/FdFu1OX.jpg)
IC Form (https://forms.gle/141wxJJma1gmv5mU9)
What Makes This Different?
I've been in the hobby for about a year and a half now, and I've never once seen a wooden, hobby-grade board that isn't either handmade or bought from some unnamed company in Asia through AliExpress, despite wood's excellent sound characteristics being well known amongst hobby members.
I sought to change that, but not just by offering people a keyboard made of wood, but by offering total sound customizability.
For those unaware, different woods all have their own unique acoustic characteristic, a characteristic that is used to great effect by musical instruments. So, why stop at one sound?
(https://i.imgur.com/MXtaByw.jpg)
When purchasing Fiodha, everyone will be given the choice of which wood they would like to be used for the top piece and the much larger bottom piece.
This allows a level of sonic customizability that the hobby has never had easy access to.
Each wood option will be accompanied by a brief description detailing its acoustic characteristics. Or, you could ignore that altogether and just get what you think looks prettiest!
Here are just a few of the potential wood combinations:
(https://i.imgur.com/K4BOgcv.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/CpY496Y.jpg)
Top: Maple
Bottom: Mahogany
(https://i.imgur.com/IbNr7nm.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/NmKw8DB.jpg)
Top: Walnut
Bottom: Alder
(https://i.imgur.com/DwYk62w.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/YNDGHSc.jpg)
Top: Richlite
Bottom: Ash
Thanks to Kingk22 for all the renders!
Construction:
Mounting Method: Top Mount
Plate Material: Sandblasted Brass
Winkeyless Option: Of course
Typing Angle: 6 Degrees
Layout Compatibility: ANSI, ISO UK, Split Backspace, Split Shift, Stepped Caps-Lock, 6U Spacebar, 6.25U Spacebar, 7U Spacebar/Tsangan
Firmware: QMK and VIA Compatible
USB Cutout Location: Right
Wood Finish: Pre-Catalyzed (Similar to Nitrocellulose) Lacquer, Matte
Vendors:
- TBA
To-Do:
- Prototype PCB
- Prototype Case
- Decide on screws manufacturer
- Decide on rubber feet manufacturer
- Decide on wood supplier
- Decide on case manufacturer
- Decide on plate manufacturer
- Determine US order fulfillment process
- Determine International Vendors/order fulfillment process
- Gather Suggestions
- Change design of plate and USB port to accommodate h87c/h88c PCB
- Implement F13 compatibility
- Contact Hineybush about bundling the PCB and keyboard together in the shipment
- Contact Stupidfish about developing foam designs for the board
- Get Final Assembly Renders
- Determine Pricing
- Set Group Buy Date
Changelog/Updates:
- IC Launched
- Suggestions gathered
- After hearing from the community and asking a fellow designer, decided it would be best to use the hineybush PCB instead of selling my own, makes the end product much cheaper for everyone
- Finished previous semester of college, finally have the time/energy to work on the board
- Changed the design of the bottom in a way that allows me to use 3-axis CNC milling rather than 4-axis, making the board cheaper to produce as well as more visually distinct
- Implemented alternate top and plate design that has F13
- Altered design to be compatible with hineybush h87c and h88c
- IC launched on Reddit
(https://i.imgur.com/FL0iEX5.png)