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geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: royan on Sun, 29 January 2023, 16:12:15

Title: [IC] Fracture - 75% Gasket-Mounted Alice
Post by: royan on Sun, 29 January 2023, 16:12:15
Fracture - 75% Gasket Mounted Alice
Interest Check Form (https://forms.gle/mbiHqfeUM9dNh5WM7)
Discord (https://discord.gg/qfqtZNwGKf)
Photo Album (https://imgur.com/a/V9p4Hjh)
(https://i.imgur.com/THzYcJL.png) (https://i.imgur.com/v2YSJ3X.png) (https://i.imgur.com/OVAvWLU.png)
Hello geekhack, I'm royan, a keyboard designer from Canada. Fracture is my take on a 75% Alice/Arisu style layout, a form factor that doesn't get a lot of attention.
Specifications:
Case Materials: Anodized 6063 Aluminum or Sandblasted Polycarbonate
Mounting: Poron Gasket
Case Angle: 6.5 degrees
Weight Material: Stainless Steel (Raw Finish, visible machining marks)
Front Height: ~19.2mm (not final)
PCB: Designed by myself (Unified Daughterboard, 1.2mm (QMK Support w/ RGB Underglow, Solder only, VIA WIP))
Final version will include extra key instead of badge.

Price and Sale Format:
100 units, $550USD (subject to change with level of interest)
GB format, Vendor/s TBD

Layout Options:
(https://i.imgur.com/h2axx9k.png)

Prototype Round 2 Album (https://imgur.com/a/V9p4Hjh)
Courtesy of @stillchromatic (https://www.instagram.com/stillchromatic/), He offers mail-in product photography services for small starters!

Sound Test #1
Aluminum Case
Gazzew Boba LT Linear Switches
TX Stabs
POM Full Plate
GMK Polybius
(written comments in video description)

Sound Test #2 - itsFirewire (https://twitch.tv/itsfirewire)
1 (https://www.twitch.tv/itsfirewire/clip/SingleGiftedDonkeyAliens-6dVJgmPLXKE2lGI9?filter=clips&range=all&sort=time), 2 (https://www.twitch.tv/itsfirewire/clip/NiceSarcasticBearM4xHeh-z4CK1_rQFw3GW1jr?filter=clips&range=all&sort=time)
Polycarbonate Case
Cow Linear Switches (UHMWPE Stem)
TX Stabs
Aluminum Half Plate
PBT Taro

Design Choices:
(https://i.imgur.com/x3fpVvE.png)(https://i.imgur.com/4RyYMAm.png) (https://i.imgur.com/2G5Xd4S.png)(https://i.imgur.com/6waFyCY.png)

Naming, Weight and Layout
The name 'Fracture' is inspired by the weight design and the split layout. I've always really liked the geometric weights on boards like the Mammoth75 or Glacier80. The decision to go with raw machining was not expected, but I loved the way it turned out when experimenting with different surface finishes. Each 'shard' on the weight has a short depth, so the light contrasts very well in various settings and low angles. I aimed to keep the layout relatively simple and consistent with the original Alice layout. The addition of a knob, LED screen or macro column makes the top of the board look very busy and focused on keeping it simple with the addition of a badge in the top-right corner. Layout options are shown above and there will be no layout changes (no ISO, no knob option, etc...) The artwork is not final and the final artwork will be explored and decided on in my Discord server in the coming months.
(https://i.imgur.com/qKbVmJo.jpg)
Picture by itsFirewire (https://www.twitch.tv/itsfirewire), under sunlight

Case Design
This board is quite large and hefty, so I've made sure that there is plenty of room on the underside of the board to make transport easy. I've designed the bottom case to be simple and more rounded, to contrast with the sharpness of the weight. The R2 prototype has a front height of ~19.2mm which I find to be moderately comfortable. Looking into reducing the front height further to eliminate the need for a wrist rest. For now, I've left it as an option in the IC form.
There is no alignment system for the plate however this does not affect the building experience. Gaskets fit into small extruded tabs with the plate fitting snugly on top without interfering with the case. Gasket thickness is ~1.6mm.
R2 proto uses KBDfans feet but will be switching to one of the GEON options.
(https://i.imgur.com/y5HrIU1.png)

Plate, Typing and PCB
The R1 prototypes only had 8 mounting points and I found the typing to be too stiff and inconsistent. The gaskets were also way too thick in this version, making assembly difficult and typing very stiff, regardless of the plate material. The R2 prototype fixed all these concerns, with 10 smaller mounting points and addition of flex cuts underneath the function row and the center of the alphas to make these sections feel more comfortable. I've experimented with various plates, both half and full. With the current plates that I have on hand, I've found the POM full plate produces the best sound while maintaining a good amount of flex. Comments on my current build in typing test.
PCB will likely be solder only, depending on the interest of half plates. The backlighting on the PCB is also not final. This is primarily to experiment with the polycarbonate version and is mainly dependent on how popular the polycarbonate option is. That being said, I am satisfied with how it turned out even though I'm generally not a fan of backlighting. Working on getting this onto VIA.
(https://i.imgur.com/81ko9v6.jpg) (https://i.imgur.com/MDnrwOM.png) (https://i.imgur.com/RcEdTJB.png)

Customization and GB Plans
Colors are another topic I'd like to briefly mention. Currently, I've prototyped 3 different variants of this board: E-Coating, Anodization and Sandblasted Polycarbonate. All of these are presented on the IC form for your choosing as well as the option to suggest another variant. From all the colors and finishes that I've tested, I don't think that E-Coatings match the theme of the board very well and will likely only run polycarbonate and anodized aluminum. Plate materials and options are also included in the IC form, currently planning on including an aluminum or POM full plate as part of the kitting with options for additional plates as an add-on.
The target price is around 100 units @ $550USD and I'd prefer to run this through a single vendor but is subject to change based on interest.
Current Kitting: (recommendations in IC form)

Current Changes from Round 2 Prototype:
To Do List:
Special Thanks to

I’m not very active on geekhack and this account doesn’t have any activity. I will be much more active now that this post is up and major updates will be posted here. Otherwise, I’m mainly active on Discord, which is where you’ll see most of the smaller updates for this project. Hopefully this interest check shows my dedication and commitment to this project. Thanks for reading!
Title: Re: [IC] Fracture - 75% Gasket-Mounted Alice
Post by: stillchromatic on Sun, 29 January 2023, 16:24:26
Really excited for this! Interesting design and fancy angles. MmmmMMmmMMm.
Title: Re: [IC] Fracture - 75% Gasket-Mounted Alice
Post by: kbye on Sun, 29 January 2023, 17:12:22
Looking sick. great work!
Title: Re: [IC] Fracture - 75% Gasket-Mounted Alice
Post by: twitchytheinsideman on Sun, 29 January 2023, 17:49:58
Very interesting board. Gasket-mount Alice with F-Row  :thumb:. Sadly too expensive for me personally.
Title: Re: [IC] Fracture - 75% Gasket-Mounted Alice
Post by: TimeDoctor on Thu, 02 February 2023, 20:05:40
Very excited for the Fracture! Looks like exactly what I've been wanting with the exception of my oddball QMK Audio support and hotswap but I know that hotswap isn't everyone's cup of tea, glad to look forward to it. Can't think of another keyboard I've been looking forward to like this.
Title: Re: [IC] Fracture - 75% Gasket-Mounted Alice
Post by: hirashidan on Thu, 02 February 2023, 21:58:45
Really cool weight design, how did you design it? What methodology did you use and did you use fusion?
Title: Re: [IC] Fracture - 75% Gasket-Mounted Alice
Post by: royan on Sat, 04 February 2023, 16:54:50
Quote from: hirashidan on Thu, 02 February 2023, 21:58:45
Really cool weight design, how did you design it? What methodology did you use and did you use fusion?

Board was designed with Fusion and weight was made with angled extrusions :)
Title: Re: [IC] Fracture - 75% Gasket-Mounted Alice
Post by: gryut on Tue, 07 February 2023, 01:50:54
Quote from: royan on Sat, 04 February 2023, 16:54:50
Quote from: hirashidan on Thu, 02 February 2023, 21:58:45
Really cool weight design, how did you design it? What methodology did you use and did you use fusion?
retro bowl (https://basketrandom.com/retro-bowl)

Board was designed with Fusion and weight was made with angled extrusions :)
Your ideas are so unique!
Title: Re: [IC] Fracture - 75% Gasket-Mounted Alice
Post by: royan on Wed, 08 February 2023, 12:40:38
Quote from: TimeDoctor on Thu, 02 February 2023, 20:05:40
Very excited for the Fracture! Looks like exactly what I've been wanting with the exception of my oddball QMK Audio support and hotswap but I know that hotswap isn't everyone's cup of tea, glad to look forward to it. Can't think of another keyboard I've been looking forward to like this.


I'll look into the audio support, no guarantee it'll make the final version. Still learning a lot with PCBs and QMK firmware. Appreciate the support!
Title: Re: [IC] Fracture - 75% Gasket-Mounted Alice
Post by: pararch on Sun, 19 February 2023, 01:05:21
Great work, and good luck with the IC!
Title: Re: [IC] Fracture - 75% Gasket-Mounted Alice
Post by: g7lv on Mon, 20 February 2023, 22:33:04
Quote from: stillchromatic on Sun, 29 January 2023, 16:24:26
Really excited for this! Interesting design and fancy angles. MmmmMMmmMMm.
geometry dash scratch (https://geometrydashscratch.io)

That's right. I have never seen a design as impressive as this!