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geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: 5X_Rhadamanthus on Tue, 29 April 2025, 09:58:06
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Hello,
I present a project I have been working on for a while. This is the WY40, a heavily Wyse PCE-inspired 40% keyboard that has an HHKB style layout.
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The top black bar is a coated sheet of steel, magnetically attached, allowing it to be customized via laser engraving by the end user.
The board sits at a comfortable 5 degrees, and was primarily designed for cherry profile keycaps.
One unique aspect of this board is its mounting mechanism. Simply, the plate has small extrusions designed to hold an o-ring around them. This o-ring is used as the isolation between the plate and the case. Gasket retainers are then tightened down over top of the bands and plate in order to form a fully isolated mount. I am on the edge of dubbing this with a new name, as it is very similar to a gummy top mount but with extra steps.
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Let me know what you think! I have a PCB in comission at the moment, and an initial prototype in production.
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Bump for approval :)
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Cool little board and very interesting mounting system, GL :)
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All parts for the prototype have been ordered, I am just waiting for everything to ship. I am thinking this is going to be mid-may for the prototype to be fully assembled?
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Very excited to see this one come to life! Love the vintage styling!
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This is awesome, keep us updated I’d love to see the progression
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Awesome mounting system, I think if this mounting is applied to some specific boards, such as tented Alice-like typek, the cost of the bottom case might drop significantly.
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This is definitely a test bed for this method of mounting. If it works well, my follow up designs will be based on a similar mounting mechanism. Plus, the o-rings are cheap to mess with in terms of durometer so this is something that could be modified by the end user to their own tastes.
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Closing this interest check. This project will be put on hold for the foreseeable future.
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Interesting mounting system. I need more update on this project
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Hopefully you are able to bring the project online. It is a neat little concept and seems pretty interesting.
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someone here suggests u to call it top oring hahah
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https://imgur.com/a/OFU5Vg4
Notes: This is raw alu. The marks that are present will not be apparent in end product. End product will be cerakoted in bright nickel. The magnetic badge idea did not work out well in practice. I will play with this more, but I think moving to an FR4 badge would be an improvement.
Edits being made after first prototype:
1. Conversion of top magnetic badge to an FR4 badge. Magnetic seemed like a good idea, very difficult to swap in practicality with high chance of scratching finish.
2. Edit internal geometry to allow for less open space. Also, tolerancing.
3. Add logo to rear.
4. Make the case slightly higher profile to cover the bottom of the keycaps.
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This project has been open sourced and will not go to group buy unless someone decides to use these files for their own GB.
https://github.com/5x-Rhadamanthus/5x_WY40/tree/main