[IC]Muramasa - The Longestboi - Prototypes made!!

[masje]

Muramasa - The Longestboi - Prototypes made!!



Since getting into prebuilt mechanical keyboards, I have always had a fondness for big boi keyboards - such as full sizes or TKLs.

Coming into the hobby, I have had my fair share of big boards - tons of TKLs - but I always thought: Can I go even bigger?

Introducing the Muramasa - a XT-FRL + numpad longboi.
^{(PS this is also part of an attempt to get my colleague into mech keyboards, since he won't shut up about how he "needs a numpad".)}

DISCORD LINK
IC FORM

Specs
- 9 degree angle
- Adjusted front height of 17.8mm
- Materials: 6063 Aluminum (top&bottom case), Brass (weight)
- Top mount, two piece plate (considering 5052 Aluminum / PP / FR4)
- Three piece brass weight (also considering weight-less option)
- 2505g unbuilt
- Bezels: 8mm(top/down), 5mm(left/right)

PCB Support
- Supports: full/split backspace, full/split right shift, full/split left shift, ISO, ANSI, 10u/7u/6.25u bottom row, F107 layout, and different numpads




Gallery
- These are renders, see below for prototype photos!












Mounting method
- Top mount with separate plates for the 60%+XT area and nav cluster+numpad.
- I wanted a softer typing experience & inspired by the glare, I thought this would be an interesting mounting method.
- Plate options are as follows: ANSI full / ANSI half / ISO full / ISO half, in 5052 Aluminum / FR4 / PP







Layout options
- I'm considering offering the top case in two different layout options - "Vintage" & "New-Age"
- Vintage will be a F107-style layout, with winkey & the nav cluster all cut out (as pictured on the left)
- New-age will be standard WKL (as pictured on the right)





Prototypes
- Yes, I suck at taking photos.
- Engravings are only on my personal unit, though i will consider other themed engravings for the production version.
- As you can see, keebmat doesn't fit kekw
- Pictured with WOB & GMK Handarbeit
- Waffle towels FTW
- These are test fit units, still missing PCBs...

Issues that are being fixed:
- type-c port is widened just a bit to maximize compatibility
- changed depth of screw points
- added ribs to promote stability in the bottom case (weight section)
- plates are being fixed (minor incorrect measurements)











What's next?
- This post is used to gauge the interest of the community, but either way I will be getting prototypes made. Expect updates to come in the future.
- I plan to open source this project at some point, after I make the prototype and make sure I iron out the details.
- Going forward, a GB maybe possible, or even an internals(PCB+plate) GB (for people who want to machine their own)
- I've done some preliminary budgeting for this project. If there is a GB, I'm aiming for something like $480 @ 100MOQ / $650 @ 25MOQ.

Thank you!


Update
- Thanks for all the kind words, including keyboard friends who have filled out the IC form.
- When I open source the project, I will also include version with no weights to hopefully help with cost saving.


Here's a (hopefully)cool signature:

Code: [Select]

[url=https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=120482][img width=210 height=120]https://i.imgur.com/Y6aw3ZY.png[/img][/url]

[twitchytheinsideman]

good god

[Farhandsome]

Very cool! Have you considered making the board longer?

[roostrc0gburn]

I think you could fit 5 more keys

[warhopper]

Fantastic! I was curious what could become longer than my W1 or Calliope, and now I finally have an answer! Lovely design

[CoolPenguin1]

[Muramasa]

For some reason, I have an intense urge to join this when it goes to GB ^^

[Erinkaze]

This board is a perfect excuse to get a bigger desk. I cannot wait to see the protos!

[hali]

cool! why?

[hkhawk]

This is cool. In the renders I see two different side profiles. Which one are you going with or are you still deciding? Also, would you consider moving the navigation cluster to the left between the macro columns and the alphas for more symmetry and mouse space?

[twitchytheinsideman]

What a happy ending and fitting for pride month. 

[masje]

good god

Yes! This is the emotion I want to capture with this board.

[masje]

Very cool! Have you considered making the board longer?

Yes

[masje]

Fantastic! I was curious what could become longer than my W1 or Calliope, and now I finally have an answer! Lovely design

Thank you for your kind words! I loved my W1

[masje]

This board is a perfect excuse to get a bigger desk. I cannot wait to see the protos!

I’m hyped as well!!! Thinking of ways to bring cost down atm, for the benefit of people who might wanna machine themselves as well.

[masje]

This is cool. In the renders I see two different side profiles. Which one are you going with or are you still deciding? Also, would you consider moving the navigation cluster to the left between the macro columns and the alphas for more symmetry and mouse space?

Yeah! I think I’m leaning towards the wedge design…

Hmm that might be something interesting to consider! Definitely will want to try that out.

Tho, all my homies hate mouse space

[beelzking]

Now this is what I call long boi, interesting project.
GLWIC

[trashem]

oh this is incredible, 10/10 for l o n g b o i

[Rhienfo]

This project is so good, especially open sourcing the project, very cool GLWIC!

[HubertThemad]

This is freaking awesome

[boku]

It's been a while since a new board IC has drawn my attention, WELL DONE! 
PS: Please consider long spacebar support (10u) for this long boi

[Moods]

This looks awesome! WKL would seal the deal for me! GLWIC 

[masje]

Now this is what I call long boi, interesting project.
GLWIC

oh this is incredible, 10/10 for l o n g b o i

This project is so good, especially open sourcing the project, very cool GLWIC!

This is freaking awesome

It's been a while since a new board IC has drawn my attention, WELL DONE! 
PS: Please consider long spacebar support (10u) for this long boi

This looks awesome! WKL would seal the deal for me! GLWIC 

Thanks for all the kind words! BTW, WKL is coming……

[masje]

Also, DISCORD link out now!! Please join if you’re interested!
https://discord.gg/HxJFHkyjbf

[phatmasterq]

this brings all the big pp's to the yard. i'm in. wkl a must. you're a wizard.

[CHICKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN]

This board is almost as long as my username

[erretter]

EDIT: Sorry posted in the wrong thread

[herfalerf]

such longth. I think I would need a bigger desk, but i love it. 

[doctorboy]

There are no compromises here. Looks like an interesting project and concept. Looking forward to seeing the first prototypes.
The lower MOQ makes more sense as well. GLWIC and have fun!

[Jona_1153]

Chad Keyboard

[lush_bunny]

I don't think it's long enough, what else can we add besides the macro and the numpad?

[niakulah]

Split spacebar and an option to use an encoder instead of a switch on the top left/right would be nice.

[lkkedward]

chonky board is good board. look forward for build streams

[masje]

Thanks for all the kind word guys!!
Added proto photos! Excited to share more with y'all

[lush_bunny]

I'm still debating whether I am buying this or not. On one hand, I never knew how much I much I loved a full keyboard with the FR chopped off. On the other, I am looking for a productivity board with a southpaw numpad. Whatever happens, this is legitimately the most interesting looking FRL board IC I've seen, so godspeed OP.

[Patty]

proto looks great, engravings on the weight are great although it's a personal one, board as a concept is wild but great, looking forward to hearing how it sounds!

[Nonnegaard]

looks like Aeon. Even the colors are 1:1

[masje]

looks like Aeon. Even the colors are 1:1

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=116335.0

This?

[Nonnegaard]

looks like Aeon. Even the colors are 1:1

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=116335.0

This?

Yes and no, Aeon was a more limited run that ran a while ago in Quests Discord. This is Aeon:

[masje]

looks like Aeon. Even the colors are 1:1

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=116335.0

This?

Yes and no, Aeon was a more limited run that ran a while ago in Quests Discord. This is Aeon:

Show Image

Show Image

LOL that really does seem similar XD
Maybe I need to offer other color options.