类型: IC
作者:
flying1911
发布时间:
2020-07-07 12:36:07
更新时间: 2020-07-23 22:21:38
原链接:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=107359.0
Hello Geekhackers,
Were Mechlovin, a
team of two Mech enthusiasts based in Vietnam and
specialised in providing PCB & Plate solutions. Since
our first Group buy back in last October, we have
successfully run many others, while working with reputable
members of the community in collaboration projects.
This
is the IC post for our first attempt at making a keyboard.
The board, named Mechlovin Session 1, is
intended as an amalgamation of our ups and downs as a team,
and also my own personal experiences in this wonderful
community.
Please follow us on Discord for the latest
updates:
https://discord.gg/K45RwTC
07.24 UPDATE - SOUND TEST VIDEO
07.17 UPDATE
The
case has been anodised and built with Vintage Blacks. Notes
on the possible changes in design can be found here:
https://imgur.com/a/5mWl4xi
Overall, things are looking good, design wise. We’ll
make some adjustments and continue to listen to community
feedback before ordering the final prototype.
A typing
video is coming soon. The typing feel is just as we
expected: soft, bouncy, not as stable as boards with plates.
The sound is GREAT, even without dampening.
NOTE: the
machining for the 1st prototype was done locally, and it’s
pretty poor. At least we know the design works well. We
expect to have the 2nd prototype in hand next month, and it
should be a much closer presentation of the final
product.
THE OVERALL DESIGN
Were going back to
basic with the overall shape of the board. Its our first
board and we feel its honest to who we are right now as a
team. The overall design elements of the board is similar to
those found on the Jane CE (my absolute personal favourite,
and one that I was so so lucky to get hold of thanks to a
great friend) and the preceding kustoms. There have been
novel and exciting designs introduced, but this is the one
we can always go back to.
THE MOUNTING SYSTEM & INTERNAL WEIGHT
We
decided to go with the PCB top mounting mechanism, and the
thinking process was straightforward. Personally for me, the
best board Ive ever typed on is the PCB - top mounted Jer
J80 (A-06), and I have for a long time wanted to replicate
that typing feel on a more compact and modern form factor.
Also, since were essentially PCB solution providers, the
direct PCB mounting system, without a plate obstructing the
view is a fitting way to showcase our capabilities.
Theres a large internal brass weight, which in our
experience, helps considerably improve the overall acoustic.
We are likely to include a sound dampener with the standard
kit, as during my time using the Jer 80, I found having a
dampener under the PCB pretty much transformed the whole
typing experience.
THE FREAKIN BLINDER AND THE LOGO
Our
first ever Group buy was the Hannah 910, a PCB solution,
obviously for the TGR 910. Apart from all the nice things
that introduced Team Mechlovin to the community, the most
memorable thing about that GB was probably the friendly
complaints we received about the Blocker LED cluster being
TOO BRIGHT out of the box. Basically, my genius of a
partner, and hardware designer went over the top and put
NINE LEDs on that 1u blocker position alone; and I, during
QC, was inconsiderate enough to not lower their brightness
before delivery.
Were bringing back this feature to the Session 1s PCB
in a more refined manner, as a way to remind us of how we
started, and how bad we can be. The LEDs are placed above
the arrow cluster, shining up the logo, which is a
simplification of S1 (Session 1) in circuit board style.
See the LEDs in action on the Session 1:
https://imgur.com/05Cq0XO
THE PROGRESS
Weve received the first raw
aluminum prototype from a local manufacturer and testing how
the board works in real life. Basically everything seems to
be working fine. Next steps:
- Send the board to be anodised
-
Get it assembled for glamour shots and typing tests
Based on our findings and community input, we may introduce minor changes into the design before ordering the second prototype and start thinking about putting a Group buy together. Heres what we currently have in mind in terms of a GB: - GB Date: September/ October 2020
- Standard Kit inclusion: Top & Bottom cases, brass weight, stainless steel badge, PCB, and a cool certificate were working on.
- Extras: PCB (1.6mm & 1.2mm options, or even 1mm!?!); Carrying bag (may incorporate this into the standard kit)
- Price: $450-ish, excluding Paypal fee and shipping.
- Payment method: Paypal
-
Quantity available: 69 in total, and each board will have
an engraved serial number on its badge (were childish,
sorry, but its the only way). This is our first ever
keyboard GB, and its likely that we will split it into
several small runs to stay on the safe side of things.
CHARITY WORK
This is a personal thing for me, and Im glad that I have my partner on board with the idea. During my time working as an Operations Manager at an international school, I had the opportunity to work with BLUE DRAGON Childrens Foundation, an organisation thats specialised in helping children in crisis throughout Vietnam, including ones affected by poverty, disabilities, homelessness, drugs and human trafficking. Though I havent been in that capacity for a while now, I still keep regular contact with former colleagues who continue to play active roles in supporting the foundation, and we feel it would just be nice to offer a helping hand especially in these difficult times. Find out about the Foundation here: https://www.bluedragon.org/who-we-are/
We would like to donate a certain percentage of the proceeds from this GB to help the children in need. Also, depending on how well the board is received by the community after the first run, we might organise a charity auction for a one-off unit, in which the proceeds will be donated in full.
CREDIT - If I could, I would give all the credit to my trusted partner. I’m the one who does the talking, and often ends up with way more credit then I deserve. He’s the real deal.
- BIG THANKS to Bruce from Ori.Club who helps realise our team’s vision and ideas into a workable design. Follow his exciting IC for the Ori 87 here: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=106031.0
-
And all the thanks I could give to our friends in this
community, both Vietnamese and international. You know who
you are!
That is it for now. To say were excited about this project is a massive understatement, and we will be giving regular updates in the utmost detail possible in this thread. Our apology for the long read, heres a TL;DR:
WE MAKE (GOOD) BOARDS
YOU GIVE US MONIES
TO MAKE US RICH
AND HELP AT-RISK TINIES
Thank you!