Mason60- an engineered-stone 60% keyboard case

Hi guys, I'm Ian Fong, founder of Brazen Studio and this is the official Interest Check for our engineered-stone, terrazzo-style keyboard case, the Mason60!

The Mason60 is a 60% tray-mount keyboard case that should fit standard GH60-style pcbs. Note that this is just the case- you will need to provide your own 60% pcb, plate, switches etc.

Contents:

• Gallery
• Tech specs
• Design & materials
• Surface finish and mechanical properties
• Sound

IC Form https://forms.gle/1ePufJ6Zo6M8XPQ6A

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brazenstudio/

Gallery https://imgur.com/a/Jbc2g39

Discord https://discord.gg/V5m9fHjMcJ









Tech specs:

• 60% keyboard case
• Material- Made of cast gypsum composite, optional silicone dampener
• Mounting- Tray mounted (two stand offs on left and right, option to install middle stand offs as well)
• Weight- approx 1.4kg
• Typing angle- 5deg


Design and materials:

I was inspired to create this keyboard case while researching interior design trends, with terrazzo being one of the most prominent- terrazzo being the generic term for surfaces made with colored stone chips in a cement base.

I found out that I could make my own terrazzo items using a composite material called Jesmonite. It consists of a gypsum powder and a resin binder, that you can pigment and then pour into a mold. After it sets, it feels like engineered stone- think Corian or similar materials used in kitchen counter tops.

I thought this material would make an awesome keyboard case because (1) its heavy (2) you can make almost any color (3) I have lots of flexibility with regards to shape

I designed the Mason60 from scratch. I created a model of it using foam, then created a mold from that, then started casting prototypes. I chose 60% boards as a starting point as it’s the most standardized format. In the future, I will definitely look into other sizes (feel free to suggest a format with many people looking or aftermarket cases!).

In terms of design philosophy- I designed the shape of Mason60 to highlight the uniqueness of the material. I wanted a fat top bezel to show off the surface pattern and a chunky profile with very round edges which fit the "heavy" and "smooth" feel of stone or marble.

Surface finish and mechanical properties:

After casting, the case needs to be sanded down to reveal the chips inside. This is quite a laborious process, which I do with power tools for the rough pass, then finish by hand up to 2000 grit. The case is then sealed with a special wax, to provide water and stain resistance. The resulting finish is smooth enough to see reflections, like polished marble. Due to the casting process there may be some small air bubbles on the surface, the largest of which will be filled in, but small ones may remain. In my opinion the small bubbles add some character to the piece and makes it feel more stone like.
Bear in mind the hand-made nature of this case means it will not be dimensionally perfect like CNC aluminum, but this is part of the charm!

This material is fairly strong and tough, and shouldn't shatter should you drop it on the floor(!). It will dent or scratch if dropped though, but not through normal usage. The finish can be repaired by sanding it down and re-applying the wax (I will include a small amount with each order). The final finish is water and stain resistant (water will bead on the surface, but shouldn’t be left standing).

Sound test

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPSICwDHUc6/


Initial pricing, colorways, timing

• US$180 for case (shipping approx US$50 to USA and EU via courier)
• US$20 for silicone dampener
• US$40 for 60% wrist rest ($30 if purchased with the case)
• Round 1 volume: 50pcs total (between all colorways)
• Target 4 colorways (please vote for your favorite or suggest one that you think would be popular)
• Lead time: start shipping 2 months from end of GB


About Braven Studio:

• Currently a husband and wife team based out of Hong Kong
• Ian
○ Spent 6 years in the coffee industry
○ Started and ran for 8 years my own custom clothing brand CUFFS in Hong Kong, featured in Forbes, CNN, Newsweek etc, nominated for Best retail concept by WGSN
• Wife
Architect with 10 years experience