Hello Geekhackers,
We’re
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/K45RwTC07.24 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
We’re going back to basic with the overall shape of the board. It’s our first board and we feel it’s 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 I’ve 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 we’re essentially PCB solution providers, the direct PCB mounting system, without a plate obstructing the view is a fitting way to showcase our capabilities.
There’s 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.
We’re bringing back this “feature” to the Session 1’s 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/05Cq0XOTHE PROGRESS
We’ve 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. Here’s 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 we’re 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 (we’re childish, sorry, but it’s the only way). This is our first ever keyboard GB, and it’s 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 I’m 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 Children’s Foundation, an organisation that’s specialised in helping children in crisis throughout Vietnam, including ones affected by poverty, disabilities, homelessness, drugs and human trafficking. Though I haven’t 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 we’re 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, here’s a TL;DR:
WE MAKE (GOOD) BOARDS
YOU GIVE US MONIES
TO MAKE US RICH
AND HELP AT-RISK TINIES Thank you!
