OrbitDesigned by MachinaUPDATE 28-05-23GB OPEN!
Hello there! I am Ra66it from Australia, today is the first day of the group buy for my project: Orbit by Machina—a 65% keyboard featuring a silicon pin mounting style.
After dedicating 454 days to this project, I have gained invaluable knowledge from the incredible people within this community. Throughout this period, the Orbit has continued to evolve, adapting and improving with each step of the journey.
The main idea of the design is to keep the keyboard as slim as possible. Internally, trying to make a clean-sounding keyboard with the least amount of foam.
That does not mean I will refrain from using foam in any build, by any means. On the contrary, I consider this challenge as an exciting opportunity to explore and push the boundaries of the characteristics I can achieve without relying on foam.
The external curves and internal weight pattern give me an astronomy vibe, I hope this keyboard is also in your orbit 
The look of this keyboard is influenced by the HHKB series (HG variant and Pro2).IC LINK: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=119018.0/url]DISCORD LINK: https://discord.gg/KZ7axT7zKgINSTAGRAM LINK: https://www.instagram.com/machina.syd/CONTENTS0.DETAILS1.TIMELINE2.VENDOR3.PRICE & SALES DETAILS4.MEDIA5.COLOR RENDER6.LAYOUT7.PHOTO8.DESIGN CHANGELOG0.DETAILS
- Typing angle 7.0°
- Front height: 17mm
- Mounting style: Silicon pin/ Tadpole ( 3 hardness options)
- Screwless exterior design (detachable silicon feet hiding all the screws at the bottom)
- PCB: Inhouse design with USB-C daughterboard - configurable with QMK/VIA, hotswap, and solder option available.
- Will come with a matching carrying case
- Weight: 1.5kg/3.3 lbs built for Aluminium Version
2.5kg/5.5 lbs built for Brass/Copper Version
- Materials:
- Aluminium Top Case
- Two bottom case designs:
- Full PVD Aluminium Bottom Case with 4 internal brass weights
- Full Brass Bottom Case with clear coat finish
- Anodized/ E-coated Aluminium Bottom Case (NEW ADDED as IC form suggests)
- Color Renders: https://imgur.com/a/FFaE7GB 1.TIMELINE
1st Mar 2022 Design Start
10th Oct 2022 Prototype 001 Received & Tested
1st Dec 2022 First IC post
25th Jan 2023 Prototype 002 Received & Tested
6th Feb 2023 Second IC post
16th Apr 2023 First Prototype 003 Shipped out for review
28th May 2023 GB open
18th Jun 2023 GB close
Q4 2023 Fulfillment
South Korea: Geonworks https://geon.works/
Rest of the world: www.machina.mx3.PRICE & SALES DETAILSSale Format: GB open from 28th May 2023 til 18th June 2023
Color Renders:
https://imgur.com/a/FFaE7GBPrice- Anodized Top Case + Anodized Bottom Case $349
- Anodized Top Case + Aluminium PVD Bottom Case $389
- Anodized Top Case + Full Brass Bottom Case (clear E-coated) $399
- Anodized Top Case + Full Copper Bottom Case (clear E-coated) $439
- All Raw Aluminium Top & Bottom Cases (clear E-coated) $369
- Hotswap +$10
- E-coat +$20
* Prices in USD
** By default, comes with full aluminium plate, 70A hardness silicon pins, 1.6mm PCB, and no flex cut on either PCB or plate.
4.MEDIALightning Keyboards Build VOD:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbM91RubDVkAlexotos:
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1837661817DBOKEY:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ1_dsck4Xk&ab_channel=%EB%93%9C%EB%B3%B4%ED%82%A4DBOKEYAvi
Keybored:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSQ0jrB9S7M&ab_channel=KeyboredNearLucid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4epwWdvk2I&t=226s&ab_channel=nearLucidGeon
Makerchun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqXRDzC2bp4&ab_channel=markerchun* will update here once videoes are available
5.COLOR RENDERMore Color Renders:
https://imgur.com/a/FFaE7GB
6.LAYOUT
7.PHOTOMore
V2 PHOTOMore
UPDATE 06-02-23V2 Prototype photos
8.DESIGN CHANGELOGMore
V1 Prototype- 1.2mm PCB with flex cut
- 4 screws between the top and bottom case
- 4 separate rubber feet
V2 Prototype - 1.6mm PCB with no flex cut
- 8 screws between the top and bottom case
- Changed to 2 long rubber feet instead of 4
- Testing Brass Patina
- Quality of life changes to the PCB
- Silicon pin positions redesigned
V2.5 Prototype - Can confirm 1.6mm PCB without flex cut is better.
- Keeping 8 screws between the top and bottom case.
- Keeping the bezels as slim as V1.
- Redo long rubber feet molding. (failed last time)
- Testing Brass Patina (ongoing process)
- Quality of life changes to the PCB (ongoing process)
V2 Prototype Exploded View
Thank you all for reading till the end! Vincent - Special thanks for the amazing photos!
ANZKEEB - Shoutout to my keeb mates, I won't be able to make this without your guys！
Geonworks - Thanks for helping me smoothen out my first GB!
Markerchun - Your camera skills are truly outstanding
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