Hey everyone!
The Group Buy for the MB-44 is now live at Aeternus
The group buy will run through April 30th or until 200 units are sold .
We are estimating about 3 months from the close of group buy to shipping.
Typing Test and Build Stream
Imgur Album
A quick rundown of the board:
The MB-44 is a 12.75u staggered 40% layout with a fun 65%-esque blocker and a simple yet unique two-piece case design.
- Anodized aluminum case in Blue-Grey, Purple, Green or Black.
- Top mount case design.
- 7 degree typing angle.
- Big bar and three split bar layout options.
- Optional rotary encoder support.
- PCB powered by an Atmega32u2 and Unified C3 daughterboard (type-c and ESD protection) running QMK (VIA/Vial support)
More details about the MB-44 can be found on the Geekhack thread.
The base kit will be $250 USD plus applicable taxes and shipping and will include:
- Anodized aluminum case
- FR4 switch plate
- PCB mainboard and daughterboard
- Hardware, bumpons, JST cable.
The following add-ons will be available for purchase through Aeternus:
- Plate foam ($10 USD)
- Extra mainboard PCB ($35 USD)
- Extra FR4 plate ($5 USD)
- Polycarbonate plate ($25 USD)
- EC11 rotary encoder ($3 USD)
For other plate materials, P3D will be offering MB-44 plates in POM and PETG! These will be available for purchase on https://p3dstore.com/
If those materials don’t quite tickle your fancy, the plate file will be made available after the close of group buy.
Info from the IC is under the summary below. Thanks for your time!
Summary
Key Keebtalk!
I’m MelonBred! While I am new to the KeebTalk community, I have been around the mechanical keyboard hobby for a couple of years now. I realize I have just joined KeebTalk, so if this is out of line to post an IC so soon, please let me know. Hope to engage with the community here!
However, without further ado, I’d like to introduce the MB-44, a fun keyboard that I have been working throughout most of last year for my own use. However, there seemed to be some interest from other folks in the community which has brought me to check the interest of the larger communities!
The MB-44 is a Minivan inspired layout with a fun 65%-esque blocker separating the arrow cluster. Here is a quick rundown of the what the MB-44 offers:
- Modified minivan layout with a 0.5u blocker separating spacebars from the arrow cluster similar to a typical 65% layout.
- Fun, two-piece case design with a 7 degree typing angle.
- Big bar and three split bar layout options (3u gang!).
- Encoder support.
- PCB powered by an Atmega32u2 and Unified C3 daughterboard (type-c and ESD protection) running QMK.
- Top mount.
IC Google Form: https://forms.gle/wkmiFFm4f72sc6m76
Imgur Album: https://imgur.com/a/hjTMvT4
Supported Layouts
The supported layouts on the PCB are as follows:
Please note that both encoder locations are tied to the same pins. This means that if someone decides to use both encoder locations, they will have the same exact function.
Color Options
There was lots of discussions on colors, and we have decided to offer Blue-Grey, Green, Lilac and black:
Apologies on the black sample. I didn’t want to pay for a black prototype so hopefully this ring is sufficient:
Price and Availability
Pending the amount of response and interest gathered in this IC, a group buy will be hosted on Aeternus Decorum. While the price is not final, we are aiming to offer this at $250 USD + tax and shipping. The kit will include case, FR4 plate, PCB mainboard, Unified C3 daughterboard, JST cable and hardware. Plate files will also be made available for folks who prefer different plate materials.
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, please reply to this thread! I am mostly active in the 40% Keyboard discord server, so if you’d like to join the conversation there please feel free to join here! Once joined, you will need to add the MB-44 rank by typings ?rank MB44 in the #bot-shenanigans channel.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for your time! Looking forward to hanging out here at KeebTalk.
-MelonBred
