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# System prepended metadata

title: Project Gwŷdd Log

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# Project Gwŷdd Log

### Why
Inspired by the legacy of woodworking that remains in the small town of Luodong, we wanted to develop a board that utilises some of the beautiful wood that can be found in Taiwan. Wood has a much warmer tone than metal or acrylic, so our focus was to capture its acoustic quality and combine that with a phenomenal typing experience. As such, we aimed to achieve a gasket-mounted wooden keyboard, which have traditionally proven to be challenging due to the "playful" nature of wood. As an organic compound, wood loves to bend, warp, expand and shrink. Overcoming these inherent obstacles in the material as well as maximising the acoustic quality is our primary goal with this board.

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### v1 Prototype
- Shape conceptualised from guidance provided by woodworkers
- Basic shape outline, angle and weight cutout added
- Core cutout completed (to house PCB+plate)
- Going to v2, we changed...
    - Core cutout dimensions to match the actual QK guts
    - Added some flair to the bottom piece design
    - Changed the screwpoints

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### v2 Prototype
![](https://i.imgur.com/lyKp1Dt.jpg)
- Completed base shape
- Completed core component (based on QK65 measurements)
- Completed 3D drawing January 20
- 3D-printed model delivered January 25
- *Contents: Top case 1pcs, Bottom case 1pcs, Weight 1pcs*
- [Files](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13HISv72Sj6RemYcdKDlTlLOFUPevgJIU?usp=share_link)
- Going forward, things we'd like to change
    - Thinner bezels all around
    - Fill up type-c opening
    - Increase typing angle (6° to 7°)
    - Think about removing weight
    - Increase inner cavity, for flex

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### v3 Prototype
![](https://i.imgur.com/gr9XJrF.jpg)

![](https://i.imgur.com/u8owxKa.jpg)
- Added thinner bezels all around
- Filled up type-c opening (need to test compatability+depth)
- Increased typing angle to 6.9°
- Removed weight
- Increased inner cavity for flex
- Added "sound ports" to test
- Added bottom thickness to 3.8mm
- Completed 3D drawing January 29
- *Contents: Top case 1pcs, Bottom case 1pcs, Bottom case NC 1pcs*
- [Files](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BlxY718JeejIKodh5udXJsMazO-jlmNN?usp=share_link)

### v3.1 Prototype
- Structural changes according to Jay's comments on v3
- Pushed screw points further into the case for better structural integrity
- Changed plate files to accommodate the new screw points
- Changed top/bottom case fitting pin mechanism, added a new part - pin
- Changed type-c port to now support 鴨子's daughterboard design
- Included guideline for PCB size/shape
- Completed 3D drawing January 31, model delivered Feburary 24
- *Contents: Top case 1pcs, Bottom case 1pcs, Bottom case NC 1pcs, Pin 2pcs*
- [Files](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xKxgMJzO3Ffk8n_iSBkWkZKXXWatL6Zb?usp=sharing)
- *Contents: Plate(for PC) 1pcs, LS Plate(for Alu, FR4) 1pcs*
- [Plate files](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MjjOsrZAftopHjsOYp7KziWxDeTvCjpi?usp=share_link)
- Feedback from woodworkers(after model)
    - Left/Right bezels can be reduced by 15-17mm
    - Remove alighment bars + concave both side is better for production
    - Remove floating back design
    - Reduce number of screws (5 or 6 would be ideal), but 8 is still fine
    - Modify sound ports so that they don't create wedges
    - Raise daughterboard area to accomodate m2 threaded inserts + minimum 2mm thickness required between surface + threaded insert

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### v4 Prototype
![](https://i.imgur.com/oksSruw.jpg)

![](https://i.imgur.com/zFaklOA.jpg)
- Changed design to reduce left/right wing
- Added thickness and inner cavity in the bottom case
- Added curvature in the back & increased type-c opening
- Added support for screwpoints
- Added thickness for type-c daughterboard screwpoint support
- Plates were changed to remove the cutouts
- [Files](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BL0r8q0YIUQieXZZT0sCInQdGoQkLXe1?usp=share_link)
- [Plate files](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10t6U7kGquZ9w4hptOQ13-GINVHsXSE79?usp=share_link)

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### v4.1 Prototype
- Changed design according to some suggestions from Ruilong
- Overall bezels are extended for machining stability
- Screwpoints strength reinforced
- [Files](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1A_f6XTuDI9cMZjf_pHlmgcK1VSVHgFTv?usp=share_link)
- [Plate files]()

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### Plate Design
- Layouts to support
    - Split Backspace (not supported)
    - ISO enter (not supported)
    - 6.25u/7u spacebar (supported)
    - Split right shift (not supported)
    - Stepped capslock (supported)

- Design elements
    - Fins(PC) + Leaf Springs(ALU/FR4)
    - No flex cuts for better acoustics

- Design guidelines for PCB
    - Dimensions: 307mm by 96mm max, could be smaller
    - Thickness: 1.6mm
    - Supports stepped caps
    - Doesn't support split backspace
    - Doesn't support ISO enter
    - Hotswap version only supports 6.25u. 
        - (1.25u, 1.25u, 1.25u, 6.25u, 1.25u, 1.25u, 0.75u(blocker), 1u, 1u, 1u)
    - Solder version supports both 6.25u & 7u & ISO. 
        - (1.25u, 1.25u, 1.25u, 6.25u, 1.25u, 1.25u, 0.75u(blocker), 1u, 1u, 1u)
        - (1.5u, 1u, 1.5u, 7u, 1.5u, 0.75u(blocker), 1u, 1u, 1u)

### Plate V1 Prototype
- Types: FR4LS, FR4, PC, POM, Aluminum, Brass, CF
- Issues:
    - FR4LS plate sounds very similar to FR4, but with better feel. Therefore, it should be ok to skip normal FR4
    - Aluminum plate uses 5000 series aluminum, which is lighter, and does not have snappy aluminum plate feel
    - CF plate feels snappy and responsive while accentuating high-pitched sounds. It also has a "metallic" nature
    - The current fins leaves a lot to be desired. Force does not go through it the way it think it does. Will probably need minor redesign
    - Current cavity for gaskets are still the incorrect size: 106.8mm as opposed to the 108mm(designed)
    - Plates are true to design size, but don't line up with PCB. This is likely the PCB's issue

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### Parts Sourcing
- [m3 Threaded Inserts](https://www.3dprow.com/products/%E5%9F%8B%E5%85%A5%E5%BC%8F%E8%9E%BA%E6%AF%8D-%E5%B5%8C%E5%85%A5%E5%BC%8F%E8%9E%BA%E6%AF%8D-%E9%91%B2%E5%B5%8C%E8%9E%BA%E6%AF%8D-10%E9%A1%86-%E7%86%B1%E5%A3%93%E7%86%B1%E7%86%94%E8%9E%BA%E6%AF%8D-%E9%8A%85%E8%B3%AA%E8%9E%BA%E5%B8%BD%E5%9F%8B%E4%BB%B6)
- [m2 Threaded Inserts](https://www.ruten.com.tw/item/show?21940135321157)
- [Silicon Feet(friction)](https://geon.works/products/feet-20x7?pr_prod_strat=use_description&pr_rec_id=594d6cd82&pr_rec_pid=7644368208035&pr_ref_pid=7644379480227&pr_seq=uniform)
- [Silicon Feet(glued 10mm)](https://m.tb.cn/h.UKIcUwK?tk=sOwXd8EUygE)
- [Gaskets](https://m.tb.cn/h.UqkVRhb?tk=9CqFd8ERNm2)