[IC] the Heavy Grail: a Norbauer housing for the HHKB

[Goguma]

@norbauer

Previous attempts to solve the problem have tried to re-make the plate from milled aluminum, either fully milling all the slider housings (which is fantastically expensive and reportedly leads to a keyboard with gratingly awful acoustics), or using a metal plate with pop-in sliders harvested from another Topre keyboard, which doesn’t create the same dampened typing feel as the HHKB’s resin plate (and also requires a second sacrificial keyboard).

This is amazing. I can’t thank you enough for making the typing feel and sound as close as possible to the actual OEM product.

@norbauer

Below are some quick renders, simulating the housing in my K2 finish. (Alas, the plate won’t actually be pink–most likely white–but I thought it would be fun to render it this way and help it stand out against the housing)

I would love to see that pink come to life hahahaha! I also hope that’s a finish in your future boards. I really love the pink that you have on your packaging!

@norbauer

Acoustic dampener to minimize internal sound reflections, with clearance for internal electronics

This is a nice inclusion! The foam set up that I have in my case right now is not the prettiest looking.

@norbauer

Retro-futurist Norbauer-style tapered housing geometry (fusion between the Norbaforce and Heavy-6), the compound curves of which can only be cut on a 5-axis CNC mill.

I love this look a lot! The Poly-6 and Heavy-6 (and of course the soon to be released Heavy-9) have a gorgeous subtlety that I adore.

As always Ryan, you’ve taken the custom Topre game to a whole 'nother level! I will definitely be getting this one! Hope to see a Norbauer Pink or a retro refrigerator in the finishes!