Embrace extras are available now while supplies last!
Standalone PCBs are $65 and do not include daughterboards, plates, or any accessories
Embrace is a premium 45% keyboard with a half-numrow (1-6 keys) designed by Trash Man.
A group buy for Embrace kits ran from August 25 to September 9, 2022 for $495. Kits included CNC-milled acrylic top and bottom pieces, a milled stainless steel mid piece, a large 25mm stainless steel knob, an encoder, three PCBs (main PCB and two daughterboards), two FR4 plates supporting split spacebar and 6.25u spacebar layouts, and the JST cables to connect the daughterboards.
All group buy boards were delivered by the end of 2022. Embrace extras were available for a few weeks in early January 2023 for $575.
Information about the board can be found in the #a-trashmans-landfill channel in the 40% Keyboards Discord server.
¶ Design
| Designer | Trash Man |
|---|---|
| Firmware | Trash Configurator |
| VIAL (download) | |
| Layouts | KLE link |
| Plate files | DXFs on the Files page |
| Switches | Hotswap MX |
| LEDs | Per-key RGB |
| Connection | USB-C Daughterboard |
| Controller | ATmega32u4 |
While designing an acrylic R4 V4N4G0N, Trash Man pivoted to experimenting with various plate designs to build a keyboard with a more unique feel. Embrace features a flexible, leafspring-style plate with large mounting tabs that provide even flex across the width of the board. In addition, an all-new three-piece case were designed to leverage two daughterboards for the USB-C port and rotary encoder to ensure those components are isolated from the flex of the main keyboard PCB.
Embrace uses a standard Unified Daughterboard designed by ai03 for the USB-C port. The daughterboard connects with a 4-pin straight JST cable to the top JST connector on the PCB. The rotarty encoder is connected to a custom "Lil' Nob" PCB that uses a 5-pin straight JST cable. The Embrace PCB also provides advanced features including per-key RGB-backlighting and Kaihl hotswap sockets.
¶ Layout
Embrace supports two layouts based on the V4N4G0N and Minisub. The only layout choice is a full-size (6.25u) or a split (2.75u/2.25u/1.25u) spacebar arrangement. This split space arrangement was chosen as it allows all spacebar options to have hotswap sockets without requiring rotation of any switches.
¶ PCB
¶ Prototype
Embrace is the first Trash Man-designed PCB to include per-key RGB backlighting and daughterboards. The board supports hotswap sockets in the south-facing orientation for all switch positions. PCB-mount stabilizer holes are included for the three spacebars. The internal JST connectors for the two daughterboards are located next to the half-numrow on the underside of the PCB. A pair of RESET pads are located between the U and I keys directly below the JST connectors.
¶ Rev 1.0
No notable changes were made for the R1 PCB produced for the group buy.
¶ Case
¶ Prototype
A handful of prototype cases were produced in June 2022. The top and bottom pieces are made from milled acrylic while the middle layer and knob are milled stainless steel. The large knob in the top-right corner is friction-fit onto the rotary encoder, providing a screwless and seamless look. The rotary encoder is attached to the acrylic case which raises the knob ~20mm above the top surface.
The included switch plates have a small cutout in the top-right corner to accommodate the daughterboard for the knob. The cutout on the prototype plates is not large enough to clear the JST cable used to connect the daughterboard, resulting in the palte hitting the cable under moderate flex. Prototype buyers needed to cut off a few mm of plate material to properly clear the connector and cable. This modification is not required on the group buy units as the rotary encoder was moved down and instead mounts to the steel mid plate.
¶ Rev 1.0
The case was reworked for the group buy with several notable changes. The rotary encoder was moved down to attach to the stainless steel mid piece, resulting in a lower-profile look for the large knob and removing the interference issues between the plate and JST cable for the encoder. The knob was also modified to use a standard set screw rather than the o-ring mounted friction fit found in the prototype cases.
