Hope timeline

View the complete timeline of the Hope project, encompassing design developments, manufacturing updates, and release information. All dates are shown in the day/month/year format.

 

05/07/2024

Concept initiation.

 

24/04/2025

Public reveal.

 

27/04/2025

The initial keyboard enclosure prototype quote request has been submitted.

 

01/05/2025

Gondolindrim has been approached and confirmed as the MX PCB designer for the project.

 

05/05/2025

The initial keyboard enclosure prototype quote has been received.

Payment in full for the initial keyboard enclosure prototype has been made. The prototype consists of A96063 aluminium alloy top and bottom enclosure pieces with a machined finish, anodised argentum; a raw machined finish copper weight; and an A95052 aluminium alloy sandblasted argentum switch plate.

 

13/05/2025

A Mechlovin' Infinity 87H - Onboard USB-C MX PCB has been ordered as a test PCB.

A polypropylene switch plate has been ordered from HypeKeyboards.

 

16/05/2025

The Mechlovin' Infinity 87H - Onboard USB-C MX PCB has been dispatched by air and is presently en route to FSR.

 

21/05/2025

Full payment has been made to Gondolindrim for the hotswap MX PCB design. The solder MX PCB design will be compensated separately at a later date.

 

27/05/2025

The Mechlovin' Infinity 87H - Onboard USB-C MX PCB, which was shipped by air, has now arrived at FSR.

The polypropylene switch plate from HypeKeyboards has been dispatched by air and is presently en route to FSR.

31/05/2025

The polypropylene switch plate from HypeKeyboards, which was shipped by air, has now arrived at FSR.

 

04/06/2025

The initial prototype of the keyboard enclosure is currently in the manufacturing queue.

 

07/06/2025

A request for a quotation for an aluminium authenticity crest has been submitted.

 

08/06/2025

Several content creators have been contacted in connection with the project, with a view to exploring potential opportunities for collaboration and engagement.

 

09/06/2025

Full payment has been made to Gondolindrim for the solder MX PCB design.

 

10/06/2025

The aluminium authenticity crest quote has been received.

Full payment has been remitted for two aluminium authenticity crest prototypes. One prototype is composed of A96063 aluminium alloy with a machined finish, anodised in ater, while the second is composed of A96063 aluminium alloy with a machined finish, anodised in glaucus.

 

13/06/2025

An enquiry was submitted to a carry case manufacturer.

 

16/06/2025

The initial prototype of the keyboard enclosure is currently being machined.

 

30/06/2025

The initial prototypes of the keyboard enclosure and the aluminium authenticity crests are presently in the final stages of production.

 

01/07/2025

Production of the initial prototypes of the aluminium authenticity crests has been completed.

 

04/07/2025

Production of the initial prototype of the keyboard enclosure has been completed.

 

09/07/2025

Initial prototypes of the keyboard enclosure and aluminium authenticity crests have been dispatched by air and are presently en route to FSR.

 

11/07/2025

Initial prototypes of the keyboard enclosure and aluminium authenticity crests, which were shipped by air, have now arrived at FSR.

 

20/07/2025

An inquiry has been submitted for the custom manufacture of screws featuring FSR branding on the heads, specified in marine-grade stainless steel alloy (S31600) with a T10 Torx drive across all variants.

 

23/07/2025

A request for a quotation has been submitted for a revised aluminium authenticity crest and a switch plate machined from carbon fibre.

 

25/07/2025

A quotation has been received for the carry case, and the order has been placed. Fifty per cent of the payment has been made, with the balance due upon completion of the sample production. The case will feature a sleek black exterior with black metal zippers engraved with our branding, complemented by a tan interior. The interior is custom-moulded specifically to fit Hope, ensuring a secure and snug fit. Additionally, black cloths will be included to wrap the keyboards for enhanced protection during transport.

 

29/07/2025

The moulded insert for the carry case has now been approved. The insert will now proceed to sample production.

 

31/07/2025

The mould for the zipper intended for the carry case has now been approved. The zipper will now proceed to sample production.

A quotation for a revised aluminium authenticity crest and carbon fibre switch plate has been received, and the invoice settled in full. The crest, composed of A96063 aluminium alloy with a machined finish and anodised in caeruleus, will incorporate corner fillet sizes consistent with those of Hope and utilise an alternative method of engraved text. The carbon fibre switch plate features a revised design, with updated cut-outs in the spacebar region.

 

18/08/2025

Production of the carry case samples has been completed, and they will soon be on their way to FSR via sea freight. The remaining balance of the invoice has also been paid in full.

 

27/08/2025

The carry case samples have been dispatched by sea and are presently en route to FSR.

 

19/09/2025

A quote for the review units, covering the enclosures, the switch plates, and the authentication crests for this project, has been requested.

 

26/09/2025

The solder MX PCB design has been finalised by Gondolindrim.

 

27/09/2025

The hotswap MX PCB design has been finalised by Gondolindrim.

 

29/09/2025

Production of the revised prototypes of the aluminium authenticity crest and carbon fibre switch plate has been completed.

A quotation for the MX PCB samples required for this project has been formally requested.

 

30/09/2025

The revised prototypes of the aluminium authenticity crest and carbon fibre switch plate have been dispatched by air and are presently en route to FSR.

The quote request for the review units, covering the enclosures, the switch plates, and the authentication crests for this project, has been received.

 

03/10/2025

The revised prototypes of the aluminium authenticity crest and carbon fibre switch plate, which were shipped by air, have now arrived at FSR.

 

08/10/2025

Following extensive evaluation of the keyboard enclosure across multiple switch and switch plate combinations, the prototype has now been formally approved. The latest authentication crest has also been officially approved. The final version of the enclosure will incorporate only minor refinements, with no fundamental changes to the design or construction, and a carbon fibre switch plate has been confirmed as the standard switch plate included in every kit.

 

10/10/2025

The quote request for the review units, comprising the enclosures, switch plates, and authentication crests, has been settled in part, with fifty per cent of the total paid and the remaining balance due upon completion of manufacturing. Three review unit enclosures have been ordered, each consisting of A96063 aluminium alloy top and bottom enclosure components with a machined finish, anodised respectively in argentum, caeruleus, and glaucus; a raw machined finish S31600 stainless steel alloy weight; and an A95052 aluminium alloy switch plate finished in sandblasted argentum. In addition to the enclosures, nine review unit authentication crests with a machined finish, anodised in argentum, caeruleus, and glaucus, have been included, together with two transparent polycarbonate switch plates and one carbon fibre switch plate. Furthermore, a single commission unit has been ordered, featuring a machined finish, anodised in a bespoke, one-of-one custom colour.

 

17/10/2025

The carry case samples, which were shipped by sea, have now arrived at FSR and have been formally approved.

 

30/10/2025

The quote for the MX PCB samples has been received and the invoice settled in full, with five hotswap MX PCBs and ten solder MX PCBs now ordered.

A quote has been received for the custom manufacture of screws featuring FSR branding on the heads, specified in marine-grade stainless steel alloy (S31600) with a T10 Torx drive across all variants, with a corresponding request for samples having been submitted.

 

03/11/2025

The machined finish originally specified for the aluminium enclosure components and authentication crests has been revised to a smooth, blasted finish for the review units and the commission unit, following the identification of limitations in maintaining consistent surface quality with the machined finish. All other materials, anodising colours, and design specifications remain unchanged.

 

14/11/2025

A batch of screw samples has now been ordered and paid for in full. These comprise the custom-manufactured screws bearing FSR branding on the heads, specified in marine-grade stainless steel alloy (S31600) with a T10 Torx drive across all variants.

 

17/11/2025

All components for the review units and the commission piece are presently awaiting machining and are scheduled to enter production this week.

 

19/11/2025

All components for the review units and the commission piece have now entered machining, with production formally under way.

 

22/11/2025

Production of the MX PCB samples has been successfully completed, comprising five hotswap samples and ten solder samples.

 

24/11/2025

The MX PCB samples have been dispatched by air and are presently en route to FSR.

 

26/11/2025

The MX PCB samples, which were shipped by air, have now arrived at FSR.

 

03/12/2025

The MX PCB samples have undergone comprehensive testing and have been formally approved. Minor adjustments have been implemented, including ensuring the FSR logo is precisely centred, with no fundamental changes to the overall design.

Photographs of the screw samples have now been received and, following review, the samples have been rejected. The supplier has been requested to confirm whether the quality can be improved to meet our high-quality standards.

 

15/12/2025

An alternative supplier for the screws has been selected for the review units, with screws sourced from a supplier based in England. These are Torx screws with thread locker, manufactured from marine-grade stainless steel alloy (S31600), and do not feature engraved FSR branding on the heads. The original supplier continues to be trialled.