MX INCLINE

Walk past any booth in a craft fair and you will come across rows of 3D printed dragons, fidgets, gizmos that look charming in the moment, but soon end up forgotten in a closet. Many of these have an irresistible charm but end up create a "problem" to be solved or solving a non-existent problem.

Other models may tackle a genuine problem but in doing so become overly engineered and require multi-step assembly that requires additional time and parts.

The MX Incline takes a more intentional path, solving a scientifically proven problem while keeping the solution both simple, yet effective. It is an adjustable keyboard riser that prints without supports and does not need tools or additional parts for assembly. This is a product that is essential for ergonomic comfort that will not end up collecting dust on a shelf.

Problem: Ergonomic Flexibility 

Evidently. keyboard tilt is a major issue. Many others have strived to achieve a solution for it too. Is negative, neutral, or positive tilt the best? This is a long-standing debate from the keyboard community. Based on my research and understanding, negative and neutral seem the best, both ergonomically and scientifically.

However, the best thing about the MX Incline is that why choose one when you can adjust between all three? Keyboard tilt angle should not be a "one size fits all" problem. Maybe you are at a standing desk (like me), maybe you want to replicate the flat angle of a laptop keyboard, or maybe you want to see you keys more clearly. The MX Incline allows you to choose what's best for you.

Versatile Utility

While designing the MX Incline, I hit an early crossroads in CAD: do I build a hyper-specific riser for just one device, or a universal platform that compliments any keyboard? It is the classic hardware design dilemma: a bespoke, closed fit versus an open, adaptable tool. I chose adaptability. Instead of locking you into a single keyboard model, the geometry is engineered to accommodate almost any standard mechanical keyboard, low-profile board, or laptop.

Key Objectives

While designing the keyboard I chose these key objectives:

-Compatible and versatile - I think that I could make an excellent riser for one keyboard, but then the audience is super small. I would rather trade off some of the perks of a hyper-specific riser for a riser that can reach a lot more people and a lot more devices. This can even work for laptops; it works well for mine. 

-Grip- I want it to feel solid to type on and not feel like it's going to fall apart. Not being able to design for one type of keyboard makes this a lot harder.

-Portable- I want to be able to bring it places. Many risers are fixed and bulky/awkward to carry. 

-Adjustable- Probably my biggest objective since that way it caters to a larger audience and there isn't a "one size fits all" solution to keyboard tilt.

-Tool-free/Support-free- I think this is an essential goal. I don't want to go buy 20 screws and a bunch of additional build instructions; most people are not going to want that either. It severely limits the amount of people that will end up printing this model.

-Modular- I want to make this riser work with some compatible mods. This objective I never achieved since I got sick and I had some other things I needed to do that had priority. 

Print Settings

Except for these settings, assume you can leave everything else at default.

PLA parts:

Layer Height: 0.20 mm

Speed/Temps: Based on filament

Walls / Perimeters: 3–4 (3 works and it quite solid, but 4 will be sturdier)

Supports: Disabled / None (100% Print-in-Place)

Infill: 15–20% (Gyroid or Grid)

PETG:

Speed/Temps: Based on filament

Layer Height: 0.20 mm

Supports: Disabled / None (100% Print-in-Place)

Walls / Perimeters: 2-3 (2 works and it quite solid, but 3 will be sturdier)

Infill: 15-20% (Gyroid or Grid)

Note: I designed this specifically for PLA, so PLA will work better, but I have tested PETG and there are some slight tweaks, but it should work too. 

TPU 85A/95A parts (I strongly recommend 85A)

Speed/Temps: 25 mm/s (Check manufacturer recommendations)

Retraction Distance: 1.0 – 2.0 mm

Layer Height: 0.20 mm

Cooling Fan: 50% – 100%

Walls: 2-3 (I would recommend 3)

Infill: 15% – 25% (Gyroid works best for even squish and grip).

Supports: Disabled / None

Assembly

Step by step images are available here -> Link

1. Once off the build plate, gently lift both hinges and fold them 5-10 times to smoothen it out.

2. Insert the smaller hinge into the bottom part of the larger hinge's cutout (larger hinge has two cutouts). 

3. Apply gentle, even thumb pressure, it will click in cleanly.

TPU Inserts

1. Press-fit the printed TPU grip pads into the recessed channels on the base and top plates. They may require some force for the first time; no adhesive required.

2. For inserting the TPU grips, slide the side with the longer rail in first, the press the other side in.

3. The TPU feet are not meant to be constantly adjusted, so expect wear if you end up removing/adding them constantly (I don't see why you would).

Adjusting Tilt:

1. Drop the ratchet strut into your preferred slot to lock the desired typing elevation.

2. Slide the riser directly under your keyboard or laptop chassis.

Advanced Tilt: 

1. If the built-in tilts are not satisfactory, you can adjust the tilt by sliding the bottom of the interior hinge (the part that is latched onto the large hinge) up and down to further adjust the tilt.

Design Journal

If you want some of the nitty gritty stuff, here it is. 

MX Incline Design "Journal"

Mods

TPU Feet: It's almost impossible for PLA/PETG to have a good grip on any surface. Although I don't want to use multiple filaments, this is something that is inevitable. I would recommend 85A since it is grippy. I don't have 85A, but I have 95A which works but could be better.

TPU Cap: No clue what to call this, but since for most objects the MX Incline is unable to maintain full surface contact, this adds a TPU grip that should help with that. Once again, I recommend 85A over 95A since it is grippier.

PLA/PETG Lock: Maybe someday if I have time.

TPU Palm Rest: Maybe someday if I have time.

Background

Hey guys! I am brand new to the 3D printing world. This is my first ever 3D model that I designed. I am a college freshmen engineering student who just learned how to "use" Fusion and who should also be studying for midterms right now... I have definitely spent 10, maybe 20 hours design this which is really overkill, but I guess this proves that sunk cost fallacy is right.

I mainly got into 3D printing to learn some of the software and just get some experience. The competitions provide a good example for what I might encounter in the future with constraints, goals, and problems to be solved. Highly doubt I'll win anything (especially with so many of the entries being so cool and good), but it was quite fun designing and iterating and I definitely have gotten more familiar with Fusion.  Thank you for stopping by!

Thanks so much Logitech for providing a keyboard to me so I could tinker around with it! I really appreciate the support!