Framework has ended its One Key Module developer programme after manufacturing costs, low yields and fragile parts made a sellable product impractical, the company said in an official recap. The programme was intended to let developers build custom ultra-low-profile keyboards and input modules for the Framework Laptop 16.
Why Framework One Key Module was cancelled
Framework said it spent around three years designing and prototyping the One Key Module before launching a developer programme earlier this year. The company worked with manufacturing partner Lite-On but could not reduce material and assembly costs, or improve manufacturing yield enough to make the economics work at higher volumes.
We weren’t able to bring material and assembly costs along with manufacturing yield to a place where the product economics worked. The per-key costs resulted in breakeven pricing too high to reasonably enable high volume sales.
Nirav Patel, Framework
The modules also proved difficult to assemble reliably, even for the experienced DIY users in the developer cohort. Framework said some parts were too fragile to handle easily, which reduced usable yield further. Fixing the design properly would have pushed it beyond the dimensions that fit inside the Framework Laptop 16.
What happens to Framework’s keyboard projects
The programme produced several custom projects, including split ergonomic keyboards, macro columns and a fighting-game control deck. Framework says developers who participated will receive remaining development modules free of charge so they can make more units of their designs.
The company is still working on a ZMK-powered Wireless Keyboard Control Board for developers. It also plans to keep publishing design files and documentation through its GitHub organisation, so the One Key Module’s commercial run ends without closing every route to experimentation.
Framework’s Framework Laptop 16 remains available to DIY buyers in the UAE, but the cancelled One Key Module will not become a retail product. The company has not announced a UAE price or release date for the Wireless Keyboard Control Board.
Framework previously described its Laptop 13 as a repairable option for Linux users in tbreak’s Framework Laptop 13 Pro review.
What was the Framework One Key Module?
It was a developer-focused system intended to let people build custom ultra-low-profile keyboards and input modules for the Framework Laptop 16.
Why did Framework cancel the One Key Module?
Framework said material and assembly costs, low manufacturing yields and fragile parts made a sellable product impractical.
Is Framework still supporting keyboard projects?
Yes. Framework is continuing work on a ZMK-powered Wireless Keyboard Control Board and publishing design files and documentation for developers.
