🔧 Technical issues update

This update focuses on a couple of technical issues that some customers have experienced with their URSA sets. While these have only affected a small minority of them, we take them seriously and are willing to share what we've learned and how we're fixing them.

The issues we're addressing

Broken stems: Some customers have reported stem breakage on certain keys.

Spacebar acoustics: Some spacebars aren't delivering the expected thock sound upon installation, with issues ranging from clicking noises to "barking" sounds.

We're actively researching both issues and sending replacements to anyone affected. This should be expected from any vendor, and we're committed to making it right.

By the numbers

To provide full transparency on the scale of these issues:

Broken stems: 0.02% of all keycaps shipped have been reported broken, affecting approximately 2% of customers. While these percentages are relatively small, even one broken stem is one too many, which is why we're committed to eliminating this issue entirely.

Spacebar acoustics: Some customers have mentioned this issue in Discord, and we've been able to help them work through it. We're still addressing it at the mold level to ensure it's not something anyone needs to troubleshoot.

These numbers give context, but they don't diminish our commitment to solving these problems completely. Every customer deserves a flawless experience.

Our approach going forward

We won't be injecting another production batch until we've identified and resolved both issues completely. While we've already planned new kits and colorways, they're on hold until we have a clear timeline. We'll be sending out a survey soon to collect your feedback on what comes next.

Spacebar deep dive

We've analyzed every reported spacebar issue in detail and identified three main scenarios:

• Mounting difficulties due to extremely tight stab socket fit
• Clicking noise on downstroke from very tight stem sockets
• "Barking" sound on upstroke from the interplay between stabs and stem tolerances

Through extensive testing, we found that with careful installation and micro-adjustments, every spacebar can sound nice and thocky. However, this shouldn't require such precision. Multiple dimensions need adjustment to accommodate the tolerances of all the parts involved (sliders, stabs, the spacebar itself).

Temporary fixes while we perfect the molds

If you're experiencing spacebar issues, here are two approaches that should help:

Method 1: Remove and reinstall the spacebar carefully, making micro-adjustments until the sound is correct. You may need to press down quite hard on some keyboards, lighter on others - we haven't found a universal pattern, so it may take some practice.

Method 2: Add duct tape to the inside of the stem openings, then build up the stab sockets with foam from q-tips (see photo below).

Progress on spacebar molds

Andreas has already received test samples of 6.25u spacebars, though due to a misunderstanding, he doesn't have a keyboard ready to test them on. The first batch of 6u spacebar samples will arrive in the coming days, and he has many boards ready for testing, all of which have shown different behaviors with various spacebars.

We've amended both the spacebar stems and stab sockets. We're waiting for samples that perform consistently across a wide range of keyboards before considering this fully solved, but we're confident we're close to the solution.

Stem breakage investigation

We're still identifying the root cause with our manufacturer, but progress is being made:

Material adjustment: We've changed the plastic mix to make it less rigid and stiff. This showed significant improvement: the breaking point is much higher than the first batch. However, we don't consider this good enough. We don't want to hear about broken stems at all anymore, so we're continuing to research improvements and will post another update with our findings.

What's next

This is a highly technical challenge, and we'll keep working on it until we achieve the quality standards URSA deserves. We know this has been an inconvenience for affected customers, and we hope our support team at support@fkcaps.com has provided you with satisfactory service. We're committed to continuing that level of support.

Our next update will focus on the upcoming batch and will confirm that these issues have been fully resolved.

Our commitment to you

Quality takes precedence over speed: we won't move forward with new production until we're completely satisfied with the solution. If you're experiencing any issues with your set, please don't hesitate to reach out to support@fkcaps.com.