Interest CheckKeyboards

Aella - a 75% keyboard from AKB

by Alchemist Keyboards

$450.00

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Description

GB THREAD LIVE

AKB Website
AKB Discord
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Contents:

1. SPIEL
2. TECHNICAL SPECS/FEATURES
3. LAYOUT SUPPORT
4. V1 PROTOTYPE PHOTOS
5. ADDITIONAL RENDERS
6. VENDOR/PRICE INFORMATION
7. SPECIAL THANKS
8. IC FORM/UPDATES (1ST COMMENT)

1. SPIEL:

I’m James aka Alchemist Keyboards (AKB), and I have been designing keyboards since the end of 2018. As well as working on my own boards such as the OGR and Petrichor (both also coming soon) I’ve been working as the lead designer for Proto[typist] for which I helped bring boards like the J-02, J-01 Rev.1, Argyle, Allison and many others to reality.

Now I'm back with the Aella, a 75% “seamless/screwless” board that adopts a beautiful and unique side profile with clean, smooth curves and a compact design with a staggered F-row. In my opinion this is the optimal 75% layout aesthetically, while not compromising on function. I decided to go with a ‘screwless’ design to focus all attention on the sweeping curves of the side profile, as that is the real star of the show here.

It also has a pretty name so it has that going for it too.

2. TECHNICAL SPECS/FEATURES:

Typing angle: 7°
Case Material: 6063 Aluminium
Mounting system: Top/burger mount
Front height: 18mm (without feet)
PCB: Designed by Upas, with a centered flex cut. Paired with the ai03 unified daughterboard. QMK & VIA compatible PCB.
Plates: 5052 Aluminium as standard, with FR4, PC and brass as optional extras.
Weight: 1.5kg built (est.)

3. LAYOUT SUPPORT

4. V1 PROTOTYPE PHOTOS

A second round of prototypes are currently on order and I will add pics here when I have them!

This v-shaped tray was initially designed to allow more room for flex, but on the first prototype I wasn't happy with how it altered the sound so this was dropped on the later revision.

Yeah it's a cursed layout, sue me.

5. ADDITIONAL RENDERS:

Following renders by Pikku-Allu

Following renders by FLX

6. VENDOR/PRICE INFORMATION:

7. SPECIAL THANKS:

Flexerman (FLX) for the PCB design, for renders and for crucial input throughout the whole design process. He's also an all-round good egg.
Amber for giving me her blessing to run with the Wraith layout, even though the Wraith hasn't run in GB yet.
Pikku-allu for his incredible renders, helping make the Aella look as beautiful as it possibly could be.
Upas, Jae & Louis for their encouragement and for taking a chance on running with this design.
ThereminGoat for his honest input and unwavering support.