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.
