GB post up NOW: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=107414.msg2930924#msg2930924Who are we? ZTBoards is a two-man operation, and we are making our debut with the release of the AfterNoon keyboards. Individually, we are:
Ellicose - runner of Cheshire, Ilpse, and a few other small private group buys
PleaseBeMyFriend - builder for TypeMachina and JapaneseHorrorWriter (I tried to DM him once and he never replied tho).
ZTBoards (Zero Tolerance Boards) was an inside joke, but grew on us when we began to search for a name to use.
There is no origin behind the names of the boards, After and the Noon. We just wanted to pick the dumbest sounding name possible. Seriously though, at the time of creation we felt like there weren't any boards publicly available that checked all the right boxes, so these two boards are a culmination of that. We've been working on these keyboards since before January of 2020; if it seems like this came out of left field, that's because we wanted to have fully working prototypes and everything ready for production before posting an IC. Hopefully those who join this GB will appreciate these boards for what they are.
This GB is being run in collaboration with AEBoards.
Also:
THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT KEYBOARDS BEING RUN AT THE SAME TIME.Final renders:
Keyboard specs: Noon- 5 degree typing angle
- Isolation gasket mount
- Brass top right corner blocker with ZTBoards Logo
- 0.75u symmetrical bottom row blockers
- Internal brass weight and toblerone side weight
- USB-C Daughterboard
- Blue 1.6mm (TBD) double flex cut PCB
- VIA support
- Colors: E-black, E-white, or Aegis Navy
Noon layout: 
After- 5 degree typing angle
- Isolation gasket mount
- Offset arrow cluster
- Rotary encoder
- 0.75u WKL blocker
- Internal brass weight and toblerone side weight
- USB-C Daughterboard
- Red 1.6mm (TBD) double flex cut PCB
- Colors: E-black, E-white, Burgundy
After layout: 
Other info: Unfortunately, because of the encoder, the After will not officially offer VIA compatibility until official support is added for encoders. Both boards will be programmable through QMK. Regarding PCB thickness, we found that the 1.2mm was too flexible and we think that 1.6mm is a little stiff, but we’re still deciding and will have our decision by the time the group buy starts. There will also be
no LED support, RGB or in-switch.
We will be offering half plates with the kits because that's how we intended the board to be used, but we will be opening plate files for public use.
We are still sourcing and looking into other available knobs and the knob may change before the group buy begins.
Regarding the knob on the After, please feel free to use your own knob of choice (it will still come with a knob either way). You want one with a shaft diameter of 6mm and a knob diameter of 19.05mm.
Prototypes: 
PLEASE PLEASE READ: Prototype error visible below, with the right side blocker clearly placed incorrectly. This has since been fixed and will be reflected in the final product!
Noon PCB
After PCB
There were only a few issues with our prototypes, none that affected use. We have made the necessary changes that will be reflected in the final product.
For the Noon, the right side blocker will be placed properly. For the After, the top and bottom bezels will be slightly thinner and the side bezels have been widened to be proportionate to the now thinner bezels. We have increased the overall size of the internal weight as well for the After. Both boards will have bigger USB C daughterboard openings as well.
Our monogram as well as AEBoards' monograms will be engraved in the internal weight as reflected in the final renders.
Typing videos:Noon typing video:
After typing video:
Important Buying Info:The group buy will be run via Google Forms. This will be a raffle style group buy! The boards will be offered to CONUS/CA and AUS only.
We will allow entries from Canada, but please note that
you will be responsible for shipping costs as usual, along with any customs/import fees that incurs.
Units: 50 spots per board for CONUS / 25 spots per board for AUS
We are offering 25 separate units of each keyboard for AUS alone. We are only able to offer this to AUS alone because of our collaboration with AEBoards.
We will be allowing
1 entry per board!
Each kit includes:- 1 PCB w/ Daughterboard
- 1 Keyboard Case
- 1 Aluminum 1.5mm half plate
- 1 knob for the After
- Gaskets (AEBoards standardized gaskets)
- Feet (AEBoards standardized feet)
- Screws
Pricing will be
$475 USD per unit for the CONUS units with a separate shipping invoice at the time of delivery. Pricing will be
$550 USD per unit for the AUS/NZ units due to import fees and taxes, however, this
INCLUDES shipping for AUS/NZ folks.
Timeline?
This will go into group buy
July 11 at
10am PST for 1 hour, then will reopen again at
8pm PST for 1 hour.
In the meantime, please fill out this form if interested:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXLeCco2o4Hc2rv3yUgc4joupEcjcH214dZip7W1-tzexFNA/viewformQuestions and Concerns:Q: Can you offer polycarbonate?
A: No, because we don’t like it.
Q: Hotswap PCB?
A: No.
Q: Why should we trust that these boards will be any good?
A: We believe boards are a mostly subjective topic, so if you don't like it that's unfortunate. However, we have tried our best to make sure these boards live up to the price point and are going to be quality boards.
Q: Plate material?
A: Aluminum and other materials TBD.
Q: "Hey man, those flex cuts don't actually work properly, did you even do any research on acoustics or etc?"
A: No.
Q: "Hey man, those gasket mounts don't work/those gasket mounts are gimmicky."
A: That's not a question, but yes.
Q: Can you change the layout? I don’t like upper right blockers.
A: No.
Q: Can you change the layout? I don't like WKL blockers.
A: No.
Q: This design is just a copy of , how can you feel comfortable selling this? You should take it down.
A: No.
Q: Why aren’t you taking feedback? is a deal breaker for me.
A: We designed the boards with a vision and are sticking to it, feel free not to enter.
Q: Why aren’t you offering to international buyers?
A: Unfortunately, COVID has complicated many things, and this is one of them. We don’t want to deal with lost packages - this makes the customer and us unhappy
Q: Will there be a R2?
A: No. But yes. If there's enough interest.
Q: Where can I check for updates?
A: Geekhack.
Q: WYA Discord?
A: No Discord, as we plan on having timely updates posted on Geekhack, even if there is nothing notable to update.
Q: NE Extras avail?
A: Yes, small amounts, method of extras TBD. We will not answer any other questions pertaining to extras from here on out.
Q: How will the keyboards be programmed?
A: Both will be programmable via QMK, with the Noon supporting VIA. The After will receive VIA support when encoder support is added.
Q: Can I-
A: No
Special Thanks:Thank you to the AEBoards team, the entire aio3 discord, log, ruiqimao, wilba, as well as the countless people who have made resources publicly available for us so that we could make this a reality.
Updates:Updated title and made some clarifications because there seems to be some confusion that these are not the same keyboards; they
are two different keyboards.
