Angle from VERTEX | GB orders shipped

Hi everyone, Angle's GB post is live at Geekhack GB Post. And we will stop updating this post.

For questions and latest updates, please join our Discord:


To join Vertex Angle groupbuy:


Index

- Introduction
- Keyboard Build
- Typing Sound Test
- About “Angle”
- Form Factor
- Case Design
- Mounting Structure
- PCB Design
- Colorways
- IC Forms and Discord
- Q&A
- Latest Status

Introduction

Hi all, this is ClickClack!

We are thrilled to announce our first collaboration with the beloved Chinese custom keyboard studio - Vertex. And today, we are introducing Vertex’s new keyboard — Angle. Vertex studio has spent the past 12 months polishing the product, to perfect every single aspect of Angle. Now, without further ado, let’s check out what Vertex has to say in Angle.



Keyboard Build


Typing Sound


Angle TKL with lubed Cream MX

Angle TKL with Tangerine

Angle TKL with Wild

About Angle - "Play the angles, Know the angles."



Good design is open to interpretation and perspective is everything. Applying this philosophy, Vertex wanted to design a keyboard that is full of intentions yet subtle and inclusive. Angle aims to capture the very essence of a typing machine with precision and simplicity.







Form Factor

As Vertex’s founding project, TKL was chosen instead of other form factors. The meaning behind TKL/80% outweighs the potential structural design challenges.




Angle supports both ANSI and ISO Layout. Both layouts have options for Tsangan/WKL and stepped. To minimize the impact on typing sound and potential loosen stabilizers/switch installation introduced by bigger openings on Left Shift and Enter keys, Angle will have ANSI and ISO as different options.

Case Design



Vertex believes in simplistic design and values ease of use above everything else.



Right above the arrow keys, a moonstone is embedded. Moonstone is a sodium potassium aluminium silicate of the feldspar group that displays a pearly and opalescent schiller.



The visual effect of a moonstone is very subtle and will only reveal from a particular angle. It is a symbol of Angle design. Because Vertex believes your typing experience should not be disturbed.



Weight was arranged to be close to the lower edge in order to balance the angled bottom case. Angled bottom case made the lower edge thinner, which introduced challenges to add weight. This was overcomed by adding visual compensation on the bottom of weight with Vertex Logo on the lower right of weight.




Design is in the details. Vertex was founded on 03/05/2020, 庚子惊蛰 in Chinese Solar Calendar, which is engraved on the inner weight.



Side view is progressive and dynamic.



Dynamic sculpture with harmonious proportions.



8 degrees, based on experiments and research, is the most ergonomic angle for typing on average.

Mounting Structure



Clicky yet comfortable, firm but gentle, is what you would feel when typing with Angle’s Leaf Spring Structure.


Special Foams are added to absorb the vibrations from the Leaf Spring and improve the stability of the keyboard while typing fast.




Silicon Pad is added to make PCB better fit in the space and more tightly aligned with surrounding parts. Silicon Pad also helps balance out the structural differences between central area and corners, so the typing experience is more consistent overall.



In order to provide uniform softness, Flex Cuts are introduced throughout the inner parts from Plates, Silicon Pad to PCB.



Custom designed PET-Coated Poron Foams are added to prevent damages from leaf spring overload.



More vertical space is reserved for leaf spring.
Overall, with all the trials and errors, Vertex and we are confident to give keyboard lovers a brand-new typing experience.
We will also showcase how Vertex Studio designed Angle’s Structure in a follow up post. Stay tuned!

PCB Design

- Soldering only
- USB Type-C Port
- No built-in RGB Leds (however there are slots for Led for Caps Lock and Scroll Lock)
- 1.2mm Thickness
- QMK & VIA Support




Colorways

We have following 5 color themes to choose from:

1. Crow - 鸦


2. Lunar - 月


3. Chainmail - 铠


4. Bianco - 皑


5. Fog - 雾


Groupbuy Coming Soon


GB Time: 1/26/2022 - 02/27/2022

GB Website:



GB Format: Unlimited

Streams for R2 protos: 1. Andy (Monday 1/24 6:00PM PT); 2. Taeha (Tue 1/26 3:00PM ET)


Discord

Join our Discord for more updates.



FAQ

1. Is RGB supported?
No. You can only add Leds on Caps Lock and Scroll Lock. Vertex believes that RGB lighting is not a good companion for Angle.

2. Will there be choices of material for Plates?
During the prototyping phase, Vertex had tested plates Aluminum, Brass, PC, POM, FR4 and Carbon Fiber. Only Aluminum and Brass met expectations.

3. Hot-swap support?
No. Because Angle is using Leaf Spring Structure. Hot-swap will not be able to provide enough structural support for holding PCB.

4. How long will Angle production take?
Depends on the amount of Group Buy orders we receive. We will provide weekly production updates after the Group Buy conclusion.

5. Will there be more choices of colorway?
Vertex may consider more colorways if manufacturing technologies for new colors meet quality and design expectations.

6. Pricing?
We haven't set the international pricing yet. FYI, CN GB run's pricing is 2850 CNY (441.04 USD) for Anodizing version (other colorways) and 2950 CNY (456.52 USD) for Electrophoresis version (Bianco). It might be slightly more expensive than CN GB, because of the price hike of raw material and yield rate of CN GB.

Latest Status
(10/26)
- Mid layer: Silicon Pad will no longer be required. Instead PORON pad will be offered as an optional part. “Silicon Corner Pieces” will be provided as individual parts.
- Daughter Board: Angle International GB will replace its own design with ai03’s Unified-Daughterboard.
- Plates: In addition to ALU, plate using new materials will be provided. Vertex is experimenting with FR4, steel, PC and POM.
- Color options: Introduced new coloring process. Will have much more color options in GB.
- Vertex is working on optimizing typing sound of Angle.

(Before:)
- Base on the result from first round of GB, Vertex is confident to make Angle an UNLIMITED Group buy.
- Angle International GB will be starting around begining of December instead of Nov. Sorry about the delay! This delay was because new international GB options and optimizations need to be sampled and validated (base on feedbacks from Chinese GB). This sample making process is affected by the power shortage across China.
- Angle has been through 6 rounds of sampling to ensure quality.
- Samples are being mailed out to respected members in our keyboard community and please expect more thorough reviews coming out!
- Options in the International GB will include choice of different weight material, choice of F13, choice of WKL/WK.
- First round of GB orders are being fulfilled. There will be reviews from different content creators soon.
- We don't know the International pricing from Vertex yet, but soon.
- Reworked our website with brand new UI, focusing on featuring new products.
- GB will support both Shopify Payment and Paypal. We also added Shopify Installment Option.