Calla - Seamless Side Profile F13 TKL w/ reduced switch spacing | GB Soon!

Directory:

• [url=https://discord.gg/yNUPenF59g]Discord server[/url]
• [url=https://forms.gle/p5hGo5z93wDsTeP98]Pre-GB Interest Check Response Form[/url]

Closed!

• [url=https://imgur.com/a/TuLRjXE]Render album[/url] (as always, there will inevitably be differences in renders and real anodization colors)
• [url=https://imgur.com/a/jyDtarQ]V3 Prototype album[/url]

Group buy:

• Q3 2023 group buy date
• Fixed WKL kits
• Hard limit of 150 units
• Solder kit cost: $500 >> $450
• Solder kit cost: $455 (new)
• Electrocapacitive kit cost: $480 (new)

Summary:

• Seamless Side Profile F13 WKL TKL
• Top mount or O-ring gummy ring gasket mount
• 18.9 mm switch spacing
• 5.5 typing angle
• 21.9 mm effective keyboard height / 17.9 mm front face height (w/o bumpers)
• QMK w/VIAL enabled PCB
• Top engraving featuring a Calla lily
• Stainless steel internal and external weights centered around the alphas
• Flush M3 case hex screws for easy assembly and disassembly
• Universal daughterboard situated parallel to the surface of the table and aligned between the nav cluster and alphas.

Roadmap:

• Order first prototype: completed
• Evaluate first prototype: completed
• Post IC: completed
• IC feedback stage: completed
• Order second prototype: completed
• Evaluate second prototype: completed
• Order third prototype: completed
• Evaluate third prototype: completed
• Group Buy:here

Background Info:
Yes, it is another F13 TKL; however, rather than the standard cherry specification of 19.05 mm used in most keyboards, Calla features a reduced switch spacing of 18.9 mm.

I was inspired by the coveted OTD mini, one of the first boards to feature a switch spacing that deviated from the standard 19.05 mm. Researching more about the OTD mini led to me designing my own board that not only modifies the switch spacing but also negates the inconsistencies that occur with lower switch spacings. With this, Calla is around 2.7 mm shorter than the standard TKL using stock cherry spacing [18u(19.05 mm - 18.9 mm)/1u = ~2.7 mm] when comparing keycaps.






Color Options

Please vote for your favorite colors in the [url=https://forms.gle/f4xJijkZSnkqedQ38]IC form[/url] as I will be reducing the number of colors available based on popularity.
The final colors are red, silver, black, and navy, see this [url=https://imgur.com/a/jyDtarQ]album[/url] for real life pictures.

Old renders below:


Kitting Information (Solder and Hotswap):

• 1 x Top Case (6063 aluminum)
• 1 x Bottom Case (6063 aluminum)
• 1 x Interior Weight (Brass])
• 1 x Exterior Weight (304 stainless steel)
• 1 x Aluminum Plate (5052 aluminum: anodized red [silver for red units]) or Polypropylene Plate
• 1 x Divinikey Carrying Case
• Hardware Kit:
• 8x M3 6mm 18-8 SS Steel Socket Head Case screws (91292A111)
• 4x M3 4mm 18-8 SS Hex Drive Flat Head Weight Screws (92125A127)
• 7x M2.5 5mm 18-8 SS Steel Socket Head Plate Screws (91292A009)
• 4x M2 3mm Zinc-plated Socket Head Daughterboard Screws (91460A021)
• 1 x Gummy O-ring (50A)
• 1 x 100 mm JST connector
• 1 x Universal Daughterboard
• 4 x Keyboard bumpons
• 1 x Calla Solder/Hotswap PCB (depending on kit selection)

Kitting Information (Electrocapacitive):

• 1 x Top Case (6063 aluminum)
• 1 x Bottom Case (6063 aluminum)
• 1 x Interior Weight (Brass])
• 1 x Exterior Weight (304 stainless steel)
• 1 x STS Topre Plate (tapped)
• 1 x Divinikey Carrying Case
• Hardware Kit:
• 8x M3 6mm 18-8 SS Steel Socket Head Case screws (91292A111)
• 4x M3 4mm 18-8 SS Hex Drive Flat Head Weight Screws (92125A127)
• 7x M2.5 5mm 18-8 SS Steel Socket Head Plate Screws (91292A009)
• 4x M2 3mm Zinc-plated Socket Head Daughterboard Screws (91460A021)
• 1 x Gummy O-ring (50A)
• 1 x 100 mm JST connector
• 1 x Universal Daughterboard
• 4 x Keyboard bumpons
• 1 x Calla Electrocapacitive PCB
• 34 x M2 8mm 18-8 StS Socket Head PCB Screws

Planned Extras:

• Solder MX/Alp Hybrid PCB (+$35)
• Hotswap MX PCB (+$40)
• Electrocapacitive PCB (+$50)
• ALU MX Full Plate (+$40)
• PP MX Full Plate (+$40)
• STS Topre Full Plate (+$55)
• Hardware Kit + PE PCB Foam (+$20)

A little about the planned group buy experience:

It is important to note (if you haven’t already) that this will be the first group buy I will have run; however, I will say that I am no stranger to the group buy process and that I am fully committed to providing a stress-free and easy group buy experience through frequent updates once the group buy has begun.

The group buy is being ran from July 17th to July 31st through Divinikey's storefront with a FCFS format.

After the purchasing window of the group buy, I intend to at least provide updates every other week if my health allows it. I plan on providing the same updates on both the GeekHack GB page and my discord server to make updates as accessible as possible.

Lastly, for the group buy participants, all files except for the case files themselves are being open-sourced after group buy completion.


Q&A:

How is the bottom row keycap spacing retained while using the lower switch spacing?
I adjusted the bottom row to negate the extra length of a standard 7u spacebar when compared to the nominal length of a 7u spacebar with 18.9 mm as the switch spacing (only possible with a fixed WKL layout). The left and right alt keys are ever so slightly offset away from the spacebar to account for the lower switch spacing.

Sadly, I can only offer WKL kits as it is not physically possible to implement WK with this design decision.

Why Calla?
Calla lilies have always been my favorite flower and they encapsulate the subtle curves of the board.

What is engraved on the interior weight?
The engraving on the interior weight reads "in bloom again," and was taken from the quote "The calla lilies are in bloom again."

Alps compatible PCB but no Alps compatible plate?
I do not plan on offering Alps compatible plates during the GB but I will release Alps plate files for whoever wants them.

NE iso support avail?
Currently, I do not plan on supporting ISO layouts. The lower switch spacing leads to awkward ISO compatibility.

NE plate foam avail?
I had designed the board without foam in mind; however, I do understand that people appreciate the adjustability and sound that foam provides. Thus, PE plate foam is avail as extra. (just for you aka)


Afterword:

If you’ve read it this far into my IC or had just instantly skipped to the end, I want to sincerely thank you. Just being able to share my project with you has been a rewarding experience and I have been able to meet so many wonderful people throughout the process to get here. Thus, I want to thank you for your interest and I hope that I was able to convince you to stay around a bit (even if it was to spam emotes). [/list]