Cloudline -
GB Thread for updatesHi everyone. This project has garnered a lot more attention than I initially expected so welcome to the revamped and cleaned-up IC.
This is the interest-check for my cost-no-object 88% F13 TKL keyboard, Cloudline.
This board's theme was sparked by feedback from my partner Shannie, so I'd like to give her credit for helping steer the board in the direction that resulted in what it is today. In addition, she also contributed wonderful cloud & bird illustration for the project that I used in the internal and outer weight engravings. The inspiration for the side-profile and theme comes from the diffraction of sunlight at the edge of a cloud - AKA the silver lining (thank you Shannie for catching the resemblance).
(not my image, please no sue)Details- Layout: F13 TKL (88%) WKL / Full
- Mounting: Large 'gummy-worm' O-ring / Top Mount w/ Relief
- Materials: 6063 Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel
- Weight (approx.): 6.2 lbs, unbuilt - Large brass bottom weight, internal polished SS weight frame
- Typing Angle: 6.4 degrees
- Front Height: ~17.9mm board height, 22.4mm EKH
- Plates: FR4 Full, Aluminum Half / Full (DEFAULT PLATE), Polypropylene Half / Full, Polycarbonate Full, POM Half
- Price: $585 USD @ Cannon Keys (other regions may vary)
- Units: 650 standard boards
Group Buy: October 9th - October 16th, 2021Pricing may change with exchange rates over the coming weeks, but only slightly if at all.
As GB date approaches, final times and pricing will be confirmed directly from your local vendors (see your vendor for confirmation).US: CannonKeys, 260 spots, $585 USD(
https://docs.cannonkeys.com/raffle-queue)
- October 9th, 10:00 AM Eastern for 20 brass spots via Hype checkout (OPEN WORLDWIDE), $800 USD
- October 9th, 11:00 AM Eastern for 260 standard spots via Hype checkout (REGION LOCKED), $585 USD
CA: Deskhero, 65 spots, 769 CAD- October 9th, 11:00 AM Eastern for 65 standard spots (Region Locked), TBD CAD
EU: mykeyboard.eu, 65 spots, €590 (BE VAT inc)- October 9th, 17:00 CEST for 65 standard spots (Region Locked)
UK: Proto[typist], 25 spots, £519 inc VAT, £432.5 ex VAT- October 9th, 16:00 BST for 25 standard spots (Region Locked)
AS: ILUMKB, 170 spots, 829 SGD- Oct 9th, 16:00 CST (China) for 75 standard spots via ILUMKB CN site (Region Locked)
- Oct 10th, 16:00 SGT for 95 standard spots via ILUMKB site (REGION LOCKED FOR 10 MIN)
AU: Daily Clack, 65 spots, $865.6 AUD- October 10th, 11:00 AM AEDT for 65 standard spots (Region Locked)
LinksFeel free to join Discord to ask questions, catch small and casual updates, or learn about other projects! Check out Instagram for photo posts and updates.
Discord: https://discord.gg/XPEFcn8
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjw_kb/Project Timeline / StatusCurrently I am waiting to hear back from some vendors on the next step to sourcing rubber feet with more surface area contact, to prevent the heavy board from sinking into the deskmat. Also I'm experimenting with different relief cuts in the top-mount configuration.
- Initial IC (Nov 16 2020)
- Prototype 1 (Dec 16 2020)
- Prototype 2 (Apr 23 2021)
- Any Necessary Changes
- Final Samples
- Group Buy Completed
ColorsThere will be four (4) standard colors in group buy.
- Overcast Silver (Silver)
- Serene Blue (Navy)
- Dystopia Red (Burgundy)
- Moonlight Gray (Dark Gray / Off-Black)
And an undisclosed, limited number of full brass-topped units.
Design / Case Renders
Over the top - the devil is in the details. The side profile peeks from underneath to create a "silver lining" effect.
Two options for mounting - a top-mount with relief cuts to improve flexibility and decrease stiffness, or a large o-ring gummy-worm gasket mount.
A laser-engraved, stainless-steel internal frame cleans up the cable routing design, as well as adds beautiful hidden artwork to the board.
Prototype Photos
some random snaps from the build:
With CapsGMK Apollo by octix
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Can you remove or change the engraving over the arrow keys?It might change, but nothing planned or set in stone. Not everyone will be happy with the engraving no matter what I make it - so in the end, it'll be what I want it to be. I would not remove the engraving, since I'd like the board to be differentiable from a top-down view. Luckily, there are dozens of great F13 TKLs in IC to choose from and there will always be one to fit people's preferences!
What PCB does this use? Layout options?I designed this with Hineybush's H88 in mind, so it should be compatible with any PCB that is compatible with the Jane V2 CE - included in the kit is planned to be a compatible PCB designed in-house by Upas @ Cannon Keys.
Here is the layout that the PCB is slated to support:
Will hotswap PCB be offered as an option?No, your best bet is mill-maxing a PCB.
OMG, THE FANCY INTERNALS ARE A WASTE OF MONEY?Having a flat piece extend from the main weight to cover the cable routing would use a much larger metal blank piece than separating it into two - that is why there is a two-piece weight. I like the look of polished SS, and decided it was worth the slight increase in price. Keep in mind this SS piece is literally a FLAT, slightly thicker plate - there's no complex CNC to it. And for what it's worth, the cost to engrave the internals is a happy meal - I've gotten quotes for both laser-engraved and plain internals, and the difference is really not something to worry about.
This looks like it is going to be extremely expensive. Are my fears true?I don't think I can accurately estimate group buy price with so many variables at hand (exchange rates in the coming months, machining costs, unit count, vendors, etc). It will be expensive. $tbd. It probably won't be anything you haven't seen before.
What colors are you running?All the standard colors are going to have a contrasting silver bottom and brass bottom weight. Top colors are OVERCAST SILVER, SERENE BLUE, DYSTOPIA RED, and MOONLIGHT GRAY.
Special edition?There is a very limited brass-topped variant that will be offered exclusively through Cannon Keys.
What format will the GB be?Each vendor will be using their own format.
When is the group buy happening?Not entirely sure yet, but optimistically late Q2 - early Q3 2021.
How many units? Can you make it unlimited?650 standard boards distributed using past ratio estimates among vendors.
When will the boards ship?As usual, no one really knows... there can be delays, etc. I'd give it the standard GB estimate, 6-12 months.
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