Interest CheckKeyboards

Derivative R1 | 60% | Group buy opens March 25th - April 10th!

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Description

Derivative R1

This is the interest check for Derivative, a 60% keyboard. There was an very small run of in-stock initial units (Round 0) during Fall 2021, but there have been some design changes I've contemplated since then. I also wanted to share this IC in case some were looking to pick up the board - this is basically to say that there WILL be another run, and I hope to make it far more available than it currently is.

Details

Layout: 60%, WK / WKL / HHKB
Mounting: Top / Relief / O-ring Gasket
Materials: Aluminum 6063, Stainless Steel Weight & Logo Insert
Weight:
Typing: 6.5 degrees
Front Height: varies, 22.4mm EKH
Pricing: Starting at $439 USD (US Pricing)

GB / Sale Info

GB opening March 25th - April 10th

US Pricing: $439 USD (WK/WKL) - $449 USD (HHKB)

(Pricing and sales formats may vary regionally)

US: jjwkb, 250u - 9 AM PT
CA: Deskhero, 70u
EU: KEYGEM, 70u
EU/UK: Prototypist 50u
OCE: Switchkeys, 70u
AS: HEX Keyboards, 150u
KR: Swagkeys, 40u

Shipping estimate is the standard GB fare, aiming for approximately Q4 2023 - Q1 2024 for shipping.

Kit includes: Keyboard, full aluminum plate, PCB + Daughterboard, carrying case & microfiber cloth, 50A O-ring, assembly hardware, misc. documentation.

There will be add-on options:

Aluminum Full Plate
Aluminum Half Plate
Polycarbonate Full Plate
Polycarbonate Half Plate
Polypropylene Full Plate
Extra PCB + DB
O-rings (30A, 50A, 70A)

Design Info

Whenever I sit down and begin a new design, I always look to incorporate at least one distinct feature that gives the keyboard a sense of identity. One of the biggest challenges in keyboard design for me is creating something that is unique / different, while keeping design cues intentional and avoiding too overbearing complexity. Derivative features a sleek and layered side profile with contrasting curves mirroring one another. These are some key details that were considered in Derivative's design.

On the top face is a long, sweeping front lip that bows gently outwards towards the center. It gives Derivative a defining feature visible from a working angle, while reducing the front height of the board ever so slightly.

With Derivative, I've added an accompanying bevel (similar to Geon's awesome Frog) on the side profile that lines up directly with the front-lip to avoid that. The board's side profile is a shelf design, curved downward into the table. Beneath the shelf, there's a secondary curve in the base that turns away from the table - the two opposing curves work nicely together. The secondary curve is not a result of a stepped side profile, but a direct transition into the large filleted corners.

The R1 weight is now longer and more proportional. A recurring request was for the two-piece weight to return, so it will be returning with improvements.

I'm not an engineer by day - so custom keyboard case design may be the one of the only things I dabble with where fractions of a millimeter make such a core difference between having a functional case and a complete headache.

The side profile of Derivative features a shelf design that cuts directly into the bottom of the case. In order to have a shelf design, there's a minimum thickness required for the shelf otherwise the side profile cuts a hole straight into the bottom case (that is, if I want to keep the super thin side bezels). This became a careful, frustrating battle between three things - keyboard height, internal clearance beneath the PCB, and minimum shelf thickness to retain the 'shelf' side profile. If you've designed a keyboard, you know exactly what I'm talking about

In the end, I opted to give the modifier switches minimal internal clearance - this buys the case more material for the shelf to cut into. Towards the center, the case internals opens up and give additional room for the alphas to flex where it actually matters.

Mounting

Derivative's compact plate design allows for three practical mounting styles to choose from - classic top mount, a far more flexible relief mount (only viable on materials such as aluminum, carbon fiber, etc), and large o-ring gasket mount.

I anticipate the following plate materials will be offered: