Previous IC
Updated Render Album
Reddit Thread
DISCORD
IC Form
After looking at the previous interest check please look at the updated design down below. The updates below will highlight some of the changes made from the last interest check.UPDATE:After looking at some of the comments and overall interaction with the post I’d like to see how many people would actually be interested in actually purchasing this keyboard in the future, especially with boards like the gmmk pro releasing. As a result I updated the post with another
ic form.
This project started for me well before the announcement of the gmmk pro, so it’s design is not influenced by the gmmk pro, and any similarities are purely coincidental. However, in order to move forward to production I need to know how many people would actually have interest in buying the keyboard, as I can only make it into a fairly priced product with a certain moq.
The Design:The internals of the board have been completely revamped and refined, while still maintaining the signature look of the board from outside. The board still features a beautiful accent piece running through the center of the board, while maintaining subtle rgb under glow underneath. The OLED screen has been removed for this revision after lots of thought due to the following reasons:
- The OLED screen is difficult to see in normal usage, rendering it as a sort of fruitless addition to the board
- Removing the screen allows for the accent piece to run more seamlessly through the side of the board, increasing aesthetics and reducing the price heavily
- The OLED screen made the accent piece difficult to produce and fragile, a problem that would again increase the price drastically to solve
The Bezels:To allow for a cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing design, the layout still contains a 1.5u left shift. This allows for a continuous .25u bezel throughout all of the clusters (of keys).
The Rotary Encoder:Instead of opting for a logo, the keyboard features a rotary encoder. Currently, I've added support on the pcb for clockwise and counterclockwise rotations, as well as a push button.
The Knob:A gorgeous new addition to the rotary encoder, the knob takes functional aspects of grip and movement. The knob is designed in such a way that it can be replaced with a variety of other knobs already out there on the market, so you can always customize the board to your hearts content. I've introduced two different materials and various color, which you can view in the following section. I am still open to suggestions for improvement on the knob and will definitely read the comments to look for ideas on possible designs to add to the top side of the knob.
Mounting:After large request, I've revamped the internals to make the plate "gasket mounted". After further testing of burger mounting vs gasket mounting, I determined that I personally enjoy the isolation that gasket mounting brings to each switch press, a feeling that you can't quite achieve with burger mounting.
The Plate:The plate now features "flex cuts" which are specifically placed to help isolate the specific clusters. In combination with the gasket mounting, the flex cuts help bring relief to each keystroke and give a unique typing experience.
Additional Specs:
6.5 degree typing angle
USB C custom designed PCB with rgb backlighting
Top and Bottom Piece: Aluminum 6061
Middle "Accent" Piece: Brass, Stainless Steel
RGB Lighting Piece: Polycarbonate
Knob: Aluminum 6061, Brass
Plate: Brass
Layouts:After looking at lots of feedback, I decided to offer support for a number of different layouts, including iso/ansi support, split backspace and left shift, and multiple bottom row layouts.
Pricing:The price still has a lot of possible fluctuations, especially due to COVID, but a reasonable goal for me as of now for the pricing would be to start at $400, excluding tax and shipping. This price could easily get lower or higher, and it will be more clarified and determined as I approach closer to the group buy stage.
Colors:Determined Colors for Top and Bottom Pieces: Black, E-white, Navy Blue
Determined Colors for Knob: PVD Polished Black Nickel, PVD Polished Brass, PVD Polished Chrome
Determined Colors for Middle Piece: Black, E-white, PVD Polished Black Nickel, PVD Polished Brass, PVD Polished Chrome, Polished Stainless Steel
Please leave comments for some other possible colors for the top and bottom pieces. I am considering adding one to two possible additional colors based on requests that I see.
Acknowledgements:NathanAlphaMan: Helped me get started and gave great tips/general knowledge
Keyboard Atelier discord community: Helped me when I had questions along the way and gave lots of great suggestions
Future Development:
Please follow my discord for more updates in the future. Discord will have the most updated features, pricing, and colors.
I have been also working with manufacturers to order a prototype. Once I get a proto ordered and assembled I will post updates on discord. Once I come closer to the GB date (which is still undetermined, but definitely sooner rather than later), I will also launch a website which will continuously have updates posted. However, until then discord will be my main way of delivering updates aside from possible reddit posts.
