FJ60BLX PCB – 60% BLE, Vanilla QMK, USB-C, Backlighting, RGB Underglow

Update 9-6-20: The first FJ60BLX prototypes have officially been ordered! As promised, this design has been fully open-sourced under the TAPR Open Source Hardware license, available at https://github.com/FJLabs-Designs/FJ60BLX.

Update 8-31-20: There has been a recent shift in vendors for this project. The search is still on for a Canada vendor. DailyClack will be the vendor for the Australia region. The current list of planned vendors is:

• BolsaKeyboardSupply - USA
• - Canada
• CandyKeys - EU
• ILUMKB - Asia
• DailyClack - Aus/NZ

Prototypes are expected to be ordered on Friday and should arrive in 2 weeks!

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Update 8-27-20: An additional right-shift layout has been added by popular request. The added layout is a 1.75U - 1U - 1U right shift found on the DZ60. The Layout section has been updated to reflect this change.

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Update 8-26-20: AuraMech has been dropped as the Canada vendor due to being not responding over email. Further vendors for CA are being considered including DeskHero.

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Update 8-20-20: Lots of updates, more than could comfortably fit in a field here. See the latest email campaign for vendor and pricing discussion!
Week #5 Email Updates

Also, JOIN THE DISCORD: https://discord.gg/E2ppWcW

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Update 8-18-20: Additional vendors have been confirmed. So far, the current list of vendors are:

• BolsaKeyboards (USA)
• CandyKeys (EU)
• AuraMech (CA)
• ILUMKB (SEA)

Are there any other regions where people would like vendors?

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Update 8-17-20: Due to major incompatibility with the Bluetooth module placement, split spacebar support has been dropped from the roadmap. More information on this drop can be found at https://trello.com/c/N1pHo1tz.

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Update 8-15-20: Sorry for not having more continuous updates. Most have been concentrated to the email mailing list. Currently, I'm seeking out vendors in the SEA/Asia and Australia region. Vendors have been secured for USA/CA/EU.

Update 8-2-20: Rotary encoder support is unfortunately dropped due to major switch incompatibilities that have no known workaround. See https://trello.com/c/KpxomgQf for the full information

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Update 7-27-20: Currently working on adding Rotary Encoder support to the top right key [only for split backspace layout]. Would love to hear if you want it in any other locations [top-left where the tilde would be is a no-go since it interferes with the USB connector]!

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Update 7-22-20: You can follow development tasks and progress here: https://trello.com/b/xgmCQhar

Sign up for the email mailing list: http://eepurl.com/g-V2Dz

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This is the same Interest Check as the Reddit thread from last week here https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket/comments/htbuut/ic_fj60blx_pcb_60_ble_vanilla_qmk_usbc_perkey/. Thought I would post it here too to cover this community. Please don't fill it out again if you already filled the Reddit IC!

RENDERS: https://imgur.com/a/faD7giL MORE RENDERS ATTACHED

FORM: https://forms.gle/m3GBG16UYqTPLPiR9

Note that the renders do not show most components. Actual PCB will have components soldered. Silkscreen not finalized. Sorry if these renders suck, still learning Fusion 360 rendering. Switches are currently north-facing—depending on response, this may change.

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I'm working on a new PCB that combines a bunch of features I've seen on PCB's individually but never together in one package for some reason.

Layouts Supported:

• Standard 60% Layout
• 64-Key 60% Layout
• Stepped caps option on either Standard or 64 Key Layout
• Split Backspace
• Tsangan Style Right Shift

Features:

• Rotary Encoder w/ Push Button support! - Dropped due to incompatibility issues.
• Full BLE support using the MDBT40 chipset
• Full QMK and VIA support [VIA over USB only]
• Using the vanilla QMK firmware, not some custom closed source version
• Using the AT90USB646 Microcontroller w/ 64KB Flash, so plenty of room to enable more advanced QMK features
• Single-color backlit keys [north facing for shine-through keycaps!]
• 12–16 fully individually addressable RGB underglow LED's using the WS2813 Mini LED's Exact number undecided just yet. Depends on price.
• 24 Underglow RGB LED's using the SK6805Mini LED's for more even color.
• Extra header available for inclusion of additional RGB strip
• USB ESD Protection
• Battery over-current, over-discharge, under-voltage protection [super rare to find]
• Option for both through-hole and SMD per-key LED's available
• USB-C connector
• Fully tray-mount compatible, supporting universal 60% cases [Tofu, 5 Degree, etc...]
• On/Off Battery Shutoff switch
• JST PH 2.0 Connector for battery
• Fully hackable with schematic and pinouts posted to GitHub before production.
• SWD pads will be left available to also hack the onboard ARM Cortex M0 of the MDBT40 if desired.

Versions:
Three Two versions of this board may be offered depending on traction:

• Fully Soldered with SMD diodes and per-key LED's pre-soldered
• Only SMD diodes with per-key SMD LED's not soldered, but pads and through-holes available
• Bare PCB, with everything except diodes and LED's soldered. SMD pads and through-holes available for both.

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Miscellaneous Notes:
For full transparency, I'm aiming to sell this board near or at cost of manufacturing, instead of making a profit. Thus, prices will fluctuate depending on the actual volume and shipping cost to destination. Asking about the price, so I can know if market price will be able to meet the cost of manufacturing. I'm open to international shipping, but pricing would be at exact cost to buyer.

I'll be open-sourcing the original Eagle files, Gerber files, and BOM at the start of a group-buy process, without any licensing restrictions [except change the name] so other people can also do runs of this board if they want.[/list][/list]