Hello everyone!
Update #3:
Dec. 20th, 2020 -- Mold T1 Test was done All are good except some minor changes like screw holes need to adjust. We are expecting final samles before end of December. Secret color and a GIVEAWAY will be announced very very soon. Stay tuned!
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Update #2.1:
Dec. 3rd, 2020 -- Mold is finalized 95% What we are doing:
#1 Adjusting some minor details and plan to test producing 1st sample around Dec. 15th.
#2 Picking plastic color chips for mint. So hard to decide which to pick for the manufacturer’s test
#3 A secret surprising color, which cannot be disclosed until we get more info confirmed
Updates #2:
Variable Gasket StructureThere are 10 chips (A - J) in total that snap on to the bottom case. Chips B, D, G and J are optional, the rest must be installed. When all 10 chips are installed you get a firmer, less bouncy type feel. You can choose to remove chips B, D, G and J for a bouncier experience. Please refer to this image for more explanation.
Underglow Will Be AvailableAs suggested by IC reponse, we will add underglow for IKKI68 Aurora.
Schedule UpdateDue to adjusting of our mold, prototypes will be delayed for half month, and GB will be delayed accordingly. However, delivery time is expected to be the same as before.
Mid December 2020 - Prototypes
Early January 2021 - Build streams from reviewers
Mid January 2021 - GB Launch
April 2021 - Delivery starts
Current StatusWorking on final mold for prototypes.
Previous UpdatesUpdates #1:
Gallery of new renders：
https://imgur.com/a/rsN2j7AColorCharcoal
Mint
Clear is almost certain to be an option for round 2, along with blue or pink or another color all together.
You'll notice there's no new render of Mint. We have some transparent teal pantone chips on the way. We'll pick a color from the bunch once we've seen them in person.
FinishFrosted.
The overwhelming majority wanted a frosted finish. We are not ruling out clear finish in a future round, but for round 1 we're going with all frosted
Default plate materialAluminum. Every Ikki68 Aurora will ship with an Aluminum plate.
Carbon Fiber, Brass, Polycarbonate and POM plates can be purchased as extras.
PCBIkki68 Aurora will have 3 PCBs.
[Default] QMK hot swap PCB with multi-layout support.
QMK soldered PCB with multi-layout support.
Bluetooth soldered PCB with a fixed layout. The same one as Ikki68 with the possiblity of some updates.
Multi-layout support
Both soldered and hot swap QMK PCB will have support for:
Split BackspaceISO enter
Split Left Shift
Split Right Shift
Split Spacebar
Stepped Caps Lock
Here's a photo visualizing the options：
https://i.imgur.com/umgeMX4.pngBrass weightAn addition by popular demand: you will be able to buy an 400g internal brass weight offered as an extra.
We'll be having a design contest soon and the winning design will be engraved onto all the brass weights.
The Aurora weighs around 700 - 800 grams without any additional weight. With the weight it should weigh about 1100 - 1200g or 2.4 - 2.6lbs, just a touch lighter than the all aluminum Ikki68
Custom badgesAll Ikki68 Aurora will ship with a default badge. You can buy additional custom badges as extras.
Just like Ikki68 you'll be able to choose from a handful of designs and colors. These are what we call Community Badges. You can also have your own design custom made just for you. These are called Bespoke Badges.
The badges will be "hot swappable". You will be able to change a badge without taking apart the case.
Ikki68 badges will be compatible with Ikki68 Aurora out of the box.
Ikki68 Aurora badges will be compatible with Ikki68 through the use of an adapter, sold separately.
Join our discord server to stay up to date with badges. You can submit a design to be used as a community badge. Use the commands !badges and !bespoke-badge in any channel to find more info.
Included in kitIkki68 Aurora kit
Multi-layout hot swap QMK PCB
Aluminum plate
Silicone dampening pad between PCB & plate
Silicone dampening pad between PCB & case
Gaskets
Keyboard storage case
Coiled USB cable
PriceAdding multi-layout support to our default hot swap PCB has made a noticeble increase in our costs.
However we're still committed to offering the Ikki68 Aurora R1 in the $99 - $129 range that we've mentioned in the first IC. Future rounds may cost slightly more.
We'll continue posting updates on Reddit and Geekhack. Please join our
Discord server for more frequent updates or if you have any questions.
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I’m Ckeeb, one half of the Wuque Studio that launched the
Ikki68 keyboard group buy in June. Now, just 3 months later, we’re very pleased to let you know that we’ve completed production and currently in the process of QC-ing all the kits. We are very much on track for a September ship date as promised in the group buy!
We are also the studio that’s launching the
OA Switch group buy very soon, but in the meantime, we have another exciting project to share with you all!
Ikki68 Aurora 
More Renders at
https://imgur.com/a/ffVidv8IC Form at
https://forms.gle/8P6ieYhdnkvKn6rN9Discord Server at
https://discord.com/invite/CJjtbwrA polycarbonate version of Ikki68 was THE most requested item in the original Ikki68 group buy. Due to various constraints it wasn’t possible to do at that me, but now we’re very pleased to announce Ikki68 Aurora.
It will feature a gasket mount system utilizing 20 gaskets. The case will be made of injection molded polycarbonate to keep the costs down and achieve a fast manufacturing me. We’re looking forward to receiving feedback from all the Ikki68 owners and hope to incorporate all the positive changes into the Aurora.
Key Features: * Injection molded polycarbonate case
* Gasket mount
* Split spacebar support
* Silicone dampening pad between the plate & the PCB
* Silicone dampening pad under the PCB
* Bluetooth PCB w/ proprietary software OR Wired PCB w/ QMK and Hot Swap
* PCB mount stabilizers
* Multiple additional badge designs, including fully custom designs provided by you!
Tentative Price: $99 - $129 USD
Colors & Finish: We can only produce two of the following five color schemes this round. In the future we may produce the rest, or introduce new colorways. Please keep in mind these are just renders, the final color may change depending on technical challenges and other factors. Prototypes will be produced before group buy launches.
Frosted finish will most likely be more frosted than it shows in the renders. More details to follow.
In the IC form you can vote for which two color options will be produced this round.
Also, in the IC form, you can vote whether you’d like to see these colors in a clear polycarbonate finish, or in a frosted polycarbonate finish.
* Charcoal
* Clear
* Blue
* Mint
* Pink
Project Timeline: 🙋 September Launch Interest Check
* September - December
Finalize design & features.
Produce prototypes
Get prototypes to streamers for build videos and sound tests
* December Launch Group Buy
* March Start shipping Ikki68 AURORA to buyers
Additional Details Just like the namesake, after each rebirth IKKI keyboards become better, stronger. Ikki68 Aurora features a gasket mount system due to popular request.
Polycarbonate has a high chance of cracking if you apply too much torque while tightening the case screws. This can also happen from repeated screwing and unscrewing. That’s why we’ve embedded copper sleeves inside the case for screws to thread on to, instead of the plastics shell itself. This will make the case more durable and less prone to cracking.
The default plate material will be either Aluminum or Polycarbonate. Please vote in the
IC form for your favorite between the two. Additional plates in different materials will be available as add-ons.
Custom badges were hugely popular with Ikki68. We’re pleased to announce that they’re making a come back in the Aurora. Each keyboard kit will come with a default badge, and you can buy additional badges as add-ons. There will be several designs to choose from. You can also send us your art work and have a one of a kind custom badge just for yourself!
We are currently weighing the pros and cons of keeping Ikki68 Aurora backwards compatible with the custom badges from the original Ikki68. On one hand we have a new mechanism in mind that will make the badges easier to swap out and machine, on the other hand this new mechanism will make the Ikki68 badges incompatible with Ikki68 Aurora.
We hope to produce the mold, iterate on the design based on testing and feedback and have some prototypes manufactured for streamers before launching the group buy. We will keep you updated on the progress via our discord or via email if you share your email address with us in the IC form. If you’re interested in the Ikki68 Aurora, please fill out the IC form so we can take your feedback and ideas into account.
If you have any questions please feel free to post here, or join our
Discord server.
