Lunar IISecond generation compact AEK keyboard by Switchplate Peripherals and ai03
Building upon the legacy of the first generation design, Lunar II brings the acclaimed curved design to a more accessible price, complete with an entirely seamless exterior, increased typing comfort, and solenoid support.
For details on the board, please see the IC thread.Vendor links:Switchplate Peripherals Unit cap reached
TypePlus Unit cap reached
All units have sold; GB has closed accordingly.
The project will move to manufacturing phase following final confirmations.
Units have begun manufacturing. (09/03/22)
PCBs have finished manufacturing; cases have finished machining and are heading into finishing/anodizing/coating phase. (12/01/22)
Currently waiting on reanodizing for some silver unit ano issues; final packaging and shipment to vendors to follow afterwards. (08/20/23)
Units have completed fulfillment; awaiting extras sales. (11/24/23)
GB SpecificsPricingBase kit:
- 419USD at Switchplate Peripherals (US)
- 399USD at TypePlus (CN)
Extra PCBs: 39USD each
Extra plates (Alu): 29USD each
Extra solenoid kits: 10USD per pack of 2
Colors- Anodized silver
- Anodized grey
- Powdercoat roughly color-matched to AEK keycap off-white
Plate Options- Unified backspace
- Split backspace
Launch Time26th @ 9PM Pacific Time = 27th @ 12PM China Time
Unit Cap100 per vendor (if that even manages to sell out)
ETAFor now, Q2 2023 as a (hopefully) worst-case scenario
Color RendersSilver
Grey
Powdercoat Keycap-Matched
Q&AQ: Is this the best board to pair with clicky Alps?
A: My personal opinion is "meh" - it has a softer typing feel (for an Alps board) that helps reduce fatigue during extended use and pairs well with both linear and tactiles, but the side-effect is that it somewhat mutes the loudness that clicky Alps are known for.
That being said, it's by no means terrible either.
Q: 100 units per vendor? I'm worried that I won't be able to secure a unit!
A: The unit cap exists to keep the GB within manageable scale of each vendor.
If the board somehow ends up selling out quickly, I'll follow it up with more Alps-specific boards in the future.
Q: Which vendor should I order from?
A: The easiest method is to choose by distance - for example, if located in North America, Switchplate Peripherals would likely offer lower shipping rates.
