BACKGROUNDWe had a fully-working prototype for the UTD months ago, but decided to shelve it because we weren't sure about releasing a product for a clone board, and at that time, QMK's stance was that they would not officially support the (original) UTD PCB. We then reached out to QMK about the possibility of supporting a compatible PCB (made by Mechlovin') and received a green light, which was very encouraging. However, it was always our intention to not make it available until we have a working OTD PCB as well.
And it was much more challenging than we originally thought. The OG OTD PCB has some peculiar dimensions and spacings, which took us 5 tries (meaning 5 prototypes) to get right (maybe it's difficult, or we're just not that good LOL). To be honest, we could have just released the UTD version of PCB and Plate, as one can actually put the whole UTD build onto an OTD 360C and it'd work perfectly, but it doesn't feel right. This stance was made clear a few months back, and we thank you for your patience and support.
We are splitting the GB for OTD & UTD compatible PCBs & Plates into 2 separate phases. UTD will get the first treatment, and OTD will follow after a few weeks. Why we'll be doing this:
- To avoid confusion: having both in one GB will result in too many options, which is likely to cause confusion among buyers. Separating them will also make it easier on our end logistically.
- To race against the clock: CNY is around the corner and it will certainly affect the progress (everything's off for 2-4 weeks in Vietnam and China). We were able to pin everything down regarding the UTD a long time ago, but ultimately decided to wait until we figured out the OTD as well. Now that we have done it, but still have some final decisions to make regarding the OTD, we feel now's the right time to set things in motion in phases, which does allow us to move faster.
WHAT’S AVAILABLE FOR THIS BUY
Mechlovin' Rogue PCB and Plates (FR4 and Polycarbonate) - compatible with UTD 360C keyboard.
These PCB and Plate are cross-compatible with UTD’s bundled stuff, which means you can pair Rogue PCB with UTD plate, and the Rogue Plate with UTD PCB.
GENERAL GB INFORMATION
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE GROUP BUY
:
https://forms.gle/d2LqMF6r6GRdKzKQ9PROTOTYPE PHOTO ALBUM
:
https://imgur.com/a/EISvPEu
Fit Test: UTD Original Plate & Rogue Proto PCB (Final PCB product is in matte black)
Fit Test: Proto Rogue Plate (FR4 and PC available for GB) and UTD Original PCB
• Price ((excluding international shipping from Vietnam, calculated based on buyer’s location)
$52 (USD) per 1.6mm PCB
$55 per 1.2mm PCB (with 0.4mm stabilizer spacers included)
$29 (USD) per FR4 Plate
$39 per Polycarbonate Plate
• MOQ: None.
• Group buy form opens on Monday, January 11th at 23:00 (GMT+7) for TEN DAYS.
• Invoices will be sent out ASAP after form submission. Payment deadline is 48 hours after the invoice is issued.
PCB & PLATE SPECS
• PCB is programmable via QMK and VIA
• PCB thickness: 1.6mm and 1.2mm (with 0.4mm spacers included)
• Powered by STM32F303 MCU. Supported layout
• No underglow RGB
• ESD protection
• PCB color: Matte Black solder mask with immersion gold coated pads.
• FR4 Plate specs: 1.6mm with gold bezel coating.
• Polycarbonate Plate specs: 1.5mm CNC’d and sandblasted.
LEAD TIME AND SHIPPING
The expected production time is 6-8 weeks, and with CNY taken into consideration, we’re looking to start shipping at the end of March/ early April.
Shipping during the pandemic is generally still unpredictable. The (very) good news is we have been able to work with our EU and US proxy to further reduce the base shipping rate, so it's now $19 instead of $25 like with previous GBs (please note that this is the base rate and ordering more items will result in higher shipping fees).
DHL(3-5 day delivery) has announced a new and increased fee scheme (they normally increase their shipping rates by around 5% each year), but we’re honouring the rates offered in last year GBs, at least for now. Though we’re still offering standard shipping (using national post) for non-US and non-EU destinations, we highly recommend choosing the DHL option for much faster and safer shipping.
OTHER NOTES
Our product pricing has been adjusted to reflect the hikes in costs of production and components, especially with MCU prices skyrocketing in the last few months. The increase in the final product pricing is not significant by any means, but we would like to be transparent and hope to have your understanding.
The Rogue PCB does not have a USB connector as per the original design, so you will need to solder your cable onto the PCB. There will be labels on the soldering positions to make the job easy.
While we do send important GB updates via emails, the best way to stay updated and connected is to join our Discord server, and maybe follow us on Instagram if you're interested in our work.
MECHLOVIN' DISCORD:
https://discord.com/invite/jqVbMpMINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mechlovin.studio/Thank you and have a good one!
