Author Topic: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (Shipping)  (Read 19124 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline kema

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 307
  • Location: San Francisco, CA
  • Designer
    • kevinmadesign
[GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (Shipping)
« on: Fri, 28 April 2023, 02:28:52 »




SLKDessau.com↗

https://fkcaps.com/keycaps/slk/dessau↗










Vendors and Pricing

Cannon Keys (US)↗
Deskhero (CA)↗
zFrontier (CN)↗
zFrontier (AS)↗
Yushakobo (JP)↗
Aiglatson Studio (TH)↗
Candykeys (EU)↗
ProtoTypist (UK)↗
SwitchKeys (AU)↗

Kit                       USD              CAD              CNY              JPY              THB              EUR              GBP              AUD             
Base Kit$99$144¥749¥15,290฿3,550€112£99$160
Compact Kit$40$58¥299¥6,160฿1,450€44£40$65
Int'l & Misc$40$58299¥6,160฿1,450€44£40$65


Group Buy from May 1st, 2023 to June 1st, 2023
Delivery to vendors in December 2023






About SLK profile

SLK is a new uniform profile designed by Synth Labs, with the goal of making an aesthetically modern, low-profile option for MX-style switches.

• Round top keycaps with capsule-shaped dish cutaways and tapered base
• 1.5mm PBT plastic with dye-sub and reverse dye-sub legends
• Supports ISO enter and stepped caps lock
• Produced by FK Caps








Design and Kits

The legends feature a modern monoline typeface with a number of base glyphs modified for a more cohesive look and feel.
Rather than keeping the original monospacing, each legend has been carefully kerned to read better in this context.
Edge modifier legends are also edge aligned both for aesthetics and so the legends can still be read when partially obscured by your hands.




Choose between Light and Dark colorways.
Colors represented are approximations of physical samples.
Lighting will affect final appearance.




Base Kits








Compact Kits








International & Misc Kits










Renders

Renders by @its.hymn↗




















Collaborations




Turbulent Labs

A collection of handmade full-grain Italian napa leather desk accessories. Available in matching light and dark colors.








HIBI Lens Keycap










Protozoa Knob

Fits common encoders with 6mm shaft, 18.2mm diameter









Links

Follow kema on IG @kev.nma↗
Follow Synth Labs on IG @synthlabsmk↗
Follow FK Caps on IG  @fk.caps↗

Join the Synth Labs Discord: https://discord.gg/FCmrQ75rny





« Last Edit: Mon, 25 March 2024, 22:26:17 by kema »

Offline HoffmanMyster

  • HOFF, smol MAN OF MYSTERY
  • * Senior Moderator
  • Posts: 11450
  • Location: WI
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 01 May 2023, 13:49:24 »
Approved :thumb:

Offline phxrbn

  • Posts: 30
  • Location: SF Bay Area, CA
  • tech. design. real estate.
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 01 May 2023, 14:53:21 »
none of the vendor links seem to be working.

Offline kema

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 307
  • Location: San Francisco, CA
  • Designer
    • kevinmadesign
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 01 May 2023, 15:49:11 »
Linked the vendors that are currently live !
Deskhero, CandyKeys, Prototypist, and SwitchKeys will be up soon and I'll link those when live

All vendors live now!
« Last Edit: Wed, 03 May 2023, 11:28:51 by kema »

Offline patcoll

  • Posts: 24
  • Location: PA-US
  • !40s
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 02 May 2023, 11:12:11 »
What's the measurement of the outer diameter of the knobs? Can't find their specs anywhere.

Offline Nostril

  • Posts: 126
  • Location: Seattle, WA, USA
  • Synth Labs
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 02 May 2023, 18:05:53 »
What's the measurement of the outer diameter of the knobs? Can't find their specs anywhere.

Hey! The outer diameter of the Protozoa knob is 18.2mm.

Offline dvorcol

  • Posts: 3119
  • Location: MI-US
  • dvorcol#5071
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 10 May 2023, 23:32:34 »

Edit: revised x axis scale to match final
« Last Edit: Sat, 08 July 2023, 14:13:47 by dvorcol »

Offline Gimbal

  • Posts: 27
  • Location: Sweden
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 11 May 2023, 07:00:34 »
Very interesting.

Do we know if they work with Kailh Choc V2 low profile switches?
It would be a sweet combination for a low profile keyboard. But some keycaps are slightly to narrow inside and sort of rubs on the case of the switches.

Offline Nostril

  • Posts: 126
  • Location: Seattle, WA, USA
  • Synth Labs
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 11 May 2023, 13:52:28 »
Very interesting.

Do we know if they work with Kailh Choc V2 low profile switches?
It would be a sweet combination for a low profile keyboard. But some keycaps are slightly to narrow inside and sort of rubs on the case of the switches.

So the SLK profile is designed with MX-style switches (regular profile/height) in mind, but I've also tested SLK out with Kailh Choc V2s, as well as several other low-profile switches.

Kailh Choc V2s, GTMX Mids, and Gateron KS-27s all had no interference with the switch, but it would collide with the plate. So it could be used in plateless builds with these switches.

Tecsee Mediums were the only switch I encountered which had interference with the switch itself.

And of course, I've tested it with a wide variety of regular-profile MX-style switches from pretty much all the major manufacturers. Any of these switches should be perfectly compatible with SLK in any build, plate or plateless, any stabs, etc.
« Last Edit: Thu, 11 May 2023, 13:57:03 by Nostril »

Offline Gimbal

  • Posts: 27
  • Location: Sweden
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 12 May 2023, 01:55:52 »
Great. :thumb:
 I'm in.

Offline kema

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 307
  • Location: San Francisco, CA
  • Designer
    • kevinmadesign
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #10 on: Tue, 23 May 2023, 22:24:23 »
Update on the HIBI Lens keycap, prototypes of the clear resin infill didn't work out as intended so we'll be removing the clear infill (keeping the small black infill at the center of the lens). I think this will still look great and the dish/cup with the texture will be really nice!

Vendors will send out comms about the change at the end of the GB and allow those who dislike the change to cancel 🙏


Offline Nuap

  • Posts: 186
  • Location: Australia
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 26 May 2023, 01:30:40 »
Is there an MOQ for the caps?

Offline kema

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 307
  • Location: San Francisco, CA
  • Designer
    • kevinmadesign
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 29 May 2023, 17:48:43 »
Is there an MOQ for the caps?

No hard MOQs on the keycaps

Offline kema

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 307
  • Location: San Francisco, CA
  • Designer
    • kevinmadesign
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #13 on: Mon, 29 May 2023, 17:50:17 »
Typing test with SLK production blanks from Nostril !

Offline Gimbal

  • Posts: 27
  • Location: Sweden
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #14 on: Wed, 14 June 2023, 09:14:27 »
So is everything moving forward as planned, or what is happening? 

Offline kema

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 307
  • Location: San Francisco, CA
  • Designer
    • kevinmadesign
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (May 1st – June 1st)
« Reply #15 on: Sat, 17 June 2023, 23:06:20 »
So is everything moving forward as planned, or what is happening?

Yes, orders are being placed and production samples are being iterated on! I received the first set of them couple of weeks ago and the colors look great, but legend alignment needs to be improved.

Offline Gimbal

  • Posts: 27
  • Location: Sweden
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (GB Closed)
« Reply #16 on: Mon, 19 June 2023, 02:41:38 »
 :thumb:

Offline dvorcol

  • Posts: 3119
  • Location: MI-US
  • dvorcol#5071
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (GB Closed)
« Reply #17 on: Sat, 08 July 2023, 14:03:19 »

Offline kema

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 307
  • Location: San Francisco, CA
  • Designer
    • kevinmadesign
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (GB Closed)
« Reply #18 on: Tue, 26 September 2023, 01:32:51 »
Hey all, quick update – after 5-6 rounds of just the light grey color, color matching for the whole set has been completed.



The "ESC" key is the grey that more closely matches the renders but IRL seems a tad darker than I'd like. The "ENTER" example has a slightly lighter grey mix that I think matches up more nicely to the white and is the one I've chosen to move forward with. I'll also be sending these samples to Cannon Keys to get their thoughts on them.   

Next steps will be working on full kits of master samples and making sure alignment and dyesub quality are there.

Making progress!

Offline kema

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 307
  • Location: San Francisco, CA
  • Designer
    • kevinmadesign
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (GB Closed)
« Reply #19 on: Sat, 03 February 2024, 14:07:09 »
Light theme kits are production complete, dark theme kits should be at about 90% completion with the remainder being done post-Chinese New Year holiday and everything shipped to vendors at the start of March.
The delay is due to some keys not meeting our QC guidelines and thus being remade, but we stressed to the manufacturer that quality should absolutely come before speed so this is nice to see from my perspective.

Offline kema

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 307
  • Location: San Francisco, CA
  • Designer
    • kevinmadesign
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (Shipping)
« Reply #20 on: Mon, 25 March 2024, 22:28:13 »
Re: Dyesub issues and replacement keys

Hey all, the keysets are now shipping to buyers and this is disappointing to say the least, but despite the many rounds of sampling/feedback, strict QC documentation that the manufacturer agreed to (which precisely details the alignments we require), and even having a member of our team on-site for a week to oversee the production, many of the dark production samples and some of the light ones shipped with unacceptable legend alignments. I'm not sure if they were rushing or chose to forego the QC guidelines they agreed to, but I know myself and FK Caps want to make things right. So please reach out to your vendors with a list of flawed keys you'd like replaced. They'll pass on those details to FK Caps and the manufacturer to get new keys remade and sent out to ya'll.

Offline vhaarr

  • Posts: 318
  • Location: Norway
Re: [GB] SLK Dessau Light and Dark (Shipping)
« Reply #21 on: Thu, 28 March 2024, 02:35:19 »
Re: Dyesub issues and replacement keys

Very nice post, I hope all goes well and that we see more of SLK soon :-) Can't wait for extras!

If anyone wants to see the misaligned keys, there's a post here https://old.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/1bpjick/diy_board_with_slk_dessau_keycaps/ with some photos.
Let the Holy Handgrenades rain.
Hammering on an old Happy Hacking Pro 2. Still going strong!