Author Topic: [GB] Polaris - GB Complete  (Read 241252 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline ai03

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 262
  • I do not reply to PMs; contact me via website
    • Website
[GB] Polaris - GB Complete
« on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 11:26:52 »
Polaris
by ai03 and Kevinplus

Gaskets. Seamless. 60%. $265 shipped, starting at $250.

Current status: GB complete. Thread being locked; please use Discord instead for extended support and discussion.

Discord for push notifications



Offering a quality typing experience without the high price tag, Polaris redefines the expectations from custom keyboards.
With proper gasket plate mounting, flex-slotted 1.2mm thin PCB, sleek seamless aesthetic, and accessible pricing, experience a top-tier 60% keyboard for a mid-range price.



Features
  • Refined seamless aesthetic that borrows from KBD8X MKII, with a rear-extended weight for a premium look
  • Plate held in place by a total of 18 gaskets. No metal-to-metal contact between the plate and case
  • 1.2mm thick, flex-slotted PCB that extends the gasket comfort further
  • Two foam filler sheets that remove open space within the keyboard while suppressing vibrations



Options

Tops:
  • Regular/Full
  • HHKB
  • WKL

Case colors:
  • Black
  • Space gray
  • Blue grey
  • Burgundy red
  • Forest green
  • Rose gold
  • Purple
  • E-White (Extra cost)
  • E-Yellow (Extra cost)
  • Polycarbonate (Extra cost)

Plate options:
  • Material: Brass, Polycarbonate, FR4
  • Layout: WKL or Universal
  • Style: Half or Full

Brass finish options:
  • Simple clear matte PVD
  • Matte black PVD


Timeline

GB will close in 1 month. Projected shipping time is around the end of the year.
This turned out very, very off from reality. GB completed August 26, nearly 9 months behind original ETA.

If you would like push notifications when there is progress, please join my Discord server and run the command ".iam Polaris" in the channel #bot-spam to receive direct updates whenever they happen.

Discord invite
« Last Edit: Sun, 11 April 2021, 03:35:32 by ai03 »

Offline HoffmanMyster

  • HOFF, smol MAN OF MYSTERY
  • * Senior Moderator
  • Posts: 11450
  • Location: WI
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 11:35:08 »
Approved!  :thumb:

Offline KingOfMemes

  • Posts: 845
  • Location: Murica, the best country in the world
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 11:59:24 »
All aboard the hype train!

Offline valkyr1e

  • Posts: 41
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 12:17:06 »
Could I get a clarification on the colour:

Is this the space gray? (Definitely not black, but looks darker than space gray on other KBDFans space gray)


Offline 1Weeb

  • Posts: 58
  • ◕w◕
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 12:35:56 »
Is the polycarb case really that bad, any chance you could show samples of how "parts will not fit together perfectly" like the weight?

Offline nasp

  • * Vendor
  • Posts: 1190
  • Location: USA - Texas
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 12:38:48 »
Could I get a clarification on the colour:

Is this the space gray? (Definitely not black, but looks darker than space gray on other KBDFans space gray)

Show Image


At the time of the render the colors were not listed so it's neither


Offline Mekuno

  • Posts: 139
  • Location: Canada, ON
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 12:45:19 »
I am assuming the color samples that are shown on the buy page are what they are aiming for.

Offline nasp

  • * Vendor
  • Posts: 1190
  • Location: USA - Texas
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 12:54:34 »
I am assuming the color samples that are shown on the buy page are what they are aiming for.

Yes. There are only a few physical color samples available. It would have been very expensive to make samples of all the colors.


Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 12:58:26 »
In for E-White HHKB-layout with black matte PVD brass parts. Hope it will be shipped in December  :thumb:

Offline jonowarren94

  • Posts: 43
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #9 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 13:10:17 »
So hyped to see this!

I know this might sound dumb but I would be correct in saying the base kit comes with a pcb and foam but not a plate right?

Thanks!

Offline Popopro

  • Posts: 81
  • Location: ON, Canada
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #10 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 13:47:22 »
Could I get a clarification on the colour:

Is this the space gray? (Definitely not black, but looks darker than space gray on other KBDFans space gray)

Show Image


I believe that is the space grey as Ai03 said blue grey will be more blue than that.

Offline donkey

  • Posts: 110
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #11 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 13:52:10 »
That to me looks like Black.

Offline Puddsy

  • nice
  • * Elated Elder
  • Posts: 12275
  • Location: RSTLN E
  • "Do you shovel to survive, or survive to shovel?"
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #12 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 14:01:42 »
In for e yellow hhkb
QFR | MJ2 TKL | "Bulgogiboard" (Keycon 104) | ctrl.alt x GON 60% | TGR Alice | Mira SE #29 | Mira SE #34 | Revo One | z | Keycult No. 1 | AIS65 | First CW87 prototype | Mech27v1 | Camp C225 | Duck Orion V1 | LZ CLS sxh | Geon Frog TKL | Hiney TKL One | Geon Glare TKL



"Everything is worse, but in a barely perceptible and indefinable way" -dollartacos, after I came back from a break | "Is Linkshine our Nixon?" -NAV | "Puddsy is the Puddsy of keebs" -ns90

Offline Vigrith

  • Posts: 1843
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #13 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 14:33:12 »

Offline hamilton

  • Posts: 46
  • Location: Rochester NY
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #14 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 15:09:01 »
Rose gold, WKL, poly half plate :thumb:

Offline Emir

  • icon mods
  • * Exquisite Elder
  • Posts: 1129
  • Location: Linköping, Sweden
  • Bandit
    • Discord
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #15 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 15:11:33 »
HHKB, Blue gray, half pc plate, black pvd - let's get it!

Offline Tekniqs

  • Posts: 184
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #16 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 15:31:15 »
was fully in for a PC board but that warning is a little concerning

Offline valkyr1e

  • Posts: 41
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #17 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 15:54:46 »
Once the colour sample is confirmed: Space gray WKL, full brass plate  :thumb:

Offline jooobe

  • Posts: 219
  • Location: USA
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #18 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 16:00:32 »
@ai03 did you get the chance to build the out of spec red board

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk


Offline mongoose27

  • Posts: 37
  • WKL FTW
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #19 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 16:07:48 »
In for a E-White, WKL  :thumb:

Can't wait to get it.
« Last Edit: Tue, 06 August 2019, 16:17:40 by mongoose27 »

Offline 112227

  • Posts: 74
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #20 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 16:20:49 »
what color is the fr4 plate?

Offline kekstee

  • Posts: 314
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #21 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 16:33:01 »
Any details on what exactly is the FR4 material option and what to expect from it?

Offline mongoose27

  • Posts: 37
  • WKL FTW
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #22 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 16:46:10 »
Any details on what exactly is the FR4 material option and what to expect from it?

From the KBD site:

Materials:

- Brass: A stiff metal with a deep sound. Firm bottom-out that pairs well with tactiles and some linears.

- FR4: A durable yet flexible fiberglass that is often used for PCBs. Medium firmness, slightly bouncy bottom-out that works for most switches.

- Poly: A flexible plastic that is more resistant to cracking than acrylic. Very soft bottom-out that works with linears.

Offline pr0ximity

  • Posts: 2705
  • Location: Maine
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #23 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 18:04:42 »
 FYI all plate materials work for all MX-style switches 👍
| Flickr | KMAC 1.2 | Koala | GSKT-00-Z | GSKT-00-AEK | GON NerD60 | Jane V2 CE | Whale | J80S | Ibis | Pro2 | Pro1 | 356mini | 356CL DGE | G80-5000 HAMDE | IBM 1390120 | IBM F AT | IBM F122 | IBM 3101 | Zenith Z-150

Offline Mcnos

  • Posts: 1279
    • GMK Fuyu
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #24 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 18:33:38 »
Space Gray HHKB

Offline AcidBrain

  • Posts: 10
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #25 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 19:08:30 »
Could I get a clarification on the colour:

Is this the space gray? (Definitely not black, but looks darker than space gray on other KBDFans space gray)

Show Image


At the time of the render the colors were not listed so it's neither
Same, i was def in for PC also! I want to know if any other users that have had a PC board had an issue or have heard of this warning before....

Offline iammbox

  • Posts: 45
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #26 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 20:03:41 »
My body is ready.  Buy now, think later!

Offline konradb

  • Posts: 18
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #27 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 20:10:39 »
Will the burgundy be like KBDfans switch opener? Or will it be more bright red like on interest check photo?
This is a big difference for me and I don’t know if I should go safe with black, or trust that it will be dark burgundy.

Offline toanta

  • Posts: 16
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #28 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 20:26:43 »
Any samples of the forest green?

Offline InvidiousIgnoramus

  • Posts: 388
  • Location: Columbia, SC
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #29 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 20:38:23 »
Will the burgundy be like KBDfans switch opener? Or will it be more bright red like on interest check photo?
This is a big difference for me and I don’t know if I should go safe with black, or trust that it will be dark burgundy.
The one on the IC was stated as being the incorrect color.
I long for the day when I find a beamspring. (At a not insane price)

Offline InvidiousIgnoramus

  • Posts: 388
  • Location: Columbia, SC
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #30 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 20:43:42 »
Could I get a clarification on the colour:

Is this the space gray? (Definitely not black, but looks darker than space gray on other KBDFans space gray)

Show Image


At the time of the render the colors were not listed so it's neither
Same, i was def in for PC also! I want to know if any other users that have had a PC board had an issue or have heard of this warning before....
It's a warning that really should be put up for all boards available in polycarbonate. I purchased a Poly Singa75 used and was very surprised by the top/bottom alignment issues. visually you probably won't notice it, but it can be felt quite a lot. the main issue is that the Polaris, much like the Singa75, has fairly thin walls on the top half, and this can lead to a lot of side flex. It shouldn't be as bad once you've put it together though.

Oh, and I don't believe Ai03 has confirmed otherwise, so it's most likely the screws are threading directly into the polycarbonate, which means you need to be careful about over-tightening.
I long for the day when I find a beamspring. (At a not insane price)

Offline f0leyme1ster

  • Posts: 4
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #31 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 22:43:13 »
Will this keyboard have a second round of groupbuys in the future? Or can that not be confirmed? I'm new to groupbuys

Offline nguyenhimself

  • Posts: 672
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #32 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 22:43:39 »
FYI if you don't mind a some misshapen arrow keys, Polaris actually allows an HHKB layout with arrow keys on the right side. This is a huge winning point for me.
Again, probably not for everyone. But for those who wish for HHKB-with-arrow-keys, this is awesome.
« Last Edit: Tue, 06 August 2019, 22:48:19 by nguyenhimself »

Offline nguyenhimself

  • Posts: 672
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #33 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 22:45:32 »
Will this keyboard have a second round of groupbuys in the future? Or can that not be confirmed? I'm new to groupbuys
Usually no guarantee. There's a chance that KBDfans would stock up a number of units for post-GB purchase, but again, no idea.

Offline Solotov

  • Posts: 366
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #34 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 22:58:18 »
E-Yellow for Serika  :thumb:
Flex is love, flex is life.

Offline KingOfMemes

  • Posts: 845
  • Location: Murica, the best country in the world
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #35 on: Tue, 06 August 2019, 23:18:35 »
E-Yellow for Serika  :thumb:
This the move 100%

Offline sevenseacat

  • Posts: 447
  • Location: Australia
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #36 on: Wed, 07 August 2019, 00:26:06 »
I really want to go purple but I don't trust KBDfans doing purple, their 5degree purple cases are just... off. All-black it is!

Offline Ivanddt

  • Posts: 8
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #37 on: Wed, 07 August 2019, 01:34:19 »
Has KBDfans done Rose Gold before? Can't seem to find anything on their site.

Offline raphaelf

  • Posts: 18
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #38 on: Wed, 07 August 2019, 01:42:04 »
Will the burgundy be like KBDfans switch opener? Or will it be more bright red like on interest check photo?
This is a big difference for me and I don’t know if I should go safe with black, or trust that it will be dark burgundy.

I'm really interested to know that also. I love the red on the opener but the one in the proto didn't do much for me.

Offline jrs

  • Posts: 67
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #39 on: Wed, 07 August 2019, 03:25:48 »
What's the best feeling plate for linear switches?

Offline jooobe

  • Posts: 219
  • Location: USA
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #40 on: Wed, 07 August 2019, 05:31:55 »
To switch plate I will have to desolder all the switches?

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk


Offline MK47

  • Posts: 57
  • Don't talk to me
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #41 on: Wed, 07 August 2019, 06:01:54 »
Is there a complete render of HHKB?

Offline kitty

  • Posts: 19
  • Location: Australia
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #42 on: Wed, 07 August 2019, 06:16:51 »
Has KBDfans done Rose Gold before? Can't seem to find anything on their site.

would like to see a rose gold colour sample too :>

Offline ddnomad

  • Posts: 136
  • Location: /dev/null
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #43 on: Wed, 07 August 2019, 07:15:27 »
In for e yellow hhkb

Let me guess: with MT3 Serika, right?

Offline Bubblegum

  • Posts: 177
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #44 on: Wed, 07 August 2019, 07:23:03 »
Is Forest Green ano the same as KBDfans 5°/Tofu Dark Green?

Offline mr.squishy

  • Posts: 215
  • I like beer and keebs
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #45 on: Wed, 07 August 2019, 07:28:16 »
Is Forest Green ano the same as KBDfans 5°/Tofu Dark Green?
That's what I wanna know

Offline SpeakingSilence

  • Posts: 16
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #46 on: Wed, 07 August 2019, 07:37:02 »
In for Rose Gold for Bliss.
E White for Milkshake.

Offline LubedNReady

  • Posts: 24
  • Location: US
  • keep it kinky with Krytox
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #47 on: Wed, 07 August 2019, 07:39:53 »
My body is ready.  Buy now, think later!

I feel this on so many levels.

All of you who have expressed interest in the polycarb plates - are you planning on buying an extra plate (either same or different material)?

i fap with 205g0

Offline Jonny_Lopez

  • Posts: 14
  • Location: Italia
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #48 on: Wed, 07 August 2019, 07:55:10 »
Yee I ll buy 2 different plate and pcb

Offline nathanchere

  • Posts: 707
Re: [GB] Polaris
« Reply #49 on: Wed, 07 August 2019, 08:31:05 »
Could I get a clarification on the colour:

Is this the space gray? (Definitely not black, but looks darker than space gray on other KBDFans space gray)

Show Image


At the time of the render the colors were not listed so it's neither
Same, i was def in for PC also! I want to know if any other users that have had a PC board had an issue or have heard of this warning before....

https://brianlee.blog/2018/12/14/review-yuktsis-tgr-910re-polycarbonate/ sums it up nicely