Author Topic: [IC] PLA60 - Gasket Mount 60% (Read 9033 times)

ReDsNoTDeAd · « **on:** Sun, 28 February 2021, 19:12:19 »

Sometimes smaller is better. Sometimes. That's why I come to y'all today with a smaller version of my 3D printed PLA series of keyboard: the PLA60. This board was a ground up redesign based on the design and printability changes that came with the PLA75 R2.

A quick list of features:

12-point gasket isolation mount
Clear Bottoms & 12+ color choices for the top piece
Seamless shroud design. Change the whole color of the keyboard with 6 screws.
QMK+VIA PCB with USB-C.
FR4 and POM plate options
Tons of layout options, ANSI, ISO, WKL, HHKB (true and tsangan), split space, split backspace, split right shift
Excellent RGB diffusion in the translucent colors. See images below
3D printed right here in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Timeline: I've already got plates and PCBs ordered, as I plan to have this in-stock on https://rndkbd.com before the end of March. I am going to start with 25 units, and then will do a second wave to meet excess demand once the first 25 are out.

Cost: Target price is a cool $150 USD for the kit (not 100% final, but that is the goal). Not bad for an in-stock, <1 month turnaround gasket mount keyboard with some excellent acoustics.

Here are some pretty pictures. Ignore the wonky WKL blockers, they are already fixed.

More

OtherAndrew · « **Reply #1 on:** Sun, 28 February 2021, 19:15:37 »

cool hexagons

MIGHTY CHICKEN · « **Reply #2 on:** Sun, 28 February 2021, 19:15:44 »

Looks pretty good

ReDsNoTDeAd · « **Reply #3 on:** Sun, 28 February 2021, 19:17:35 »

Quote from: OtherAndrew on Sun, 28 February 2021, 19:15:37

cool hexagons

Of all the methods of infill, hexagons are the most material (and time) consuming, but you get the densest prints. Also, the pipe-like structure carries and diffuses the light really well. And bees. Can't forget that it makes it look like something you pulled out of a beehive.

OtherAndrew · « **Reply #4 on:** Sun, 28 February 2021, 19:20:48 »

Quote from: ReDsNoTDeAd on Sun, 28 February 2021, 19:17:35

Quote from: OtherAndrew on Sun, 28 February 2021, 19:15:37
cool hexagons

Of all the methods of infill, hexagons are the most material (and time) consuming, but you get the densest prints. Also, the pipe-like structure carries and diffuses the light really well. And bees. Can't forget that it makes it look like something you pulled out of a beehive.

it's a very interesting look especially with the LEDs, good choice

reticent · « **Reply #5 on:** Sun, 28 February 2021, 19:25:34 »

Will this include a jar of organic, Alberta harvested, raw honey?

Looking really good though especially with the infill! A good look of the internals and the mounting points/pads would be great. GLWIC

ReDsNoTDeAd · « **Reply #6 on:** Sun, 28 February 2021, 19:30:01 »

Quote from: reticent on Sun, 28 February 2021, 19:25:34

Will this include a jar of organic, Alberta harvested, raw honey?

Looking really good though especially with the infill! A good look of the internals and the mounting points/pads would be great. GLWIC

Here is an exploded assembly! (It's of the PLA75, but the mounting system inside the PLA60 is the same)

gnhuy91 · « **Reply #7 on:** Sun, 28 February 2021, 19:33:45 »

I'm here for the true hhkb

Baka Bot · « **Reply #8 on:** Sun, 28 February 2021, 19:47:13 »

This is very nice, no complaints here.

kbye · « **Reply #9 on:** Sun, 28 February 2021, 19:47:39 »

RGB honeycombs look dope!

asciisii · « **Reply #10 on:** Sun, 28 February 2021, 20:20:34 »

glwic, looks great and killer price - good for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Wkl proto looks awesome

treeleaf64 · « **Reply #11 on:** Sun, 28 February 2021, 21:11:25 »

My friend wanted to do something like this but he didnt get his 3d printer yet

Good job

Utti1906 · « **Reply #12 on:** Mon, 01 March 2021, 05:21:16 »

This looks really nice. From the pics it looks like the case would be compatible with a standard 60% PCB. Would you be willing to sell the kit without the PCB? I've got a few spare dz60s I was looking to use.

Alejo1707 · « **Reply #13 on:** Mon, 01 March 2021, 06:07:56 »

Oh wow! That's a sexy looking board. Will the case support a DZ60?

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

tex_live_utility · « **Reply #14 on:** Mon, 01 March 2021, 15:16:29 »

The o-ring stock "gaskets" with the Fr4 plate in the PLA75 were wayyy better than I expected them to be. It's different from and nicer than the usual rubber strips. The PLA60 should be just as great!

Havattack · « **Reply #15 on:** Mon, 01 March 2021, 20:31:42 »

...... I lol'd hard at the number of sub-legends on those key-caps. I want some of those Rosseta stone keys..

ReDsNoTDeAd · « **Reply #16 on:** Tue, 02 March 2021, 00:57:37 »

Quote from: Utti1906 on Mon, 01 March 2021, 05:21:16

This looks really nice. From the pics it looks like the case would be compatible with a standard 60% PCB. Would you be willing to sell the kit without the PCB? I've got a few spare dz60s I was looking to use.

Yep. Always.

Quote from: tex_live_utility on Mon, 01 March 2021, 15:16:29

The o-ring stock "gaskets" with the Fr4 plate in the PLA75 were wayyy better than I expected them to be. It's different from and nicer than the usual rubber strips. The PLA60 should be just as great!

Thank you. I wanted to design around something that anyone can pickup from an online supply outlet, and not something impossible to replace like die cut poron. I'm experimenting with some flat gaskets that fall under this philosophy as well!

Quote from: Alejo1707 on Mon, 01 March 2021, 06:07:56

Oh wow! That's a sexy looking board. Will the case support a DZ60?

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

And standard footprint 60% should work just fine. Kits will come with a USB-C DZ60 by default.

Quote from: Havattack on Mon, 01 March 2021, 20:31:42

...... I lol'd hard at the number of sub-legends on those key-caps. I want some of those Rosseta stone keys..

CRP Tulip sure is a conversation piece. This is serious quality stuff, I highly recommend these caps.

ReDsNoTDeAd · « **Reply #17 on:** Tue, 02 March 2021, 01:26:16 »

Should I have the same color choices as my PLA75? Or are these off the mark and I should try a different palette? Let me know!

diddykang · « **Reply #18 on:** Tue, 02 March 2021, 18:27:46 »

any alices in the pipeline?

Cubic // esc lab · « **Reply #19 on:** Tue, 02 March 2021, 20:25:05 »

Very cool design, and surprisingly reasonable price. GLWIC.

BubbleheadBrett · « **Reply #20 on:** Tue, 02 March 2021, 22:00:16 »

Love my PLA75, deff interested in this, you could keep some of the original choices, like 3 most popular from 75, then try some new!

handmademedal · « **Reply #21 on:** Wed, 03 March 2021, 01:23:47 »

holes are looking a bit trypophobic but otherwise really cool concept!

nick779 · « **Reply #22 on:** Wed, 03 March 2021, 05:54:06 »

Neat, gib green and purp boards.

I'll be following this one.

ReDsNoTDeAd · « **Reply #23 on:** Fri, 05 March 2021, 09:58:46 »

Quote from: diddykang on Tue, 02 March 2021, 18:27:46

any alices in the pipeline?

Nothing planned, but not off the table.

Quote from: BubbleheadBrett on Tue, 02 March 2021, 22:00:16

Love my PLA75, deff interested in this, you could keep some of the original choices, like 3 most popular from 75, then try some new!

All of the PLA75 colors will be offered, plus some opaque ones. I think the good people want a navy and maybe a dark green,.

ReDsNoTDeAd · « **Reply #24 on:** Tue, 16 March 2021, 10:19:53 »

Printer upgrades are complete! I've made a variant that uses poron strips instead of the rubber cords, and will be testing that this week. If it blows the strips away, I'll offer poron only, and if it's close/indistinguishable, I'll design in compatibility for both.

POM sheets show up this week, so I'll be getting POM plates cut for this and the 75%. Will be available as an option in the board itself, and as a standalone if you get FR4 and want to try POM later.

FR4 plates are here. I didn't add ISO or split space to these, so I offer the opportunity for fans of those to complain now, and I may add compatibility to the POM plates.

Clear filament is ready to go, still deciding on the opaque color offerings, but that should be decided on this week.

And finally, @alexotos is doing a build of the PLA75 on stream this Friday, so if you want to see how the big brother of this board looks/sounds/assembles, please join us!

So yeah. On track for the last week of March!

lush_bunny · « **Reply #25 on:** Tue, 16 March 2021, 10:25:53 »

hexagons. pretty.
That price point is to die for.

some1ab · « **Reply #26 on:** Tue, 16 March 2021, 13:46:02 »

colors look cool

ReDsNoTDeAd · « **Reply #27 on:** Mon, 22 March 2021, 10:28:08 »

I have to push this back a week or two. Need to change out some printer parts to prepare for the printing run, and they have a bit of a lead time. All other components for this keyboard are in my office, so this will not be cancelled, fear not.

ReDsNoTDeAd · « **Reply #28 on:** Wed, 31 March 2021, 10:48:36 »

Getting some photos taken for the website

I plan on opening the GB early next week!

News:

Author Topic: [IC] PLA60 - Gasket Mount 60% (Read 9033 times)