[IC] Monte Bianco, Tenkeyless 80% (WKL, WK)

[kevinlim]

Hello,

This is Kevin Lim from KLC.
Today, I drafted the next Geekhack IC for the “Monte Bianco”, a TKL keyboard designed by Syryan.

Syryan is a designer who has been in this field since the early 2010s. He introduced the EM series (e.g. the EM-7) and participated with Lin in a project to design the Dolphin.
Now, he is ready to say hello to the keyboard world with his new TKL project, ‘Monte Bianco’


 

Monte Bianco offers 3 colors
Render Image
 






Proto Sample Shot









 
Monte Bianco offers a double gasket-mounting method, for which individuals can choose their preferred hardness for the gaskets.   
 








Also, we will also include switch dampeners in the package.

Mid switch dampener – goes between switch housings.
Lower switch dampener – goes under the switch bottom housing.

Both of which you can choose to apply for extra dampening and a different typing experience.
-   Dampener typing test video link  : To be updated






   

The GB will be held through the KLC website and will be an unlimited unit GB.


KLC Shop – www.klc-playground.com

For further updates, please join our Discord and Instagram.

Discord: https://discord.gg/yEBxDTDCey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klc_playground_official


Here are the details of this keyboard.


•   Layout: Tenkeyless (Winkey or Winkeyless)
•   Mounting: Upper gasket (1.5T = 1.5mm thick), Lower Gasket (2.5T = 2.5mm thick)
•   Materials: 6061 Aluminum Case, Brass Weight
•   Weight (approx.): Unbuilt, about 2.5kg
•   Typing Angle: 9 degrees
•   Front Height: ~19.8mm
•   Plates: Aluminum, PC, Brass
•   Price: USD 530
•   Units: Unlimited



FAve 87 V2 PCB
Layout – TKL layout (WK, WKL, ISO compatible)
Connector type – USB C
LED – Underglow RGB and in-switch LED
Keymap Programming – QMK / VIA compatible





Project Timeline

•   Group Buy – 2021 Aug 28th 00:00 ~ Sep 13th 23:59 (KST, GMT +9)
•   Expected Shipping Date – 2022 March
Build / Review Stream
-   Aug 28th or 29th (To be announced exact time) by Lightening Keyboards (https://www.twitch.tv/lightningkeyboards)
Typing Test
-   To be updated

* We will offer hot swop PCB.
   - We are considering SMT led for switch LED for the hot-swappable pcb.
** For PCB, we decided not to change to daughter board type.

[soloplayer]

so litttt. but no daughterboard 
dont get me wrong Kevin, i still love you and everything

[kevinlim]

Haha No. I won't.

Actually, thank you for your feedback.

This is what IC is for. For this monte bianco, it's hard to change to daughter board atm but will consider from our next projects

[KopekWasTaken]

Holy crap, this looks amazing. Any estimates on the price?


EDIT: Just saw the pricing, I am just blind

[Xherion]

Hotswap PCB?

[kevinlim]

Hotswap PCB?

We only offer solder type PCB for this project.

[stevenT]

this board looks very futuristic, a few questions:
Will there the sound test or building stream?
Will you consider other color like: white or silver?
If the gb successes, will there be r2?
 

[kevinlim]

this board looks very futuristic, a few questions:
Will there the sound test or building stream?
Will you consider other color like: white or silver?
If the gb successes, will there be r2?

There will be both sound test and building stream.
Will share the link when it's ready
 - build stream by Lightining
 - Sound test by Korean Youtuber 'DBOKEY'.

For color - white is not an option. For silver, we chose 'Top Gray & Bottom silver'. We believe this keyboard goes better in two tone colors.

For r2, I will have to see the needs of the market. But I haven't considered we will hold another GB for R2 yet.

[stevenT]

Thanks, have you consider moving the port (where you plug the cable to the keyboard) to the middle of front side and a little bit toward the bottom, I think current position is too high.

[Anthixious]

Here's hoping the rendered Peacock Green and Cyan board has this color in real life and nothing lighter or darker, because this has caught my eye, AND it's unlimited too?! All these dampening options too <3  . I do feel the USB port cutout is a bit high, will this be a daughterboard PCB or unified?

[FamilyJoule924]

please release a green color PLEASE

[CharlotteS]

Love the silver!

[kevinlim]

Here's hoping the rendered Peacock Green and Cyan board has this color in real life and nothing lighter or darker, because this has caught my eye, AND it's unlimited too?! All these dampening options too <3  . I do feel the USB port cutout is a bit high, will this be a daughterboard PCB or unified?

We are under discussion to change the pcb and put connector hall in the middle. Also looking for some pcb supplier for hot swap option as well.

Really appreciate all the feedbacks

[Sissy]

Agree with the USB port cutout.

[stevenT]

I guess the position of the usb port is related to one on pcb, if the colorway is not finalized I hope the would be a silver top with black bottom the contrast should be interesting. Also why don't you create a google form or something similar to do the survey, since this is an IC.

[HappyB0T]

Jeeeze Louisus is the board out of my price range and really really good looking. Wow

[namidettje]

Getting Serratus vibes, futuristic and near over the top design. I understand there's some serious OCD for some about the USB, but i really like it.

Awaiting the sound tests to see if the "dampeners" are worth the price.

A proper picture layout and a IC form would be also nice...And a front "not angled" photo of the board but overall digging it.

GLWIC

[kevinlim]

Project Timeline has been updated

•   Group Buy – 2021 Aug 28th 00:00 ~ Sep 13th 23:59 (KST, GMT +9)
•   Expected Shipping Date – 2022 March
Build / Review Stream
-   Aug 28th or 29th (To be announced exact time) by Lightening Keyboards (https://www.twitch.tv/lightningkeyboards)
Typing Test
-   To be updated

* We will offer hot swop PCB.
   - We are considering SMT led for switch LED for the hot-swappable pcb.
** For PCB, we decided not to change to daughter board type.

[timtamale]

As much as I LOVE the colors, it's kinda weird that the name means 'White Mountain' and the board doesn't come in white.

[KeebOnMe]

Lovely board, just curious if any other pcb is compatible with the Monte Bianco?
Like Hiney or ect?

[c0d3r]

ngl, don't like the USB-C cutout position,  looks weird.

[Puddsy]

funky, but it's growing on me

[LightningXI]

Lovely board, just curious if any other pcb is compatible with the Monte Bianco?
Like Hiney or ect?

I can confirm it's compatible with an h87a/h87c. I used an h87a on the prototype.

Speaking of prototypes...

[treeleaf64]

What is the purpose of using the double gasket system; what advantage does it provide; how does that shape influence its feeling?
From treeleaf