Author Topic: [IC] Lunar AEK 65% - 100% Complete.  (Read 127240 times)

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Offline reconsiderit

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[IC] Lunar AEK 65% - 100% Complete.
« on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 01:56:47 »
Lunar - AEK 65%
Designed by ai03, distributed by Switchplate Peripherals



Endgame-tier 65% board designed for the original sculpted keycap profile found on the Apple Extended Keyboard and the m0116. Composed of an entirely CNCed chassis made from 7075 aircraft grade aluminum alloy, the board features an integrated 4mm plate, USB Type-C, and split space options.

Details
Curvature-matched chassis
Fully CNCed out of durable AL7075
Integrated 4mm alps plate with cutouts engineered from the ground up
Two dedicated plate layouts available - 6.5u and Split Space
5 degree base angle
USB-C specific chassis
Alps-specific PCB available with Keyplus firmware QMK

Color Options
Silver (Non-dyed Type-2 Anodization)
Grey (Dyed Type-2 Anodization. Based off of Pantone 10388c)

Layouts
Lunar is built around a specific set of keycaps with a dedicated 4mm plate. This means that each plate will only accept a single layout. This is done so that the 4mm plate is as effective as possible, providing the most consistent feel across the entirety of the board.
The 65% layout requires the use of the AEK caps lock key or the r1 command key on the m0116 for 1.75U right shift.



Pricing
Chassis - $350
PCB - $40
Resin 1.75u Shift - $25

Rough Timeline
Late June August: Open Group Buy
Late July September: Close Group Buy
Late September TBD: Complete Production
Mid October Q1/Q2 2019: Shipping

To Do
Prototyping  DONE
Group Buy DONE
Production ROUND TWO
Shipping IN PROGRESS (kinda)

Gallery











INTEREST CHECK FORM: https://goo.gl/forms/7hlpSReRcmrMnARl1
« Last Edit: Wed, 15 January 2020, 03:37:28 by reconsiderit »
Southpaw 65 || Southpaw Full Size || Trinity XT TKL || TGR Jane V2 || TGR 910 RE || Duck Jetfire || Matrix Lab 1.2 OG || Jubi || Lunar || Lunar II || g80-1800 HEU

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Offline ai03

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 01:57:15 »
FAQ, updated often

Q. How's the prototype going?
A. Photo of in-progress prototype.
See thread for newer prototypes. production units.

Q. What do I need for caps?
A. Just a single AEK and a resin-cast color-matched 1.75U shift keycap which will be offered in the buy.
If you want a legended 1.75U, another AEK (Caps lock) or a M0116 (1.75U opt) is necessary.

Q. What's this resin-cast 1.75U key?
A. It will be cast based on the original AEK caps, and will match the original caps in color.

Q. Why Keyplus rather than QMK?
A. Zero driver issues, one-click reflash keymaps in a fraction of a second, no need to reflash firmware every time, unbrickable.
Changed to QMK

Q. What do I need for stabilizers and such?
A. A single AEK will supply enough stabilizers for the entire board, even for split space (by reusing numpad stabs). For single spacebar users, the "stabilization pillar" under the spacebar should be transplanted as well.

Q. Why no ISO?
A. Unfortunately, the AEK uses a skinny ISO enter, meaning every single key would have to be shifted 0.25U to the right. It would have led to the plate being just horizontal bars between the rows, or higher price overall due to more variants.

Q. Which switches are compatible with this?
A. Alps SKCM/SKCL, Alps SKBM/SKBL, and their respective clones (Matias, Tai-Hao, etc).

Q. Any chance of different material plate?
A. Unfortunately, the plate is integrated into the top half of the chassis. A separate plate would have resulted in a ridiculous price tag.

Q. What's the price?
A. We're finalizing the target price right now. It will be below the $400 mark.
The high price is caused by the large curves and complex side/underside geometry.
Final price announced.

Q. How many will be sold?
A. Around 50, on a first-come-first-serve basis. In addition, the Z-B-stock and C-stock are available for sale.

Q. Any chances of a matching numpad?
A. One was designed and 3D-printed for prototyping. As for CNC production, possibly in the future, but not as of now.
« Last Edit: Sat, 27 April 2019, 21:30:13 by ai03 »

Offline idlemao

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 02:00:03 »
That's just beautiful. I wasn't sure if I'd want another board beyond the upcoming UEK, but this has my interest piqued. And the name is great! Is it too early to get an idea of the cost?

Offline Remsky

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 02:00:11 »
Been waiting on this for a while! Looks so good
TGR Jane v2 - GSKT00(coming) - TGR Jane CE V2 - TGR Poly alice - LZ Physix - Matrix 8XV 2.0 - RS - LZ FE - Dalco 959 Mini GT edition (coming) - Mc65 - Hiney TKL one - HHKB Pro 1 - 25th anniversary edition HHKB pro Hybrid - 30th anniversary Filco 2S keyboard

Offline M

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 02:06:55 »
will you have a physical sample of the board ready to show us before the buy opens?

Offline droideggs

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 02:08:51 »
simply stunning

Offline loud_asian

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 02:10:49 »
What's the price point that we're looking at?

I'd love to get one in each color :p
EM7 | Nunu | Salamander | RF84u | SS AEK64

Offline superdoedoe

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 02:11:42 »
:nut:

Offline gok_nz

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 02:23:58 »
Nice.

Offline blacksimon

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 02:26:29 »
I support this, with my wallet. Where do I insert the money sir?

Offline Remsky

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 02:46:09 »
will you have a physical sample of the board ready to show us before the buy opens?
Im not sure when exactly the proto is arriving, but he did order it recently.
TGR Jane v2 - GSKT00(coming) - TGR Jane CE V2 - TGR Poly alice - LZ Physix - Matrix 8XV 2.0 - RS - LZ FE - Dalco 959 Mini GT edition (coming) - Mc65 - Hiney TKL one - HHKB Pro 1 - 25th anniversary edition HHKB pro Hybrid - 30th anniversary Filco 2S keyboard

Offline LeoShi

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 03:17:28 »
looks interesting, can't wait to see the samples :p

Offline stoic-lemon

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 03:17:35 »
A home for these green switches I have!

Offline foxmancore

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #13 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 03:21:45 »
Wow looks awesome, will definitely join this GB

Offline xondat

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #14 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 05:53:15 »
Hotness. First PCB with Keyplus? :)

Offline donut_sauce

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #15 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 06:05:03 »
Yup. Interested:)

Offline Mcnos

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #16 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 08:09:16 »
Err, YES

Online Rob27shred

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #17 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 08:26:16 »
Perfect timing for me as I have been getting into ALPS switches & AEKIIs lately! I got a really janky AEK64 PCB I managed to get working I was planning on doing an ALPS build with, but would much rather go with a full kit like this. I do have say the fact the PCB is using Keyplus is a little worrisome though. I hope that it is an easier solution than the QMK or other firmware flashing utilities, but I'd be lying if I said I'd prefer it over them on what will surely be a decently expensive kit. Anybody have any experience with Keyplus at all yet? Just wondering how well it works & reliable it is so far?

Offline pixelpusher

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #18 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 10:06:00 »
I don't know who  ai03 or Switchplate Peripherals are.  Have they worked on other products?

Offline Mcnos

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #19 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 10:10:43 »
Am curious to what the price point would be marketed as, iirc the UEK is just around the corner at around 200USD

Offline pixelpusher

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #20 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 10:14:29 »
Am curious to what the price point would be marketed as, iirc the UEK is just around the corner at around 200USD

I like the design of the UEK better, but this one is a 65%.  On top of that, you could use a layout with split spacebar to avoid the yellow space bar :)

Offline oatmicro

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #21 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 11:21:05 »
nice

Offline Rowanblood

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #22 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 13:26:06 »
This is an autobuy for me, but I'd honestly prefer to see QMK on here.
What chip is going to be on the PCB?

Offline Hokabuki

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #23 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 13:26:30 »
Can we get some renders with a few different key profiles?

Offline Vigrith

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #24 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 14:01:50 »
Can we get some renders with a few different key profiles?

What do you mean? AEK is the only profile that'll fit in this.

Online Rob27shred

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #25 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 15:02:43 »
This is an autobuy for me, but I'd honestly prefer to see QMK on here.
What chip is going to be on the PCB?

The firmware is a concern of mine as well & I'd also like to know what IC the PCB will be using? Just kinda hesitant to tear apart one of my AEKIIs for a 65% or 60% ALPS build until I'm 100% behind the kit.

Offline koduh

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #26 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 16:08:13 »
Looks fantastic!

Offline _ODIN_

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #27 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 16:09:32 »
looks nice. ISO support would be awesome tho

Offline Remsky

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #28 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 16:26:44 »
looks nice. ISO support would be awesome tho
Its gonna use an integrated thick plate, so its pretty much confirmed to be a no
TGR Jane v2 - GSKT00(coming) - TGR Jane CE V2 - TGR Poly alice - LZ Physix - Matrix 8XV 2.0 - RS - LZ FE - Dalco 959 Mini GT edition (coming) - Mc65 - Hiney TKL one - HHKB Pro 1 - 25th anniversary edition HHKB pro Hybrid - 30th anniversary Filco 2S keyboard

Offline smittysteve

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #29 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 16:29:04 »
Very yes!!

I have the most amazing salmon alps in an old M0116 that I loved as a kid sitting in my workshop. That board probably has a lot to do with my keyboard love (obsession?) now. I have been waiting for the right nudge to pull them out and make a modern board I’ll actually use again. Look, you all know I’m a nerd but these babies are a little (sniff) sentimental. This design looks great though and would be a fitting home. I’m all in when it runs, thanks for putting the project together.

Offline ai03

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #30 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 16:42:01 »
Hello, replying to some questions.

Perfect timing for me as I have been getting into ALPS switches & AEKIIs lately! I got a really janky AEK64 PCB I managed to get working I was planning on doing an ALPS build with, but would much rather go with a full kit like this. I do have say the fact the PCB is using Keyplus is a little worrisome though. I hope that it is an easier solution than the QMK or other firmware flashing utilities, but I'd be lying if I said I'd prefer it over them on what will surely be a decently expensive kit. Anybody have any experience with Keyplus at all yet? Just wondering how well it works & reliable it is so far?

This is an autobuy for me, but I'd honestly prefer to see QMK on here.
What chip is going to be on the PCB?

The firmware is a concern of mine as well & I'd also like to know what IC the PCB will be using? Just kinda hesitant to tear apart one of my AEKIIs for a 65% or 60% ALPS build until I'm 100% behind the kit.

The PCB runs an atxmega32a4u. It is much higher performing than a typical atmega32u4, while being lower in price.
As for the firmware, Keyplus is magic. Zero driver issues, one-click reflash keymaps in a fraction of a second, no need to reflash firmware every time, unbrickable. I have been using it on my two daily driver boards for a few weeks now without any issues.

I don't know who  ai03 or Switchplate Peripherals are.  Have they worked on other products?

I've designed the Contra run by Cartel a while back, along with various open-source PCBs and personal chassis commissions. Switchplate has run the Southpaw65 and various other buys through their store.

looks nice. ISO support would be awesome tho

Unfortunately, the AEK uses a skinny ISO enter, meaning every single key would have to be shifted 0.25U to the right.

What's the price point that we're looking at?

I'd love to get one in each color :p

We're finalizing the target price right now. Unfortunately, it will be more expensive than the UEK.


Offline Rykno

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #31 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 16:47:26 »
Can we get split backspace support please?

Offline Remsky

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #32 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 17:02:48 »
Can we get split backspace support please?
Again, the plate is fixed, so the layout is fixed.
TGR Jane v2 - GSKT00(coming) - TGR Jane CE V2 - TGR Poly alice - LZ Physix - Matrix 8XV 2.0 - RS - LZ FE - Dalco 959 Mini GT edition (coming) - Mc65 - Hiney TKL one - HHKB Pro 1 - 25th anniversary edition HHKB pro Hybrid - 30th anniversary Filco 2S keyboard

Offline ai03

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #33 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 17:25:22 »
Can we get split backspace support please?

It would require a whole two extra variants, since Alps stabs intersect switch cutouts in such a layout on a single plate.

Offline Kan3abl3

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #34 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 18:04:54 »
I'm new to geekhack and groupbuys in general but will there an option for just the PCB? I love 65% and Alps but I don't think I'll be able to drop $200+ on this unfortunately.

Offline ai03

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #35 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 19:14:20 »
I'm new to geekhack and groupbuys in general but will there an option for just the PCB? I love 65% and Alps but I don't think I'll be able to drop $200+ on this unfortunately.

Most likely yes.

Offline nu_types

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #36 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 19:22:03 »
This will be an instabuy for me!

Offline Sshimosawa

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #37 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 19:55:35 »
Yup. Totally. This.

Offline Rykno

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #38 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 20:36:39 »
Can we get split backspace support please?
Again, the plate is fixed, so the layout is fixed.

Ah, I didn't know it was a technical limitation. Thanks for clarifying!

Offline bball2

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #39 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 21:36:54 »
Why the 6.5u spacebar? That's not a very common size and rarely included in any base kits. Have you considered a 1.25 / 1.25 / 1.25 / 6.25 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 layout?

Offline pixelpusher

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #40 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 21:56:11 »
Why the 6.5u spacebar? That's not a very common size and rarely included in any base kits. Have you considered a 1.25 / 1.25 / 1.25 / 6.25 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 layout?

This is a kit that requires you to use the keycaps from an Apple Extended Keyboard.  The boards have a 6.5u space bar.  Those keycaps have unique sculpture and stem height that fits the curve of this case. 

Offline Remsky

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #41 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 22:34:01 »
Why the 6.5u spacebar? That's not a very common size and rarely included in any base kits. Have you considered a 1.25 / 1.25 / 1.25 / 6.25 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 layout?
Layouts
Lunar is built around a specific set of keycaps with a dedicated 4mm plate. This means that each plate will only accept a single layout. This is done so that the 4mm plate is as effective as possible, providing the most consistent feel across the entirety of the board.
The 65% layout requires the use of the AEK caps lock key or the r1 command key on the m0116 for 1.75U right shift.
- from the OP
TGR Jane v2 - GSKT00(coming) - TGR Jane CE V2 - TGR Poly alice - LZ Physix - Matrix 8XV 2.0 - RS - LZ FE - Dalco 959 Mini GT edition (coming) - Mc65 - Hiney TKL one - HHKB Pro 1 - 25th anniversary edition HHKB pro Hybrid - 30th anniversary Filco 2S keyboard

Offline Daellin

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #42 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 23:30:05 »
Ooh. A split space alps. Interest piqued!

Offline pixelpusher

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #43 on: Mon, 11 June 2018, 23:39:42 »
So we would need 2 sets of caps to make a full 65% layout, right?  Since we need the extra for the right side shift

Offline Remsky

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #44 on: Tue, 12 June 2018, 00:18:08 »
So we would need 2 sets of caps to make a full 65% layout, right?  Since we need the extra for the right side shift
2 x AEK caps, or 1 M0116 I believe
TGR Jane v2 - GSKT00(coming) - TGR Jane CE V2 - TGR Poly alice - LZ Physix - Matrix 8XV 2.0 - RS - LZ FE - Dalco 959 Mini GT edition (coming) - Mc65 - Hiney TKL one - HHKB Pro 1 - 25th anniversary edition HHKB pro Hybrid - 30th anniversary Filco 2S keyboard

Offline tanvir175

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #45 on: Tue, 12 June 2018, 01:19:12 »
So we would need 2 sets of caps to make a full 65% layout, right?  Since we need the extra for the right side shift
2 x AEK caps, or 1 M0116 I believe

Issa good thing I have 2 x AEK keycap sets

Offline biip

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #46 on: Tue, 12 June 2018, 04:34:04 »
very interested, rly nice look!

Offline olivia

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #47 on: Tue, 12 June 2018, 09:10:58 »
I love this :D

Offline soba

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #48 on: Tue, 12 June 2018, 09:23:31 »
Beautiful design.

Offline vewy_nice

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Re: Lunar AEK 65%
« Reply #49 on: Tue, 12 June 2018, 10:10:16 »
Yes please.

Any even remotely small chance of different colors?

I'd LOVE something more than grey/space grey!