Author Topic: [IC] Serendipity | A Big Mod 40% Board With XT 60% Energy (Read 20955 times)

dededecline · « **on:** Wed, 15 February 2023, 09:07:43 »

SERENDIPITY
A Premium 40% Keyboard with Modern Design and Friendly Layouts

UPDATE: I have decided to open source this design.
Files can be found here.

40% Functionality Without Sacrificing Aesthetics

Serendipity is designed to maximize visual appeal.
The sloping side and back profile is perfect for two-tone coloration.
The badge and weight are highly customizable.
The layout and case design take cues from the best aspects of modern keyboards.

A 40% Layout Free Of Compromise

The Serendipity layout is meant to give the functionality of a 13u keyboard layout, while providing the freedom to utilize most keycap sets widely available today.
Accents, novelties, and artisans that would normally be aesthetically unpleasing or unfeasible on a 40% keyboard will look phenomenal on Serendipity.
The F-row and function column give extra flexibility to those who desire a few more keys than are included in the core cluster.

Links
IC Form
My Socials
CBKBD Website and Discord

Specifications

Typing Angle: 6.5°
Front Height: 18.563mm
EKH: 22.14mm
Case Material: 6063 Aluminum for top case, bottom case, and badge. 6063 aluminum and 304 stainless steel for weight
Top Case Variants: WK, WKL
Mount: Burger o-ring top mount
PCB: QMK/VIAL supported USB-C PCB, MX and Alps support. Hotswap and soldered variants.
Badges: DDD logo, blank, and F13
Additional Features: Cherry lip, Geonworks 60% feet, "seamless and screwless" design
Weight: approximately 1.67kg built (with stainless steel weight)

Group Buy Details

Case Colors: TBD
Cost: TBD
Sale Date: TBD, est. Late Q4 2023
Sale Format: in stock!
Vendors: CBKBD (worldwide)
Collaborations: We are working with WinKeebs on custom resin badges!

Additional Images

More

Special Thanks
Liv for case and PCB design, renders
Alas and CBKBD crew for vendoring
Jake and P3DStore crew for assisting with prototypes and pics
OCM for the lovely logo
Kokaloo for top notch pictures and videos of the prototypes
Winnie for the resin badges

Farhandsome · « **Reply #1 on:** Wed, 15 February 2023, 09:10:34 »

Really cool unique layout and lovely colors

Will be following!!

Hedgey · « **Reply #2 on:** Wed, 15 February 2023, 09:17:40 »

Looks pretty awesome, DeDe!

Patty · « **Reply #3 on:** Wed, 15 February 2023, 10:07:22 »

Love the layout! Might convince me to buy my first 40%

twitchytheinsideman · « **Reply #4 on:** Wed, 15 February 2023, 10:41:21 »

Alps support?

I NEED THIS!

KeyBros_ · « **Reply #5 on:** Wed, 15 February 2023, 10:52:21 »

This is so cool wtf

arr1 · « **Reply #6 on:** Wed, 15 February 2023, 11:02:27 »

I NEED THIS

Xury46 · « **Reply #7 on:** Wed, 15 February 2023, 11:06:06 »

This looks great, is there any chance of a WK version?
Are you doing Alps and MX support on the same PCB? I would love to do a build with iRocks switches.

dededecline · « **Reply #8 on:** Wed, 15 February 2023, 11:29:10 »

Quote from: Xury46 on Wed, 15 February 2023, 11:06:06

This looks great, is there any chance of a WK version?
Are you doing Alps and MX support on the same PCB? I would love to do a build with iRocks switches.

I added a question about WK to the IC form but unless there is absolutely overwhelming preference for it, no it will not be offered. I don't care for how some of the layouts look on a WK board and WKL was the vision with which Serendipity was designed.

Yes, alps and MX are on the same PCB!

thornkin · « **Reply #9 on:** Thu, 16 February 2023, 18:07:18 »

Fascinating layout. I would much prefer winkey. I use that key a lot.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

codecoffeecode · « **Reply #10 on:** Thu, 16 February 2023, 20:18:59 »

I'm quite excited for this! I love the commitment to symmetry

. Now to find a keycap set with two 3u spacebars...

Mecxs · « **Reply #11 on:** Fri, 17 February 2023, 03:07:41 »

Quote from: codecoffeecode on Thu, 16 February 2023, 20:18:59

I'm quite excited for this! I love the commitment to symmetry . Now to find a keycap set with two 3u spacebars...

You can just get a 6u and cut it in half. If you don't have a 6u you can also get a 6.25u and cut it into a 3 and a 3.25, then try to cut 0.25 off the 3.25. This can be very tricky and you need to ensure you have the proper tools, but saves you having to buy an extra spacebar kit.

dededecline · « **Reply #12 on:** Fri, 17 February 2023, 11:44:15 »

Thank you to everyone who filled out the IC form (please do if you haven't, feedback is still valuable!)

tl;dr: WK and WKL will both be offered, hotswap and solder pcbs will both be offered, check KLE for details

I have strong feelings about how this board should look aesthetically and have been struggling between wanting to accommodating what people want feature-wise and what I think looks good. I think I've come to a good compromise.

For those who care about my thought process behind this, this offering allows us to add:

hotswap PCB option
2.25/2.75 split space option
WK variant case

without:

1.5/1/1/7/1/1/1.5 being the sole WK full space option - I really dislike how that looks and think 1.25/1/1.25/7/1.25/1/1.25 is significantly better
south facing switches on hotswap layout
allowing that 2.25/2.75 split on WKL, which I think is ugly
swiss cheese PCB/plate

my only remaining gripes, that I've come to terms with:

1.5/1/1/7/1/1/1.5 still technically possible but I would hope that WK users would be inclined to default to 1.25/1/1.25/7/1.25/1/1.25 instead
utah under left shift on hotswap PCB (not the most aesthetically pleasing but honestly I don't think it's awful)

westish · « **Reply #13 on:** Fri, 17 February 2023, 19:31:54 »

it's perfect i need it so bad

codecoffeecode · « **Reply #14 on:** Fri, 17 February 2023, 23:37:39 »

I appreciate the addition of the 2.25 + 2.75! Though honestly, I prefer the soldered WKL layouts even if it means hunting for spacebars with the 2 x 3u, or using a new-to-me layout with the 7u. I've only ever used split space on my staggered 40s, so this will be interesting.

Xury46 · « **Reply #15 on:** Sat, 18 February 2023, 02:00:24 »

I appreciate that you listened to feedback about the WK version.
I'm excited about this board!

Would you consider an option for splitting the enter key? An extra 1u key so we could have both a ; and " key to the left of the enter key would be nice, it would also avoid an extra stabilizer.

FearsomeCubedWarrior · « **Reply #16 on:** Sat, 18 February 2023, 07:33:06 »

dededecline · « **Reply #17 on:** Sat, 18 February 2023, 07:33:42 »

Quote from: Xury46 on Sat, 18 February 2023, 02:00:24

Would you consider an option for splitting the enter key? An extra 1u key so we could have both a ; and " key to the left of the enter key would be nice, it would also avoid an extra stabilizer.

That is not a layout option I’m interested in adding unfortunately

dededecline · « **Reply #18 on:** Sat, 18 February 2023, 07:38:23 »

Quote from: FearsomeCubedWarrior on Sat, 18 February 2023, 07:33:06

Split enter would be nice, also, does f13 means that the badge will be bigger or there will be separate tops for f13 and badge versions?

Good question, apologies for the ambiguity in the wording there. This is the F13 badge.

There is no version with an F13 key nor will one be added.

pinguha · « **Reply #19 on:** Sun, 19 February 2023, 08:51:36 »

Not the biggest fan of 40s but this is really tempting! Looking forward to the GB

saab · « **Reply #20 on:** Sun, 19 February 2023, 10:28:40 »

what a cute and an odd layout. Gl WIC <3

BGFTCHKN · « **Reply #21 on:** Wed, 29 March 2023, 23:03:25 »

Looks amazing and definitely interested, the only suggestion I have is if it's possible to add the backspace on the right/delete on the left option for the hotswap PCB since my preferred layout aesthetics-wise would be that with the 1.25/1/1.25/7/1.25/1/1.25 layout on the bottom

Edit: Actually I see that that spot could be used for an artisan instead of having it be either off in the right column or somewhere else on the board, so nvm. Looks amazing and will definitely be considering it for my next purchase.

Alva_Works · « **Reply #22 on:** Thu, 30 March 2023, 04:04:15 »

I'm so interested, will be possible add colour to the top frame?

mr_foggy · « **Reply #23 on:** Thu, 30 March 2023, 10:20:00 »

ahhhh yes this is it. the purple-cyan is insane. consider me a big fan

Xezioh · « **Reply #24 on:** Sun, 09 April 2023, 23:31:26 »

i want this. would love to see the price around 200-300usd!
only thing i dont like about it is the badge , never been a fan of badges or knobs , would rather just have a switch there

would love to see a red/burgundy/deep red color! think gmk red samurai / pbtfans pyga type red

Ipal Desse · « **Reply #25 on:** Fri, 09 June 2023, 13:17:25 »

no HHKB no like :c

paperassgasket · « **Reply #26 on:** Fri, 09 June 2023, 13:23:43 »

^^ shoulda bought DD-40

trashem · « **Reply #27 on:** Sat, 10 June 2023, 09:19:04 »

love love love this, can’t wait to see more!

dededecline · « **Reply #28 on:** Wed, 19 July 2023, 12:00:58 »

I have an exciting update!

One of the things I love most about Serendipity is the amount of color combo possibilities with the top/bottom/badge/weight. I want to offer as many combinations as possible, which can be challenging in a GB format where SKU creep can be overwhelming.

I also am very aware that folks are (rightfully) hesitant to join group buys right now. So I'm also thrilled to announce that Serendipity will be moving to a rolling in-stock format! We will do batches of 10-15 units in one or two colorways, and when a batch has sold through the next one will be ordered in entirely new colors!

I am working on new arrangements for plates and cerakoting, Ianodization will be available depending on the colorway, and we have resin badges courtesy of WinKeebs that are looking awesome! So so excited to get this board in y'alls hands.

HotFishsoup · « **Reply #29 on:** Sun, 23 July 2023, 05:45:18 »

this is a unique layout, I love this take

lush_bunny · « **Reply #30 on:** Mon, 24 July 2023, 10:30:28 »

Adorable. Backspace being adjacent to delete is throwing me for a loop.

Alva_Works · « **Reply #31 on:** Sun, 05 November 2023, 06:18:43 »

Has this group buy been made?

dededecline · « **Reply #32 on:** Sun, 05 November 2023, 09:39:34 »

Quote from: Alva_Works on Sun, 05 November 2023, 06:18:43

Has this group buy been made?

Not yet. A friends and family round just concluded, but the public round has been delayed by other projects. Hoping to run this early next year.

hzh0525 · « **Reply #33 on:** Sun, 19 November 2023, 19:58:18 »

Will definitely buy this amazing layout!

efikeebs · « **Reply #34 on:** Mon, 15 January 2024, 16:53:21 »

Very cool design and layout

dededecline · « **Reply #35 on:** Wed, 14 February 2024, 20:31:33 »

Hey y'all!
For many reasons, I have decided to forgo running a public group buy for this board. The FnF group buy was a success, and now I am open sourcing the design for others to enjoy and run.
https://github.com/dededecline/Serendipity <3

bigoldbox · « **Reply #36 on:** Wed, 14 February 2024, 21:44:08 »

Quote from: dededecline on Wed, 14 February 2024, 20:31:33

Hey y'all!
For many reasons, I have decided to forgo running a public group buy for this board. The FnF group buy was a success, and now I am open sourcing the design for others to enjoy and run.
https://github.com/dededecline/Serendipity <3

Goated, thank you very much.

News:

Author Topic: [IC] Serendipity | A Big Mod 40% Board With XT 60% Energy (Read 20955 times)