Anodizing hookmarks seem to be the bane of every GB lately. If you'd like, I have a guy you can send it to for a cerakote test. You don't have to strip anodization to get something cerakoted. Most people will be happy with anything, but this is clearly something you want to be YOURS and PERFECT and not "something everyone is OK with," which, frankly, is the way I'd rather it be.
Cerakote finishes are also cheaper than anodizing, in many situations.
A few other questions:
Where does the plate mount to the case? From what I can tell it mounts to the top part, which is the better way to do it, but I'd just like confirmation.
Does installing the diffuser interfere with the USB placement? On some recent boards (Revo RJ, to name one) with optional diffusers, the USB port makes contact with the case and shorts out if the diffuser is installed.
This will only be offered with the aluminum bottom, right? It already seems a little thin, so offering it with a flat/cone feet acrylic bottom seems like it would take a lot of the "solid" feel away. This was an issue on some older LZs, the Duck Orion, and an early iteration of the KMAC 1. I saw pictures of it further up the thread, but I didn't really read anything about them.
8 plates seems like a sorting NIGHTMARE. You might want to consider removing some options that are more rarely used. This will be your first GB, and sorting is where a lot of new runners fall short. In the same vein, it might be better to make people source their own cables, or to have someone like donutcat run a cable GB alongside this to make less work for yourself.
Plate mount stabs are **** anyway, no compatibility for those is fine. Anyone worth their salt is already using PCB mount stabs for everything anyway.
Custom packaging might be worth looking into, and shouldn't add too much to the cost. I know 27 has been looking into it for mech27 v2, you might want to throw him a PM or discord message. It should speed up the sorting and QC processes.
Also, typing angle?
Feel free to PM me a reply to this if you don't want to discuss details publicly. I know some people are very secretive with some of this info.
Thanks a lot for the questions and concerns Puddsy! Let me answer them for you.
1. That would be really cool to get a cerakoted Pearl. My finisher cannot cerakote, and it would be interesting to know the price/process if it were something to consider overall as part of the GB.
2. Plate is top mounted, 14 M3 screws! Ill link pictures for you.
3. The diffuser does not come close to touching the usb by a long shot. Maybe by 4mms?
4. Heres the thing about that, you can build it with the diffuser as a bottom piece, and if you wanted to, add cone feet to the diffuser. It will be offered with everything you need to build it 4 ways. Thats to say, you can build it with the Aluminum bot, with the Aluminum bot + diffuser, with just the diffuser as a flat bot, or with a coned diffuser. Up to you.
5. 8 plates i know right :/ I might take you up on that advice Puddsy. But the plate issue arose because of the damn ALPS/Costar stabs. Ill see! As for the cable, it will be a simple USB-C no thrills cable to get you going. I can batch order a ton and just throw them in. Although if donutcat would be willing, that would be wonderful. I don't want to stress the man out with a ton of USB-C cables.
6. Lmao i agree. Nothing against my boy evangs, but the plate mounted stabs would always pop out of my Minivan.
7. Yes! Ive been looking into custom foam packaging. Ive already sent a Pearl to my friend with some super bubble rap in a very snug box, packaged all nicely. Thanks to the small form factor and cushion, it seems like custom packaging might not be much of a worry. The Pearl travels very safely! But ill shoot him a message, ty.
8. Typing angle is 6 degrees (5.8 ) with ALU bot. With the cone feet it is a bit steeper, 7+ for sure.
Puddsy, thank you for all the advice and recommendations. Appreciate it very much!