Project-EC - A topre 60%

[bowlkeyboards]

Project-EC - A topre 60%

IC FORM
Project-EC is my first foray into designing around topre. Combining a low front height, accented mid-layer, and soft typing feel, Project-EC is meant to be a premium upgrade to the normal topre experience.


 == Specifications and Details ==


 Layout -  6U HHKB, WKL, WK
 Materials - 6063 aluminum top and bottom housing, 6063 Aluminum or Polycarbonate mid layer, 6063 aluminum USB accent, stainless steel weight
 Typing angle - 8.5 degrees
 Front Height - 17.38 mm (without lip) EKH - 22.94mm
 Weight - 1.3Kg Unbuilt
 Mounting - Leaf Spring Silicone Gasket Mount (more information below)
 Other features:
  -Accented color midlayer
  -USB DB Carrier
  -Hidden DB and Molex-JST cable
  -C4 DB with ez-mate connector
  -PCB with JST connector

 == Mounting and Layout Details ==
For the mounting of this board i have used a similar method to my previous keyboard the oc-62. This utilized molded gaskets that isolate the plate. They are inspired by the F1 and F2 where it is a strip, but in this case, there is a nub on the top of the strip that holds the gasket into the case for easier assembly. This mounting fully isolates the plate from the case and the leaf spring cuts in the plate provide a softer bottom out feeling even with a metal plate.
Mounting Details:


Layout:
The PCB used for the prototype of this design is the EC-60 by Cipulot. Big thank you to cipulot for open sourcing this design and other designing resources.
Supported PCB layouts can be viewed here: LINK


== Sales Info ==
TBD - the most up to date info will be posted in my discord server
Current estimate would be $450 for a 100 unit soft cap for a base kit

== Renders and Prototype Images ==
Renders by Synthetics, Photos by me
Renders:




Photos:







== Current Status and Changelog ==
Proto V1 arrived and tested for the past month.
Prototype v1 thoughts:
 - Prototype built with Pro 2 stems, springs, and domes. Deskeys housings, housing gaskets, and #3 silencing rings
 - Aluminum plate with leafspring gasket mount provides desired soft bottom out feel without pinging or resonance
 - Side and rear profile highlight mid-layer accent as desired
 -Hidden DB and JST with DB carrier work as expected

 Current Status:

Received quotes for an “R0” organized in my discord
TBD

== Contact and other links ==
 You can join my discord here: https://discord.gg/n9FRZewwNR
 Follow the project on my website as well: https://www.bowlkeyboards.com/

== Special Thanks ==
Synthetics for the ideas and render help
Cipulot for the PCB and other open source resources

[bowlkeyboards]

Reserved for updates 

[lush_bunny]

Custom topre? Interesting.

[hunos]

Thocc

[Oraeth]

this board such a cutie

[nainaigogo]

excited to see this

[andreas]

This is really nice.

Good luck moving forward.

[vhaarr]

glwic!

Please consider adding some kind of design flair visible while using it, like in the lower right corner blocker for example there is room for some love

[twitchytheinsideman]

GLWIC

[growler]

6u spacebar? I like it.

Tappity tap tap tap

[Rhienfo]

More topre stuff is always good for the hobby. It does look really plain on the top so maybe an engraving on the bottom right area could look cool (similar to the hhkb professional 2 engraving there), If you could maybe offer an ec kit to go along with it, because harvesting old topre domes creates a lot of waste.

Just hope the price is good for this and GLWIC

[lush_bunny]

More topre stuff is always good for the hobby. It does look really plain on the top so maybe an engraving on the bottom right area could look cool (similar to the hhkb professional 2 engraving there), If you could maybe offer an ec kit to go along with it, because harvesting old topre domes creates a lot of waste.

Just hope the price is good for this and GLWIC

+1 for ec kit. Topre modding/harvesting is a pain where I'm from.

[bowlkeyboards]

Hello all, thank you for the interest!

I see some people saying the Hhkb top looks somewhat plain. I understand this sentiment, but due to the offering of WK, and WKL, I felt doing some sort of badge or engraving would not fit well. I will explore adding something there for the Hhkb variant 

In terms of an EC kit, this is definitely something I would be interested in pursuing 

[Space_Case88]

I like this

[growler]

I'm a dummy, whats EC?

Tappity tap tap tap

[lush_bunny]

I'm a dummy, whats EC?

Tappity tap tap tap

I assume electro capacitive (which is what topre domes are)

[growler]

Ah yes, the dome, spring things, how or where do you get them, bet it's trickier than buying a few MX switches!

Tappity tap tap tap

[bowlkeyboards]

Ah yes, the dome, spring things, how or where do you get them, bet it's trickier than buying a few MX switches!

Tappity tap tap tap

Yes domes, sliders, housings and springs are the extra topre components, all parts are available at Deskeys and soon, KLC! Ideally i will be able to oraganize a full kit for buyers where everything needed to assemble the board is included 

[growler]

Ah yes, the dome, spring things, how or where do you get them, bet it's trickier than buying a few MX switches!

Tappity tap tap tap

Yes domes, sliders, housings and springs are the extra topre components, all parts are available at Deskeys and soon, KLC! Ideally i will be able to oraganize a full kit for buyers where everything needed to assemble the board is included 

Tappity tap tap tap

[Furki]

That side profile tho 

[hottrout]

Yes, following

[actress]

such a cool project man!
8.5 degrees, beautiful side profile, WKL topre?!

In for sure

[SDKCAMPING]

I'm a fan of this case design

[phaxin]

Love this. This hobby needs more custom topre that isn’t just a drop in from a hhkb or realforce. Any chance for a blank back weight? I’m not the biggest fan of the engraving.

[Space_Case88]

really into all the love that EC is getting recently.