Author Topic: [IC] PAL by Banana Stand Works (Read 41062 times)

dimsum · « **on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 08:41:57 »

Hi yall!
Very excited to show you something I have been working on for over a year now:

PAL
Your friendly neighborhood 60% ft. an exploded arrow key cluster

IC Form
Discord <<< This is where the good updates are; if you feel like following this project - come and hang out.
Instagram

{Sry, long intro}

More

I have spent the entirety of the year 2021 using various renditions of this layout as my daily drivers - starting with a handwired PLA print and moving onto a nicer SLA-printed case with a functioning PCB proto.

This has been one of the personal projects that I completely fell in love with, as it decisively solved the 60% arrow key contention for me. Now I am hoping that a few more people out there will find it helpful too.

From now on, the goal is to release a robust entry-level package and begin the popularization of the PAL layout.

A lot of time has been spent in pursuit of simplifying and optimizing the assembly, which is why Geon’s tadpole mount came in extra clutch. Released right around the time I was experimenting with mounting styles for my own boards, it ticks the most important boxes for me: closely resembles a top-mount in its feel, while eliminating screws and hence minimizing complexity of the assembly.

I’ve been very fortunate to make some great new friends in this hobby and their feedback and encouragement has been extremely helpful on my journey here. And hence I am really happy to say that the good folks at Protozoa Studio have become an invaluable acquaintance, offering their help to run & QC this project.

Together we aim to put out a clean, relatively simple package at a very reasonable price while utilizing Protozoa’s awesome manufacturing network to ensure the best quality.

Specs

This is where we sit currently:

-6063 alu
-tadpole mount
-6° typing angle
-front face height ≈17.5mm (w/o feet), 18.8mm (with feet)
-effective keyboard height (EKH) ≈ 21.5mm
-FR4 Plate
-about 1kg fully built

-solderable pcb by Yiancar
-hotswap pcb layout TBA

-no weights
-no daughterboard
-no foam (might cave in on this one due to apparent demand)

-colors TBA (tentatively - silver, black, volcanic green)

-target price - under US$300 (how much under is TBD)
-vendor, manu, qc - Protozoa Studio

-regional vendors TBA
-timeline TBA

Layouts

Renders

Special Thanks

-Ecto & Protozoa team for making this happen
-Geon for the tadpole mount (bless)
-Ramon Imbao (RMI-KB) for the help with the early proto PCBs
-my homie YZ (Hex Keyboards) for all the positive encouragement
-MechMerlin for all of the youtube tutorials on qmk/via (absolute mvp)
-Simon for treating Ron the way he deserves to be treated.
-rest of the community for a good ride <3

Signature code in case you would like to support the project:

Code: [Select]

[url=https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=116569.0][img]https://i.imgur.com/TQNNgvz.jpeg[/img][/url]

dimsum · « **Reply #1 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 08:42:52 »

UPD (May 18, 2022):

Prototype #1 arrived a couple weeks ago:

A local builder fatboychard did a build stream, sound test clip here

So far the board is really fun to type on, quite happy with the height & angle.
Going to implement some design improvements and order a prototype #2 shortly.

More updates will be posted on Discord, come hang out.

Biscuit · « **Reply #2 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 08:58:51 »

GLWIC. There were quite a bit of people who are interested in seeing exploded arrows on a 60, but didn't agree with removing the right shift.
So this is a great option for those people.

unwashed_heathen · « **Reply #3 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 09:26:48 »

In love with this layout. 60% boards have never been for me, but PAL has me sold. Will be keeping an eye on this for sure! Although I would like to see some more interesting color options.

With this board coming from the Banana Stand I'm going to need to see a banana colored PAL

.

stotle.caps · « **Reply #4 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 09:40:23 »

GLWIC, pretty interesting layout, rlly like the simple design and the price i rlly like it

noctoornal · « **Reply #5 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 09:45:38 »

really loving the layout, so unique and having an exploded arrow keys on a 60% is a definitely buy for me

linell · « **Reply #6 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 09:53:14 »

I hate 64 key but this is cool

Zyrophr · « **Reply #7 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 10:09:58 »

Really like the design, looks nice to me. Too bad I'm a right-shift user.

m1gs · « **Reply #8 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 11:09:48 »

count me in!

Croktopus · « **Reply #9 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 11:45:17 »

Hey this layout is actually nice

SxM Designs · « **Reply #10 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 12:24:35 »

Great job. I really like this layout more than the recently IC'd ones. This has really grabbed my attention.

kbye · « **Reply #11 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 14:22:32 »

I like this
led indicator and the raised booty are a nice touch

paperassgasket · « **Reply #12 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 14:24:31 »

I love those chamfers.
Overall design is really nice. Typing angle is very preferable. I'm not a fan of exposed screw holes, but I'm not offended here. Would prefer not to see them but it's not a dealbreaker.
I actually kinda like that seam too.

Only issue I could see is the plate potentially smacking the underside of the arrows since it's tadpole mount.

Full disclosure: I abhor having the shift all the way out past arrows, and I also hate arrows, prefer split shift or at least 7u and I'm STILL interested in this if that tells you anything about how aesthetically pleasing it is.

That indicator is kyoot af.

Ustinj · « **Reply #13 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 15:28:27 »

I like the beveled front face of the top case, GLWIC

chris_ · « **Reply #14 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 15:32:24 »

this looks really clean, nice work!

JJ48_24 · « **Reply #15 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 15:43:43 »

Damn renders look great and the design is super clean. Definitely a board I will be following. GLWIC!

Takkun · « **Reply #16 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 16:51:46 »

Wow this is a really interesting concept! I love how the arrow keys are weaved in there in the most unintrusive way. This might actually be the first 60% that I can actually see myself using.

JQ27 · « **Reply #17 on:** Tue, 15 March 2022, 17:10:51 »

I like it. As an ISO user I'd need to find two 1.25u shifts, but on the flipside I never use right shift, so I guess it's a bonus Ctrl or the FN key for me.

potato_panda- · « **Reply #18 on:** Wed, 16 March 2022, 00:24:56 »

GLWIC. Looks very interesting, would you consider adding split spacebar support?

Treasure · « **Reply #19 on:** Wed, 16 March 2022, 10:36:33 »

Love the layout

djmantis · « **Reply #20 on:** Wed, 16 March 2022, 12:48:56 »

This looks great! Can you provide the actual height of the front? You stated it is low, but I would like to know that actual measurement. Thank you!

conternecticus · « **Reply #21 on:** Wed, 16 March 2022, 13:10:25 »

This layout looks great! Would love to see more one more color option (maybe purple/lilac would be cool).
Can't wait for the sound test of this board. GLWIC!

dimsum · « **Reply #22 on:** Wed, 16 March 2022, 13:57:23 »

Quote from: djmantis on Wed, 16 March 2022, 12:48:56

This looks great! Can you provide the actual height of the front? You stated it is low, but I would like to know that actual measurement. Thank you!

Thanks!
Here are the current dimensions:

edit: adding the measurements into the spec list

djmantis · « **Reply #23 on:** Wed, 16 March 2022, 15:02:01 »

Beautiful! Thank you!

Ghostinn · « **Reply #24 on:** Wed, 16 March 2022, 19:28:21 »

I am not a fan of 60s, but I would absolutely consider buying this beauty. Great job on this!

TranquilMarmot · « **Reply #25 on:** Thu, 17 March 2022, 01:29:06 »

Love it. Tiny lil right shift and the light are awesome. The green looks really nice!

QWER|key · « **Reply #26 on:** Thu, 17 March 2022, 03:30:13 »

I really love this design but that lack of right shift will kill me.

Good look with the IC

Malvix Studio · « **Reply #27 on:** Thu, 17 March 2022, 03:55:36 »

Layout is definitely unconventional, but cool nonetheless! Sometimes I feel like I'm one of the few who actively swaps between left and right shift, haha. Bezel proportions look spot on though, great job!

Getsome!!! · « **Reply #28 on:** Thu, 17 March 2022, 05:47:55 »

Dope layout! I would of coarse replace that useless R-shift with a FN key or something if i were doing a build on it, but dope none the less. I have to pass becasue the bezels are way too small for me though. I'm sure the more dainty folks will love it though.

m1gs · « **Reply #29 on:** Fri, 18 March 2022, 05:46:46 »

What is the led on the lower right for? Is that a capslock indicator?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

dimsum · « **Reply #30 on:** Fri, 18 March 2022, 10:54:36 »

Quote from: m1gs on Fri, 18 March 2022, 05:46:46

What is the led on the lower right for? Is that a capslock indicator?

just an ambient RGB bar, not indicating anything in particular; think of it as a badge.

conternecticus · « **Reply #31 on:** Fri, 18 March 2022, 21:18:10 »

Would half plate work on this board?

Vibex · « **Reply #32 on:** Sat, 19 March 2022, 06:30:12 »

Any chance of getting some split spacebar support? Would be an instant buy for me if it did

dimsum · « **Reply #33 on:** Sun, 20 March 2022, 04:30:58 »

Quote from: conternecticus on Fri, 18 March 2022, 21:18:10

Would half plate work on this board?

I dont see why not.
I have no plans of making one, but I will release the plate files in case anyone wants to make/run their own.

Quote from: Vibex on Sat, 19 March 2022, 06:30:12

Any chance of getting some split spacebar support? Would be an instant buy for me if it did

A few people asked for this feature, I will think about it.
Even if the final pcb had the support for it - im against making the default universal plate look like a cheese grater. Might also look into options of open sourcing the pcb files for people who want to add their own split-sb support or more obscure layouts (minila/jis, 6u, 7u, knobs etc etc).
Again, if there is enough people that really want it - perhaps it can be run as a separate small gb.

Keeblet_257 · « **Reply #34 on:** Sun, 20 March 2022, 04:47:58 »

the leds in the bottom right corner adds aomething to it I like it personally

HappyB0T · « **Reply #35 on:** Sun, 20 March 2022, 06:01:30 »

I like the disco light.

SafeAtShore · « **Reply #36 on:** Sun, 20 March 2022, 15:41:17 »

Agreed with others that this just looks aesthetically pleasing. Nice.

Also want to point out that folks can just use mod tap in QMK (assuming this PCB supports it) to combine forward slash/question mark with R Shift. IMO, it's comfy and works--and that far right key can be used as Fn like on a typical HHKB layout.

VaporKeebs · « **Reply #37 on:** Sun, 20 March 2022, 18:43:49 »

I will be getting this no matter what. Oh my god.

I will likely get a hotswap version but honestly I want to at some point get a solder mk and ship it out to taeha just so I can have a taeha build. But told myself it would have to be a soldered mk so maybe itll be this.

rndr · « **Reply #38 on:** Mon, 21 March 2022, 05:43:04 »

Right shift is a must for me. Passing this one!

Lincolnworks · « **Reply #39 on:** Mon, 21 March 2022, 07:09:02 »

The layout seems cool and unique, but honestly not for me. I'd prefer a 65% much more.

ReverbSlush · « **Reply #40 on:** Mon, 21 March 2022, 11:06:13 »

I hope hotswap layout is split backspace (or has both compatible). Beautiful looking board!

JackPikatea · « **Reply #41 on:** Mon, 21 March 2022, 15:40:30 »

It's always a blast to see new layout. As a 60% fan, I can definitely see myself liking the layout. I typically use this layout except it's with layers and and a function key. I think a lot of others do too.

Nice work!

spedywin · « **Reply #42 on:** Mon, 21 March 2022, 22:45:31 »

interesting, glwic

nqbshas · « **Reply #43 on:** Tue, 22 March 2022, 02:51:24 »

Fresh and clean design. Good luck!

Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk

m1gs · « **Reply #44 on:** Wed, 23 March 2022, 19:53:07 »

Quote from: dimsum on Fri, 18 March 2022, 10:54:36

Quote from: m1gs on Fri, 18 March 2022, 05:46:46
What is the led on the lower right for? Is that a capslock indicator?

just an ambient RGB bar, not indicating anything in particular; think of it as a badge.

Oh okay. Bummer. I really love keyboard size like this one, but I kept wishing a capslock indicator would be a feature cause it's a struggle for me.

Thockologist · « **Reply #45 on:** Thu, 24 March 2022, 09:34:25 »

This has to be my new favorite compact layout, I'm really, really excited for this. It looks great and still has the beloved arrow keys at 60% size.

conternecticus · « **Reply #46 on:** Fri, 25 March 2022, 11:35:24 »

Would be cool if the LED bar can be programmed to show current layer, or caps lock is on or off.

ylothar · « **Reply #47 on:** Fri, 25 March 2022, 15:48:35 »

Quote from: conternecticus on Fri, 25 March 2022, 11:35:24

Would be cool if the LED bar can be programmed to show current layer, or caps lock is on or off.

+1

ShuggaShane · « **Reply #48 on:** Fri, 25 March 2022, 16:57:32 »

Take my money now please and thank you

TQuest · « **Reply #49 on:** Sat, 26 March 2022, 17:11:16 »

Filled out the IC Form. GLWIC

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Author Topic: [IC] PAL by Banana Stand Works (Read 41062 times)