[IC] Atom 68 II

[Nizkeyboard]

It's a great pleasure to meet you again. It's been one year since we released the original version of Atom68 Alu, during which time we keep improving the design of the next version. Now I will share the details of the Atom 68 II with you.
0 contents
1 The specs
2 The current status
3 Group Buy
4 FAQ
5 GALLERY
6 Update
1 The specs.
-Typing Angle: 6.5 °
-Materials: 6063 Aluminum & Polycarbonates & Brass
-Case options:
    o   Aluminum: anodized black, anodized grey, E-white, E-yellow.
    o   PC: black frosted & white frosted
-Weight options:
    o   Aluminum: anodized black, anodized grey, E-white, E-yellow.
    o   PC: black frosted & white frosted
-Plate options
    o   Aluminum: anodized black, anodized grey, E-white, E-yellow.
    o   brass (brushed)
    o   Gold plated FR4
-Plate mounting system: gasket sandwich
-PCB:
    o  Niz original factory electrostatic capacitive PCB components
    o 1.5mm black gold plated FR4, type-C daughterboard, QMK/VIA support (MX version only)
-Layout:

2 The current status
The prototype finished
3 Group Buy
Atom 68 II will be available as custom kits in a group buy. The kit will include the following parts:
-Top and bottom cases
-Plate: EC version or MX version
-PCB: MX version only, the EC PCB must be harvested from a regular NIZ Atom keyboard
-Additional EC switch housings (EC version only)
-Accessories: footpad, Type-C daughterboard, gaskets, screw.
4 FAQ
-   What are the changes compared with the V1 Atom68?
(1) Higher quality materials.
(2) Thread inserts for screw holes.
(3) Thicker gaskets.
(4) Improved solution for the Bluetooth module.
(5) Improved overall structure
-   Is it compatible with other NIZ keyboards such as NIZ66?
No, but we are also planning to make the aluminum cases for NIZ87 and more.
-   Is it possible to provide more colors?
If we see enough interests in the IC.
(6) Electrostatic capacity keyboard is more complex than a mechanical keyboard. What if I buy a kit and can't assemble it?
-  We will not only provide installation guidance, but also use the original NIZ production line to provide customers with original assembly services, providing you more choices,   
5 GALLERY









3D print prototype


CNC prototype




Color Poll link:https://discord.gg/cYUvMrPXJt
6 Updates
   2020.11.17 IC
   2020.11.19 add more logo picture
   2020.12.01 add 3D proto picture
   2020.12.03 CNC proto in the works
   2020.12.03 CNC proto finished
For more  information，pls visit：https://discord.gg/hNwcB9NAQ7

[yoot]

I find it kind off weird that you aren't selling this with EC pcb as an option. Otherwise, looks good. GLWIC

[Nizkeyboard]

Thank you for your advice. We will add the options you mentioned later, but it may be the keyboard already assembled

[neutralstate]

The main draw for this is the ec, pls dont leave out the pcb..! Thank you

[beigeandbrown]

The way I see it, another board like this doesn't really have anything going for it. With boards like the NK65 and that other polycarb 65 gb going on now, I don't think there's much demand for yet another one of them. I really think introducing plum switches on a keyboard with multiple plate options, gasket mounting/top mounting, and other mx board style features will draw people who like topre, but don't want to give up all the developments made in custom boards and their keycap sets.

[Sweep_the_Leg]

100% agree that an EC pcb should be an option. That's what I love about my Atom68, and I'd hate to have to harvest it just for the aluminum case. Also, I agree with the poster above who said that's what makes this board different from everything else out there (that is, the EC switches). If it's just another 65% mx board, there are many available right now. 

Also, I'm not a big fan of the font for the "Atom II" on the bottom. The Niz badge on the previous edition looked great, but for me the font used here for the Atom II is just not attractive.

[Nizkeyboard]

100% agree that an EC pcb should be an option. That's what I love about my Atom68, and I'd hate to have to harvest it just for the aluminum case. Also, I agree with the poster above who said that's what makes this board different from everything else out there (that is, the EC switches). If it's just another 65% mx board, there are many available right now. 

Also, I'm not a big fan of the font for the "Atom II" on the bottom. The Niz badge on the previous edition looked great, but for me the font used here for the Atom II is just not attractive.

We certainly won't give up the EC PCB, the case was first made for the NIZ 68, and the MX pcb is just an additional option we added for a variety of options. We are also considering whether to sell the assembled PC case and aluminum case electrostatic capacitive keyboard.

[kawhi]

very cool. e-yellow - sick. and appreciate having no badge this time around! like everyone else is saying, ec pcb would make this very compelling

[Nizkeyboard]

100% agree that an EC pcb should be an option. That's what I love about my Atom68, and I'd hate to have to harvest it just for the aluminum case. Also, I agree with the poster above who said that's what makes this board different from everything else out there (that is, the EC switches). If it's just another 65% mx board, there are many available right now. 

Also, I'm not a big fan of the font for the "Atom II" on the bottom. The Niz badge on the previous edition looked great, but for me the font used here for the Atom II is just not attractive.

We have modified some content of IC paste, thank you for your support to NIZ

[beigeandbrown]

If you could have qmk and via compatibility aswell as a daughterboard on the ec pcb, that would be incredible.

[Nizkeyboard]

If you could have qmk and via compatibility aswell as a daughterboard on the ec pcb, that would be incredible.

emm,this is difficult.

[ycanales]

Excited to move my Atom 68 into a yellow case!

The renders don't show yellow top and bottom, will this be possible?

[treeleaf64]

Treeleaf approved

[verity]

I'm hopeful that Niz have learned some lessons on how to properly manufacture and ship custom keyboards from their first GB, since I really love Niz capacitive switches. My original Atom68 Alu was shipped with no stabilizers(Still don't have them all btw), and to this day I can't screw the keyboard flush, even after taking apart the pcb and keyboard more than 10 times and troubleshooting for hours. I really want to love your products so hopefully this round will be better QC'ed.

[TopreMoon]

I would love to see an Atom 68 with split backspace support.

[Sweep_the_Leg]

100% agree that an EC pcb should be an option. That's what I love about my Atom68, and I'd hate to have to harvest it just for the aluminum case. Also, I agree with the poster above who said that's what makes this board different from everything else out there (that is, the EC switches). If it's just another 65% mx board, there are many available right now. 

Also, I'm not a big fan of the font for the "Atom II" on the bottom. The Niz badge on the previous edition looked great, but for me the font used here for the Atom II is just not attractive.

We have modified some content of IC paste, thank you for your support to NIZ

Fantastic to see! Also, any word on the logo/font on the bottom? I'm not a fan, but I wonder what others here might think. Just feels like there could be something a fair bit cooler there (an image of an atom, or something maybe?)

[neutralstate]

I'm hopeful that Niz have learned some lessons on how to properly manufacture and ship custom keyboards from their first GB, since I really love Niz capacitive switches. My original Atom68 Alu was shipped with no stabilizers(Still don't have them all btw), and to this day I can't screw the keyboard flush, even after taking apart the pcb and keyboard more than 10 times and troubleshooting for hours. I really want to love your products so hopefully this round will be better QC'ed.

whoa thats scary. so the keyboard is basically still non functional to this day?

[beigeandbrown]

Speaking of, I think some modified switches should be made for the stabilized modifiers and spacebar, so that cherry plate mount stabs can be used.

[verity]

I'm hopeful that Niz have learned some lessons on how to properly manufacture and ship custom keyboards from their first GB, since I really love Niz capacitive switches. My original Atom68 Alu was shipped with no stabilizers(Still don't have them all btw), and to this day I can't screw the keyboard flush, even after taking apart the pcb and keyboard more than 10 times and troubleshooting for hours. I really want to love your products so hopefully this round will be better QC'ed.

whoa thats scary. so the keyboard is basically still non functional to this day?

The pcb functions properly so whenever I use the board its basically sitting unscrewed on my desk.

[Nizkeyboard]

I'm hopeful that Niz have learned some lessons on how to properly manufacture and ship custom keyboards from their first GB, since I really love Niz capacitive switches. My original Atom68 Alu was shipped with no stabilizers(Still don't have them all btw), and to this day I can't screw the keyboard flush, even after taking apart the pcb and keyboard more than 10 times and troubleshooting for hours. I really want to love your products so hopefully this round will be better QC'ed.

We are sorry for the trouble caused to you. Did you not give feedback to our group-buying email? We should have dealt with all the feedback. The new Atom 68 will be produced in the factory where the famous team made the case. Besides, our  team will learn from the experience of last time and control the quality of this product. We look forward to your satisfaction

[verity]

I'm hopeful that Niz have learned some lessons on how to properly manufacture and ship custom keyboards from their first GB, since I really love Niz capacitive switches. My original Atom68 Alu was shipped with no stabilizers(Still don't have them all btw), and to this day I can't screw the keyboard flush, even after taking apart the pcb and keyboard more than 10 times and troubleshooting for hours. I really want to love your products so hopefully this round will be better QC'ed.

We are sorry for the trouble caused to you. Did you not give feedback to our group-buying email? We should have dealt with all the feedback. The new Atom 68 will be produced in the factory where the famous team made the case. Besides, our  team will learn from the experience of last time and control the quality of this product. We look forward to your satisfaction

I had a lot of feedback through email with your staff after I received the board. I was never able to resolve the issues even with their correspondence. Another user in the GB thread also specified that they had the same issue with an E-White board that I did, so I just assumed it was a flaw with the e-coating. I also tried specifying to the email support that I was missing all the stabilizer inserts and they ended up only sending one replacement stabilizer.

[Nizkeyboard]

Excited to move my Atom 68 into a yellow case!

The renders don't show yellow top and bottom, will this be possible?

yes,yellow  top and bottom be possible

[Slayer77]

Need an EC add-on pcb, please consider. Many people like me don't have one to harvest, would like an additional option, even if it's pre built.

Sent from my GM1911 using Tapatalk

[isot0nic]

Will there be other colors available?

[minnus]

Split backspace please! HHKB has broken me, lol

[sntXrrr]

Yellow with gold-plated FR4? I want one, but only if it includes the EC pcb.

[Nizkeyboard]

Need an EC add-on pcb, please consider. Many people like me don't have one to harvest, would like an additional option, even if it's pre built.

Sent from my GM1911 using Tapatalk

yes，will be a additional option for EC pcb

[Nizkeyboard]

Will there be other colors available?

Depending on the result of IC, we can also do blue, dark green and so on

[Nizkeyboard]

100% agree that an EC pcb should be an option. That's what I love about my Atom68, and I'd hate to have to harvest it just for the aluminum case. Also, I agree with the poster above who said that's what makes this board different from everything else out there (that is, the EC switches). If it's just another 65% mx board, there are many available right now. 

Also, I'm not a big fan of the font for the "Atom II" on the bottom. The Niz badge on the previous edition looked great, but for me the font used here for the Atom II is just not attractive.

We have modified some content of IC paste, thank you for your support to NIZ

Show Image

do you like this？

Fantastic to see! Also, any word on the logo/font on the bottom? I'm not a fan, but I wonder what others here might think. Just feels like there could be something a fair bit cooler there (an image of an atom, or something maybe?)

[sntXrrr]

The layout is probably fixed by now but I am not a fan of the 3 x 1u keys between spacebar and arrows. I would much prefer a bottom row with 2 x 1.5u so: 1.25 - 1.25 - 1.25 - 6 - 1.5 - 1.5 - 1 - 1 - 1. That would be more 'modern' and aesthetically pleasing I think.

[Nizkeyboard]

The layout is probably fixed by now but I am not a fan of the 3 x 1u keys between spacebar and arrows. I would much prefer a bottom row with 2 x 1.5u so: 1.25 - 1.25 - 1.25 - 6 - 1.5 - 1.5 - 1 - 1 - 1. That would be more 'modern' and aesthetically pleasing I think.

Because we have no intention to change the existing EC PCB scheme, it should be difficult to implement what you said

[beigeandbrown]

could you guys possibly add an option for "apple silver" similar to the OTD keyboard anodizing. Also similar to the color of anodizing on the Dalco 959 mini that's in IC right now. I think most would agree that neutral silver is the most neutral anodization color no contest.

[Nizkeyboard]

could you guys possibly add an option for "apple silver" similar to the OTD keyboard anodizing. Also similar to the color of anodizing on the Dalco 959 mini that's in IC right now. I think most would agree that neutral silver is the most neutral anodization color no contest.

yes，i agree，when we made atom Ⅰ, we made Apple Silver, but only a few people chose it, so we didn't make it the first choice this time. Anyway, if IC suggested that more silver, we would keep the silver options.

[beigeandbrown]

Also should we assume a return of the macbook style hard rubber feet? I think those are really nice.

[Nizkeyboard]

Also should we assume a return of the macbook style hard rubber feet? I think those are really nice.

As for the  pad, we may have to wait until we get the CNC Proto from the factory, match different parts (including the foot pad and Eva plate), and finally decide what kind of hardness of elastic parts

[Drakenocas]

I like the edges and two-toned case, but I find looking down at the top overwhelming to the senses for some reason without something breaking up the monotony of the repeating pattern. 

[Sweep_the_Leg]

100% agree that an EC pcb should be an option. That's what I love about my Atom68, and I'd hate to have to harvest it just for the aluminum case. Also, I agree with the poster above who said that's what makes this board different from everything else out there (that is, the EC switches). If it's just another 65% mx board, there are many available right now. 

Also, I'm not a big fan of the font for the "Atom II" on the bottom. The Niz badge on the previous edition looked great, but for me the font used here for the Atom II is just not attractive.

We have modified some content of IC paste, thank you for your support to NIZ

Show Image

do you like this？

Fantastic to see! Also, any word on the logo/font on the bottom? I'm not a fan, but I wonder what others here might think. Just feels like there could be something a fair bit cooler there (an image of an atom, or something maybe?)

I do like that better. I wouldn't say it's fantastic or anything, but it's better. Would love to see some other possibilities if it's not too much of a headache.

[online]

will there be an option for full PC case? (Top and bottom made of PC)

[Nizkeyboard]

will there be an option for full PC case? (Top and bottom made of PC)

yes，will be

[Envert]

Will you add support to allow the use BKE Redux Domes (Easy install for EC version).

[i luv chuletas]

If this is intended mainly to be used with EC, and MX is offered as an option, why not include the ability to purchase the assembled EC version, or a configurable kit for EC as an option with the components needed?

Idk, the way it's currently set up seems somewhat counter-intuitive

[segami]

Split backspace please!!

[Nizkeyboard]

If this is intended mainly to be used with EC, and MX is offered as an option, why not include the ability to purchase the assembled EC version, or a configurable kit for EC as an option with the components needed?

Idk, the way it's currently set up seems somewhat counter-intuitive

The option will be changed in GB. Thank you for your suggestion

[Nizkeyboard]

Split backspace please!!

sorry，It is a little difficult to implement at present, because the PCB scheme is well established

[poor yorick]

any chance for a polycarb or abs plate?

[clonetropboi]

Please no swill plate

[Nizkeyboard]

any chance for a polycarb or abs plate?

will be Polycarb plate

[pregonation]

Debating whether to wait for the entire kit or to go ahead and order the keyboard, assuming that the a la carte pricing is reasonable to purchase the aluminum case later on. Is there a large discrepancy predicted?

[Nizkeyboard]

Debating whether to wait for the entire kit or to go ahead and order the keyboard, assuming that the a la carte pricing is reasonable to purchase the aluminum case later on. Is there a large discrepancy predicted?

About 20-30usd

[nobody2100]

awesome! so looking forward to this!