Author Topic: [IC] Play Tray | GB Completed (Read 17612 times)

Ustinj · « **on:** Thu, 17 March 2022, 01:34:19 »

PLAY TRAY

Hello folks... this is a small side project I've been working on in collaboration with my partner shannie.

This is an interest check for PLAY TRAY - it's a CNC'd aluminum tray that will sit nicely on the desk, complete with a cute cat engraving by shannie (who also helped out with Cloudline and designed various deskmats that you've probably seen in group buy). I was a bit hesitant to share this since it's not exactly a keyboard (I have some of those coming, trust). Nonetheless, I would really like to gauge some potential interest for this item as I have absolutely no idea what the demand may be, which is an essential metric to determining pricing and MOQ.

Please fill out the super quick IC form if this project interests you - It'll help determine MOQ / pricing: https://forms.gle/cFPvu6Z6wUWXD5heA

Why?

The inspiration for this design comes from a few things. A cat toy, various screw trays seen in the keyboard community, and the Rotor by Densus Designs (another keyboard here on Geekhack!). I also think it would be nice to have something slightly interactive on the desk. For those who prefer to use $5 trays from Amazon, that's totally 100% fine - until now, I've been using $3 metal bowls from Aliexpress, so I get where you're coming from. That being said, we could also be using the cheapest MX keyboards available, yet we dish out a premium for some nicer boards. This tray hopes to be just a little heftier, a little cuter, and a little more fun.

Group Buy Info

~~June 1st - June 14th~~ Group Buy has closed :-)

(See your respective vendors for exact timing).

Estimated shipping is late Q3 to Q4 2022.

Vendors

US: jjwkb, https://jjwkb.com/products/group-buy-play-tray
CA: Deskhero, https://www.deskhero.ca/collections/open-group-buys/products/play-tray
EU: mykeyboard.eu, https://mykeyboard.eu/search/?q=play+tray
UK: Prototypist, https://prototypist.net/collections/live-group-buys/products/group-buy-jjw-play-tray
AS: Hex Keyboards, https://hexkeyboards.com/collections/group-buys/products/play-tray
AS: Swagkeys, https://swagkeys.com/products/group-buy-play-tray
AU: Switchkeys, https://www.switchkeys.com.au/collections/modification-accessories/products/play-tray-group-buy

Soft capped, likely won't have to worry about nearing any limit

Details

Tray Information

Aluminum 6063 Tray, 14mm
Custom ring-feet
Magnetized central tray (neodymium)
14mm SS304 ball bearing
Central tray diameter: 50mm, Outer diameter: 96mm

Available Options

Soft Pink (engraved), PANTONE 502 C
Barely Blue (engraved), PANTONE 290 C
Lush Green (engraved), PANTONE 5507 C
Orange Cream (engraved), PANTONE 474 C
Soulless Gray (engraved), PANTONE 432 C
Soulless Gray (plain, this color will be the only non-engraved option), PANTONE 432 C

The super cute cat engraving is the awesome work of @shannie.hoa. I'm excited, as the actual engravings look even better than the renders. The project will be available for group buy at the above vendors between June 1st - June 14th - I really enjoy the process of fulfillment and feeling closely involved with my projects. As a result, there will be an undisclosed, soft unit cap to ensure timely fulfillment (it's very comfortable and should be more than enough).

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is it so expensive?
A: Blank material required is taller than most trays, custom feet, magnets, and custom packaging (was to simplify fulfillment across vendors) contribute to the cost - but mostly, I don't own the manufacturing.

Q: Why isn't X color offered?
A: Wanting to simplify SKUs.

Q: Why is the plain version offered only in one color?
A: Decided to offer a plain version at high request. Makes sense, if you have a more sleek / 'serious' setup. The cat engraving is fun - if you don't want the cat, then you get the least 'fun' color. Also wanting to minimize SKUs.

Renders / Media

Links

Website: https://jjwkb.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/XPEFcn8
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjw_kb/
Shannie's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannie.hoa/

wencan008 · « **Reply #1 on:** Thu, 17 March 2022, 01:41:08 »

Love this tray, can't wait for it

ankit · « **Reply #2 on:** Thu, 17 March 2022, 01:41:38 »

another banger.

Malvix Studio · « **Reply #3 on:** Thu, 17 March 2022, 04:08:51 »

I need a black one of these to match my black kitty. Would love to see it happen!

o3okevin · « **Reply #4 on:** Thu, 17 March 2022, 08:30:45 »

Easy day 1 cop

gotgoodiez · « **Reply #5 on:** Thu, 17 March 2022, 10:13:52 »

Easy buy. Would like to see at least one neutral color though!

alwaysbless · « **Reply #6 on:** Thu, 17 March 2022, 11:40:46 »

Should offer an option without that cat too

andromache · « **Reply #7 on:** Thu, 17 March 2022, 12:11:05 »

I will die for this in any color, but ESPECIALLY pink and/or orange!!! (orange kitty <33333)

Great work by Shannie as well!!!!

adi · « **Reply #8 on:** Thu, 17 March 2022, 16:59:01 »

Love it. Two things, one, is the ball bearing inset in such a way that it doesn't fall out easily? Or does it just rest on top of the rails and spin and you can pull it off? Secondly, would love to see more cat-like colors so we can match with our kitties, black, grey, orange white blah blah

Sandy · « **Reply #9 on:** Thu, 17 March 2022, 17:43:32 »

This is so cute!

Nurseh · « **Reply #10 on:** Fri, 18 March 2022, 11:50:24 »

Great idea!

spedywin · « **Reply #11 on:** Sat, 19 March 2022, 01:45:27 »

quite nice, thanks for this

JustMilica · « **Reply #12 on:** Sat, 19 March 2022, 11:51:21 »

This is adorable, silver or lavender color would be insta-buy for me 🥺

baka jiken · « **Reply #13 on:** Sat, 19 March 2022, 13:14:30 »

Lets goo! Day 1 cop

Ustinj · « **Reply #14 on:** Sat, 19 March 2022, 15:42:35 »

Thanks folks for filling out the IC.

From IC feedback and personal decision, I am likely going to:

- add silver (and possibly black) as an option
- provide an option for those who want a simpler, more minimal design (engraving-wise)
- increase the outer wall height to 50% of the height of the bearing

Thanks

dRnRcRr · « **Reply #15 on:** Sun, 20 March 2022, 14:35:29 »

Super nice as always

Sent from my SM-S908W using Tapatalk

VaporKeebs · « **Reply #16 on:** Sun, 20 March 2022, 19:05:54 »

I will likely grab one of these... a no engraving option would be great for those who would want to add an engraving later.

andromache · « **Reply #17 on:** Mon, 21 March 2022, 14:58:25 »

Disappointed that there will be a version without the engraving / with a "simpler" engraving offered. IMO, the cat engraving is super cute and special and ties in the overall "play tray" design with the cat toy theme. Figures something wonderfully cute and unique gets designed and inevitably winds up with a watered down "minimalist" version instead of remaining true to the artists' original vision.

rodok · « **Reply #18 on:** Tue, 22 March 2022, 04:30:34 »

Really digging the cutesy style, sign me up!
If you can actually stay around the 55 USD mark, it would be instant steal.

(good luck with IC/GB)

Nonnegaard · « **Reply #19 on:** Tue, 22 March 2022, 07:24:32 »

this is lovely. very lighthearted design, which i like. i love me some sophistication, but this hobby can get very serious, very quickly.

Ustinj · « **Reply #20 on:** Fri, 25 March 2022, 16:09:04 »

A demo. Things that will 100% be changed / modified:

Slightly deeper channel so ball is more secure
Adjusted bezels to be more identical

Also would like to announce some newly-added regional vendors for this fun little project.

mykeyboard.eu
HEX Keyboards
Switchkeys

Thanks!

。 · « **Reply #21 on:** Tue, 26 April 2022, 12:04:38 »

It's cute and designed!Everybody loves cute cats！

a-jih · « **Reply #22 on:** Tue, 26 April 2022, 18:20:21 »

Additional sizes so we can stack them to actually create a tower like your photo??

Jokes aside, absolutely love this! ^^

floatingnimbus · « **Reply #23 on:** Sun, 08 May 2022, 21:31:53 »

excited for this!!!

EdgeOfInfinity · « **Reply #24 on:** Wed, 11 May 2022, 13:59:56 »

love the design! don't need another alum tray but depending on color options... heh

Ustinj · « **Reply #25 on:** Fri, 20 May 2022, 19:12:39 »

Group buy information is in... Play Tray's group buy information is now up on the main post! Added some more, accurate renders of the available options, as well as a highly-requested un-engraved option for those who want to add a tray to their more boring 'serious' setup.

Some vendors haven't finalized pricing yet, but will be added shortly.

June 1st - June 14th

Estimated shipping is late Q3 / Q4 2022.

Vendors

jjwkb.com, $55 USD
Deskhero, $74 CAD
mykeyboard.eu
HEX Keyboards
Switchkeys

Available Options

Soft Pink (engraved), PANTONE 502 C
Barely Blue (engraved), PANTONE 290 C
Lush Green (engraved), PANTONE 5507 C
Orange Cream (engraved), PANTONE 474 C
Soulless Gray (engraved), PANTONE 432 C
Soulless Gray (plain, this color will be the only non-engraved option), PANTONE 432 C

CookieFlow · « **Reply #26 on:** Fri, 20 May 2022, 20:01:12 »

This is totally useless but I love it
Take my money

wigol2506 · « **Reply #27 on:** Fri, 20 May 2022, 20:32:32 »

Very cute, fitting name to the theme as play.

Don't need this but I want it

CookieFlow · « **Reply #28 on:** Mon, 23 May 2022, 15:41:07 »

Could you add the option to buy extra balls? Maybe in different colors?

KBKlon · « **Reply #29 on:** Fri, 27 May 2022, 06:47:29 »

Wow, is the metal ball included??

Could you bring this to iLumKB vendor?

Ustinj · « **Reply #30 on:** Fri, 27 May 2022, 13:43:22 »

Quote from: CookieFlow on Mon, 23 May 2022, 15:41:07

Could you add the option to buy extra balls? Maybe in different colors?

Option for extra balls will be available, but not in different colors since it's a pretty standard 14mm stainless steel bearing. Due to the way pricing scales though, if you're willing to buy an unnecessary amount of balls (20+), you might be able to get them for less elsewhere.

Quote from: KBKlon on Fri, 27 May 2022, 06:47:29

Wow, is the metal ball included??

Could you bring this to iLumKB vendor?

Yes, the metal ball is included - it's a standard 14mm steel bearing. The vendors for Asia are Hex Keyboards & Swagkeys!

Ustinj · « **Reply #31 on:** Tue, 31 May 2022, 14:33:53 »

This project is going live for GB tomorrow! For US (jjwkb.com), page will go live at 7:00 AM PDT, June 1st. See your respective vendors for exact timing - but the project is soft capped / unlimited, so don't need to rush.

In the meantime, I'm doing a giveaway for a spot and a prototype here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CeOx7vqrHmX/

KBKlon · « **Reply #32 on:** Wed, 01 June 2022, 05:25:37 »

Got in on the GB!

Can't wait for the finished product!

adi518 · « **Reply #33 on:** Wed, 01 June 2022, 17:04:25 »

I thought of getting one, but none of the vendors or the main site offers feasible shipping costs.

Mcnos · « **Reply #34 on:** Wed, 01 June 2022, 17:36:04 »

efikeebs · « **Reply #35 on:** Thu, 21 July 2022, 19:05:14 »

Hope to get mine soon!

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Author Topic: [IC] Play Tray | GB Completed (Read 17612 times)