[IC] Fox Lab - Leaf 60 (GB start)

[senter]

Does the non-hhkb plate work with hhkb case though? I actually really like the idea of having subtle colored plate see through with clear PC case on the corners.

Yes.

Are you 亦草亦木 on Zhihu? I believe I saw this name many times before. Just curious.

[senter]

What about a WKL plate? Or maybe just plate blockers so you don't need a different plate.

There won't be a dedicated WKL plate if that's what you asked. 4 versions of plates in total is already a huge burden for sorting.

[senter]

No silver? If not, is the E white on the warmer or cooler side?

It's pure white.

[senter]

Will most likely have a 1.5-1-1.5-7-1.5-1-1.5 bottom row. This will allow the PCB to work with HHKB, WKL, and Tsangan.

For the hot swappable option is only wkl and hkkb layout supported or is a full version also included.

Also asking this

This

[senter]

Will there be an option to upgrade the brass weight or plate to a sandblasted finish?

The default finish for the brass parts is sandblasted, except for full brass PVD kits.
They can be upgraded to gold PVD.

[yicaoyimu]

Does the non-hhkb plate work with hhkb case though? I actually really like the idea of having subtle colored plate see through with clear PC case on the corners.

Yes.

Are you 亦草亦木 on Zhihu? I believe I saw this name many times before. Just curious.

Yes that’s me

I’m actually done with this hobby for quite a while but I’ve heard so many good things about Leaf 80 I just have to join this 

[mog_genius88]

ok so i'm in for three... do you have an estimated start date for gb?

[dantambok]

ok so i'm in for three... do you have an estimated start date for gb?

woah 3

[eagleheardt]

I'd really like a left side USB hole, but I think I'm still in for a 60 as well as a numpad friend

[Mekuno]

A classy looking designed case like this needs a middle usb hole imo.

[Prebeta]

Finally, a gasket 60% that I can buy

[OmegaZero55]

Maybe I didn't see it, but are there any plans for RGB underglow? That would be amazing with the PC version, and I'd have to get one for sure.

[MoarCoffeePlzzz]

Silver only on the $560 version?

[juaninamilli]

That's PVD silver btw. I was really hoping for anodized silver too

Silver only on the $560 version?

[senter]

ok so i'm in for three... do you have an estimated start date for gb?

Just confirmed the last thing that concerned me. I'm preparing the pics and texts right now. GB should start early next week.

[dantambok]

Woot! How long will the GB run?

[senter]

Maybe I didn't see it, but are there any plans for RGB underglow? That would be amazing with the PC version, and I'd have to get one for sure.

There are no built-in RGB LEDs on the PCB. The main reason is the high failure rate of the RGB LEDs. They are wired in series. One LED has a bad soldering point then all the rest won't work.
The PCB will have soldering pads for LED strips. They are flexible to attach and easy to drive with QMK.

[senter]

Woot! How long will the GB run?

One week

[mnpq.raven]

what is the projected number you're going for ? unlimited or 100, etc units ?

[dantambok]

Woot! How long will the GB run?

One week

Cool. Thanks Senter!

[AlcoholEnthusiast]

Will the full brass ones be FCFS?

[Coolbeanz]

Curious about how an opaque black PC version looks like. Regardless, please open group buy soon my wallet is ready  will definitely jump on this if i fail to grab a Keycult 65 in a few days...

[fireworm]

If you could post pics of the pcbs and plates (or mock ups) in the gb post / website, I would really appreciate it.

[pr0ximity]

I really wish more PC case makers would use threaded inserts instead of tapping the PC itself, but this doesn't seem to be taking off.

Q. F. T.

Not sure why this hasn't been done yet. For the price of this PC kit tho, you could probably try installing your own without much risk. They seem pretty easy to install, the existing tap would act as a big pilot hole.

Softer plastic screws are always a possibility - I've got PTFE screws at work that will deform long before PC will.  I've been meaning to borrow some and try them out on my PC Singa.

They came with a VE.A kit I built -- I was not a fan. The heads are just ludicrously easy to strip with any driver. They also wouldn't do much to give me confidence in their ability to hold a base with a brass plate on the bottom when I pick the board up.

[gnhuy91]

what are available colors? i hope there would be a dark blue similar to rama m60

[Abec13]

Glad to see proprietary PCBs for center port, also glad to see hotswap for WKL and HHKB, that's fantastic.

Is there any chance we could get more renders of this board? Just to showcase some more colors?

[Viss]

what are available colors? i hope there would be a dark blue similar to rama m60

Literally in the OP. Please be less lazy

Colors of aluminum parts: E-white, E-black, E-red, purple anodizing, yellow anodizing
Colors of PC versions: Matte clear, opaque black
Colors of PVD brass versions: gold, silver, rose gold

[azharkh]

please please please can we have VIA support or AT LEAST BMC support

[spyruf]

please please please can we have VIA support or AT LEAST BMC support

second this, BMC is very nice and I've only hear good things about VIA as well.

[Puddsy]

what are available colors? i hope there would be a dark blue similar to rama m60

Literally in the OP. Please be less lazy

Colors of aluminum parts: E-white, E-black, E-red, purple anodizing, yellow anodizing
Colors of PC versions: Matte clear, opaque black
Colors of PVD brass versions: gold, silver, rose gold

I like your style

[kakan]

I'm afraid with so many options the base price will be higher or packaging/shipping will be a nightmare.

[NRbigfoot]

Will the matching numpad be available in this GB or is that planned for a later date

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk

[Puddsy]

I'm afraid with so many options the base price will be higher or packaging/shipping will be a nightmare.

Leaf 80 also had a ton of options and was very reasonably priced

[mog_genius88]

I'm afraid with so many options the base price will be higher or packaging/shipping will be a nightmare.

I may be wrong, but I think the OP only indicates 7 colors and 4 layouts. I'm choosing to believe that Fox Labs has enough experience and cred to make this awesome. I don't think that's too many options for an experienced runner.

[ejewell89]

I believe there was mention of a universal plate, but i havent seen any in a render.

are you still doing one?

[spyruf]

The update from OP for those who haven't seen it.

Update on 01/08:

Some changes have been made since the IC starts. There are also some details have been confirmed.

• Two versions of proprietary PCBs with middle USB ports. The first version supports variants of MX layouts and WKL ALPS layout. The second version supports hotswap and dedicated HHKB/WKL layout. Both are USB C + QMK
• The USB port cutout will be in the middle
• 4 types plates will be available: MX universal, MX WKL, MX HHKB, ALPS
• Colors of aluminum parts: E-white, E-black, E-red, purple anodizing, yellow anodizing
• Colors of PC versions: Matte clear, opaque black
• Colors of PVD brass versions: gold, silver, rose gold
• Pricing for aluminum/PC kits: $275 excluding Paypal fees or $290 with PayPal fees included.
• Pricing for all brass PVD kits: $560 excluding PayPal fees.
• Limits: 10 kits for all brass kits because PVD quality is difficult to control.

[senter]

I really wish more PC case makers would use threaded inserts instead of tapping the PC itself, but this doesn't seem to be taking off.

Q. F. T.

Not sure why this hasn't been done yet. For the price of this PC kit tho, you could probably try installing your own without much risk. They seem pretty easy to install, the existing tap would act as a big pilot hole.

I was asking about this but haven't got an answer yet. Are there solid reasons why one should use threaded inserts? Is there a known problem with PC screw holes?
Actually, I tried installing heat-set inserts on a prototype. It requires a soldering iron to install. There's a little risk but I think it's doable. The current design needs to be revised a lot and the border needs to be widened.
Again, I doubt the necessity of the inserts. The current design has already been revised for many times. The current prototypes works. I can't make huge changes for just suspicions.

[pr0ximity]

I really wish more PC case makers would use threaded inserts instead of tapping the PC itself, but this doesn't seem to be taking off.

Q. F. T.

Not sure why this hasn't been done yet. For the price of this PC kit tho, you could probably try installing your own without much risk. They seem pretty easy to install, the existing tap would act as a big pilot hole.

I was asking about this but haven't got an answer yet. Are there solid reasons why one should use threaded inserts? Is there a known problem with PC screw holes?
Actually, I tried installing heat-set inserts on a prototype. It requires a soldering iron to install. There's a little risk but I think it's doable. The current design needs to be revised a lot and the border needs to be widened.
Again, I doubt the necessity of the inserts. The current design has already been revised for many times. The current prototypes works. I can't make huge changes for just suspicions.

My current thinking is you can over-tighten screws and crack the poly. Easy-ish to avoid that, but who knows. My thinking is also that poly is easier to cross-thread accidentally -- might just feel like a tight thread. If you force it, bad news.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk

[senter]

I really wish more PC case makers would use threaded inserts instead of tapping the PC itself, but this doesn't seem to be taking off.

Q. F. T.

Not sure why this hasn't been done yet. For the price of this PC kit tho, you could probably try installing your own without much risk. They seem pretty easy to install, the existing tap would act as a big pilot hole.

I was asking about this but haven't got an answer yet. Are there solid reasons why one should use threaded inserts? Is there a known problem with PC screw holes?
Actually, I tried installing heat-set inserts on a prototype. It requires a soldering iron to install. There's a little risk but I think it's doable. The current design needs to be revised a lot and the border needs to be widened.
Again, I doubt the necessity of the inserts. The current design has already been revised for many times. The current prototypes works. I can't make huge changes for just suspicions.

My current thinking is you can over-tighten screws and crack the poly. Easy-ish to avoid that, but who knows. My thinking is also that poly is easier to cross-thread accidentally -- might just feel like a tight thread. If you force it, bad news.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk

Yes, you always can break a screw/screw hole, even for titanium cases, if you force it. There's a difference between imagination and reality tho.
There have been more than two runners tried PC cases and there are no such cases from what I've been heard.
No SOLID reasons but imagination I've heard until now about the screw holes on PC cases.

[pr0ximity]

Yes, you always can break a screw/screw hole, even for titanium cases, if you force it. There's a difference between imagination and reality tho.
There have been more than two runners tried PC cases and there are no such cases from what I've been heard.
No SOLID reasons but imagination I've heard until now about the screw holes on PC cases.

"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"

I'm not trying to say I know more than anyone else on this -- I'm not very knowledgeable on materials. I can also appreciate that it's not a trivial change to make. But I think the long-term durability of metal screws in polycarbonate is still an open question, and one that I hope is explored more in the future because I love the sound and feel of polycarbonate boards like this.

[azharkh]

will PVD coating/colours be available on the brass plates/weights as well?

[blizzara01]

Run through zF again or GH?

[ian13]

Excited for this! When will the gb start? I've heard it will be this week, any exact date/info on it yet?

[Starston3]

Not sure if this has been addressed, but would it be possible for the black pc version be more translucent that opaque?

[Puddsy]

Not sure if this has been addressed, but would it be possible for the black pc version be more translucent that opaque?

i belive thats just the nature of the material but not 100% sure

[tiydal]

Excited for this!

I think ill get a WKL black with 1 hotswap and 1 normal pcb. Silver PVD brass.

[b3nkei]

Can we get a typing test?

[clasicks]

I have yet to hear of a PC board (Singa or 910) being stripped by user error (In fact, I have heard someone strip the metal screw head before the poly stripped) - I am sure one could easily mess it up, but with care and focus (as one should take with any enthusiast product) I don't see anyone stripping polycarb just from repeated use.

[slxdegrees]

Any pictures of the prototype, senter?

[laserbeamspewpew]

Have the plate materials been determined?