Author Topic: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard  (Read 8964 times)

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Offline bowlkeyboards

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[IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« on: Thu, 25 May 2023, 15:02:29 »
60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard

IC FORM
Hello all, many of you may have seen me around the keyboard community in the past 3 years and today I am excited to introduce the first public project of my own. I have worked on many projects including OC-62, Capy60, Evalice and others and am excited to make one of my projects available publicly. The XT layouts commonly have 2 macro columns directly next to each other and although I also like the look of that I greatly enjoy symmetry. When I saw the ReiXT from dean I knew that I wanted to make a keyboard in that layout. With inspiration in layout from the ReiXT, side profiles from LZ (with some added curves and drafts) and mounting I have been experimenting with from previous projects, all accumulated into the 60XT.

 == Specifications and Details ==


 Layout -  WKL, WK , HHKB  60XT
 Materials - 6063 aluminum top and bottom housing, Brass weight
 Typing angle - 9 degrees
 Front Height - 17.5mm (without lip) EKH - 23.0mm
 Weight - 1.78Kg Unbuilt
 Mounting - Leaf Spring Silicone Gasket Mount (more information below)
 Other features:
  -Large brass through weight with grills outside
  -Curvy stepped side profile
  -Hidden DB and Molex cable
  -Fly DB with ez-mate connector
  -PCB with ez-mate connector

 == Mounting and Layout Details ==
The first prototype used rubber grommets from McmasterCarr and I enjoyed this, but I wanted to open up the chance for more tuning with custom gaskets that can be made in several durometers (and colors  :D) The second prototype will be using the new silicone gaskets and I have 2 durometers on hand ready to test (30a and 60a). Shown below are more details on how the mounting works and is assembled.

The gaskets are held in place by “claws” on the plate that are separated from the rest of the plate by leaf springs cuts. These cuts give the plate a nice soft bottom-out feeling and great sound as the gaskets also fully isolate the plate from the case.

PCB will support ANSI and ISO with a dedicated ISO plate. PCB will be made by Toasty

Mounting Details:


Layout:



== Sales Info ==
Format: FCFS GB
Date: TBD - Q4 2023
Vendors:
Europe: EloquentClicks
NA: Loobedswitches
SG: Mecha
Thailand: Aiglatson Studio
Latin America: LatamKeys
Oceania: Allcaps
Others: TBD

Layout: WKL, WK, HHKB 60xt
Colors: TBD (ordering several samples)
Target Price: $450 USD - TBD
Units: Softcapped at 100 Units across all vendors

== Renders and Prototype Images ==
Renders by Zetina, Photos by Me
Renders:






Photos:





== Current Status and Changelog ==
V2 prototypes being ordered - May 2023
 
- V1 Proto Thoughts:
  -Leaf spring grommet mounting had the desired effect of softer bottom while maintaining full sound
  -Side profile drafts and curves turned out as imagined perfectly
  -Weight slightly too small and didn’t match proportions
  -JST cable a bit annoying
 - V2 Changes:
  -Changed mounting to use gaskets instead of grommets to allow tuning of feel and sound
  -Reduced bezels by 1mm on all sides to even out proportions
  -Weight size increased internally and externally
  -Switched to Ez-mate to make assembly easier
== Contact and other links ==
 You can join my discord here: https://discord.gg/n9FRZewwNR
 You can join Eloquent Clicks Discord here: https://discord.gg/mbcpaUQ9yh
 Follow the project on my website as well: https://www.bowlkeyboards.com/

== Special Thanks ==
Manu and Chris - for helping make this project a reality
Lance, medieval, user, synthetics, Laminar - for giving good feedback and starting this in the first place
Toasty - for pcb work
Zetina - for renders
Dean - for layout inspiration

« Last Edit: Thu, 13 July 2023, 20:45:45 by bowlkeyboards »

Offline bowlkeyboards

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  • Posts: 12
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 25 May 2023, 15:04:50 »
Reserved :cool:

Offline bio_endio

  • Posts: 3
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 25 May 2023, 15:05:31 »
HHKB baby lets go

Offline LaminarDesigns

  • Posts: 98
  • Location: United-States
  • General crackhead
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 25 May 2023, 15:21:59 »
Lets gooooo! I got to own a R1 prototype and it sounded incredible. Happy to see the project moving along.  :blank: :thumb: :thumb:

Offline jdenyc

  • Posts: 10
  • Location: New Jersey
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 25 May 2023, 15:26:57 »
Love this design - HHKB with that Dual XT symmetry is a thing of beauty

Offline SpilledTea

  • Posts: 1
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 25 May 2023, 16:08:58 »
nice board mr bowling !

Offline lkmyth

  • Posts: 9
  • Location: Argentina
    • Latamkeys
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 25 May 2023, 16:53:35 »
🥣
Even if you are not ready for the day, it cannot always be night.

Offline Joiseau

  • Posts: 1
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 25 May 2023, 16:54:00 »
Love the blot CW! Looking forward to this.

Online twitchytheinsideman

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Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 25 May 2023, 18:47:49 »
love

Offline the flying penguin

  • Posts: 22
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 25 May 2023, 22:31:21 »
this is hot

Offline Chippy

  • Posts: 262
  • Location: USA
  • sus chef
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 26 May 2023, 00:39:14 »
Sick layout, have been wanting something like this for a while. Please consider brown ano finish.
1.2og | Buddy 6xx | Le Fishe V1 Proto | xyz60 Rev2 | Quartermaster | Chimera65 | Satisfaction75 | Realforce 84u | Zenith Z-150 | Realforce 86u | 378
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This and the swiss cheese keyboard is the next generation of keyboards

Offline synthetics

  • Posts: 34
  • Location: nyc
  • very cool
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 26 May 2023, 07:32:50 »
== Special Thanks ==
Lance, medieval, user, synthetics, Laminar - for giving good feedback and starting this in the first place

 :eek: WHAT

60XT = keyboard

glwic hope everyone enjoys

Offline NSMN

  • Posts: 27
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 26 May 2023, 20:10:23 »
So excited for this

Offline goddream

  • Posts: 95
  • Location: Australia
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #13 on: Sun, 28 May 2023, 22:54:49 »
nice layout :thumb:
Rei XT-60 | Endash | KHDD | Jinsoul | Tengu | PC Dolphin | Nunu | Hyphen | Mc65 | Unikorn | Dahyun | CARDBORD

Offline stomaha

  • Posts: 96
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #14 on: Wed, 31 May 2023, 08:05:27 »
I F’ing want

Offline yiuoterw

  • Posts: 10
  • Location: Eugene, OR
  • i love wasting money
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #15 on: Wed, 31 May 2023, 12:17:12 »
my god this is awesome. A 60 with F keys!
new owlabs board when?

Offline iwobobul

  • Posts: 42
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #16 on: Sun, 05 November 2023, 02:18:55 »
I love this, and would seriously consider spending the cash on it, BUT that staggered side profile is just hideous to me. Sorry I don't mean to be mean, but this is like 2017 design. I would much prefer a simpler korean-style side profile that would also be cheaper to machine. Please consider this.

Offline Rob27shred

  • Posts: 1482
  • Location: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Insane in the Membrane! 👻
Re: [IC] 60XT - Dual column symmetrical 60xt keyboard
« Reply #17 on: Sun, 05 November 2023, 05:27:32 »
Chef's kiss