Author Topic: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout - Prototype/PCB ready! fix plate  (Read 30570 times)

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Offline QiuFang

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    • Owl Keyboard
 Hi everyone, After a while study, I also want to start custom keyboard design: p

  So, below is my first design.





Road Map:
- Design complete: (in May) - done
- Order Prototype:  Done  ( 19/5/2018)
- Check prototype, drawing, production speed. - Done (21/6/2018)
- Open Group Buy.


Feel free to ask me anything. :P

--------------------------------

Hi everyone,
   I have read all the comments.

  I think such a design would be very optimized production process. And I corrected the ratio to the most reasonable. You can say that it resembles Duck, but I do not recognize it as clone.
  If I want to clone, why do not I silently produce and sell on the market.
  However, I decided not to use the design again.

  And instead of this design.

 

 

  I just finished it today, I have reduced the height down front. And the overall keyboard will tilt 8 degrees.


To make things legit, I would count the time from the order of prototype until the anodizing was complete and I was holding on.

So you can evaluate the quality / production time.

And then I calculated the production time for GB.

Price will be below $ 230 (including: Case / Plate / PCB soldered)


-------------------------------


UPDATE:

Layout Support:



-----------------------------

UPDATE:

Here we go











It looks really great, far beyond my expectations.
 But there are a few bugs I will need to fix.
Today is June 20. So after ~ 30 days. This is what we will get.
Hopefully 660 Owl's PCB will be OK, I can not wait any longer.

--------------------------------------------------

UPDATE:

PCB has finished, I will test a few points before opening GB.







----------------------------------------------------

UPDATE: Final design plate


« Last Edit: Mon, 02 July 2018, 01:55:31 by QiuFang »

Offline xondat

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 07:51:51 »
Looks like a Duck clone.

Offline futurecrime

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 08:25:27 »
Looks like a Duck clone.

Harsh but true.

Offline M

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 08:27:01 »
Do you have the PCB designed already?

Offline nguyenhimself

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 08:57:21 »
Hi everyone, After a while study, I also want to start custom keyboard design: p

  So, below is my first design.

Show Image


Show Image


Road Map:
- Design complete: (in May)
- Order Prototype:
- Check prototype, drawing, production speed.
- Open Group Buy.


Feel free to ask me anything. :P

I love the 660M layout more than most people, but yeah, this is a straight-up Duck clone, down from the feet to the 3 dots.

Offline KaosJ

  • Posts: 1054
Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:42:05 »
Will you make the real keyboard before starting the GB or just renders? 
Maybe something to make it less like a Duck? 




Offline cocobrais

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:46:18 »

Offline nu_types

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:53:46 »
True, it looks like a duck design, but Duck hasn't made anything resembling the 660m layout. Let's keep this in mind before we start slinging mud.

Offline xondat

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #8 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 11:01:45 »
True, it looks like a duck design, but Duck hasn't made anything resembling the 660m layout. Let's keep this in mind before we start slinging mud.

Okay, I'll keep it in mind.

Still looks like a Duck clone.

Offline kawasaki161

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #9 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 11:06:27 »
Aside from the Duck clone stuff, the front is way too high, looks like it would be very uncomfortable to type on.

Offline nmur

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #10 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 11:09:41 »
True, it looks like a duck design, but Duck hasn't made anything resembling the 660m layout. Let's keep this in mind before we start slinging mud.

that's true, but if Duck were to, it would look like this

195112-0

doesn't necessarily make this a bad kb, just an unoriginal one

Offline oh_chesteroni

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #11 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 11:15:15 »
This is not a duck, it's an owl. Completely different animal.

Interested in 660m layout, I'll still around to see how this develops past the duck looking keyboard.

Offline Allo

  • Posts: 66
Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #12 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 12:57:11 »
I love the 660 layout so I'm definitely interested, but, man, the front is really tall. Could you provide the dimensions of the front?

Offline crusader_alex

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #13 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 12:58:48 »
I like it but it's straight up a duck clone.Maybe modify the feet/bottom design a little.

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Offline txclack

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #14 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 13:26:03 »
I like the 660m design, not a fan of the blatant Duck ripoff - but if you are going to improve upon Duck's design maybe change the case angle from 11 degrees to 8 degrees.

Offline ullr

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #15 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 13:58:21 »
Pretty sure WASD did the minimal indicators on a keyboard first with the Code over four years ago, I don’t remember seeing them on a Duck keyboard until the second Viper/Eagle correct me if I’m wrong...

There are really only so many side profiles a keyboard can be reasonably expected to have. Either it’s just a box or you do something with angle cuts and people make allusions to the Hammer case... I’ve seen novel designs (such as the Dolphin) but they’re acquired tastes. Most keyboard designs are retreading a lot of ground, Duck included. The black bird was an amalgam of an FC660 and 1800, the new one looks to me like a little spin on the G80-5000 footprint.

Honestly how far can this notion of intellectual property go? We’re kind of exhausting our options here.

Offline Snappo

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #16 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 14:02:49 »
I agree with others assesment of it being a clone/unorginal. I don't think this is a bad thing as long as it improves upon the design.

Speaking of which, that front is super high. Looks painful. Yet the profile is so flat.

I would prefer a lower front. Just my opinion.

Offline ideus

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #17 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 15:14:31 »
It is becoming common place to see these massive waste of machining time,  lacking innovation.

Offline kawasaki161

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #18 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 16:50:42 »
I don’t remember seeing them on a Duck keyboard until the second Viper/Eagle correct me if I’m wrong...
Orion V2 from 2015

Offline ullr

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #19 on: Sat, 05 May 2018, 18:22:17 »
I don’t remember seeing them on a Duck keyboard until the second Viper/Eagle correct me if I’m wrong...
Orion V2 from 2015

Ah I stand corrected, only a little bit after WASD actually released the Code

Offline Harms

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #20 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 01:27:29 »
This looks sick. In if priced nicely :)

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Offline HotRoderX

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #21 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 04:51:31 »
so tired of the community saying everything is a copy of something else. I mean lets be real everyone copied Remington No. 2 typewriter cause it was the first board with a shift key.. lets remove shift keys cause yep can't copy even remotely anyone else design cause creating a box shape to fit a uniform standardized switch.. can be done a infinite amount of way's with 100% genuine uniqueness every-time. Honestly if it comes in cheaper and looks just as nice as the duck it might have been copied from. I am all for this perhaps duck shouldn't limit there buy's so much are come in at a more expensive cost. Could you see if something like the automotive community acted like this! We wouldn't have car's with headlights are tail lights cause.. whelp someone else did them so copying them is ripping off the design.

Honestly I like the design but as other's said its a bit steep. The profile looks nice except the feet. I am not a fan of those at all. I would lower the front angle a bit. Though overall very nice board! Hope the community doesn't turn you off from trying to bring it to life. Unless duck has a patent some were claiming there design.. I wouldn't sweat the small things. I would even bet it be hard to patent a physical keyboard design anyway not to mention cost associated with such a project.

Offline papa

  • Posts: 26
Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #22 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 05:12:34 »
THIS IS DUCK!!!
Nice copy job, most derivative board of 2018.
So, instead of buying an ugly copy,I will buy another real things!

Offline Tree_

  • Posts: 319
Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #23 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 07:30:08 »
I mean if it's priced well then who cares? The market has demand and if it's affordable it's a given that people will buy something like this no matter who releases it.

I, for one, would buy this if the price is right.

Offline QiuFang

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    • Owl Keyboard
Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #24 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 10:41:46 »
Hi everyone,
   I have read all the comments.

  I think such a design would be very optimized production process. And I corrected the ratio to the most reasonable. You can say that it resembles Duck, but I do not recognize it as clone.
  If I want to clone, why do not I silently produce and sell on the market.
  However, I decided not to use the design again.

  And instead of this design.

 

 

  I just finished it today, I have reduced the height down front. And the overall keyboard will tilt 8 degrees.


To make things legit, I would count the time from the order of prototype until the anodizing was complete and I was holding on.

So you can evaluate the quality / production time.

And then I calculated the production time for GB.

Price will be below $ 230 (including: Case / Plate / PCB soldered)

Last, sorry for my bad english.

Offline Mcnos

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #25 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 11:03:31 »
Love the new design concept. Only thing that irks me personally is the thickness of the front of the top casing. 23mm, can't tell if the render makes it seem thick but i'd like a more of a slimmer bezel towards the front. An angled top casing if you would say. Looks significantly better than the original imo btw though, will be keeping up with the project

Offline Snappo

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #26 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 11:33:07 »
Love the new design concept. Only thing that irks me personally is the thickness of the front of the top casing. 23mm, can't tell if the render makes it seem thick but i'd like a more of a slimmer bezel towards the front. An angled top casing if you would say. Looks significantly better than the original imo btw though, will be keeping up with the project


Seconded.

The front height is what is putting me off.
« Last Edit: Sun, 06 May 2018, 12:57:53 by Snappo »

Offline foxmancore

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #27 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 12:05:10 »
New design is much better!

Lower front height and I'd be in too.

Extra points if brass plate extra option is possible.

Offline HotRoderX

  • Posts: 697
Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #28 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 12:30:13 »
I am really sad you had to change the design so much.. keep in mind most the people complaining most likely own a duck board and are just worried yours might be of superior quality lowering there overall value. I have noticed that happen a lot in the community you get a few that will complain XYZ is to close to there expensive custom. Then no one say's anything cause there so worried they might step on someone's toes and get them selfs banned from some future sale. All that kinda attitude does is hurt the community as a hole.

Still this board looks nice! I would still most likely be interested special at your price point. I can't wait to see a prototype.

Offline mkarlsson

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #29 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 12:49:04 »
This is much more your own design, It’s very nice! But it’s true that is still quite high in the front, I would absolutely limit it to 20mm max.

Offline idlemao

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #30 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 12:56:18 »
Agree with HotRoderX and also with Mcnos comments. But overall very excited for your project  :thumb:

Offline Harms

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #31 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 13:00:33 »
Hi everyone,
   I have read all the comments.

  I think such a design would be very optimized production process. And I corrected the ratio to the most reasonable. You can say that it resembles Duck, but I do not recognize it as clone.
  If I want to clone, why do not I silently produce and sell on the market.
  However, I decided not to use the design again.

  And instead of this design.

 
Show Image


 
Show Image


  I just finished it today, I have reduced the height down front. And the overall keyboard will tilt 8 degrees.


To make things legit, I would count the time from the order of prototype until the anodizing was complete and I was holding on.

So you can evaluate the quality / production time.

And then I calculated the production time for GB.

Price will be below $ 230 (including: Case / Plate / PCB soldered)

Last, sorry for my bad english.
Wow awesome price. What would the color options be?

Sent from my STV100-3 using Tapatalk


Offline The_judge_168

  • Posts: 261
Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #32 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 14:41:09 »
New design looks good, though I agree that I would be interested in a lower front

Offline Poesjuh

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #33 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 15:58:42 »
I like it! Also liked the old one but new one is better :D would also like it to be just a but lower :P


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Offline bball2

  • Posts: 418
Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #34 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 18:29:17 »
$230 is a fantastic price for that setup. Definitely in  :thumb:

Offline Tree_

  • Posts: 319
Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #35 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 19:43:17 »
Preferred the old design which stings because the old design at $230 would have been amazing.

Offline audax989

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #36 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 20:49:39 »
yes!

Offline Puddsy

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #37 on: Sun, 06 May 2018, 23:15:17 »
new design is a little boring, but this is a neat looking piece of kit
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Offline Mcnos

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #38 on: Mon, 07 May 2018, 16:42:06 »
Bump for interest :D

Offline tanvir175

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #39 on: Mon, 07 May 2018, 17:24:36 »
I much prefer the older design.

Offline idlemao

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #40 on: Mon, 07 May 2018, 17:29:10 »
I much prefer the older design.
Same

Offline Harms

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #41 on: Mon, 07 May 2018, 17:40:33 »
I much prefer the older design.
Same
Well he got a lot of backlash for it, so he had to change it sadly.

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Offline tanvir175

  • Posts: 424
Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #42 on: Mon, 07 May 2018, 18:45:34 »
I much prefer the older design.
Same
Well he got a lot of backlash for it, so he had to change it sadly.

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Didn't necessarily have to but I guess I understand why.

Offline nguyenhimself

  • Posts: 672
Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #43 on: Mon, 07 May 2018, 20:59:00 »
keep in mind most the people complaining most likely own a duck board and are just worried yours might be of superior quality lowering there overall value.

Now now, we don't yet know how this GB is going, let's not assume anything here. As OP is a new GH member, a healthy dose of cautiousness is good for everyone. Caveat emptor and such.

This is a small scene, so let's not disrespect each other by copying someone else's signature design. We've seen that there are still a lot of creative ways to make custom cases (look at the ALF X3 or the COD67 or similar), so why do something boring AND risk being branded a clone?

Offline Allo

  • Posts: 66
Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #44 on: Mon, 07 May 2018, 21:15:04 »
New design looks better, but it is a lot like this case. I think the design could be modified a bit to make it look a bit nicer. I wonder if changing the acrylic layer to an acrylic band around the edge of the case would allow you to lower the plate and PCB, which would allow you to lower the front height of the case.

Offline audax989

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #45 on: Mon, 07 May 2018, 21:16:56 »
Liked the older design better. wouldn't mind having it look like a duck. now it looks like a kbdfans kbd66

Offline Mcnos

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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #46 on: Mon, 07 May 2018, 21:28:33 »
To OP Quifang, how many interests are you looking to get for this project btw?

Offline Ricinco

  • Posts: 7
Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #47 on: Tue, 08 May 2018, 09:21:02 »
The price sounds good, unfortunately i'm not a fan of the new design.

Offline QiuFang

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  • Posts: 58
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    • Owl Keyboard
Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #48 on: Tue, 08 May 2018, 11:54:51 »
To OP Quifang, how many interests are you looking to get for this project btw?

Actually I do this for myself, so the number is only about 10. I also want to do it fast.

Hi everyone,
   I have read all the comments.

  I think such a design would be very optimized production process. And I corrected the ratio to the most reasonable. You can say that it resembles Duck, but I do not recognize it as clone.
  If I want to clone, why do not I silently produce and sell on the market.
  However, I decided not to use the design again.

  And instead of this design.

 
Show Image


 
Show Image


  I just finished it today, I have reduced the height down front. And the overall keyboard will tilt 8 degrees.


To make things legit, I would count the time from the order of prototype until the anodizing was complete and I was holding on.

So you can evaluate the quality / production time.

And then I calculated the production time for GB.

Price will be below $ 230 (including: Case / Plate / PCB soldered)

Last, sorry for my bad english.
Wow awesome price. What would the color options be?

Sent from my STV100-3 using Tapatalk



Black/Silver/Teal/Deep Red/ Deep Navy ( maybe )
New design looks better, but it is a lot like this case. I think the design could be modified a bit to make it look a bit nicer. I wonder if changing the acrylic layer to an acrylic band around the edge of the case would allow you to lower the plate and PCB, which would allow you to lower the front height of the case.

I am also considering this possibility.

Offline foxmancore

  • Posts: 77
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Re: [IC] Owl 660 - custom keyboard 660m layout
« Reply #49 on: Tue, 08 May 2018, 11:59:24 »
Teal sounds awesome!