[IC] AL1

[TriangleLab]

AL1 is a custom keyboard kit developed by alsoran and me. Alsoran designed the case, and I designed the PCB. A prototype has already been made.
Alsoran has ran several very small scale group buys before, mainly shared by friends including me, Tehao, and several other people.
The cases will be manufactured in a local factory near alsoran's apartment.

Some features of AL1:

• Fully programmable by TMK
• 6061 aluminum case, 6063 aluminum plate, brass weight
• USB Type C
• Detachable WKL blockers
• North facing or south facing LEDs are all supported by the PCB
• Colors: https://i.imgur.com/bwzCxS2.jpg

MOQ and Price

• MOQ 30: $290
• MOQ 40: $275
• MOQ 50: $260
• Laser engraving service: $14

The MOQ will be shared with a Chinese GB.

Photos

[Puddsy]

It's a blackbird

[kawasaki161]

Cheaper Duck Blackbird clone with TMK and USB-C

Yea why not

[nickysan92]

Dat price.

[dgneo]

pretty clean, digging the blockers too

[clasicks]

interested

[Peppermint216]

Been wanting a blackbird(or rather its layout).

The LED holes above the arrows are not central?

What kind of colours can we expect?

Thanks.

[Atredl]

Definitely interested. Will things like split backspace/numpad keys be possible?

[Puddsy]

Definitely interested. Will things like split backspace/numpad keys be possible?

you can tell by the picture of the plate that split bs is not possible

[kawasaki161]

Definitely interested. Will things like split backspace/numpad keys be possible?

you can tell by the picture of the plate that split bs is not possible

Oh ****, I didn't even look for that.

Yea please add split backspace(1u+1u) and split right shift(1.75u+1u) support.

[Puddsy]

Definitely interested. Will things like split backspace/numpad keys be possible?

you can tell by the picture of the plate that split bs is not possible

Oh ****, I didn't even look for that.

Yea please add split backspace(1u+1u) and split right shift(1.75u+1u) support.

looks like right shift is there

[kawasaki161]

Brb getting my eyes checked

[UsualSuspectXXX]

Definitely in for this.

What colors will be available for the case and the plate? Hoping for some decent options here.

Any reason for type-c instead of mini b? I'll have to start getting new cables...

[TriangleLab]

It's a blackbird

Yes, basically it's one of blackbird's layouts.

The LED holes above the arrows are not central?

What kind of colours can we expect?

I didn't notice that since I only designed the PCB. I'll ask alsoran later.

There will be 7-8 colors. Color samples will uploaded later on.

Definitely interested. Will things like split backspace/numpad keys be possible?

The current PCB only supports split right shift and two types of caps lock.

Any reason for type-c instead of mini b? I'll have to start getting new cables...

Type-C can be used with either direction. A decent type-c cable will be included in the kit.

[Auxo]

That price is nuts

[Atredl]

Definitely interested. Will things like split backspace/numpad keys be possible?

you can tell by the picture of the plate that split bs is not possible

I noticed that which is why I asked. Those features are quite important to me so I felt it’s worth it to mention. They also didn’t post the possible layouts so it may or may not have been set in stone but it looks like it has been. At least for this round.

[finalarcadia]

I think this would look much better without the side cutout that creates a heel in the back.

[Puddsy]

I think this would look much better without the side cutout that creates a heel in the back.

could also just get rid of the heel

but the duck viper/orion did it, so now every board has to have it

[Petch]

Includes weight?

Not really interested if the backspace can't be split actually  Limited bottom row options is disappointing too. I'd value either of those over having north-facing LEDs.

[Vadurr]

This is pretty damn nice... Split backspace would be sweeten it up even more.

[TriangleLab]

Staggered caps lock and split right shift are all the alternative options for the layout.

For the price I mentioned, the kit include top and bottom cases, plate, brass weight, two blockers, LED diffuses, Type C cable, screws, rubber feet, and packaging. If you don't want the brass weight, the price can be even lowered for $15 or so. Then you'll get a aluminum insert instead.

The laser engraving service can be applied to anywhere on the board. You need to provide an AI format file.

GB will be opened very soon.

[TriangleLab]

Updated color samples:



These are all we can do, but not all we'll provide in the GB.

[clasicks]

can you center the 3 led cluster above the arrows?

[TriangleLab]

can you center the 3 led cluster above the arrows?

Yes.

I just asked alsoran why he designed the LEDs not in the center. His initial idea was to engrave some legends following the diagonal at that position. I told him that's a bad idea. The LEDs will be in the center in the final versions.

[Puddsy]

Updated color samples:

Show Image

These are all we can do, but not all we'll provide in the GB.

color #4 is weird

i like it a lot

[audax989]

in my radar

[UsualSuspectXXX]

can you center the 3 led cluster above the arrows?

Yes.

I just asked alsoran why he designed the LEDs not in the center. His initial idea was to engrave some legends following the diagonal at that position. I told him that's a bad idea. The LEDs will be in the center in the final versions.

That's great! If there's engraved legends, they can go directly beneath.

[kawasaki161]

So there's no chance you'll add split backspace? I'm out then, gl with this buy.

[UsualSuspectXXX]

Updated color samples:

Show Image

These are all we can do, but not all we'll provide in the GB.

Some nice color options there, but I don't see anything I really like. Might just have to go with black =/ Was hoping to see some kind of dark greyish blue color.

[TerryMathews]

I'm in. This is hawt.

[aznreaper]

what is the shipping prices look like for this board?

[superdoedoe]

Split BS or bust.

[kawasaki161]

Split BS or bust.

Preach

[OracleKev]

It's a blackbird

Yes, basically it's one of blackbird's layouts.

Hmm, did you get Duck's permission?  The Blackbird design/layout is obviously something unique that he pioneered.  He may have a design patent on this.
I don't know where he stands on permitting reuse, but in any case it would be huge disrespect to the designer if permission hasn't been asked for.

[mike52787]

It's a blackbird

Yes, basically it's one of blackbird's layouts.

Hmm, did you get Duck's permission?  The Blackbird design/layout is obviously something unique that he pioneered.  He may have a design patent on this.
I don't know where he stands on permitting reuse, but in any case it would be huge disrespect to the designer if permission hasn't been asked for.

You dont see people asking the designers of OTD boards to use their designs on the rips of those, do you? you can't exactly patent a keyboard layout.

[mike873]

In the production sample, the LED indicator holes are not centered with they keys above. CANNOT UNSEE.

Good job otherwise.

[TriangleLab]

what is the shipping prices look like for this board?

Shipping price is TBD but won't be much different from many other boards.

In the production sample, the LED indicator holes are not centered with they keys above. CANNOT UNSEE.

That will be fixed. Check my reply here.

[Signature]

It's a blackbird

Yes, basically it's one of blackbird's layouts.

Hmm, did you get Duck's permission?  The Blackbird design/layout is obviously something unique that he pioneered.  He may have a design patent on this.
I don't know where he stands on permitting reuse, but in any case it would be huge disrespect to the designer if permission hasn't been asked for.

Ofc China would never copy anything /s

I honestly dont think people care about copying anymore, and where there is an opportunity to make money there will be sellers.

[Petch]

what is the shipping prices look like for this board?

Shipping price is TBD but won't be much different from many other boards.

In the production sample, the LED indicator holes are not centered with they keys above. CANNOT UNSEE.

That will be fixed. Check my reply here.

No plans to change plate for split backspace or more bottom row options?

[Puddsy]

It's a blackbird

Yes, basically it's one of blackbird's layouts.

Hmm, did you get Duck's permission?  The Blackbird design/layout is obviously something unique that he pioneered.  He may have a design patent on this.
I don't know where he stands on permitting reuse, but in any case it would be huge disrespect to the designer if permission hasn't been asked for.

He's flattered, actually. Same way he feels about 96 layouts.

[TriangleLab]

The effort on creating or designing something need to be respected. I do respect all the designers. It's not even related to the patent staff. However, layout is not something should be protected in my opinion. Someone used a layout first doesn't mean we need to ask permissions before using this layout.

I designed the PCB and I'm helping my friend alsoran to run a GB here. I won't gain any profit from this GB. Alsoran gain the profit.

If the only thing we care about is making money, we won't spend so much time on developing a BLE PCB. Why not just using QMK/bootmapper client which are already well accepted? We all have a decent job and are well paid. Developing something new was not worth our time for just making money.
If the only thing we care about is making money, we won't create a thread for sharing our previous designs and say "Hope some of them can bring you inspirations."

I'm not responding to someone who don't respect us, when they ask me to respect others.

[TriangleLab]

No plans to change plate for split backspace or more bottom row options?

Sorry, no.

[Kafka]

Yea would need split bs to even consider this, nice price though.

[cumwagondeluxe]

No plans to change plate for split backspace or more bottom row options?

Sorry, no.

Can you at least just do split backspace (I.e. HHKB style)? You wouldn't need to mess with the plate anywhere near as much as offering a bunch of bottom row options would require, and I'm pretty sure a lot of people really want it.

Does the PCB even support it, at least?

[TriangleLab]

Yea would need split bs to even consider this, nice price though.

Can you at least just do split backspace (I.e. HHKB style)? You wouldn't need to mess with the plate anywhere near as much as offering a bunch of bottom row options would require, and I'm pretty sure a lot of people really want it.

I'll talk to ALsoran and see if that's possible or not. As I mentioned, I designed the PCB, wrote the codes, but the GB is Alsoran's. It's not my call the make these changes. I'm willing to modify the PCB and codes since it's not a lot of work.

I can also share the PCB file if you want to modify it and make your own version of PCB.

[Atredl]

However, layout is not something should be protected in my opinion.

Amen!

To throw in my 2¢, please consider a split bs option. I can’t speak for others but I, personally, can’t justify buying a kit that doesn’t have that option.

[clasicks]

tbh i could care less, i have many traditional and many split backspace. It is quite easy to switch between the two layouts...

[Petch]

tbh i could care less, i have many traditional and many split backspace. It is quite easy to switch between the two layouts...

Agreed on easily switching, but any keyboard with only 5 rows (for me) needs split backspace

[afrokobe]

couldnt care less about split backspace

[amnesia0287]

I think split backspace is a big omission on the 65 and smaller boards, and perhaps even 75s, but I personally could care less for a layout like this.

For me it’s just ugly. If they do make the change, i hope the offer both plates. I don’t really need any extra gaps in my plate

I totally get the benefits of universal plates and ****, but to me it’s night and day how much better a plate cut to a single layout looks.