[IC] Carbon Fiber Case Extravaganza (TKL, 65%, 60%, 45%, 40%, Keypad)

[NOLAnuffsaid]

Is it possible to order only the diffuser and black spacers?  I was part of the first group buy.

Yep. On the GB form I'll put an option for just the acrylic pieces.

please let me know when this is added!!! Thanks!!!!

[hwood34]

Is it possible to order only the diffuser and black spacers?  I was part of the first group buy.

Yep. On the GB form I'll put an option for just the acrylic pieces.

please let me know when this is added!!! Thanks!!!!

It's already on the actual order form for when the GB goes live. I don't really need to get interest on those pieces since we're gonna have loads of 60% made anyway.

[peggisan]

Any chance of getting a universal 60% plate option?

[hwood34]

Any chance of getting a universal 60% plate option?

The plate is already universal (both layout and PCB compatibility largely)

[hwood34]

Once foggy is finished up with finalizing all the case designs, we should be ready to get this show on the road. Considering the level of interest there was for the last round of cases, I've been surprised by the great numbers I've seen for this IC, meaning we should be able to hit MOQ on all the case styles we had originally hoped. Hopefully you all keep your word come GB time  )

[Data]

In for a numpad and possibly also a TKL.

[reconsiderit]

100% in if you'll be running the 65 case.

[hwood34]

100% in if you'll be running the 65 case.

If the IC numbers hold, then we should be good for 65%

[chuckdee]

Would the 60% plate support split space like Banana Split?

[hwood34]

Would the 60% plate support split space like Banana Split?

It doesn't currently, but that might be something to look into

[chuckdee]

Would the 60% plate support split space like Banana Split?

It doesn't currently, but that might be something to look into

It would be great if you could.  I'd love to put my BS into this case.

[pixelpusher]

Yo, hwood.

I was enjoying my TKL from the last round and I had a though/question.  Do you know of a place where I could get screws for the top of the case that are just like the ones you supply but black?  Love my CF board.  It sounds and feels magnificent.

[hwood34]

Yo, hwood.

I was enjoying my TKL from the last round and I had a though/question.  Do you know of a place where I could get screws for the top of the case that are just like the ones you supply but black?  Love my CF board.  It sounds and feels magnificent.

(Attachment Link)

They're just regular 5mm M3 screws, so anywhere you can find em. Glad you're enjoying it

[hwood34]

So if the IC numbers are indicative of actual orders, we should be good to go on every case style offered!

[chuckdee]

So if the IC numbers are indicative of actual orders, we should be good to go on every case style offered!

Did we get a final decision on the BananaSplit support?  If so, I'm getting 60% too in addition to my IC pledge for 40%/Minivan.

[hwood34]

So if the IC numbers are indicative of actual orders, we should be good to go on every case style offered!

Did we get a final decision on the BananaSplit support?  If so, I'm getting 60% too in addition to my IC pledge for 40%/Minivan.

Working on it currently. I'll let you know once it's definite

[chuckdee]

Thanks!

[quad_h]

Is only carbon at the top?

[hwood34]

Is only carbon at the top?

Top and bottom

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[pixelpusher]

By the way, in case anyone is interested in increasing the light output through the diffuser in this board.

I'm using a B.87 board from winkeyless.  The RGB leds on the bottom are very bright.  However, this case was created to be a slim as possible, thus the RGB leds sit very close tot the bottom, not allowing all of their light to shine out.

So, here's what you do.  Get some reflective tape and line the inside bottom of the case!  It almost doubled the brightness.  It's perfect this way.  I'm not sure if it's conductive or not but I haven't had any shorts after several month's use.  Either nothing is touching it, or it's not conductive.  You could use white paper too, but the reflective tape was brighter in my tests.  Also, the paper will have to be taped down good b/c if it wrinkles upwards at all, it will make the matter worse.

I found the tape at Lowes by the mailboxes and stuff.  It's cheap and it is easily removable. 

[R4WBIT]

Any update on when the GB will start?

[hwood34]

Any update on when the GB will start?

Just waiting on the designs and go-ahead from foggy As soon as we can, though

[R4WBIT]

Any update on when the GB will start?

Just waiting on the designs and go-ahead from foggy As soon as we can, though

Awesome. Will the usb cutout in the back fit an USB-C connector or is it Mini-USB as usual?

[hwood34]

Any update on when the GB will start?

Just waiting on the designs and go-ahead from foggy As soon as we can, though

Awesome. Will the usb cutout in the back fit an USB-C connector or is it Mini-USB as usual?

We could definitely make it USB C compatible by just making the cutout a tiny bit bigger, so I don't see why we wouldn't do both

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[speedemonv12]

If you make a matching numpad for the 65... please, please let it be 4x5


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bjayswift]

Yo, hwood.

I was enjoying my TKL from the last round and I had a though/question.  Do you know of a place where I could get screws for the top of the case that are just like the ones you supply but black?  Love my CF board.  It sounds and feels magnificent.

(Attachment Link)

Carbon fiber looks good with this GMK set. I want a case now.

[lumpofunworth]

Here's hope Minivan layout makes it! Huge fan of the keyboard!

Our MOQ isn't bad, so a good chance it does

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

I agree a minivan layout would be dope!

[Deephouse_jedi]

I would be in for a numpad

[hwood34]

Here's hope Minivan layout makes it! Huge fan of the keyboard!

Our MOQ isn't bad, so a good chance it does

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

I agree a minivan layout would be dope!

Yea, as of now the Minivan is super popular so that's definitely happening

I would be in for a numpad

The Google form says hi

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[chuckdee]

So if the IC numbers are indicative of actual orders, we should be good to go on every case style offered!

Did we get a final decision on the BananaSplit support?  If so, I'm getting 60% too in addition to my IC pledge for 40%/Minivan.

Working on it currently. I'll let you know once it's definite

Any word on this?

[DALExSNAIL]

Really want one of these now so submitted to the form. Sound on CF too najs. 

[hwood34]

So if the IC numbers are indicative of actual orders, we should be good to go on every case style offered!

Did we get a final decision on the BananaSplit support?  If so, I'm getting 60% too in addition to my IC pledge for 40%/Minivan.

Working on it currently. I'll let you know once it's definite

Any word on this?

nah sorry, I think we ended up leaving that as is

[chuckdee]

So if the IC numbers are indicative of actual orders, we should be good to go on every case style offered!

Did we get a final decision on the BananaSplit support?  If so, I'm getting 60% too in addition to my IC pledge for 40%/Minivan.

Working on it currently. I'll let you know once it's definite

Any word on this?

nah sorry, I think we ended up leaving that as is

No problem.  Thanks for considering it.

[hwood34]

Two most popular 65% boards: go

[pixelpusher]

Two most popular 65% boards: go

Lvl 1: Tada68 and S65-x

Lvl 2: White Fox

Lvl 3: Canoe and M65-A

Ultimate: Zephyr and Noxary 268

I personally own a TX65, Tada68, a Canoe, a M65-A, a 268 (waiting for cerakoting though), a LFK65(smk) and a LFK65 Hotswap.  I'm a pretty big fan of 65% layout

I also own a TKL from your last round.  65% carbon fiber is going to be the balls.  Can't wait.

oh snap, I forgot the winkeyless one.  I do like that one because it has the switches facing the right way. I plan to use a PCB with the switches facing so that the logo is properly oriented (with the LEDs on the bottom of the switch).  Honestly, that's all I care about as far as PCBs.  I'm easy to please

[chuckdee]

Clueboard.  Superplate all the way.

[hwood34]

Ok, so a better question I see would be: which two compatibility versions would yield the most universal options that would appeal to the most people?

lol

[Kevadu]

Tada68-compatible PCBs are probably the easiest to find and would have the most appeal.  Beyond that I'm not sure.  The Whitefox is reasonably popular but can you even get the PCB on its own or do you have to get a whole kit?  It's also not that different from a Tada68.  I know Clueboard does sell their PCBs by themselves and the layout is a different style from the Tada68 type so that would be a reasonable second option.  I do like their PCB as well, but that's just my opinion.

[chuckdee]

Ok, so a better question I see would be: which two compatibility versions would yield the most universal options that would appeal to the most people?

lol

I think it's a niche within a niche honestly.  Most of the 65%s seem to come in kit form, so it would be the ones that really want to build a CF keyboard that would benefit.  As stated above, CB does sell separate PCBs.  Not sure if TADA68 or Whitefox still sell the PCB separately, so someone would really have to want to change their case in order for this to benefit them.  The Sentraq S-65X does sell it separately.  It's a bit different from the newest Whitefox (which uses 6U spacebars for some reason, instead of the 6.25 of the original).

[pixelpusher]

I plan to buy a case and I would prefer to use the 22mini-B x2

https://winkeyless.kr/product/22mini-b-x2-pcb/

[euphxenos]

Tada68 PCBs are available from kbdfans.  If you order the PCB by itself with no plate, stabs, or case, it's $35.  That's probably the cheapest, most readily available 65% PCB:

https://kbdfans.cn/collections/65/products/tada68-pcn?variant=3201133346829

The recent LZ CLS ms group buy offered M65 and Noxary 268 PCBs as options.  Keyclack still lists M65-A PCBs in their store, but only the ps2avrgb version not the QMK, and getting jchan/keyclack to actually ship your order seems to be hit or miss.  The LZ CLS ms group buy is the only time I've seen Noxary 268 PCBs sold outside of the Noxary 268 GB; I don't know if xondat is willing to sell them separately.  Other people mentioned the Sentraq and Winkeyless.  There's also this one from LF Keyboards:

https://www.lfkeyboards.com/lfk65-hotswap.html

[peggisan]

YD65 has USB typeC and RGB underglow. A bit more expensive than the Tada but looks like it has the same layout.

https://kbdfans.cn/collections/65/products/yd68-65-bluetooth-custom-keyboard-pcb

[hwood34]

YD65 has USB typeC and RGB underglow. A bit more expensive than the Tada but looks like it has the same layout.

https://kbdfans.cn/collections/65/products/yd68-65-bluetooth-custom-keyboard-pcb

Tada68 PCBs are available from kbdfans.  If you order the PCB by itself with no plate, stabs, or case, it's $35.  That's probably the cheapest, most readily available 65% PCB:

https://kbdfans.cn/collections/65/products/tada68-pcn?variant=3201133346829

The recent LZ CLS ms group buy offered M65 and Noxary 268 PCBs as options.  Keyclack still lists M65-A PCBs in their store, but only the ps2avrgb version not the QMK, and getting jchan/keyclack to actually ship your order seems to be hit or miss.  The LZ CLS ms group buy is the only time I've seen Noxary 268 PCBs sold outside of the Noxary 268 GB; I don't know if xondat is willing to sell them separately.  Other people mentioned the Sentraq and Winkeyless.  There's also this one from LF Keyboards:

https://www.lfkeyboards.com/lfk65-hotswap.html

I plan to buy a case and I would prefer to use the 22mini-B x2

https://winkeyless.kr/product/22mini-b-x2-pcb/

So it looks like these all really have the same layout and USB location, so just one version should do it for most people. Guess that's what we'll go with.

[hwood34]

I'm trying to get it from the pictures, but can anyone with the boards actually confirm what the bottom row configuration options are for the Tada and 22mini?

[chuckdee]

YD65 has USB typeC and RGB underglow. A bit more expensive than the Tada but looks like it has the same layout.

https://kbdfans.cn/collections/65/products/yd68-65-bluetooth-custom-keyboard-pcb

Tada68 PCBs are available from kbdfans.  If you order the PCB by itself with no plate, stabs, or case, it's $35.  That's probably the cheapest, most readily available 65% PCB:

https://kbdfans.cn/collections/65/products/tada68-pcn?variant=3201133346829

The recent LZ CLS ms group buy offered M65 and Noxary 268 PCBs as options.  Keyclack still lists M65-A PCBs in their store, but only the ps2avrgb version not the QMK, and getting jchan/keyclack to actually ship your order seems to be hit or miss.  The LZ CLS ms group buy is the only time I've seen Noxary 268 PCBs sold outside of the Noxary 268 GB; I don't know if xondat is willing to sell them separately.  Other people mentioned the Sentraq and Winkeyless.  There's also this one from LF Keyboards:

https://www.lfkeyboards.com/lfk65-hotswap.html

I plan to buy a case and I would prefer to use the 22mini-B x2

https://winkeyless.kr/product/22mini-b-x2-pcb/

So it looks like these all really have the same layout and USB location, so just one version should do it for most people. Guess that's what we'll go with.

The clueboard has a different configuration, as does the whitefox.  Just FYI.

[euphxenos]

YD65 has USB typeC and RGB underglow. A bit more expensive than the Tada but looks like it has the same layout.

https://kbdfans.cn/collections/65/products/yd68-65-bluetooth-custom-keyboard-pcb

Tada68 PCBs are available from kbdfans.  If you order the PCB by itself with no plate, stabs, or case, it's $35.  That's probably the cheapest, most readily available 65% PCB:

https://kbdfans.cn/collections/65/products/tada68-pcn?variant=3201133346829

The recent LZ CLS ms group buy offered M65 and Noxary 268 PCBs as options.  Keyclack still lists M65-A PCBs in their store, but only the ps2avrgb version not the QMK, and getting jchan/keyclack to actually ship your order seems to be hit or miss.  The LZ CLS ms group buy is the only time I've seen Noxary 268 PCBs sold outside of the Noxary 268 GB; I don't know if xondat is willing to sell them separately.  Other people mentioned the Sentraq and Winkeyless.  There's also this one from LF Keyboards:

https://www.lfkeyboards.com/lfk65-hotswap.html

I plan to buy a case and I would prefer to use the 22mini-B x2

https://winkeyless.kr/product/22mini-b-x2-pcb/

So it looks like these all really have the same layout and USB location, so just one version should do it for most people. Guess that's what we'll go with.

The clueboard has a different configuration, as does the whitefox.  Just FYI.

The Clueboard is the same layout as the Leopold 660, and not really the same as any of these.  Those are wider boards, and not really 65% (Clueboard is advertised as a 66%).  The Whitefox Vanilla layout is the same as a Tada68, though.

[euphxenos]

I'm trying to get it from the pictures, but can anyone with the boards actually confirm what the bottom row configuration options are for the Tada and 22mini?

I'm probably the worst person to answer this, but I'm sitting here with an unbuilt Tada68 PCB, some switches, and a GMK set trying to see what I can get to work.  Obviously it'll do this:

1.25,1.25,1.25,6.25,1,1,1,1,1,1

It looks like it could also do:

1.25,1.25,1.25,6.25,1.5,1.5,1,1,1
1.5,1.5,7,1,1,1,1,1,1
1.5,1.5,7,1.5,1.5,1,1,1
1.25,1.25,1.25,6.25,1.25,1.25,.5 blocker,1,1,1

I don't see any way to do 1.5,1,1.5 on the left side.  If there's something else you want to try, I can lego it together and see if it works.  There are probably other combinations I didn't think to try.

[chuckdee]

YD65 has USB typeC and RGB underglow. A bit more expensive than the Tada but looks like it has the same layout.

https://kbdfans.cn/collections/65/products/yd68-65-bluetooth-custom-keyboard-pcb

Tada68 PCBs are available from kbdfans.  If you order the PCB by itself with no plate, stabs, or case, it's $35.  That's probably the cheapest, most readily available 65% PCB:

https://kbdfans.cn/collections/65/products/tada68-pcn?variant=3201133346829

The recent LZ CLS ms group buy offered M65 and Noxary 268 PCBs as options.  Keyclack still lists M65-A PCBs in their store, but only the ps2avrgb version not the QMK, and getting jchan/keyclack to actually ship your order seems to be hit or miss.  The LZ CLS ms group buy is the only time I've seen Noxary 268 PCBs sold outside of the Noxary 268 GB; I don't know if xondat is willing to sell them separately.  Other people mentioned the Sentraq and Winkeyless.  There's also this one from LF Keyboards:

https://www.lfkeyboards.com/lfk65-hotswap.html

I plan to buy a case and I would prefer to use the 22mini-B x2

https://winkeyless.kr/product/22mini-b-x2-pcb/

So it looks like these all really have the same layout and USB location, so just one version should do it for most people. Guess that's what we'll go with.

The clueboard has a different configuration, as does the whitefox.  Just FYI.

The Clueboard is the same layout as the Leopold 660, and not really the same as any of these.  Those are wider boards, and not really 65% (Clueboard is advertised as a 66%).  The Whitefox Vanilla layout is the same as a Tada68, though.

The most recent whitefox uses a 6u spacebar.  And skully has said that he just uses 66% based off of keys, as therr is no stabdard 65% layout.  As we talked about the clueboard above, I just wanted to let him know as an FYI.

[pixelpusher]

I'm trying to get it from the pictures, but can anyone with the boards actually confirm what the bottom row configuration options are for the Tada and 22mini?

I'm probably the worst person to answer this, but I'm sitting here with an unbuilt Tada68 PCB, some switches, and a GMK set trying to see what I can get to work.  Obviously it'll do this:

1.25,1.25,1.25,6.25,1,1,1,1,1,1

It looks like it could also do:

1.25,1.25,1.25,6.25,1.5,1.5,1,1,1
1.5,1.5,7,1,1,1,1,1,1
1.5,1.5,7,1.5,1.5,1,1,1
1.25,1.25,1.25,6.25,1.25,1.25,.5 blocker,1,1,1

I don't see any way to do 1.5,1,1.5 on the left side.  If there's something else you want to try, I can lego it together and see if it works.  There are probably other combinations I didn't think to try.

This is pretty accurate.  Although there is no true "standard", I would say the following are the two most popular and most compatible layouts for a 65%:
1.25,1.25,1.25,6.25,1,1 1,1,1,1 (tada68, sx-65, 22mini, M65-a)
1.25,1.25,1.25,6.25,1.25,1.25,.5 blocker,1,1,1 (canoe, noxary 268)

I personally think it's best to stick with 1.25 units for modifiers because you'll have more keysets supporting it.  It's pretty easy to grab an extra 1u from the numpad in a pinch.  Not many options for finding a 1.5u if you don't have one.

[duckboi]

Kinda interested in trying carbon fiber, do you have an idea on when the GB will start? Thanks!