[IC] 21XX - A modern unsaver keyboard

[Pontus]

21XX

A modern unsaver keyboard



IC FORM IC FORM IC FORM


Specifications
Case:
▸ 5.5° typing angle
▸ 25.5° on F-rows
▸ 6063 Top and Bottom case
▸ PCB Top mount on the main alpha cluster
▸ Plate top mount for the f-row cluster utilizing a 5052 aluminum plate
▸ ~3900g unbuilt, ~4300g built (Current build is 4325g)
▸ WKL with cross nav cluster
▸ 20.2mm front height (Inner bezel edge to bottom, with feet)
▸ 23.5mm EKH (Bottom row switch stem to bottom, with feet)
Front height & angle diagram

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PCB
▸ PCB designed by Cipulot
▸ QMK & VIAL compatible
▸ Indicator lights
▸ 5V solenoid support
▸ Solder only
▸ Faux integrated cable with an Internal USB C port
▸ FFC Ribbon interconnect cable between main & frow pcb
▸ 1.6mm FR4
Layout support

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Design & Mount
As shown in the renders, and implied by the name, the design takes heavy inspiration from Cherry’s 2XXX series boards, especially the chopped converted boards reminiscent of the ever-classic IBM Unsaver keyboards. It features everything you would expect: chunky bezels, rounded corners, a proper Cherry lip, exaggerated seam, stepped design for the angled F-rows, an integrated cable, and plateless mounting.


More renders

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In true 2XXX fashion the F-row plate features an aluminum plate that is top mounted, while the main alpha & navigation cluster features a plateless top-mounted assembly as shown in the render below. Due to the nature of the layout, the F-row cluster requires a separate PCB that is excluded from the render so that the F-row mount is visible.


(PCB featured in all renders uses an old & outdated outline. I will update the IC when I have the updated PCB design )

The 21XX also features a “faux” integrated cable, utilizing an internal USB-C port it gives a classic look without forcing you to solder a cable directly into the PCB. Furthermore to complete the vintage references the PCB supports a toggleable 5V solenoid.




Fancy renders
(Some of these renders are slightly outdated)

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Prototype pictures
V1(newest prototype)


V0(Previous prototype)

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Who am I?
hej hej I am Pontus, I’ve been in the hobby since ~2019. You might have seen my name attached to some renders or somehow stumbled upon the DCS Dolch GB I helped run earlier this year. I really like keyboards.


Timeline

▸ Design 1 (V0) – finished (2022)
▸ Prototype 1 (V0) – finished, typed on for roughly half a year (Early 2023 - Aug 2023)
▸ Design revision (V1) – finished (July 2023)
▸ Prototype 2 (V1) – received, currently testing (Aug 2023)
▸ Confirm design (Aug 2023)
▸ Review units (??)
▸ Potential revisions (??)
▸ Group buy (??)



Sale info and format

TBA
The purpose of this IC is to gauge interest in the project. I currently do not have any vendor or final details so there’s not much I can share. Hoping to be able to reach a MOQ of ~50 units but if there’s substantial interest it can be raised.
The price will almost certainly be more than 500EUR and hopefully less than 700EUR. I will share a more accurate price estimate once I have an understanding of the interest for the board.
Details such as colors and kit contents will also be added later down the line as this is a relatively early IC.

If you’re a vendor interested in running this board, please reach out to me on discord 


Links

Discord
Instagram
IC FORM



Thanks

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▸ The regulars who encouraged me to start this project
▸ All the people who have found and supported the project pre this IC through my instagram & discord
▸ Cipulot for being the greatest PCB designer and putting up with all my stupid requests
▸ James for his pretty feet
▸ Ankit for his proofreading
▸ Myself for doing all the renders
▸ You! for reading this 

 

[Pontus]

FAQ
Questions from the IC form, will update as the IC progresses.

August 17 2023

Q: ALPS?
A: No. This is a cherry inspired board that has been designed to be used plateless. Adding alps support to the current PCB would be detrimental to the build experience for the majority of users who will build it with mx. Adding a separate alps PCB would increase cost and the amount of parts to be made. Resources such as PCB outlines (alternatively complete files) & plate files will be available if the GB runs

Q: WK? 3x5 nav? BAE?
A: Maybe. I will make a form to gauge what layouts people are interested in at a later date. Highly unlikely that the PCB will get more layout support but separate tops might be feasible. To my knowledge original Cherry BAE keys use a footprint that isn't compatible with modern ISO footprints so the chances of the PCB getting support for them are slim to none. Worth noting that plenty of modern sets, both in GMK CYL & SP DCS profiles with updated modern BAE keys that work on standard ISO/ANSI PCBs have ran recently all of which should work on the current pcb.

Q: Detachable cable?
A: Most of the people who have commented on this have seem to been worried about accidentally detaching the cable in use. From my experience this is not a problem, especially if you use cables that are on the thicker side. Cable cutout is 5.5mm wide, the silicone cable that I use with the board is friction fit into the cutout, if I want to get it out I have to use excessive force.

Q: Sticker, badge, weight, or something else on the back?
A: Maybe. I would love to add some personalisation on the back, most likely in the form of a sticker or badge. No plans for a weight, personally I don't feel like it would add anything except cost to the board.

Q: Can you do X colour or Y finish?
A: Colours are far from finished, GB options will most likely be quite limited due to the low moq. I hope to be able to offer at least one plain and one more fun colour. As for other finishes it would be something that I would have to prototype, if I find something that I love the feel and quality of I might try to offer it as an alternative to anodizing.

If you sent a question that I forgot to answer here don't be afraid to ask it again in my discord

[ankit]

i'll take 2
glwic pongus

[unusuaL_]

my favourite sousa no frieren board 

[whirlwind]

Phenomenal work, best of luck Pontus

[Meepergon]

i need this. sincerely have been waiting for a board with this layout for so goddamn long. i'm in for one.

[Tulkas]

I saw this in my dreams and it was beautiful!

[Fraaaan]

yes yes yes yes

[The Pig]

Great project Pontus, really looking forward to more updates! 

[puggo69]

i am so proud of you pontus

[Thebloodyez]

rush rush GLWIC.

[LightningXI]

My affinity for Cherry-style boards makes me feel interested. Hope the price is not prohibitive!

[Dyno]

I’ve waited a long time for this one!
GLWIC!
Looking forward to see more of this big boy

[Poesjuh]

rush rush

[CoolPenguin1]

rush rush

[Pyroo]

Yes. 

[Sturmtiger]

Finally, the dream becomes real.

[warhopper]

Yes and yes please Mr. Pontus, for sure in for one

[ryoh]

this board is so good, glwic

[The0rigina1]

cool and good

[Jampot_298]

The pontus and the rontus. I wish the side bezels were thinner, but this is a sick project. GL!

[MK47]

I like big boards

[51p50x]

Looks really good I'm interested, and I like the color on the v1 proto. GLWIC.

[treeleaf64]

I was locked inside this keyboard for a week and I could hear the reverberations of the Pontus typings

Then I slowly transformed into the 21xx and the 31xx and Now we are together in the forest

With the cat and pat

From treeleaf

[Moods]

i love the 21sexsex

[jivex5k]

i like it

[plag]

finally. unsaver custom. a REAL cherry lip, plateless, james feet, solenoid, cipulot pcb, and faux integrated cable? this is FREAKIN EPIC! glad to finally see the IC posted here. need one on my desk asap. 

[paperassgasket]

N E Alps support avail?

[mcmaxmcmc]

the faux integrated cable is kinda whackge (would personally like a more easily detachable cable that won't take unscrewing) but the board seems neat, hope the GB won't be too expensive

(obv Alps support would be nice but I won't beat you to death with it)

good luck with IC! looks good so far

[mcmcmc]

very cool very based 

[ee]

this is hot

[growler]

I sense great vulnerability. A man-child crying out for love. An innocent orphan in a post-modern world.
I see a parasite. A sexually depraved miscreant who is seeking only to gratify his basest and most immediate urges.
It's struggle is man's struggle. It lifts my spirit.
It is a loathesome, offensive brute. Yet I can't look away
It transcends space and time
It sickens me
I love it
Me too

Tappity tap tap tap

[Tictac46]

Looks absolutely fantastic! GLWIC

[demond_25]

This is too hot to handle! I can definitely use it as pillow in the future. Looking forward to the progress. It's sad to see that boards are looking the same nowadays. This is a better one. 

[CyCo]

This is super sweet!!

1. Will the generic gray color be available?
2. Why no numpad?
3. The space on the top left and right are so empty. Maybe LED screen, logos or something else?

[nu_types]

2. Why no numpad?

Because its unsaver layout

[Rhienfo]

I love this so much, especially that blue. I've always wanted an unsaver board cause they look so nice and this might be it. GLWIC

[Applet]

Looking good! GL with IC and GB 

[FatefulStranger]

This is awesome and very based! Hope to see solenoid and carrying case included in the kit! GLWIC 

[Nonnegaard]

make it out of brass

[Nonnegaard]

This is awesome and very based! Hope to see solenoid and carrying case included in the kit! GLWIC 

the carrying case in question

[jjolddahgoo]

Been keeping an eye on this project for a little bit. Consider me interested.

[TjarleN]

Thats one hot keyboard :nut:

[Alchemist Keyboards]

Been looking forward to this for a long time - count me in

[Rhienfo]

the carrying case in question

Show Image

real image of all the 21xxs when they start to ship

[-_-]

this is the one

[Something_Magical]

The Pontus and the Rontus dropping an IC. I want this to have a bigger front bezel actually 

[Pontus]

Updated the post with a FAQ consisting of common questions from this thread & the IC form 

[dorkvader]

I'm so happy to see this! I am definitely getting one. I'm really hoping for 3x5 support! I've been using that layout since 2012 since the original Phantom supported it and it's really great. The estimated price is about what I expected, so that's nice.

[LMarci]

rush rush

[jaynoon]

This is totally nuts and I love it

[twitchytheinsideman]

GLWIC

[masje]

love it, here's my money, pls gib 2

[ToFuMaNiA]

really liking the mounting type, wondering how it sounds and feels

[X666]

Looks great! What keycaps on the proto?

[chigi22]

Looks like CRP 2551 HAD

[Rhienfo]

Looks like CRP 2551 HAD

Yeah it is, The proto was teased on the blacksimon discord and it says that.

[Rhienfo]

Pontus do you have an approximate estimate on when the gb will run (just in general) as I would like to know when to start saving.

Still great project

[offbrandbiscuit]

Good luck on this, I'd love to be able to try one of these. Plateless top mount is fun

[Pontus]

Pontus do you have an approximate estimate on when the gb will run (just in general) as I would like to know when to start saving.

Still great project

I will share more details regarding a potential group buy when I get a vendor on board (hopefully soon). Personally hoping for late Q1 2024 but it depends on the vendor really, I will give an as early heads up as possible

Good luck on this, I'd love to be able to try one of these. Plateless top mount is fun

Thank you! I really enjoy plateless boards and I am glad that there are others that do as well 

Looks great! What keycaps on the proto?

A bit late but as the others have said all the proto pictures feature CRP 2551had R4 

[spoonr00t]

nut

[Rhienfo]

I will share more details regarding a potential group buy when I get a vendor on board (hopefully soon). Personally hoping for late Q1 2024 but it depends on the vendor really, I will give an as early heads up as possible

Thanks, probably best to start saving now, after the navi60 cause I love serial experiments lain too much.

[plag]

erm.. any updates on this? need one on my desk ASAP (as soon as possible) 

[HubertThemad]

GLWIC! Would go well with the XMI vintage set 

[Pontus]

Heyo, I hope everyone is doing well. It's time for a small update 
Case has been slightly adjusted with some QOL changes to make the building process more enjoyable. The main changes are the placement of the solenoid and the inclusion of a grommet to secure smaller cables. The solenoid is now mounted on top of the PCB instead of on the bottom case floor which means you won't have to fiddle around with any cables between the two halves. PCB is being reworked to work with these changes. IC form is still open for feedback so if you want to yell at anything about the new design please do so there.

No news regarding potential vendors quite yet but I am hoping to be able to get something by the end of this month, stay tuned 

Updated render showcasing the internals

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[derpter]

Nice I love Frieren, will buy this weeb board most likely

[TjarleN]

I keep rechecking this ic more often than i would like to admit... hopefully you will find a vendor that want to take this on soon

rush rush

[modulor]

I keep rechecking this ic more often than i would like to admit... hopefully you will find a vendor that want to take this on soon

rush rush

Same same, here and in Pontus' Discord haha...this is my most anticipated custom board (ever) <3

[aa212121]

oo i like the seams on this

[pelfox]

interested if a keyboard manufacturer picks this up