The Albatross
(https://i.imgur.com/d3Hqptc.png)
Case Renders: More
(https://i.imgur.com/MXpWpeK.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/rg5SFDU.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/c8u27bT.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/9SlL7fr.png)
Outdated Renders (with caps):
More
(https://i.imgur.com/tCEsChX.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/bcrfX8s.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/2tzZxys.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/70es6HV.png)
PCB Renders: More
(https://i.imgur.com/1pvqiHt.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/XFgFKbe.png)
Because of the design, the keyboard assembles different compared to most others. Here are two albums showing how all the pieces fit together: one from above, and one from below. (Note: this is with the old case design. The board still goes together the same way, but it looks slightly different now.)
Above: More
(https://i.imgur.com/vBwGSSP.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/8KKBVEL.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/hfYk1vp.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/09kLInG.png)
Below: More
(https://i.imgur.com/2Abx9SH.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/i1tIzSH.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/fbeycNG.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/MJ1i0nU.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/BTovt94.png)
Various specs:
- 7.5 degree angle
- Aluminum top and bottom, brass plate and weight.
- Total weight ~3125g (~6.9lbs). Top - 285g, plate - 750g, bottom - 341g, weight - 1753g.
- Simplistic PCB with daughterboard designed by Gondolindrim. VIA compatible, flex cuts (for future cases), no LEDs.
- 5mm fixed tsangan plate
- M3 hardware.
- Sorbothane feet (design not final)
Random comments:
- Don't even think about buying this board if you don't like a stiff mounting system. I designed this whole board with rigidity in mind, there will be little to no flex when you type.
- Branding will be kept to a minimum. The PCB has two small logos, one for Gondo and one for me. The case will likely have an inside logo with my name, the board's name, and the production number.
- Case colors are TBD. My goal is to have black, blue-grey, pink, and purple, but I'm still working on figuring it out. If you don't like any colors on that list and have a different suggestion, feel free to let me know! White has been postponed to a future run.
- PCB color is also TBD. Let me know if you have any suggestions, it's too hard to decide on my own (:
Price: There's a lot of complex parts that come from massive hunks of metal, so it's gonna be hard to keep this thing cheap. That being said, $350-400 should definitely be doable, obviously the lower the better. Exact price will be calculated and released sometime between getting the prototype and starting the GB.
Filling out this Google form (https://forms.gle/PtscEFVYJEwss6uD6 (https://forms.gle/PtscEFVYJEwss6uD6)) will help me a ton as I continue working with this project. Any feedback, good or bad, will not only help me improve this keyboard and others I design in the future, but personal projects that most of you will never know exist (:
Thanks for the continued support y'all, hope you like this board as much as I do.
-landen.aves
Reserved for Updates:
Update: 4/25/20 More
Gondo got caught up in doing more important things than finishing a PCB, but expects to be done sometime in the upcoming week or two.
Talking with the manufacturer about possibly modifying the bottom case to add more rigidity. It won't change how it looks since the braces will all be internal, but there is a chance it'll add some machining cost.
Daughterboard has been implemented, now located on the center of the bottom (USB cutout is just a placeholder until I know if I have to add braces), picture here: (https://i.imgur.com/krHVxJc.png)
Still hoping to order prototypes soon after Gondo finishes up the PCB, but progress is likely to be slow since I'm currently dealing with a hellish landlord situation (which obviously takes priority over ordering prototypes).
That being said, the project is looking good so far! I can't wait for more progress, y'all stay patient and keep your eyes peeled for future updates (:
Update 5/17/20 More
PCB prototypes ordered, case prototypes ordered. I'm expecting both to arrive mid next month (June), but anything could happen with Corona.
Final USB Location
More
Centered USB, slightly rounded hole. Nothing too fancy, just keeping to the theme of the board.
(https://i.imgur.com/LsEgjfR.png)
Final PCB Design (Color TBD)
More
Gondolindrim designed, C3 unified daughterboard, VIA compatible. No frills, flex cuts, leftover pinouts, tinker friendly. A huge thank you to Gondo for coming through with such a great PCB for this project, I can't thank him enough ((:
(https://i.imgur.com/1pvqiHt.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/XFgFKbe.png)
I've decided to keep branding on the keyboard and PCB to a minimum. Currently, the only logo is on the bottom of the PCB (my lil guy sitting under Gondo's tree). For the production run, I'll more than likely add another one inside the case and out of sight with my name, the keyboard's name, and the production number.
I'll likely need around 2-3 weeks after the prototype arrives to get ready for the GB. This will give me time to: inspect the model and make any changes I feel are necessary, talk with the manu to get a final quote and discuss any concerns with the prototype, test the PCB and make sure everything works as it should, and of course mentally prepare.
I don't want to or expect there to be a need to limit the number of units sold.
Will update again once prototypes come in! Will do an assembly video to show how it all fits together, as well as build it up and do a typing test to see how it sounds.
Update 6/2/20 More
The case finished machining yesterday, will be bead blasted and anodized today, and shipped to me tomorrow.
(https://i.imgur.com/F0mLcDY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uH309bs.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/BTZFL6t.png?2)
(https://i.imgur.com/wF4uROe.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/w522Z7j.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/krdx1tv.png)
PCBs are in production, taking slightly longer than expected. Other than that, they're coming along nicely!
(https://i.imgur.com/EXEV2JW.jpg?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/4LuGyMq.jpg)
Update 6/6/20 More
Anodizing has completed, but they are sending back the last piece to be re-anodized (streak visible in last pic, arrow pointing to it). Should be shipping to me early next week. Prototype color revealed, it's pink (:
Proto album from the manu: https://imgur.com/a/3DkQsQM (https://imgur.com/a/3DkQsQM)
PCBs are almost done as well and should ship early next week as well.
Update 6/15/20 More
Prototype is officially in, and it looks fantastic! I still need to wait for some stabs to come in (somehow I didn't have any spares lmao), and then I'll record and upload a typing test.
If there's anything specific you want to see from the prototype, just let me know and I'll upload it tomorrow.
Initial prototype images:
More
(https://i.imgur.com/vVu6hNY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZngfWUa.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BpkrdA0.jpg)
I'll take some more detailed pictures of all the parts later today or tomorrow. I'll go into some more detail on specific thoughts about the prototype tomorrow as well, and go over some places where I think it could be improved (both design wise and manufacturing wise).
Here's some more albums:
More Views of Individual Parts: https://imgur.com/a/bNxZPML (https://imgur.com/a/bNxZPML)
Overview of Defects and Damages: https://imgur.com/a/eFutWFM (https://imgur.com/a/eFutWFM)
Assembly Demonstration: https://imgur.com/a/bYCYACM (https://imgur.com/a/bYCYACM)
There are definitely some changes that I'll have to make, and a second prototype will likely have to be ordered.
Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/ukMC5VE.png)
;D
I'm quite concerned about how much room you have left for the PCB + Switch pins in that design. There is fair bit of material there that you can get rid of to make more room under the plate for not only clearance but sound too.
The USB cut-out could also do with some optimisation. The USB-C cut-out size is easily google-able and there doesn't need to be more room there(to allow for flex) as you are going to be using the stiffest plate known to mankind.
That brings me nicely onto the plate. HARD pass from me; But if that's what you want, then go for it.
Those are certainly some nice curves. As is with how much you expect the weight to be, the weight alone costs more than my board :p
I think you could easily get rid of some material to leave room for other important components while still keeping the board an absolute chonker.
Even if there is room for the PCB like someone mentioned, depending on how nice of a soldering job someone does, there's always the chance you could get a short from weight + PCB contact, which obviously isn't great.
I'll reply to both you and the guy below at the same time since your messages were pretty similar. One reason the space below the PCB looks so small is because the plate actually extends around the edges of the PCB (you can see it in the second picture of the below assembly). Luckily with such a stiff plate, there also doesn't have to be nearly as much space below the PCB to account for flex. Something like the Fjell has 5mm standoffs below the plate (iirc), while this has 3mm below the PCB. MX keys have 3.3mm switch pins, and there's 4.57mm of space below the bottom of the plate, which leaves 1.27mm below the MX switch pins. This would be too close for a regular board, but such a stiff plate and case should not be able to flex anywhere close to that much, and in the countless keyboards (and other things( I've soldered, I've never had any solder reaching past the pins, let alone by over a full mm. As for sound, I've noticed that thicker plates sound better and more full with less open space in the case.
I don't want this to sound condescending or aggressive, just want to show that I've looked at it from all angles to make sure that there's space for everything. That being said, of course the design will be altered if I notice there is a cause for concern when the prototypes arrive. After all, that is what prototypes are for (:
Also regarding the PCB cutout, completely ignore it lol. Soon after I posted the IC, I was contacted by Gondo who will be customizing one of his PCBs for this board. That slot will be entirely removed, in its place a flush USB-C daughterboard centered on the bottom of the case here:More
(https://i.imgur.com/srshNta.png)
Also like I said, a hard plate definitely isn't for everyone. Certain keyboards are just better suited for certain people, which is part of the fun of this hobby (:
Interesting and innovative. I love it.
Will you offer an all aluminium option? all that brass will add a lot of extra cost where some people would prefer a some bright anodised aluminium. or maybe a carbon fiber midpiece. You dont have to do any of that, but just throwing the idea out there
Adding different accent options would be awesome in an ideal world, but doing so would add far too many options to the GB.
For example: if I have 4 different aluminum color options, brass and aluminum weight, and standard+hhkb top, that would come out to be a solid 40 different case combinations, compared to just 8 combinations with only brass. I want things to be as controllable as possible not only for me, but for vendors and the manufacturer as well.
HHKB top?
Based on the responses in the Google form, it's looking pretty likely.
Case prototype is still on it's way, been delayed a few times but it's expected to be delivered sometime Monday.
PCB prototypes came in earlier today, they look and work great (: Gondo is now working on getting them to be VIA compatible, which should be done in the next few days.
PCB Pics:More
(https://i.imgur.com/H9xtDiK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/R3J9UD1.jpg)