IC on Knight75 is on hiatus and will hopefully be revisited in 2020.
- Robotical - 12/18/2019
Welcome to the Knight75 IC.
(https://i.imgur.com/bWZ0tY1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MmfMhGi.jpg)
Additional Pics (Updated 08/30/2019):
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(https://i.imgur.com/8BtLCH0.jpg)
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The Knight75 is an ode to the black and gold of Central Florida. The design is a subtle tweak of the 75% layout, meant to embrace the function row and nav cluster of TKL’s while maintaining the size profile of a standard 75%. The navigation column and 2u cluster was chosen to make the navigation keys more readily available while removing the two caps that I find useless in my most daily operations.
The interest check form can be found here! (https://forms.gle/mn8od9tEmv1Pu4SRA)
The Knight75 is still undergoing revision while I tinker with it to make what I originally pictured when this board was designed. The only adjustments that remain are internal, so do not fret if you like the aesthetic.
Updates
08/30/2019: Knight75 PCB is being finalized and a few final prototypes will be made to ensure functionality. Once I have built up the second prototype revision of the Knight75, I will reevaluate the timeline of the group buy.
Physical Specs:
(https://i.imgur.com/SqrqYio.png)
- Aluminum 6063
- Case Dimensions
Length: 144.46mm / 5.69in
Width: 317.50mm / 12.50in
Height (Front): 20.00mm / 0.79in
- Top Mount
- Typing Angle: 6 Degrees
- Weight: 2.5kg / 5.5lbs
- 1mm Recessed Keycaps
- No Mid-Seam
- Subtle Curvature
- MX and Alps Support [1][2]
- USB Type C
- SMD top mount Caps LEDs
- QMK Programmable
- Top facing Reset Switch
[1] For general Alps keycap support, please check your keycaps with the variant you are interested in. I tried my best with the second revision to provide some more flexibility for alps fans. I am going to putting together a list of boards that would provide Knight75 support.
[2] Does not support AEK function row keycaps
Case Options:
- Color: Colors are flexible based on the IC. I picked colors based off of what I would like to see the boards done in, but I open to listening to opinions/suggestions during the IC.
Silver
Crimson Red
Navy Blue
Black E-Coat
White E-Coat
- Variants: Two versions of the board will be made available (Updated 08/30/2019)
Blocker
WKL
No-Blocker
PCB Information (Updated 08/30/2019):
(https://i.imgur.com/QzZLR5J.png)
- PCB designed by Maarten
- Final PCB will be matte black
PCB Layout Support - DOES NOT SUPPORT FN ROW AEK CAPS:
- ISO
- Split Space (2.75, 2.25, 1.25)
- Split Backspace
- Full R-Shift
- Standard Bottom Row 6.25u + 1u
- Standard Bottom Row 7u + 1u
Plate Support and Options:
MX Plate (1.5mm)
- Colors / Finishes
Anodize
[Upgrade] Brass Sandblasted
- Supported Layouts: TBD [3]
Alps Plate (1.2mm)
- Colors / Finishes
Anodize
[Upgrade] Brass Sandblasted
- Supported Layouts: TBD [3]
[3] I do not wish to compromise the design of my plate to fully support all PCB layout options. Final mx and alps plate layout support will be based on feedback from the IC. DXFs will be available for those who wish to utilize some of the more niche options.
Base Kit (Updated 08/30/2019):
- Anodized / E-Coated Aluminum Top Blocker
- Anodized / E-Coated Aluminum Bottom
- Anodized / E-Coated Switch Plate
- PCB
- Internal Sandblasted Brass Weight (Changed from PVD to reduce costs)
- Bumpons (10mm) - Qty 4
- Assembly Screws
Switch Plate: Socket Hex M3.0x0.5x5 - Qty 8
Case: Socket Hex M3.0x0.5x12 - Qty 8
Internal Weight: Countersunk M3.0x0.5x6 - Qty 4 (Up from 2)
Base Kit Pricing:
MOQ 50: to be announced soon
MOQ 100: to be announced soon
IC Timeline / What’s Next? (Updated 08/30/2019):
April-May
- Record initial IC feedback
- Figure out full change list based on IC feedback
- Incorporate PCB revisions
- Incorporate Case revisions
- Order revised PCB
- Order revised case
June:
- Get married
- Receive prototype v2
- Pricing announcement
- Assemble prototype and post build log/video
- Launch GB
August:
- Received prototype v2 case
September:
- Build prototype v2 and document with build log/video
- Pricing announcement (Late September)
- GB Launch Date Announced (Late September)
I was overly optimistic on my initial timeline. Once I receive my updated PCB's I am going to post a revised timeline. Please keep in mind some of these dates are still open to change.
Additional Info:
- Case manufacturing by Fox Labs
- No Hotswap
- No RGB underglow
- I am not looking to do a fully polycarbonate Knight75 at the moment, but it is something I am considering to revisit further down the line.
- Plate DXF / Drawings of switch plates / weights will be provided
- I would like to offer some alternative / fun options to the group buy which of course depends on if there is enough interest. Availability and pricing is TBD.
POM switch plate
ABS switch plate
4mm brass switch plate
- Alps Set Support - For this one keyboard you will most likely need to sacrifice at least 2 sets for some layouts. Make sure you double check your keycap sets if you are going the alps route.
Special Thanks:
- Delirious: My partner in crime during the design phase
- Koobaczech, Mangoes, and Zearoh: For pushing me forward with making my own board
- Pawes / Watermelon: For your support through my nonsense and wonderful feedback
Please note that since this an interest check that things are subject to change. Changes will be documented in the following companion post.
If you have any feedback, please don't hesitate to let me know.
Cheers,
Robotical
(https://i.imgur.com/ksuXiNM.jpg)
As the alps adviser during the development of the Knight75, I would like to go into details about some of the ideas behind this keyboard, as a 75% lover and as an Alps user in general.
The key features behind the Knight75:
1. First widely available 75% with alps support
2. Our takes on fixing the 75% layout
3. Clean look with no markings and brandings
4. Weight system
1. Alps support:
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- You can make full size Alps custom with Leeku's legacy pcb
- You can make tkl Alps custom with pcb's from Leeku, the Time, the Leaf, and upcoming Hineybush's pcb
- You can make 60% Alps custom with Hasu's pcb
Now you can make 75% Alps custom. Please be aware of what you're getting into.
(https://i.imgur.com/wTlUGNS.jpg)
2. Layout:
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a. Top row:
(https://i.imgur.com/S0r9wT6.jpg)
The stable of 75% boards all suffer from the same boxy look because of the ortholinear top row. A lot of us recognize the problem and there are many revisions on it so far (Fox Orange 75, E7-V1, Xeno, etc...). We approach the fix based on functionality, purely:
- The 12 F-keys have to be separated, it helps with recognizing their general positions ever since IBM established that system.
- As for the most right cluster of 2 extra keys, it is part of the 4 keys below it. Working an office job, after going through so many email chains and engineering drawings I come to realize the importance of the Navigation cluster. It saves me so much times backtracking and looking for the exact data that is mentioned briefly in a 30-chains email between 7 engineers. The top right corner of the Knight75 gives you both the topological space usage while retains the navigation cluster's togetherness. And honestly, the navigation cluster on 75% makes more sense than the traditional Nav cluster IMO: finally you can have Home and End sandwiching both PgUp and PgDn.
(https://i.imgur.com/GnY9Rae.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/AAFi9GR.jpg)
b. Bottom row:
I appreciate all the blocker solutions that were introduced for the bottom row, mainly Canoe for bringing back the usage of 6.25u space in a more aesthetically way and Singa for offsetting the symmetrical top row. Hence we do offer the blocker version and we are open to more suggestions on how to improve on that front. I want to focus on the non-blocker version and explain why it is my preferred choice for the Knight75:
- First of all, good cap sets for alps come in 7u spacebar with 1.5u modifiers.
- The Knight75 already breaks up the top row, breaking up the bottom as well just adds more to the uneven look. Whether it's split space or not, spacebar will always be the first thing that catches your eyes when you look at the board, it takes up the most space. So by having the even number of modifiers on both sides of the spacebar with the non-blocker version, it brings back some symmetry within the asymmetrical layout. Harmony and chaos, symmetry and asymmetry.
3. Seamless look:
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The market is dominated by mid-seam board and we would love to see some change in that. I also personally believe that a custom keyboard is a high-class suit. I would like to sell you elegant and comfortable suits. Then as the end users, you guys could fashion the suits with your own brandings through cufflinks, ties/bowties, inner shirts, jackets,.... The Knight75 will retain very clean outer look with absolutely no markings. If there are any markings or brandings, those will be inside, hidden from visible views.
(https://i.imgur.com/esECiRZ.jpg)
4. Weight system:
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(https://i.imgur.com/bhqDaom.jpg) (https://i.imgur.com/ErmSFhE.jpg)
Let's get one thing out of the way first: the familiarity with the OTD's Koala bottom is the by-product of our principles behind the weight design:
- The board will be heavy, but we want to give the users some sort of finger-grips, hence the slight curvature.
- The curvature has to end some where because the weight will be massive and rectangular. We want the weight to at least covers up the main alphas cluster. We recognize that the change in materials might result in uneven sounding so the weight have to be big enough for uniform sound distribution.
what does the back of the board look like
The back of the board can be found here. The USB-C cutout will be undergoing revision with the next prototype, so the models should definitely give you an idea of final design of the back.
Prototype V1 and V2 Back Designs:
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https://imgur.com/a/R27Ab4f
(https://imgur.com/a/R27Ab4f)
very curious about this design language
Delirious did a really swell job of covering our design discussions pertaining to the final design language choices. I highly suggest giving his a post a thorough read. If you really had to condense the design choices down though, it comes down to fillets and curves. I wanted something classic, yet adjusted to fit my taste and usage constraints. I have always been a guy who focuses on function quite a bit, so his feedback throughout the design process was definitely quite helpful.
Arrival at the seamless design: I am not going to go into the suit analogy myself like Delirious, but the reasoning for using the seamless design was both an aesthetic and functional choice. I am not a big fan of seams being shown in profile shots of keyboards, you can try your hardest but it will most likely always be visible to some degree. I wanted to completely to avoid that mid-seam completely to make a clean side profile. Functionally this helps me deal with mismatch in finishes and top/bottom misalignment.
Arrival at the curve: A heavy wedge board is hard to pick up. I wanted a large wedge that I can pick up relatively easily since I move my keyboards around routinely. Either for work or for meetups with buddies. The koala curve made the most sense due to the low profile.
Arrival at the interior weight: I did not want an exposed weight on the board. I wanted it on inside and to cover as much of the interior typing space as possible. I am looking to make some minor adjustments to make it larger and sandwich between the top and bottom pieces with the next prototype. So stay tuned on that.
If you wanted some more background on the initial design development, I can definitely elaborate there. And if you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask!
I really like the idea that this has no branding but I also like it to have it's own identity(?) in a way besides the layout and silhouette. Would you consider having an artisan keycap made for this? Just like the Xeno75 ;D
Unfortunately I am not looking to do something like an artisan at the moment. The goal right now is minimal to no branding. I might add a little something on the inside, but do not expect anything on the outside.
Very interested. Guess there's no chance of isolated arrow keys/right column, even if with a tiny space - helps a lot when navigating around the kbd?
That's not in the cards for this board. Maybe for a future project?
Thank you everyone for your interest so far.
-Robotical
I'm interested! I'd prefer no branding. And I'd also like to see what the back would look like. Would it be super clean and flat with perhaps only screw holes?
If I add any branding, it will be entirely internal.
The back of the first prototype and what it is being revised to can be found here:
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https://imgur.com/a/R27Ab4f (https://imgur.com/a/R27Ab4f)
A picture of the bottom of the Knight can be found here:
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(https://i.imgur.com/bhqDaom.jpg)
Hope that stuff helps, let me know if you have any more questions!