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geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: eveningdownpour on Tue, 04 August 2020, 01:02:34

Title: [IC?] Empyrean 68, a dual split cluster 68% with a rotary encoder
Post by: eveningdownpour on Tue, 04 August 2020, 01:02:34
Hello everyone, this is my first post not as myself but as Efflorescent Design, a studio comprised of myself and my brother.

I have always had something of a unique taste, and I have found it very unfortunate that there just aren't many keyboards on the market suited to my taste. My brother comes from an engineering background, and I have been something of a mechanical keyboard enthusiast for years, so we decided to try our hand at designing a keyboard. We're currently exploring running a SMALL (Think 25-30 units, tops. We are not comfortable with QC on anything larger.) GB for this board, if reception is positive, people are interested, and we manage a WORKING PROTOTYPE before moving to the group buy creation stage.

This post is less of an IC, and more of a community questionnaire. While I did give the option to leave an email to be notified of the actual IC, if you're not terribly interested, we would still welcome your feedback. Before I link the form, however, allow me to show some (admittedly primitive) renders and cover a few basics.

Our current build idea is an Anodized Aluminum case with a carbon fiber plate gasket mounted with 3mm rubber or silicone cord, and a Stainless Steel weight.

The Empyrean 68 features a 6.5 degree typing angle, with a USB type C PCB with QMK support, a Stainless Steel knob, and no externally visible screws. We will be commissioning the PCB from a reputable PCB designer from GH, because neither of us has an advanced understanding of circuitry.

Our first major inquiry is that of the color. We have two very distinct coloration ideas, and cannot decide between the two, which is the primary reason for this Pre-IC questionnaire. Without further ado, allow me to present to you, the Empyrean 68 SKY, a Sky Blue face and an E-White base, with a single Stainless Steel Weight:
(https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/252565156645568513/738614121511256134/Blue_front_-_Copy.png?width=1151&height=556)
(https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/252565156645568513/738614130885525554/Blue_unassembled_front_-_Copy.png?width=1151&height=556)
(https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/252565156645568513/738614124270846012/Blue_Side_-_Copy.png?width=1151&height=556)
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/252565156645568513/738614104964726785/Blue_-_Copy.png)

and the Empyrean 68 CLOUD, with an E-White face and base, with two Stainless Steel Silver accent weights, plus a Stainless Steel weight:
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/252565156645568513/738533307314077776/front_view.png)
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/252565156645568513/738540584976908370/together.png)
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/252565156645568513/738990284154863636/Assembly_2020-Jul-31_04-43-39AM-000_CustomizedView8035600629.png)
(https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/252565156645568513/738302903869112360/White_and_Silver.png?width=1151&height=556)

Please note that the Empyrean 68 CLOUD features two extra smaller stainless steel side-weights, whereas the Empyrean 68 SKY features a cutout that shows the E-White base layer.

Another question we would like to pose to the community is about the layout, which I will save for the form.

This is getting long, so allow to me to wrap up. Our Pre-IC/Community Questionnaire is available here: https://forms.gle/YvVtMoDWZkbACtcQ6

Even though this is only a very preliminary stage, I already owe many people thanks. I want to thank ai03 for the very necessary feedback that our first design was nonsensical and terrible, and the wider keyboard atelier community for being such a valuable resource for newbies. I also want to thank allfallsdown/NoLullaby for all the links and useful information and references that allowed us to get started.

Thank you so much for reading! Sorry for any formatting shenanigans, I am not very familiar with the formatting on here.






Title: Re: [IC?] Empyrean 68, a dual split cluster 68% with a rotary encoder
Post by: Gbanek on Tue, 04 August 2020, 01:08:15
This looks sweet. I love the blue but the base of the cloud is very interesting
Title: Re: [IC?] Empyrean 68, a dual split cluster 68% with a rotary encoder
Post by: Baionlenja on Tue, 04 August 2020, 02:13:53
ne fillets avail?
Title: Re: [IC?] Empyrean 68, a dual split cluster 68% with a rotary encoder
Post by: -Jerry- on Tue, 04 August 2020, 02:50:27
That a really clean and unique looking design, I love the split cluster and encoder combo.

I think I prefer the SKY, overall, it’s quite cute.
Title: Re: [IC?] Empyrean 68, a dual split cluster 68% with a rotary encoder
Post by: Willtato on Tue, 04 August 2020, 03:00:44
If the sky version were to proceed, how opaque is the bottom?  I would imagine underglow should make a nice RGB lit cloud. 

Sent from my HD1913 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: [IC?] Empyrean 68, a dual split cluster 68% with a rotary encoder
Post by: dont_settle on Tue, 04 August 2020, 03:11:52
I can’t put my finger on it but something about this gives me a retro-gaming vibe
Title: Re: [IC?] Empyrean 68, a dual split cluster 68% with a rotary encoder
Post by: FunBox on Tue, 04 August 2020, 03:15:37
Quote from: dont_settle on Tue, 04 August 2020, 03:11:52
I can’t put my finger on it but something about this gives me a retro-gaming vibe
Kinda reminds me of the controls on an arcade cabinet. Maybe that's it

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: [IC?] Empyrean 68, a dual split cluster 68% with a rotary encoder
Post by: sartarelli on Tue, 04 August 2020, 04:08:28
Interesting design, always like some change from the standards. What is the difference between the two layout options?
Title: Re: [IC?] Empyrean 68, a dual split cluster 68% with a rotary encoder
Post by: menuhin on Tue, 04 August 2020, 04:12:33
Quote from: eveningdownpour on Tue, 04 August 2020, 01:02:34
...
and the Empyrean 68 CLOUD, with an E-White face and base, with two Stainless Steel Silver accent weights, plus a Stainless Steel weight:
Show Image
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/252565156645568513/738533307314077776/front_view.png)

Show Image
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/252565156645568513/738540584976908370/together.png)

Show Image
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/252565156645568513/738990284154863636/Assembly_2020-Jul-31_04-43-39AM-000_CustomizedView8035600629.png)

Show Image
(https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/252565156645568513/738302903869112360/White_and_Silver.png?width=1151&height=556)

Please note that the Empyrean 68 CLOUD features two extra smaller stainless steel side-weights, whereas the Empyrean 68 SKY features a cutout that shows the E-White base layer.

...
...

The render looks more like POM face and POM base - looks like POM heaven to me.
GLWIC!
Title: Re: [IC?] Empyrean 68, a dual split cluster 68% with a rotary encoder
Post by: eveningdownpour on Tue, 04 August 2020, 19:54:01
Holy crap, this is such a great response! I did not expect this much. Thank you guys so much  :D

Now to answer some questions:
@sartarelli the difference is whether the FN key is on the keyboard and the winkey is in the split cluster, or whether the winkey is on the keyboard and the FN key is in the split cluster.
@willtato as we are planning to use E-White coating on anodized aluminum, it would likely not shine through at all, nor do we plan on led lighting. Sorry!

@Gbanek @-Jerry- @Gbanek Thank you so much!

Please do fill out the questionaire, because the voting right now is pretty tied and I really want to know which version the community is more interested in. Leaving an email is totally optional!
Title: Re: [IC?] Empyrean 68, a dual split cluster 68% with a rotary encoder
Post by: eveningdownpour on Wed, 05 August 2020, 00:55:30
Oh and @baionleja not sure what you mean by any fillets available... The board does have fillets edges, if you're asking about that
Title: Re: [IC?] Empyrean 68, a dual split cluster 68% with a rotary encoder
Post by: hottrout on Wed, 05 August 2020, 05:20:02
Interesting.
Title: Re: [IC?] Empyrean 68, a dual split cluster 68% with a rotary encoder
Post by: eveningdownpour on Wed, 05 August 2020, 14:30:41
@hottrout thank you so much!!
Title: Re: [IC?] Empyrean 68, a dual split cluster 68% with a rotary encoder
Post by: eveningdownpour on Sun, 09 August 2020, 19:48:35
Thank you so much to everyone who took part in this poll! I will be closing it now, and my brother and I will begin finalizing the design and working toward a real IC with full renders, a chosen design, and a few changes. Thanks again to everyone for helping!