"This is my favorite 60% that I have typed on, to date. I've typed on an OTD Mini, I've typed on a Unikorn, I've typed on various Duck boards, I've typed on a Keycult... Anyway, this is, for me, a fantastic 60%." - Blacksimon, in his Augur Review (https://youtu.be/_9jc6jkeLWE?t=2078)
Augur R2 (https://jlabs.co/collections/augur-by-jlabs-round-2/Augur-R2)
By JLabs
Prototype Gallery (https://imgur.com/gallery/SLdbVjI)
Render Gallery (https://imgur.com/gallery/2HZOHPu)
(https://i.imgur.com/Cmv4pjX.jpeg)
Sales Info:
- The groupbuy goes live 7/15/2023 5 PM PST
- Fulfillment will begin October/November
- Gropubuy, 200 unit MOQ
- Prices:
- Each unit will cost $238
- Soldered PCB: $35 (one soldered PCB is included with every kit)
- Hotswap PCB: $45
- Extra FR-4 plates will be $15 each.
- Extra polycarbonate (full), carbon fiber (full and half), and aluminum (full and half) plates will also be available at groupbuy. Each will be $40.
- 1.2mm Stabilizer Set (4x 2U, 1x 7U): $10 per set, one set will be included with each R2 Augur unit
Most Recent Updates:
- Blue and dark green prototypes are here! Photos are linked above.
- We are now including 1.2mm stabilizers (4x 2U, 1x 7U) with each Augur unit. These stabilizers will also be sold separately.
Key Changes from R1 --> R2
- Groupbuy Format
- MOQ of 200 units
- More plate options! We will be making plates in aluminum (no leaf springs), carbon fiber (leaf springs), and polycarbonate (no leaf springs)
- Color options are changing! This round, we will be offering Blue, Dark Green, and Purple (the same purple from R1)
- We will now be including a set of 1.2mm stabilizers after complaints that some 1.2mm stabilizers currently on the market have ticking issues.
- Polycarbonate wrist rests will be also be available at groupbuy.
Soundtests (R1, R2 builds coming soon)
Design Philosophy:
Augur is a 60% keyboard which brings premium elements to a less-premium price. Augur features isolation gasket mounting and leaf spring plates. Minimalistic front and sides yield to a striking backside and an elegant bottom. Augur uses a Type-C daughterboard to remain immobile while the plate and PCB flex. While the plate is strictly 7u for cleaner acoustics, the PCB supports both 6.25u and 7u layouts. Augur is held together by case screws of two different lengths, so that the screw heads are equidistant from the bottom of the case.
(https://i.imgur.com/1BIKqCq.jpeg)
Design Process and Testing:
Multiple gasket materials, compression ratios, and plate configurations were tested to reach the amount of flex I was looking for in this board. In fact, I designed a test bench with adjustable compression to test the various gasket and plate designs.
(https://i.imgur.com/X06vB1H.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/DQOiuyD.jpg)
Specifications:
- Top/Bottom Case: 6063 Aluminum, sandblasted and anodized
- Accent Piece: Brass, sandblasted and PVD coated
- Color options: anodized purple, anodized blue, anodized dark green
- 6 degree typing angle
- 18.65mm Real Front Height
- WK and WKL layouts
- Isolation gasket mounting system
- Seamless design
(https://i.imgur.com/BVcjmtx.jpeg)
Plate and PCB Details:
- The kit will include both full and half FR-4 plates
- Extra plates in aluminum, carbon fiber, and polycarbonate
- The PCB color is white, and the thickness is 1.2mm, to promote flex ((1.2mm stabilizer set included))
(https://i.imgur.com/e2HuXIN.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/EGIKevX.jpeg)
Soldered Layout
(https://i.imgur.com/kxbVGNK.png)
Hotswap Layout
(https://i.imgur.com/ma0vVeW.png)
Included Components:
- Top and Bottom case, CNC machined from 6063 aluminum
- Accent piece, CNC machined from brass
- FR-4 Full and Half Plates
- Augur PCB (The included PCB will be soldered and 1.2mm thick)
- 1.2mm Stablizers (4x 2U, 1x 7U) - no more fiddling around with shims!
- Type-C Daughterboard and JST cable
- Gaskets (2 sets of 16 gaskets, 1 soft and 1 hard)
- Various Screws
- Ships in hardcase
Soundtests:
- 3ildcat Build Video + Aged MX Black Soundtest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c74IYK3ozNM)
- Alexotos Soundtest Clip (Aged MX Hyperglide Housings, Aura Stems) (https://clips.twitch.tv/IgnorantMiniaturePartridgePJSalt-nFZvJfXDWPLgS-HP)
- Blacksimon Soundtest (Gateron X Linears, FR-4 full plate) (https://youtu.be/_9jc6jkeLWE?t=2619)
(https://i.imgur.com/q3hdxKa.jpeg)
Links:
- Interest Check Form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYkxn5ZcowE7XYKTX4iOcbFKKz-kUjxO_3r4UEwsoRIqEsfQ/viewform?usp=sf_link)
- JLabs Discord Server (https://discord.gg/V6eFkSHN)
- JLabs Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jlabs_official/)
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