ASCII-F
PCB Top Mount 65TK
(https://i.imgur.com/kLyrovM.jpg)
When I picked up an old WYSE ASCII (https://deskthority.net/wiki/Wyse_ASCII) off Craigslist, it reminded me of a keyboard layout I desired a few years ago: a full 65% keyboard with a complete numpad that includes arrow keys, a navigation cluster (PgUp, PgDn, Home, End), and a 2u 0 (zero) key on the numpad.
Taking design cues from some of my favorite keyboards, I kept the bezel quite thin and the overall profile simple and slim.
The Plateless Top Mount provides a soft and 'bouncy' typing experience without being flexible. If soldering plateless is a daunting task for you, we will have options available for hotswap PCBs and plates.
Group Buy starts on January 13th, 2025 and ends on March 1st, 2025
Estimated fulfillment date - May 2025
- enomooshiKey IG (https://www.instagram.com/enomooshikey)
- zenclack IG (https://www.instagram.com/zenclack)
- Zenclack Discord (https://discord.gg/D5KjeUyzZB)
0. CONTENTS
- DETAILS
- STATUS & UPDATES
- VENDORS & PRICING
- RENDERS
- PHOTOS
- OTHER MEDIA
- SPECIAL THANKS
1. DETAILS
- Typing angle 7.0°
- Front Height : 17.8mm (after cherry lip), 20mm (before cherry lip)
- Mounting Method : Plateless Top Mount
- PCB : Designed by Freather with Universal USB-C daughteboard - configurable with QMK/VIA
- Solder PCB Layout Option
(https://i.imgur.com/YGIAiVE.png)
- Hotswap PCB Layout Option
(https://i.imgur.com/aCzVrTN.png)
- Base Kit
- Top Case
- Bottom Case
- Daughter Board with JST Cable
- Solder PCB
- Carry Case
- Microfiber Towel
- Case screws
- DB screws
- Top Mount screws
- Case Options
- Alu Top + Alu Bottom
- Alu Top + Brass Bottom
- Alu Top + Copper Bottom (Limited Edition maybe) - Colors For Alu Top + Alu Bottom
- Black Top + Silver Bottom
- E-Beige Top + Silver Bottom
- E-Beige Top + Black Bottom
- E-White Top + Black Bottom
- Silver Top + Black Bottom - Colors For Alu Top + Brass Bottom/Copper Bottom
- E-Beige
- E-White
- Black
- Silver - Weight Unbuilt
- Alu Top + Alu Bottom = 1.34kg
- Alu Top + Brass Bottom = 3.46kg - Plate Options for Hotswap PCB
- PC
- FR-4
- PP
- Alu - Optional Alu Wrist Rest : matching anodization or e-coat with top case
- Indicator LED for Caps Lock and Num Lock keys
2. Status & Updates
3. Vendors & Pricing
- Vendors
-NA: Zenclack (https://zenclack.com/collections/ascii-f)
-Asia/AUS: Zenclack (https://zenclack.com/collections/ascii-f) , fulfillment for Korea to be out of Busan
-UK&EU: Prototypist (https://prototypist.net/products/group-buy-ascii-f-keyboard-kit)
-China : Keyspensory/Freather (https://www.zfrontier.com/app/flow/PGzMBrXAaxEJ)
- Price
- Alu Top + Alu Bottom = $250 (with solder PCB) $280 (with Hotswap PCB + plate)
- Alu Top + Brass Bottom = $450 (with solder PCB) $480 (with Hotswap PCB + plate)
- Alu Top + Copper bottom (10 units from Zenclack, 5 units for Prototypist, 5 units for Freather's Studio) = $500 (with solder PCB) $530 (with Hotswap PCB + plate)
- Alu Wrist Rest (color matched to top case) = $50
- Extra Solder PCB = $40
- Extra Hotswap PCB = $45
- Plates = $25
4. Renders
Actual coating and anodizing may look a bit different from these renders. Please use these renderings as a reference.
renders by mur1_fat (https://www.instagram.com/mur1_fat)
Beige Coating Top + Brass Bottom + GMK Hiney Beige
More
(https://i.imgur.com/ySbxZM4.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3KB086B.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/CSK4rjX.jpeg)
White Coating Top + Black Ano Bottom + GMK WoB
More
(https://i.imgur.com/ip9qG3D.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Exi61qn.jpeg)
Silver Ano Top + Brass Bottom + GMK Evil Eye
More
(https://i.imgur.com/mZ5rTtq.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pApRQNl.jpeg)
Black Ano Top + Silver Ano Bottom + GMK ASCII
More
(https://i.imgur.com/pOCZtai.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SQc4XME.jpeg)
4 Options for Brass Bottom
More
(https://i.imgur.com/7eF0JlT.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/UjJBKfZ.jpeg)
5 Options for Alu Bottom
More
(https://i.imgur.com/GKyQiQt.jpeg)
Beige Coating Top + Brass Bottom + GMK Blue Alert R2 (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=123485.0) (special render by Steven Olver (https://www.instagram.com/stevenolvercg/))
More
(https://i.imgur.com/kLyrovM.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/v86NKmz.jpeg)
5. Photos
Proto V1 with matching wrist rest
More
(https://i.imgur.com/IoOvx35.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/L6O9dlx.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jh8KybD.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/jw9gg8T.jpg)
Proto V2 with GMK WoB Hangul
More
(https://i.imgur.com/j1Anzj6.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/TdoueNI.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/py0fv4U.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/RdSmRO6.jpg)
Proto V2 with GMK DMG
More
(https://i.imgur.com/9mQVv95.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/7uwEAar.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/eZYnKOA.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/6fzhrsU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3BBWnu2.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/aXkM9yB.jpg)
7. OTHER MEDIA
Build and typing test by Alexotos
Build and typing test by Xinxinwong
Typing test with Ergo Clear, Plateless, Alu Top and Bottom by TimKeyLess
Typing test with Cherry MX Reds, Plateless, Alu Top, Brass Bottom by LightningKeyboards
Typing test with Gateron Cream Soda, Plateless, Alu Top and Bottom by Marshmellohs
Typing test with Gateron Cream Soda, Plateless, Alu Top and Bottom by TylerKeyboard
Typing test with Cherry MX Black, Plateless, Alu Top and Bottom by ExtraPriusPlease
Review by Keybored
Build and type test with Gateron Summertime v2, PP Plate, Alu Top and Bottom by StaceySmash
Typing test with Cherry MX Black, Plateless, Alu Top and Bottom
Typing test with HMX Jammy, Plateless, Alu Top and Bottom
Typing test with BSUN BCP, Alu Plate, Hotswap PCB, Alu Top and Bottom
(https://i.imgur.com/EsEydmc.png)
8. SPECIAL THANKS
- My lovely wife, for putting up with my numerous hobbies
- Tofumania, for putting my vision into Fusion 360
- Glendel/Zenclack, for having faith in ASCII-F
- Freather, for coming in clutch with PCB design
- TimKeyLess, for getting me into this crazy hobby
- Gok, for letting me use his IC page style
- Lightning & Manoli, for helping me through IC creation
Thank you very much.
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(https://i.imgur.com/jYgUgbS.png)
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