Comments/suggestions for the modernized Model F?

[RockZ]

Hello! This is Rock, an enthusiast from China.

I believe most people here do have a love for old keyboards, and to be honest there are already a bunch of amazingly recreated legends! From the J80 to the Dolch CR, or the CA66 -- however, so far I haven't seen the most iconic design (in my mind), the curve from the old IBM buckling spring keyboards, in any of the kits. Therefore I decided to revive the old Model F, by keeping all that's good and modernizing it to fit today's needs.



The initial design was derived from the Model F XT, and is basically a mechanical version of it. The curve was created by a difference in the angle of the case and the angle of the plate -- a nice solution I found without making the PCB actually curved. The keyboard hides away 1mm of the keycaps in the front and 4 mm at the end. I found this design unnecessarily bulky, plus the nearly-96-layout isn't that practical after all. So after some feedbacks I decided to shorten it down to a 65%, while still keeping the two rows on the left.



and here it is! I've also tried putting on some keycaps to see if hiding 4mm at the end is too much, but it turns out to be just right for SA keycaps. Below are some extra renders with keycaps on:







And I will try to list some key features of this keyboard:
3-degree angle for plate and 6 degrees for the case
65% key layout with extra functions on the left



a rotary encoder on the left knob (originally for adjusting stands on the Model F)
type-c for connection

and if everything goes well, hot-swappable pcb with Kailh sockets and QMK firmware.

This is my first design and also the first time posting geekhack (I have to admit that I just spent too much time in Chinese qq groups and wandering around without an account). I'm looking forward to any kind of suggestions/comments and stuff! After collecting your opinions, I will improve again on the current design and hopefully start prototyping by September. Then there will also be a formal IC.

This keyboard is still miles away from a group buy, but I really want to do the best job possible -- by creating a well-polished and high quality keyboard at affordable price. Thank you guys in advance!

-- Rock

[EMC Labs]

Looks great! Excited to see this project advance.

[RockZ]

Thanks! Anything you don't like about it?

[Venaros]

I'd definitely be interested. How would it look with GMK keycaps?

[RockZ]

I'd definitely be interested. How would it look with GMK keycaps?

More renders on that coming up soon! I've been designing this to fit spherical caps, but cherry profile definitely needs attention too.
I guess it won't look bad

[AJM]

At first that sounded like my dream coming true .... - until "I decided to shorten it down to a 65%".

That 65% + F-keys already exists, why do it again?

The full "Model F XT" layout on the other hand would have been unique for a modern keyboard.

[MafiaButter]

Looks great. I like the faithful placement of the cable port, the grated ibm-look block badge and use of the original ear as a rotary encoder. Personally, I think your original design with the numpad looks better and more unique, but I doubt many people share that opinion (I'm partial to big, vintage boards). Other than that, I can't find much wrong with this!

[RockZ]

Looks great. I like the faithful placement of the cable port, the grated ibm-look block badge and use of the original ear as a rotary encoder. Personally, I think your original design with the numpad looks better and more unique, but I doubt many people share that opinion (I'm partial to big, vintage boards). Other than that, I can't find much wrong with this!

Well judging from replies to this post so far most people clearly liked the larger one better! However the larger version will be more than 450 mm in length and will be a bulky buy on the desk -- it will be more expensive as well, while this could be done below 300$, the other larger one can hardly be.

The other interesting fact is that when I sent the first post back in China, people favored the small one a lot more. I guess I'll just take more opinions and see what you guys think!

[RockZ]

At first that sounded like my dream coming true .... - until "I decided to shorten it down to a 65%".

That 65% + F-keys already exists, why do it again?

The full "Model F XT" layout on the other hand would have been unique for a modern keyboard.

Hmmm... will think about this again.
When I first posted the design in China most people consider having a keyboard that's over 450mm on their desk too much, and I guess that's partially why I modified it

[swedishpiehole]

The all white version looks fantastic! I would definitely be interested, and I love the form factor/size. Having those extra keys on the left side, as well as the rotary encoder, is genius. All of my boards are 60-65% because I can't stand having to put my trackpad/mouse too far to the right. But I would welcome some extra keys on the left side.

Hot swap, USB-C and QMK, perfect.
But what about bluetooth? I would definitely pay extra for a wireless version.

Good luck and I hope you make this happen! I would definitely be on board as long as the price stays under $300.

[RockZ]

The all white version looks fantastic! I would definitely be interested, and I love the form factor/size. Having those extra keys on the left side, as well as the rotary encoder, is genius. All of my boards are 60-65% because I can't stand having to put my trackpad/mouse too far to the right. But I would welcome some extra keys on the left side.

Hot swap, USB-C and QMK, perfect.
But what about bluetooth? I would definitely pay extra for a wireless version.

Good luck and I hope you make this happen! I would definitely be on board as long as the price stays under $300.

Tho I'm still negotiating and can't decide the price, what I can tell you for sure is the wired version will definitely be below 300$, that's my red line. I think above 300$ will be just ripping off.

My main concern in the bluetooth version is signal and space for batteries. I personally have a DC60 with BLE60 pcb from Yang, though they r all supposed to be the best of their peers it's still painful to use. I doubt how the signal will be if we actually put a bluetooth pcb in this fully surrounded aluminium case.

[Venaros]

At first that sounded like my dream coming true .... - until "I decided to shorten it down to a 65%".

That 65% + F-keys already exists, why do it again?

The full "Model F XT" layout on the other hand would have been unique for a modern keyboard.

Hmmm... will think about this again.

When I first posted the design in China most people consider having a keyboard that's over 450mm on their desk too much, and I guess that's partially why I modified it

Maybe you could offer options for both the 65% and XT layout, if there's enough interest for you to do that. I would prefer the XT layout though.

[Findecanor]

... the Model F XT, and is basically a mechanical version of it.

"Model F" is a designation for a series of keyboards with a particular switch type which has always been mechanical.
If you are using another type of switch and calling it "Model F" then you would be deceiving people.

[RockZ]

At first that sounded like my dream coming true .... - until "I decided to shorten it down to a 65%".

That 65% + F-keys already exists, why do it again?

The full "Model F XT" layout on the other hand would have been unique for a modern keyboard.

Hmmm... will think about this again.

When I first posted the design in China most people consider having a keyboard that's over 450mm on their desk too much, and I guess that's partially why I modified it

Maybe you could offer options for both the 65% and XT layout, if there's enough interest for you to do that. I would prefer the XT layout though.

Yeah, will check about that. The problem is that most likely there will be a 30-50 MOQ for each model.