[IC] Dawn | Prototype Build Stream 1/21 | GB Soon

[crykn]

Dawn (75% Isolation Mount)

This board has been in the works for quite a long time, but now that the prototyping phase is finished a raffle is imminent. Once the details are finalized a GB thread will be made and this thread will be locked, but I wanted to update this thread as it hasn't been updated in quite a while so those who followed it and don't have Discord will be aware.

Finite Design Discord server: https://finitedesign.io/discord

Build Stream 1/21
There will be a build stream on Thursday at 20:00 GMT+1 by Poesjuh (https://twitch.tv/P0esjuh) showing off one of the second prototypes for the board. Feedback from build streams on the prototypes will be used to make any final tweaks to the design before the GB!

Specifications

• 75% form factor
• Isolation mount
• 7° typing angle
• 6060 Aluminum case
• Vibration damping pads
• PTFE plate alignment pins
• Silicone feet (SKUF)
• QMK compatible PCB (VIA)
• USB-C Unified Daughterboard

Layouts

These are the final layouts for the Winkeyless (WKL) and Winkey (WK) plates. The PCB officially supports ISO, and an ISO plate file will be offered along with the other open sourced plate files once the GB concludes.

Winkeyless (WKL):



Winkey (WK):



Second Prototype

The second prototype fixed the tolerances for the back accent, added PTFE alignment pins in the same style as Keycult, and made improvements to the shape of the internal weight. The second prototype will be the production version of the board, with only minor potential changes, including - switching the custom feet to SKUF and engraving my logo on the bottom of the board.















First Prototype

The first prototype turned out really well! The only issue was that the back accent tolerances led to it being more difficult to remove than preferred, which will be fixed in the second prototype.

[crykn]

More Renders

GMK Umbra









GMK Hero (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=100443.0)



GMK White on Black (WoB)

[crykn]

Frequently Asked Questions

Reserved

[Abdallah9]

Thaaat's pretty totaly in for it.

[Mr.Elli0t]

Reserved

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

[Starston3]

Nice Bauer bottom row... but no credit seems ummm... something

[mrkantz]

I dig this, nice work!

[Kokaloo]

This is peak 75% layout imo
Looks niiiice excited to see a proto

[crykn]

Thaaat's pretty totaly in for it.

I dig this, nice work!

This is peak 75% layout imo
Looks niiiice excited to see a proto

Thanks for the kind words and support! Glad you guys like the design! Hopefully a prototype will be coming soon.

Nice Bauer bottom row... but no credit seems ummm... something

Although this was in jest, I went ahead and added a tribute to Dixie Mech's Bauer as inspiration for the symmetrical 0.75u WKL blocker out of respect for Dixie.

[lush_bunny]

Sexy. Colors?

[bthezebra]

Really like this design and the renders are well done 

[pixelpusher]

looks like the Bauer and the Polaris had a baby that grew to be bigger than the two of them!  That's not a bad thing, either.  Nice looking board.

[crd]

This is exactly the 75% layout I have always been looking for. It has all of the right design elements: separated, symmetrical, blocked F row as well as the nicely symmetrical blocked bottom row. Yes please. I hope someone picks this up and makes this a reality. Looking forward to seeing more progress on this. Nice work and good luck!

[rondg]

Totally interested

[Lunarpie]

Interested for sure. Nice 75%

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

[vicissitude]

interested.
Love the TGR-style bottom.

[jimboytacos]

F...... I'm soooo in.

[PheonixStarr]

bro this keeb's a thickie lemme get sum

[m00t0nz]

Isolation mount is so hot right now. Really liking this! Nice work

[lush_bunny]

IC Filled. Fingers crossed for Dark Navy.
Question: What are the things that would drive down the cost of production for this board? MOQ? One layout for all?
Thanks!

[crykn]

Sexy. Colors?

IC Filled. Fingers crossed for Dark Navy.
Question: What are the things that would drive down the cost of production for this board? MOQ? One layout for all?
Thanks!

The colors are listed in the interest check survey, where you can list your top color choices. The colors that seem to have the most interest will likely have renders made for them and then they would be offered in the group buy. Production cost would definitely be driven most by higher order quantity. I doubt one layout would work, as both WK and WKL have strong support. Sandblasted brass would also likely be a bit cheaper than PVD, so we will see about what everyone is interested in. The best case scenario is just to generate lots of interest in the board so we can do a higher quantity and minimize the cost.

Really like this design and the renders are well done 

Thanks! the renders were made by PheonixStarr, with the exception of a couple that I made myself last minute, and they turned out really well!

looks like the Bauer and the Polaris had a baby that grew to be bigger than the two of them!  That's not a bad thing, either.  Nice looking board.

That is quite an interesting but fairly accurate description. The blockers were inspired by the Bauer, and it's funny that the Polaris had a vaguely similar design, although by the time it was released my design had already been finalized.

[mrpetrov]

I really like this design and am certainly interested. That said - and I know this isn't on the table - but I'd be a definite yes if this had separated arrow keys and right hand column.

[SUB01]

Looking good! I think this is going to be really popular with the people who don't like branding on their keyboards. Although some kind of engraving or design of dawn or something on the back might make this board stand out against other 75%s.

[crykn]

This is exactly the 75% layout I have always been looking for. It has all of the right design elements: separated, symmetrical, blocked F row as well as the nicely symmetrical blocked bottom row. Yes please. I hope someone picks this up and makes this a reality. Looking forward to seeing more progress on this. Nice work and good luck!

Thanks for the kind feedback! Definitely hoping to find the vendor sooner rather than later. Once the vendor and manufacturer are locked in, prototyping can occur.

Totally interested

Interested for sure. Nice 75%

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

F...... I'm soooo in.

Glad to hear it guys! Appreciate the support.

bro this keeb's a thickie lemme get sum

Of course, thanks for the awesome renders and helpful feedback <3

interested.
Love the TGR-style bottom.

Yeah, the TGR bottom shape, among other designs, was definitely an inspiration for the clean aesthetic I was targeting.

Isolation mount is so hot right now. Really liking this! Nice work

Thanks! I really enjoyed Keycult's implementation of isolation mount, so I'm excited to include it in this design!

[crykn]

I really like this design and am certainly interested. That said - and I know this isn't on the table - but I'd be a definite yes if this had separated arrow keys and right hand column.

Hey Mr Petrov, I recognize you from Top Clack! Unfortunately, like you said, the case layout is pretty set, only the plate layouts are likely to change according to feedback, but thanks for the feedback!

Looking good! I think this is going to be really popular with the people who don't like branding on their keyboards. Although some kind of engraving or design of dawn or something on the back might make this board stand out against other 75%s.

That's an interesting suggestion, I'll see if lots of other people request back engravings. I am considering a limited edition version with a certain back weight design I had in mind; however, I don't want to get ahead of myself as I've just barely started the IC phase and want to prototype the standard edition first. I'll have to see what feedback and demand looks like first.

[JerkChicken456]

very sweet board. that first GMK render is a face melter. hope it comes to fruition.

[Solotov]

Holy moly. Definitely in for this one 

[PotatoTM]

Nice and clean, consider me interested!

[cornballin]

My initial thoughts are:
1. A render with GMK Olive would be sweet. I think it would look good on the silver.
2. I also wish a polycarbonate option was available.
3. Regardless of 1 and 2, I'm going to try to get in on this. This is nice.

[vi0till]

Super interested to join..

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

[nguyenhimself]

This looks great. A bit simple, but I do enjoy the back view.

Probably a long shot, but: Any chance of split spacebars? Maybe 2.25 + 1.25 + 2.75 (6.25) so that they'd fit inside the Winkey spacebar and you don't have to change any mod keys. You wouldn't even need to change the plate.

Something like this:

[FinalEleven]

Wow, I am extremely interested in this keyboard...I don't have a 75% yet so this would be a pretty cool addition to my collection. Would there be any color options for the case?

I'm also extremely interested in that Keycap render in the first pic haha. You can probably make novelties that references the source material if anything.

[Hell-es]

Wow - very nice - i think there is no chance for a hotswap pcb ?


Hope pricing is known alongside 7V - definatelly want a 75 keyb - but now its hard to decide which one

[EMC Labs]

Looking like a clean and simple keyboard! I'm in if price is reasonable. 

[JSaintS]

Hopefully the price sits in my confort zone after shipping I really like the WK version!

[Surefoot]

Looking good, i'd get one with an ISO plate.

[Chaselicious17]

This has me super interested

[Robotical]

Looking great! Can't wait to see more! 

[generic_frog]

this looks great and I am crossing my fingers hard I get my hands on this. GL!

[dannyny]

In for one.

[synchromatik]

Staggered, symmetrical F-row on 75%
YES, please.

[_rubik]

Very clean! Interested for sure.

For reference, what sized space bar are you rendering with?

[lbaron]

Awesome board!  Love the layout and symmetry of it, great job!

[MdotMaxson]

The win key blockers are not symmetrical. Nice try though.

[beekey]

This looks great. A bit simple, but I do enjoy the back view.

Probably a long shot, but: Any chance of split spacebars? Maybe 2.25 + 1.25 + 2.75 (6.25) so that they'd fit inside the Winkey spacebar and you don't have to change any mod keys. You wouldn't even need to change the plate.

Something like this:

Show Image

Show Image

+1

[crykn]

very sweet board. that first GMK render is a face melter. hope it comes to fruition.

Glad you like it! Based on the interest so far, I'm fairly hopeful that the board will come to fruition! The GMK set on the other hand was just an experiment and due to competition probably won't come to fruition for a while.

Nice and clean, consider me interested!

Holy moly. Definitely in for this one 

Super interested to join..

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

Thanks guys!

My initial thoughts are:
1. A render with GMK Olive would be sweet. I think it would look good on the silver.
2. I also wish a polycarbonate option was available.
3. Regardless of 1 and 2, I'm going to try to get in on this. This is nice.

I could see if a render for GMK Olive could be made. Unfortunately, unless a vendor with lots of experience with polycarbonate helps out, I'd rather not risk the quality control issues. But thanks for the interest!

[Lunarpie]

Would love to see a render with the new GMK Hammerhead Deep Water set!

[crykn]

Wow, I am extremely interested in this keyboard...I don't have a 75% yet so this would be a pretty cool addition to my collection. Would there be any color options for the case?

I'm also extremely interested in that Keycap render in the first pic haha. You can probably make novelties that references the source material if anything.

Thanks for the interest! The color options are currently located in the interest check survey, whichever colors get the most votes/interest will probably have renders made and should show up in the GB.

This looks great. A bit simple, but I do enjoy the back view.

Probably a long shot, but: Any chance of split spacebars? Maybe 2.25 + 1.25 + 2.75 (6.25) so that they'd fit inside the Winkey spacebar and you don't have to change any mod keys. You wouldn't even need to change the plate.

Something like this:

Show Image

Show Image

Split spacebar is certainly not out of the question if it doesn't interfere with the existing layouts and there is decent support for it, than I don't see why I couldn't include it.

Looking like a clean and simple keyboard! I'm in if price is reasonable. 

Thanks for the design compliments! I hope the final price is reasonable for you

Wow - very nice - i think there is no chance for a hotswap pcb ?


Hope pricing is known alongside 7V - definatelly want a 75 keyb - but now its hard to decide which one

Unless there is high demand for a hotswap PCB, then it isn't super likely, but we will see what the community is most interested in. If no hotswap PCB is released, the best option might be to solder some sockets onto the PCB to make your own.

Hopefully the price sits in my confort zone after shipping I really like the WK version!

I definitely hope the price is within a comfortable range for everyone that wants to get one, just depends on vendors and quantities! I should have WK renders not too long from now

[plus_one]

This looks really great.  I love the minimalist design, and the layout is perfect.  Pending my personal finances and the cost of this board, I would definitely get one!

Can someone tell me more about the differences between a tray mount and an isolation mount?  I understand the mechanics of the mounting itself, I'm more interested in what it feels like to actually type on.
 I've read a little bit about gasket mounted boards, but I don't know what to expect in terms of the feel of the board other than a generally "softer" feel compared to the "hard points" of a tray mount.  I'd likely be using tactile switches (Zealios/Zilents), if that makes a difference.  Thanks!

[juusu]

This is the nicest looking in the recent string of 75% IC's, definitely interested. Hope you manage to keep the price down in the lower end of the range.

ISO plates are unlikely; however, this will also depend on the vendor and MOQs. Regardless, once the group buy is complete, the plates will be open sourced and an ISO plate file can be provided.

Does this mean the PCB will definitely support ISO layout, but I might need to get a custom plate cut to build an ISO board?