[IC] The Adélie - Premium 50%+ Keyboard | GB Starts Sept 26th

[Abec13]

Hello everyone.

Welcome to the Adélie [Ah-day-lee].
Pronunciation may vary by your region, this is how the English pronounce it an how I will be saying it.

IC Form: https://forms.gle/NyBcXXk8jVNVA975A

Inspiration
As more people should, I take this hobby pretty lightly. The Adélie is named after a type of penguin. I like penguins.
The board layout inspiration comes from a combination of the CA66, my previous board, the 45-ATS, and the TMO50 v1.
The board shape inspiration comes from a combination of the CA66, Elephant S7, and the side "weights" are something that I pulled from the GMK Q100.
There was a lot of interest in the 45-ATS but some people were wishing for the full punctuation. I hear your call - here's my answer.

Board Details
Gasket mount.
6 Degree typing angle.
Side weight accents.
WS28 Indicator LED's underneath the caps like newer Minivan.
Daughter board, centered USB.
[Bottom/Internal] Brass Weight.
Approx. 1.94 kg [4.285 lbs] unbuilt assuming brass plate.

Color Options
Black - Brass, PVD Chrome Weights
Dark Navy - Brass, PVD Chrome Weights
Rose Red - Brass, PVD Gold Weights
E-White - Brass, PVD Gold Weights
Color options are only speculated; materials and finishes are not final.
Anticipating offering other plate options.

Pricing
Idk, a lot probably. This board consists of 6 unique parts not including PCB, gaskets, etc.
$550

Status
Prototypes are in, ordering a few more. Group buy looking to commence shortly after the summer is over.

Layout

Group Buy Details
First come first serve.

Vendors:
USA/NA: Cannon Keys
EU: MyKeyboardEU
Asia: iLumKB
AU: Daily Clack

Renders

More

More

More

More

IC Form: https://forms.gle/NyBcXXk8jVNVA975A

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Timeline
03.18.2020
Interest Check Created
Yeah I'm not actually continuing this timeline. The GB is on the 26th of Sept 2020, okay?

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[/size]

Shoutouts and credits:

Thanks for reading this far. Huge thanks to Upas, Gok, for help with modeling recommendations.
Thanks to Sour for help with the logo, and providing render backdrops.
Thanks to the 40s discord for being a place to boot up these kind of projects.








yes nat this is exactly the same format as the other IC page, thank you.

[NathanAlphaMan]

Got the 45-ATS, going to get this. Love it.

[Jaxxstatic]

I DO NOT like sub 60s....
but I love the hell out of this. Good grief. Please add R1. If you don't, I'll still try to buy this.

[Create_alt_delete]

Will be my first <60% if this comes to fruition. Beautiful.

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

[Rensuya]

Its finally happening! Looks great

[Macmutant]

This looks so good. Definitely interested. Hoping for electro-static discharge protection and VIA Configurator support. Absolutely would be happy to pay over $400 if ESD is included. Thanks for making such a cool design, my dude.

[kidpid]

Super cool! Is there any chance of a HHKB-like top with a 1.25u blocker on the left corner?

[konstantin]

Good layout. As a left thumb space user, I appreciate the larger 2.75u space key being on the left side; however, you might want to support the inverse option as well for people who prefer to input space with their right hand.

Also, any chance that centered stem 6u space could be supported instead of (or at least alongside) off-centered?

[Abec13]

Super cool! Is there any chance of a HHKB-like top with a 1.25u blocker on the left corner?

I.. wouldn't count on it. We'll see what the masses say.

Good layout. As a left thumb space user, I appreciate the larger 2.75u space key being on the left side; however, you might want to support the inverse option as well for people who prefer to input space with their right hand.

Also, any chance that centered stem 6u space could be supported instead of (or at least in addition to) off-centered?

The bottom row is already swiss cheese. The current space configurations has the intentions of centering the split bar at G & H and I will not be adding the reverse.

Off centered 6u saved some area of the bottom row.

[Agilr]

Abec whipping out straight heat again

[Top Right Logo]

Not a fan of the artisan layout choice. If you could switch the $1213 artisan spot with a $1150 artisan spot so us non-fatcats could afford to fill it out i'm in.

[konstantin]

Good layout. As a left thumb space user, I appreciate the larger 2.75u space key being on the left side; however, you might want to support the inverse option as well for people who prefer to input space with their right hand.

Also, any chance that centered stem 6u space could be supported instead of (or at least in addition to) off-centered?

The bottom row is already swiss cheese. The current space configurations has the intentions of centering the split bar at G & H and I will not be adding the reverse.

Off centered 6u saved some area of the bottom row.

I figured as much. Alright, that's reasonable. Personally, I don't mind; I'm glad to see that 2.75u+2.25u won out this time around.

Follow-up question: status LEDs in the vertical 0.5u space above the arrows, ŕ la Volcano660 (oh, and 45-ATS too I guess)?

[Jaltr]

Im in!

Sent from my SM-J415G using Tapatalk

[eniigma]

Looks absolutely incredible. Was just working on something similar to this earlier today, but I guess that has been shelved because this is just amazing. Best of luck! 

[Helpingly]

As a person who wasn't able to pick up the 45-ATS, thank you for this second chance.

[sevenseacat]

Absolutely love the look, but that weird gap around the arrows turns me off every time. 😭

[Zeelobby]

Damn. Well. Didnt think I'd need a 50 in my layout hunt but these curves are real nice.

[SekaiJutsu]

I love how realistic the artisan slots are 

[mydens]

I would prefer a premium  CA66. I NEED MY NUMBERS!

[Vigrith]

Can't deal with the lack of numrow on sub 60% personally but the design is lovely. Best of luck.

[Abec13]

Good layout. As a left thumb space user, I appreciate the larger 2.75u space key being on the left side; however, you might want to support the inverse option as well for people who prefer to input space with their right hand.

Also, any chance that centered stem 6u space could be supported instead of (or at least in addition to) off-centered?

The bottom row is already swiss cheese. The current space configurations has the intentions of centering the split bar at G & H and I will not be adding the reverse.

Off centered 6u saved some area of the bottom row.

I figured as much. Alright, that's reasonable. Personally, I don't mind; I'm glad to see that 2.75u+2.25u won out this time around.

Follow-up question: status LEDs in the vertical 0.5u space above the arrows, ŕ la Volcano660 (oh, and 45-ATS too I guess)?

RGB LED's reside under/between the Esc-Q-W keys with a small hole in the plate for the led to shine through. Please read under Board Details

[Aiwanei]

I love this, I have never wanted a sub 60% board more in my life.  I am sure this isn't an option, but I think it would look killer with a left side HHKB Blocker.

[Zeelobby]

Yeah. Not gonna lie. Redo this case style with num row and it's an instant cop. I love the curve of the case. Dropping num row is just painful. Hopefully this comes back in some 65 format later. Love the aesthetic.

[MikeTheTiger]

Another wonder in the works! Congrats Abec!!

[cijanzen]

Another vote for blocked bottom left corner ala hhkb

[DrHigsby]

Holy cow. This board is beautiful. I appreciate immensely that question mark, right brackets, and quotation marks were important considerations for the layout. One of the biggest turn offs for 40s/50s for me is these keys missing.

I’m watching with hopeful eyes.

[konstantin]

Follow-up question: status LEDs in the vertical 0.5u space above the arrows, ŕ la Volcano660 (oh, and 45-ATS too I guess)?

RGB LED's reside under/between the Esc-Q-W keys with a small hole in the plate for the led to shine through. Please read under Board Details

Interesting. Any particular reason why you decided to go that route instead of topside indicator LEDs like on the 45-ATS? I think the latter would look nicer and cleaner on this board as there would be no light bleed around the keycaps. Also, it would make it easier to tell which LEDs are on at a glance, I think. To me, those LEDs on the Minivan feel like an afterthought.

[lush_bunny]

Pretty sub60. Also that right column 

[gorbachev]

The side panels rock. That's one awesome looking board.

[Abec13]

Follow-up question: status LEDs in the vertical 0.5u space above the arrows, ŕ la Volcano660 (oh, and 45-ATS too I guess)?

RGB LED's reside under/between the Esc-Q-W keys with a small hole in the plate for the led to shine through. Please read under Board Details

Interesting. Any particular reason why you decided to go that route instead of topside indicator LEDs like on the 45-ATS? I think the latter would look nicer and cleaner on this board as there would be no light bleed around the keycaps. Also, it would make it easier to tell which LEDs are on at a glance, I think. To me, those LEDs on the Minivan feel like an afterthought.

I think that LED holes here wouldn't be as clean as the aesthetic I'm going for. The underglow LED's like on the minivan can be different colors upon different actions and there are 3, so you should have no trouble identifying the actions.

[sourmk]

nice

[TonyPia]

Follow-up question: status LEDs in the vertical 0.5u space above the arrows, ŕ la Volcano660 (oh, and 45-ATS too I guess)?

RGB LED's reside under/between the Esc-Q-W keys with a small hole in the plate for the led to shine through. Please read under Board Details

Interesting. Any particular reason why you decided to go that route instead of topside indicator LEDs like on the 45-ATS? I think the latter would look nicer and cleaner on this board as there would be no light bleed around the keycaps. Also, it would make it easier to tell which LEDs are on at a glance, I think. To me, those LEDs on the Minivan feel like an afterthought.

I think that LED holes here wouldn't be as clean as the aesthetic I'm going for. The underglow LED's like on the minivan can be different colors upon different actions and there are 3, so you should have no trouble identifying the actions.

I also think underglow from the plate side may look cheap while your baseline design is neat and fluid making it look fancy and luxurious.
How about top side above usb port?

[TonyPia]

Not a fan of the artisan layout choice. If you could switch the $1213 artisan spot with a $1150 artisan spot so us non-fatcats could afford to fill it out i'm in.

I saw this a few times but didn't care but all of sudden became very curious.
Is there practical meaning on the numbers?

[d00deitsnik]

Yesss!! The IC is finally happening!

I didn't realize you were influenced by the CA66. That's the board that got me into mechanical keyboards! I always hoped I'd be able to find a more portable board with a similar aesthetic. (: Thanks Abec~ You read my mind without me even realizing it.

On another note. I love the logo on the weight. It looks great even without the case. I'd be interested in having the logo made into a desk thing. Would that be something you'd consider down the line?

[dom]

This one feels very friendly! Congratulations!

[phinix]

Not my size and layout, but it is so beautiful!
I'm sure peeps who love <60% would love it.

[Emir]

Wow that looks great, good job! Shame on the size, I'd love it as a 60!

[nguyenhimself]

Soooooooo... I guess I'm the only one who looked at the logo this way huh?
Cool cool cool.





Perfect for a keyboard bottom, surely?

[konstantin]

I think that LED holes here wouldn't be as clean as the aesthetic I'm going for. The underglow LED's like on the minivan can be different colors upon different actions and there are 3, so you should have no trouble identifying the actions.

My problem with that is that I don't want to use multicolored indicators if I'm going for a clean aesthetic. For example, if I put Apollo on a black Adélie like in your renders, I wouldn't want to use red or green LEDs as that would just look bad. And if the colors are all the same, the LEDs being under the keys makes it harder to tell at a glance which ones are on. Not to mention that it hardly screams “premium”.

Have you considered microperforations for the indicator holes? They look clean and are pretty much invisible when the LEDs are off. I think they would be a good match for this design.

[lush_bunny]

Are the colors final? I'm pining for dark green, but the e-white looks sick.

[SpeakingSilence]

Absolutely must have. This is gorgeous. Great work!

[Penguindropings]

Several members pinged me about this IC since I have a mild obsession with Penguins.

Never bothered with anything below 65%..... but I will give an exception to this one.

[ttom]

Fantastic work. Upset I couldn't get in on the 45-ATS but I will definitely try my luck here 

[Abec13]

I think that LED holes here wouldn't be as clean as the aesthetic I'm going for. The underglow LED's like on the minivan can be different colors upon different actions and there are 3, so you should have no trouble identifying the actions.

My problem with that is that I don't want to use multicolored indicators if I'm going for a clean aesthetic. For example, if I put Apollo on a black Adélie like in your renders, I wouldn't want to use red or green LEDs as that would just look bad. And if the colors are all the same, the LEDs being under the keys makes it harder to tell at a glance which ones are on. Not to mention that it hardly screams “premium”.

Have you considered microperforations for the indicator holes? They look clean and are pretty much invisible when the LEDs are off. I think they would be a good match for this design.

Show Image

I am typing on a volcano right now, I know what they look like. Pretty much, and actually invisible are a bit different. I'll consider it if it's something I regret at the proto phase, but at the moment this is where I'm going with this.

[konstantin]

I am typing on a volcano right now, I know what they look like. Pretty much, and actually invisible are a bit different. I'll consider it if it's something I regret at the proto phase, but at the moment this is where I'm going with this.

Fair enough. Either way, I'm excited to see those protos!

[i luv chuletas]

Ufff, this is lovely. Almost like it more than Cajal 

Will def keep an eye out for this!

[Langelandia]

Just shut up and take my money now before it's gone. Love you.

<3

[Coneree]

wow very interested

[celta]

Looks Awesome! Any chance this will also have alps support?

[subluxe]

The more I look at this the more convinced I am... This layout is sick