[IC] "Go-popper", A 2-in-1 Aluminum Switch Opener, Jan 18 UPDATED, GB launched

[entergogo]

Hey everyone!

Happy New Year! And hope you are staying safe and healthy!

We are entergogo, a team consisting of several enthusiasts with different backgrounds, passions, and hobbies all culminating around a love for all things mechanical keyboards. As freshers, we wish to initially get started with some tiny little accessories that can benefit keyboard lovers and the community by finding out new and innovative ways to make our keyboarding experience even better.



We now want to start an interest check for a 2-in-1 Aluminum Switch Opener we had designed. As you see the name ‘opener’, the reason why we are introducing this item is pretty straightforward--it is a compact, portable, handy, and durable switch opener that helps mechanical keyboard lovers to open the switch FAST & SAFELY and with 200% convenience.



More photos here

Our goal on this item has been to try to create the ultimate answer to the switch-opening problem. We’ve been heavily involved in the mechanical keyboard community for many years, engaging with others in this community. Gradually, we discovered that many of us have personally encountered and experienced difficulties or unsatisfied experiences with opening switches with tools based on demands of lubing/replacing switches and replacing keycaps, we realized that what really matters is often unseen--we could not locate a truly beneficial and useful tool for opening switches.

Keeping this in mind, we designed and developed "Go-popper" after hundreds of hours of prototyping and pre-testings. We also wanted to confirm that it must satisfy our demands first before we genuinely introduce it to the community.

The concept of this design was to make the opening switch work short and safely. Because we know how important and precious a mechanical keyboard is for each of its lovers, we decided to make it a 2-in-1 little ‘cracker’. Secured by a non-slip rubber o-ring, it has two sides: one for MX switches, the other for Kailh Box switches. To open a switch, just press it into the prongs on the corresponding side and watch as it opens up. In addition, we apply an exquisite cutting process for its appearance plus the anodic oxidation process. The raw material of aluminum makes it solid and sturdy for use durably. No worries of lubious, insufficient, and broken switches ever : )

It will be limited to 200 units for the 1st round GB.
If you are interested, fill out the IC here. We will reach out to you when we launch the GB later!

Features

• Both MX and Kailh box switch compatible
• Made of Aluminum, CNC processed and anodized
• Texture: Matte
• Packaging: Paper box with environmentally-friendly recycle paper

Pricing and Timeline

• The estimated price per opener should be around $30, including the global shipping fee.
• The IC gets started on today (Dec 31, 2020 EST), and will close on Jan 13, 2021 EST.
• GB is hoping to start on Jan 14, 2021 EST right after IC was gathered.
• Complete the IC here if you are interested! We will reach out to you when we launch the GB.
• We do have a number of future projects (keyboards, other tools & accessories, etc.) and we are trying to support the keyboard open source community, and also hope to strengthen this community with superior-quality items born with our best effort.

You can directly email us at hi@entergogo.com

Let us know if you have any questions, thoughts, or comments on this event or anything you are curious about us : ) And we are so excited to see how this beginning leads to a fantastic explosion of our works!
Updates will be uploaded here later.

Jan 13, 2021 UPDATE

Hey guys! Here are the updates of our go-popper switch opener:

First of all, we want to show our sincere gratitude to Dave from the community, who inspired us to design and manufacture our switch opener during the IC. He said, usually it isn’t easy for users to identify which end is made for BOX switch and which end is for MX switch by solely distinguishing the appearance of the opener. To make sure that we can all get it 100% correct, we decided to use the laser engraving technique to mark the sliders of Cherry MX and Kailh BOX on each side of the opener in order to show which end of the opener is compatible for two switches respectively.

The repeated, unexpected scratches, wipe, and rub of surfaces of the opener were taken into account when we were selecting methods of marking/engraving. Since Go-popper is made with anodized aluminum, it can easily be engraved with clean, impressive detail and can never be wiped off. We also confirmed that unlike most materials, engraving anodized aluminum does not leave any smoke or residue, and that’s also one of the reasons we eventually agreed to apply laser engraving to mark the sliders.
Design drawing:

 
The Go-popper after the upgradation:


 
We are not able to upgrade Go-popper without Dave and his thoughts. Again, really appreciate Dave for speaking out loudly and inspiring us to improve the switch opener. We are now one step closer to exploring more extraordinary keyboard experiences by finding new and innovative ways to benefit keyboard lovers and the community!

Videos:

Fill in IC here


Jan 18, 2021 UPDATE

We are glad to announce that Round one Group Buy on Go-popper was just launched.

Feel free to check it out with a new, individual post down below:
1st Round GB - Go-popper

Here’s the Group Buy Form: Round One Group Buy Form - Go-popper

Feel free to comment down below with any questions, ideas, or thoughts you have : )

entergogo

[AshF]

Looks clean, excellent price point. Count me in

[tngpq]

Wait, this is just an octagon nutcracker.

[bvckcompton]

Count me in. Love the design and utility


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Swishy]

It kinda just looks like the Nutcracker V2

[hottrout]

Looks like a handy tool for the kit, count me in.

[apexshikari]

Very clean.

PS:Not sure if it’s just me but the IC form link does not seem to work.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[entergogo]

Very clean.

PS:Not sure if it’s just me but the IC form link does not seem to work.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We do find that the IC link doesn't work if you check on Tapatalk, please go to the web page to check the IC link, we have checked the IC link there is working all right.

[powwu]

Cool design, but MX and Box... sigh. Wish it was MX and Alps.

Also, where's the IC form? You already know you're doing a group buy, so this is more of an advertisement... not an IC.

edit again: found the IC form, point still stands

[crestia]

so... a nutcracker?

[ronny boi]

Looks like a nutcracker clone to me chief

[Jefff]

While this does resemble the Nutcracker v2, I think this is different enough not to infringe on their design. Good luck! I'll probably be picking one up for myself.

[loop | esc lab]

I prefer to give people benefit of the doubt. A double-sided design is nothing innovative, and someone would have stepped on that design one day or another. Does that mean people can never do double-sided designs ever again?


Good luck with IC.

[entergogo]

While this does resemble the Nutcracker v2, I think this is different enough not to infringe on their design. Good luck! I'll probably be picking one up for myself.

THANK YOU

[entergogo]

I prefer to give people benefit of the doubt. A double-sided design is nothing innovative, and someone would have stepped on that design one day or another. Does that mean people can never do double-sided designs ever again?


Good luck with IC.

Thank you very much!

[reubenlikesbread]

nutcracker is looking good these days

[entergogo]

nutcracker is looking good these days

We will do better works.

[entergogo]

Looks like a handy tool for the kit, count me in.

Thank you for your comments! And we just uploaded the latest improvement on our Go-popper! Feel free to check it out!

[entergogo]

Videos updated to display the opener and how to use it. Feel free to bring up any questions or thoughts on it : )

[caronte0]

Videos updated to display the opener and how to use it. Feel free to bring up any questions or thoughts on it : )

want to buy, when and where can i do it?

[entergogo]

Videos updated to display the opener and how to use it. Feel free to bring up any questions or thoughts on it : )

want to buy, when and where can i do it?

The Round One Group Buy on Go-popper was just launched.

Feel free to check it out with a new, individual post down below:
1st Round GB - Go-popper

Here’s the Group Buy Form: Round One Group Buy Form - Go-popper

Let us know if you have any questions, ideas, or thoughts.

entergogo

[rt_es]

Videos updated to display the opener and how to use it. Feel free to bring up any questions or thoughts on it : )

want to buy, when and where can i do it?

The Round One Group Buy on Go-popper was just launched.

Feel free to check it out with a new, individual post down below:
1st Round GB - Go-popper

Here’s the Group Buy Form: Round One Group Buy Form - Go-popper

Let us know if you have any questions, ideas, or thoughts.

entergogo

The form seems to not allow multiple responses in the same column when selecting the color and I can't submit it.

[entergogo]

Videos updated to display the opener and how to use it. Feel free to bring up any questions or thoughts on it : )

want to buy, when and where can i do it?

The Round One Group Buy on Go-popper was just launched.

Feel free to check it out with a new, individual post down below:
1st Round GB - Go-popper

Here’s the Group Buy Form: Round One Group Buy Form - Go-popper

Let us know if you have any questions, ideas, or thoughts.

entergogo

The form seems to not allow multiple responses in the same column when selecting the color and I can't submit it.

Could you please try again? The form should work now.

[rt_es]

Videos updated to display the opener and how to use it. Feel free to bring up any questions or thoughts on it : )

want to buy, when and where can i do it?

The Round One Group Buy on Go-popper was just launched.

Feel free to check it out with a new, individual post down below:
1st Round GB - Go-popper

Here’s the Group Buy Form: Round One Group Buy Form - Go-popper

Let us know if you have any questions, ideas, or thoughts.

entergogo

The form seems to not allow multiple responses in the same column when selecting the color and I can't submit it.

Could you please try again? The form should work now.

Yup! Just placed an order for the black.

[entergogo]

Videos updated to display the opener and how to use it. Feel free to bring up any questions or thoughts on it : )

want to buy, when and where can i do it?

Thank you!
The Round One Group Buy on Go-popper was just launched.

Feel free to check it out with a new, individual post down below:
1st Round GB - Go-popper

Here’s the Group Buy Form: Round One Group Buy Form - Go-popper

Let us know if you have any questions, ideas, or thoughts.

entergogo

The form seems to not allow multiple responses in the same column when selecting the color and I can't submit it.

Could you please try again? The form should work now.

Yup! Just placed an order for the black.

[entergogo]

I prefer to give people benefit of the doubt. A double-sided design is nothing innovative, and someone would have stepped on that design one day or another. Does that mean people can never do double-sided designs ever again?


Good luck with IC.

The GB has been started, here is the link https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=110730.0