[IC] Ark68 R2 by Ark Studio - 65% Gasket Mounted

[kcching]

GB Date: 27th January 2022- 8th Feburary 2022 [Unlimited]
Time:  27th January 2022, 10AM (GMT+8)
GB Post

Introduction
Ark Studio was established in China by a group of keyboard enthusiasts since 2019.
We had run 7 successful group buys in China to date.

Please join our Discord server to discover our previous works: https://discord.gg/UvuTHkHvww

With our own CNC machining factory, all the group buys in China were all delivered earlier than expected (within 4 months).
We are confident that our production quality is in line with international standard.
Here we introduced you our latest product:- Ark68 R2.







Exploded View


We understand that its all about personal preferences in terms of sound and feel.
Hence we provide the foams so that you can use according to your liking.

Case Specification

• 65% with top right blocker
• Gasket mounted
• PCB foam, case foam and switch foam
• 7 degree typing angle
• Seamless design
• Unbuilt base kit is about 1.1kg; Built kit with PVD brass weight and PVD backpiece is about 2.8kg

PCB Specification

• 1.2mm flex cut
• Unified USB-C daughterboard
• VIA supported
• Solder and Hotswap options
• Hotswap PCB only support WK, ANSI layout with 7u spacebar

Solder PCB Supported Layout


PCB Prototypes
Hotswap


Solder


** PCB color is not finalized.

Plate Options

• FR4
• PC
• Aluminum

Packaging Specification

CNC EVA form, anti-dust PE wrapping

Prototypes
We skipped the rendering and go straight to prototypes production.
Some of the prototypes will be send to keyboard enthusiast(s) for build and review (Yes! We are arranging now).

Due to the many components in this board, and we have more than 25 colors to choose from, we haven't decide on the colorway combination yet.
We will create an IC form to gather input from the community before we finalize the colorway.

Here are the actual prototypes photos:

Sound Test
Lubed Cream switches, OW stabilizers, Aluminum plate

Flex test with case foam

Flex test W/O case foam

Piano switches L/F with Sprit 63.5 slow2 spring swap W/O case foam

Banana Split switches L/F , aluminum plate, GMK Wild, NO FOAM

Neapolitan Ice Cream switch L/F , aluminum plate, CRP C64, NO FOAM

Neapolitan Ice Cream switch L/F , aluminum plate, GMK Modo Light, NO FOAM

H1 switch L/F , FR4 plate, GMK Oblivion, NO FOAM

To Do

• IC Form
• Colorway and Options
• GB

[kcching]

CHANGE LOG

2021-11-22
- Fix typo for Hotswap PCB, hotswap only support WK, ANSI layout with 7u spacebar

2021-11-23
- Update IC form

2021-12-01
- Sound test and flex test with PC plate, without case foam

2021-12-02
- Sound test with Banana split on aluminum plate, NO FOAM except anti-static sheet beneath PCB
- Sound test with Neapolitan Ice Cream Switch on aluminum plate with CRP C64, NO FOAM except anti-static sheet beneath PCB
- Sound test with Neapolitan Ice Cream Switch on aluminum plate with GMK Modo Light, NO FOAM except anti-static sheet beneath PCB

2021-12-03
- Sound test with H1 Switch on FR4 plate with GMK Oblivion, NO FOAM except anti-static sheet beneath PCB

[treeleaf64]

Suspicious flex cuts
Suspicious amount of foam
Time to do more bad word posting

[actress]

please no

[GrumioThaSpoonGod]

Why does the hotswap PCB say it only supports ISO, when based off the hotswap PCB proto it looks like it supports ANSI.

[SDKCAMPING]

that exploded view bluew my mind, so many layers it's crazy. too many!

[HappyB0T]

that exploded view bluew my mind, so many layers it's crazy. too many!

Lol I did the same thing. Mind exploded. Then I tried to count the layers. I think I saw 4 layers that were not pcb, plate or case.

[Fraaaan]

4 pieces of foam? Jesus... Did it really sound so bad that you had to eliminate every last bit of the case sound?

[kcching]

Why does the hotswap PCB say it only supports ISO, when based off the hotswap PCB proto it looks like it supports ANSI.

It was a typo. Amended.
Hotswap only support WKL, ANSI with 7u spacebar.

[kcching]

4 pieces of foam? Jesus... Did it really sound so bad that you had to eliminate every last bit of the case sound?

Hi! All foams are optional.
We understand that its all about personal preferences in terms of sound and feel.
Hence we provide the foams so that you can use according to your liking.

[kcching]

that exploded view bluew my mind, so many layers it's crazy. too many!

Hi! All foams are optional.
We understand that its all about personal preferences in terms of sound and feel.
Hence we provide the foams so that you can use according to your liking.

[finalarcadia]

I like the case design, good job. Would’ve loved your tkl better tho

[kcching]

I like the case design, good job. Would’ve loved your tkl better tho

Thanks for the kind word!
We do plan to bring Ark87 again but with different design elements

[bahm]

Really digging the dark mirror/pink backside

[Stilou Studio]

Looks awesome! GLWIC

[kcching]

Looks awesome! GLWIC

Thanks sir!

[kcching]

Update - Sound test and flex test with PC plate, without case foam

[unusuaL_]

we need a lot of foam to keep our keyboards warm this winter i suppose

[kcching]

we need a lot of foam to keep our keyboards warm this winter i suppose

Updated sound test with Banana split on aluminum plate, NO FOAM except anti-static sheet beneath PCB.

Hope you like it!

[kcching]

4 pieces of foam? Jesus... Did it really sound so bad that you had to eliminate every last bit of the case sound?

Update sound test with Banana split on aluminum plate, NO FOAM except anti-static sheet beneath PCB.

Hope you like it!

[kcching]

Added sound test with Neapolitan Ice Cream Switch on aluminum plate with CRP C64 / GMK Modo Light, NO FOAM except anti-static sheet beneath PCB

[kcching]

Added sound test with H1 Switch on FR4 plate, GMK Oblivion, NO FOAM except anti-static sheet beneath PCB

[lovebee.co]

any idea for price point yet?

[kcching]

Est. around USD 300 for base kit

any idea for price point yet?

[Neprawdda]

Will there be a plate file? or can you make a pom plate? and carbon.

[kcching]

No plan for POM and carbon plate at the moment.
But we will release the plate file.

Will there be a plate file? or can you make a pom plate? and carbon.

[kcching]

We are very excited to announce that we are going to start the group buy by 27th January! It will be a 2 weeks unlimited group buy.

[Neprawdda]

We are very excited to announce that we are going to start the group buy by 27th January! It will be a 2 weeks unlimited group buy.

For three weeks?)