[IC] Foundation – γ (Gamma): Seamless, Screwless, F13 TKL, GB DATE: April 10

[AxolStudio]

[IC] Foundation – γ (Gamma): Seamless, Screwless, F13 TKL



My take on a seamless, screwless F13 TKL. Designed around the use of heavy linear or tactile switches.

IC Form
Proto gallery

Case specs:
-   Case: 6063 Aluminum
-   Weight: polished stainless steel
-   Typing angle: 7 degrees
-   Width: 372.79 mm
-   Height: 19.18 mm (front), 34.77 mm (back)
-   Effective typing height: 24.65 mm
-   Weight: 2.9 kg excluding plate
-   Mounting method: Gasket mount
-   WKL or WK options
-   Plate options: FR4, Aluminum, Polycarbonate, Carbon Fiber



PCB specs:
-   QMK/VIA compatibility
-   ESD Protection
-   Daughterboard: Unified C3 (USB C – Centered)
-   Soldered only
-   PCB will be opened sourced under non-commercial clause after GB ends.



Plate not final, will be adding stepped caps compatibility.
Plate will be open sourced under MIT license after GB ends. This includes a version without any flex cuts. Please feel free to experiment.

Pricing:
-      $630 USD with FR4 plate, $645 USD with other plate (CF, PC, Alu) @ 350 MOQ
-      Group buy date: April 10

Contents:
-      Keyboard Top
-      Keyboard Bottom
-      Weight (polished stainless)
-      PCB
-      Daughterboard + JST cable
-      Gaskets
-      Screws
-      Bumpons
-      MechandCo Carrying case

Vendors:
-      NA: MechsandCo
-      CAN: Deskhero
-      AUS: Dailyclack
-      UK: Prototypist
-      EU: MkbEU
-      SEA: Hex
-      CN: Frontier

Lead time: 3-4 Quarters.

Typing test
Prototype units are being sent out. Expect proper sound tests soon.
Alexotos

Remarks
Why no renders?
Renders are an artist's interpretation of an item. Prototypes are the item.

Discord

[AxolStudio]

Reserved

1/21/2022: Updated pricing and kit contents.
1/22/2022: Updated correct Effective typing height.
3/14/2022: Updated vendors, tentative GB date, sound test
3/19/2022: Updated open sourcing information of PCB and Plate

[atl22033]

shut up and take my money

[Meepergon]

Great first offering from TKLStudios!!

Can't wait to see this board in GB!

[Myu]

Pog

[Alessio]

what does the plate look like

[NivlakN]

Metal rectangles yes

[yahoon]

Very pog

[SkyBoy]

Looks great! Can't wait for more info

[C_L | Soup]

Great color choices for the boards! That side profile is a thing of beauty. Thanks for coming to IC with proto's, very good showing.

[nqbshas]

Niceee. Looking forward further details..

Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk

[nqbshas]

Niceee. Looking forward further details..

Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk

[SDKCAMPING]

this is only like the third or fourth board named foundation in the past month .... seems everyone wants to use that name lol

[Nurseh]

Man that white and teal is clean! Good work m8 

[cthalupa]

TKL Studios finally releasing a TKL to the public?!

Good looking board.

[sagarsiddhpura]

There is already an IC for a TKL board call foundation

[IOVERCALLHISTIOCYTES]

Any chance we could have a teal top too?

[eriz]

Very cool rectangle

[7h3of7]

Ne plate pics avail?

Also any pricing avail?

[Handke]

Any chance of ISO & hineybush pcb?

[Sumthingasian]

ne plateless avail

glwgb

[fropsie]

That f-row spacing is questionable.

[AxolStudio]

That f-row spacing is questionable.

Preference.

Ne plate pics avail?

Also any pricing avail?

Ill upload images of the proto plate later.
Check updated post.

what does the plate look like

See above

ne plateless avail

glwgb

Unforunately no.

[AxolStudio]

Any chance we could have a teal top too?

Colours are final.

[Handke]

That f-row spacing is questionable.

This group buy is original for the sake of it, to see how does it feel to be unique.

[Puddsy]

are the bumpons adhesive? at this price point i would expect an IM friction fit bumpon (which are available on mcmaster, just not in this shape) to cover the screw, especially since the adhesive on bumpons tends to be pretty beefy.

[AxolStudio]

are the bumpons adhesive? at this price point i would expect an IM friction fit bumpon (which are available on mcmaster, just not in this shape) to cover the screw, especially since the adhesive on bumpons tends to be pretty beefy.

Bumpons are adhesive, with extra bumpons to be provided. Theyre custom made, and the adhesive doesn't make the process of removing them difficult. Cost mainly comes from the top piece and the size of the board.

[Ella]

Yikes

[hali]

Are the bumpons used adhesive? If so, what will happen to the adhesion after accessing screws during multiple assemblies/disassemblies?

oops i just noticed puddsy's message

[Laur]

Are the bumpons used adhesive? If so, what will happen to the adhesion after accessing screws during multiple assemblies/disassemblies?

hali don't be dumb, you're just not supposed to build it more than once obviously.

[derpturtle]

the polishing of the internal weight seems... superfluous to say the least, especially considering the fact that dissassembling the board to actually take a look at it once built will be annoying with the bumpon issue others have mentioned

[ManiacMarc]

I can't wait to see more of this.

[herfalerf]

Am I wrong in thinking that due to the f-row spacing this is incompatible with readily available TKL pcbs?

[Sicowa]

I think ive seen a roboco version of this no?

[stidal]

650 yikes

[SDKCAMPING]

Can you share how you measured the front and typing height? I can't understand how it could be 19.18mm front, then 20.5 effective typing hight which is super super low (like frog), and without a xon ledge...

[CrazyAssMonkey]

I think ive seen a roboco version of this no?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQq-i1Anquu/

That? It does look quite similar. We should get that one.

[AxolStudio]

Can you share how you measured the front and typing height? I can't understand how it could be 19.18mm front, then 20.5 effective typing hight which is super super low (like frog), and without a xon ledge...

I stand corrected, the effective typing height was measured wrong. Ive provided a diagram of the correct method of calculating said typing height. Correct E Typing height is 24.65
Previous measurement was from the lowest point of the spacebar keycap to the bottom of the case without bumpons.

[AxolStudio]

are the bumpons adhesive? at this price point i would expect an IM friction fit bumpon (which are available on mcmaster, just not in this shape) to cover the screw, especially since the adhesive on bumpons tends to be pretty beefy.

Are the bumpons used adhesive? If so, what will happen to the adhesion after accessing screws during multiple assemblies/disassemblies?

the polishing of the internal weight seems... superfluous to say the least, especially considering the fact that dissassembling the board to actually take a look at it once built will be annoying with the bumpon issue others have mentioned

oops i just noticed puddsy's message

the polishing of the internal weight seems... superfluous to say the least, especially considering the fact that dissassembling the board to actually take a look at it once built will be annoying with the bumpon issue others have mentioned

Its adhesive, that being said its not particularly hard to get to the screw. You can lift up the corner of the bumpon without much issue and the adhesive stays on the bumpon.

[AxolStudio]

Am I wrong in thinking that due to the f-row spacing this is incompatible with readily available TKL pcbs?

You are correct with this statement. Readily available PCBs such as H88 and such wont fit due to layout and the USB port location.

[spikedsynapse]

This is really cool!

[mcpatty_mk]

SHEEEESHHHHHH this looks amazinggggggg. I think a clean engraving of some kind on the bottom of the board would look even cooler! Nice design overall though! I love it!

[Vanquish]

I love this board. I do hope a friction fit bumpon would be considered.

[Handke]

I will never buy a keyboard which has adhesive bumpons that need to be removed to access the screws. I've been through too many cheap keyboard. I'm not going to live in hell again.

are the bumpons adhesive? at this price point i would expect an IM friction fit bumpon (which are available on mcmaster, just not in this shape) to cover the screw, especially since the adhesive on bumpons tends to be pretty beefy.

Are the bumpons used adhesive? If so, what will happen to the adhesion after accessing screws during multiple assemblies/disassemblies?

the polishing of the internal weight seems... superfluous to say the least, especially considering the fact that dissassembling the board to actually take a look at it once built will be annoying with the bumpon issue others have mentioned

oops i just noticed puddsy's message

the polishing of the internal weight seems... superfluous to say the least, especially considering the fact that dissassembling the board to actually take a look at it once built will be annoying with the bumpon issue others have mentioned

Its adhesive, that being said its not particularly hard to get to the screw. You can lift up the corner of the bumpon without much issue and the adhesive stays on the bumpon.

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[cthalupa]

All bumpons suck, and I've not had great luck with the McMaster Carr friction fits, either, including on a variety of products higher end than keyboards. Kinda surprised it's something that factors in at all in people's decisions.

[Vanquish]

Eagerly awaiting groupbuy details!

[AxolStudio]

Eagerly awaiting groupbuy details!

Details updated, more to come soon.

[SDKCAMPING]

I would like to see how big the weight is, it feels kind of expensive for a board with a smaller weight. I like the interesting spacing wth the Function row though

[AxolStudio]

I would like to see how big the weight is, it feels kind of expensive for a board with a smaller weight. I like the interesting spacing wth the Function row though

Most of the cost comes from the top piece.
Dimensions in cad: 188mm x 50mm x 8.4mm
Images of the sample being measured provided. Keep in mind that its not a perfect measurement due to the way you measure with calipers. x-plane measurement was larger than my calipers allowed for.

[phinix]

Why $630?
For what? Another keyboard for such a high price.
I thought that Geon showed everybody with Frog TKL that it is possible to make it cheaper, or simply, ask less for this kind of keyboard.
Even if this one has gasket mount and few small differences, Still $400-450 would be closer to proper price.