RADIUS 68Hi everyone on Geekhack! I'm Ewen from Synth Studio, the designer behind Radius.
After a year of development, I'm finally bringing Radius to IC.
The prototype is already here, and while there's still plenty to refine before GB, I just can't wait to share it with the community.
I hope you guys like it.
The DesignThe left-hand layout of Radius may be particularly interesting for:
- MacOS users who naturally use their thumb for Command
- Who aren't quite ready to move away from traditional full-height MX switches in favor of the increasingly low-profile boards for Mac
- Who prefer traditional layout, but still want some of the ergonomic benefits of an Alice-style layout
Radius gave me plenty of room for my ego as a designer. This is the first time I can take charge of the whole process.
And it feels amazing! 
Every
radius on the case has been tuned, with the proportions between different corners designed to feel visually consistent.
Every exposed corners use a smoother G2 fillet, smooth the transitions into the straights.
Those embedded pieces — the cutouts and the badge area — are completely seamless.
I spent an unreasonable amount of time working out the structure to minimize visible gaps, and I'm proud of that visual I delivered.
The teeth and badge areas use three selected pieces of black-lip pearl oyster's shell, hand-polished.
The natural layered structure of the shell creates complex iridescence as light passes through and reflects between the layers.
Every piece has its own natural micro-structure, that means no two pieces will be the same.
Silicone GasketI choose silicone gasket for the mounting system, the goal is to eliminate vibration while providing enough support.
All contact points between the plate and the top/bottom case are isolated with silicone particles, providing a soft interfaces.
The relatively wide frame also gave me room to add additional support points along the left and right edges of the plate, helping increase rigidity around the perimeter.
I'm a fan of aluminum and carbon fiber plates here. Both give the board plenty of support while still allowing a small amount of flex.0° Typing AngleNow for the slightly controversial part:
Radius has a 0° typing angle.
This came from my experience using full-height MX switches.
No matter how low I made the front height of a conventional angled keyboard, I still found myself extending my wrists upward while typing.
To me, the ideal typing position isn't really a straight angle.
It's more like a continuous curve that follows the natural shape of your palm and fingers.
When your fingers can naturally drop onto the keys, the amount of tension in your wrists can be reduced.
So instead of trying to force the keyboard itself to provide the entire ergonomic curve, I designed a dedicated wrist rest to complete it.
The wrist rest is therefore an integral part of the Radius experience.
But what if 0° isn't for you?The silicone feet are separately molded parts that sit inside dedicated slots in the bottom case rather than being sticked on.
That means the slots can accommodate different foot shapes and thicknesses, allowing the typing angle to be increased without redesigning the case.
This was specifically designed for people who try 0° and found it not useful.
Please, please try 0° before adding angle I mean it.The Wrist RestI've already made too much wrist rest designs.
At this point I've lost control.
My discord channel is up, I'd love to hear which design you guys prefer.
Feel free to discuss, roast, or help me narrow them down.
SpecificationsLayout68-key, Mac-friendly layout
SpacebarSplit spacebar, with support for a standard 6.25u spacebar
MountingSilicone particle gasket
Flexible plate-to-case connection
Case6063 aluminum
CNC machined from a single piece
Anodized finish
WeightPVD stainless steel
PlateAluminum / carbon fiber (let me know what else to add)
FoamsPoron & IXPE
FirmwareQMK
Thanks for making it this far!
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts, feedback, and criticism.
Thanks everyone!
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