[IC] Constance 60

[aiglatsonstudio]

CONSTANCE 60

IC FORM

TLDR

•   A 60% gasket mount designed to be plateless-first, with full support for plated builds
•   A new Graduated Bulb PCB cutout, tuned over four prototypes
•   Heavy solid weights, optional side supports for modifier sag, and a three-piece TriKini plate system
•   PCB by Mechlovin' Studio, layouts in WK, WKL and 7U HHKB
•   Estimated price: Case starts from $340, estimated timeline: Early 2027, and a sound test waiting at the end


1. INTRODUCTION
Hello everyone, it's PJ from Aiglatson Studio. The Constance 60 is our 60% reinterpretation of the Constance TKL, our first keyboard project. We made around 300 TKLs, and seeing supporters build and enjoy the board meant a lot to us. Running that project also showed us the limits of our original design. Thin internal plates warped under CNC machining, and hand-made patina finishes were hard to keep consistent. We've addressed both in this project.

Rather than scaling down the TKL CAD file, we rebuilt the structure from scratch around one idea: if a keyboard sounds great plateless, it makes a great foundation for plated builds too. The result is a board aimed at a soft, controlled bounce across the whole keyboard, while still fully supporting traditional plated setups.

2. DESIGN FEATURES

2.1 THE WEIGHT SYSTEM & STRUCTURAL REWORK
The TKL used a three-piece weight system with a thin 2mm internal plate. Large, thin parts like that tend to warp as machining stress releases, so on the Constance 60 we dropped them entirely.

In it's place is a single, hefty through weight machined from solid Stainless Steel, Brass, or Copper. With that much material, machining flex is greatly reduced. The through weight is secured around all four outer edges and anchored by a center screw, pulling flat against the bottom case to leave as few air gaps as possible and give the board a dense foundation. The Toblerone weight sits at bottom front edge as a visible accent, and help the top row sound more solid.

2.2 FINE TUNING THE PLATELESS EXPERIENCE
Our goal was a plateless board that feels comfortable to type on and sounds lively right out of the box. Finding the balance between gasket compression and PCB cutout geometry took four prototypes. (Compression figures below are the total across the top and bottom gaskets, so 1mm over two 4mm gaskets is 12.5%.)

Prototype 1: We started from scratch to set a baseline: three gasket tabs along the top, two along the bottom, and two short tabs flanking the spacebar, with 60mm rounded relief cuts and custom molded silicone gaskets. It was easy to assemble, but the sound was dead and mushy, the spacebar felt constrained, and the PCB vibrated hard on bottom out.

Prototype 2: Silicone was dampening too much of the board's character, so we switched to 4mm LE-20 Poron at 1mm total compression (12.5%), kept the 60mm cutouts, and removed the spacebar tabs. The alphas and spacebar came alive with a rich tone, but the flex brought PCB vibration, and typing got tiring over longer sessions.

Prototype 3: To tame the vibration, we went the opposite way to find our limits: firmer 3mm Poron at 1mm total compression (16.67%) and no PCB cutouts at all. The vibration almost vanished, but so did the character. The sound turned flat and stiff.

Prototype 4 (Final): With both limits mapped, the answer was Prototype 3's controlled compression combined with a rethink of the cutouts. We kept the 3mm Poron at 16.67%, shortened the tab cutouts from 60mm to 35mm, and split the top center cutout to limit acoustic bleed across the layout.

Then we changed the shape of the cuts themselves. Instead of standard rounded slots, we designed a GRADUATED BULB profile where the radius expands toward the ends. The varying width spreads stress across the FR4, and it delivers the controlled, bouncy feel and open sound we were chasing.

2.3 SOLVING MODIFIER SAG
Plateless 60% boards have a common weakness: the edges. Modifiers sit on the unsupported outer PCB, so hitting Tab, Shift, Backspace or Enter can cause localized sag, leaving the perimeter mushier and more hollow than the alphas. To fix that without hurting the flex of the main cluster, we developed Progressive Silicone Side Supports.

Rigid silicone blocks lock down the edges and make bottom outs harsh. Ours have a curved bottom, a bit like a boat hull. At rest, only the apex of the curve touches the bottom case. As you strike a modifier, more of the curve progressively flattens against it. Light keystrokes keep most of the plateless flex, while heavier strikes engage more support, softening the bottom out and reducing edge sag.

Modifiers get more stable, and the alpha region stays open and responsive. Two supports press-fit under the PCB, one along each side edge, with no adhesive needed, and they're included in the kit.

2.4 THE TRIKINI PLATE SYSTEM
Plateless is just one way to build the Constance 60. For those who prefer a plated build, we designed the three-piece TriKini Plate System. Instead of one solid plate, the design splits into left modifiers, right modifiers, and the main alpha cluster. Removing the material between these zones greatly reduces energy transfer across the board and keeps the sound crisp. And because each section is smaller, the pitch tends to run higher.

That opens up a lot of freedom. Run Carbon Fiber on the modifiers for sharp, clean acoustics, and leave the alpha cluster plateless, or pair it with a softer material like PP or PEI for contrast.

In our testing, stiffer plates are stable on their own. If you choose a softer modifier plate and want a firmer feel, you can always add the side supports underneath. The board is a playground, so try combinations and find the feel and sound you like.


2.5 EXTERNAL REFINEMENT

The Constance 60 keeps the minimalism and subtle flair of the TKL. Top bezels are 10.5mm and side bezels 5.5mm. A 9-degree angled chamfer around the perimeter creates the classic HG sides and makes the bezels look even slimmer from above, while leaving room inside for the mounting system. Rounded corner fillets add softness to the case.

The side profile keeps the HG side and subtle lower curvature from the TKL.

We heard the community's feedback on the TKL's exterior branding. For the Constance 60, the exterior logo is gone, so the bottom stays clean and understated and lets the silhouette and weights speak for themselves.

We kept the long foot profile for clean lines, but raised the center spans so only four minimal contact points touch your desk. Full-contact rubber strips can flatten a spacebar's sound, and raising the midsection avoids that, much like four small corner feet. If you worry that long feet affect acoustics: on a gasket mount the plate and PCB assembly is isolated from the case, so in our testing the feet matter less than on a top mount, where vibration passes straight from plate to case.


2.6 PCB
This keyboard uses a custom PCB, so you can't just drop in a random GH60 board if something fails. We wanted to get it right the first time, with no trace failures or daughterboard headaches down the line, so we asked Mechlovin' Studio to design it. They have a strong reputation for dependable boards. The PCB is 1.6mm thick, made with FR4 and paired with their Mechlovin' MiniDB, in solder and hotswap versions.

2.7 LAYOUTS
Three layouts: WK, WKL, and 7U HHKB. Because the mounting system and acoustics are built around physical symmetry, only a Tsangan bottom row is offered.

2.8 COLOR OPTIONS

3. SPECIFICATIONS & KIT CONTENTS
3.1 SPECIFICATIONS

•   Top Case: Polycarbonate or Aluminum
•   Bottom Housing: Aluminum
•   Weights: Stainless Steel / Brass / Copper (Through Weight + Toblerone Weight)
•   Layout Support: 60% Tsangan bottom row (WK / WKL / HHKB)
•   Mounting Style: PCB Gasket mount
•   Typing Angle: 9 Degrees
•   Front Height: 18.5 mm (without feet)
•   Plate Options: TriKini Aluminum / Carbon Fiber / PP / PEI
•   PCB: 1.6 mm FR4 Solder or Hotswap with MiniDB by Mechlovin'
•   Weight (Aluminum Top + Bottom): Approx. 1.70 kg (Stainless Steel Weight) / 1.77 kg (Brass Weight) / 1.83 kg (Copper Weight)
•   Weight (PC Top + Aluminum Bottom): Approx. 1.55 kg (Stainless Steel Weight)/ 1.62 kg (Brass Weight) / 1.68 kg (Copper Weight)


3.2 KIT CONTENTS

•   1x Top Case (Aluminum or PC)
•   1x Bottom Case (Aluminum)
•   1x Through Weight (Stainless Steel, Brass, Copper)
•   1x Toblerone Weight (Stainless Steel, Brass, Copper)
•   2x Custom Rubber Feet
•   2x Progressive Silicone Side Supports
•   1x Carrying Case
•   All required screws, assembly hardware, and packaging
Add-ons:
•   Solder PCB + Daughterboard + JST Cable
•   Hotswap PCB + Daughterboard + JST Cable
•   TriKini Plates (Aluminum / Carbon Fiber / PP / PEI)


4. PRICING, TIMELINE & VENDORS
4.1 PRICING
All prices are estimates and may change before the group buy.

4.2 VENDORS
US: Bowlkeyboards
CA: Minokeys
EU: Delta Key Co
UK: Prototypist
CN: Kbdfans
KR: Geonworks
OCE: Toro Studio
VN: MOKB
SG: TBD
MY: TBD
IN: TBD
TH: Aiglatson Studio

IC FORM

5. SOUND TEST

Switch: HMX Azalea
Plate: Aluminium
Stabilizer: Consi Stabilizer
Foam: No
Side Support: No

Switch: Cherry MX Black
Plate: Plateless
Stabilizer: Typeplus
Foam: No
Side Support: Yes

[aiglatsonstudio]

Reserved

[eldarlar]

Merlot for me <3

[MartinThePolarBear]

FINALLY