[IC] ALF x Cary — 65% Dolch.CR (gb coming soon, hotswap option added)

[oldcat]

The Dolch Pac keyboard has been an iconic keyboard in the history. Now it comes back with a fresh modern look and more features than ever.

Meet Dolch.CR.



Designed by Cary (CR), the co-designer of ALF X3 Renova and ALF DC60, the Dolch.CR is a 65% customized mechanical keyboard that perfectly integrates the retro-style of the legendary Dolch Pac keyboard with the modern elements of colors, lights, badges, weights, and others.

Images based on Prototype V5.0 will be provided in the next post.

Key Features:

1. Customized badge (front, in place of the Dolch badge),  underglow LED for possible PC badge
2. Improved bottom design
3. 7-degree slope
4. QMK PCB, Optional Hotswap PCB
5. Aluminum 6061
6. Matte Black, Gunpowder Grey or Pearl White (new colors may be available if enough people request in IC form)
7. Options for Polycarbonate (PC) weight and Brass Weight
8. 4XRGB LEDs under the badge
9. Integrated thick plate
10. Manufactured by ALF

Layout Options:


Regular PCB (compatible):


Hotswap PCB (choose either WK or WKL shown below):


Color Options:

Black, Grey, Pearl White

Technical Details

1.with PC weight ~1600g
2. with brass weight ~1800g
3. Front end height is 18mm, 7-degree slope

Currently, the prototype V2.0 is being made by ALF and is coming soon. Please help shape this project by providing useful feedback! Cary will incorporate the feedback if it aligns with his design principles for this project.

11/11/2018: V2 Pearl White prototype is being made now.

11/21/2018: V2 Pearl White prototype is done. 5th Prototype is being made now.

Projected Timeline:

Now - early November: prototyping, feedback gathering, design tweaking and improving
late December 2018 - early Jan 2019: Start Group Buy


Please kindly fill out the Interest Check Form below.

Click to Fill Out the Dolch.CR Interest Check Form

And here is a poll for a potential optional hot-swap PCB:

Update: with many people contacting me making a case for an optional hotswap pcb, Cary will make hotswap an upgrade option for users who are interested.

Poll for Hotswap PCB

[oldcat]

Prototype V5.0 out!!!

[mkarlsson]

Super nice, congrats to the designer!

[donut_sauce]

This looks neat

[avid]

Love this design. Not sure what "matte black" is, but i hope regular anodization in black and grey will be available.

I think this board would look great without a weight as well.

Is this being ran on Z-frontier?

[oldcat]

Love this design. Not sure what "matte black" is, but i hope regular anodization in black and grey will be available.

I think this board would look great without a weight as well.

Is this being ran on Z-frontier?

Hey Matte black is regular Ano with matte finish. Grey is possible - if enough people show interest in the IC process.

It will not run on ZF. Either someone from Team ALF or some vendor ALF partners with.

[befbef]

Love the design too but bad timing for one of you:
https://www.keebtalk.com/t/ic-dolumina-65/3604

Would be happy if one would switch to 60%.

[hayt]

I’m really digging this. Would love to see a greenish gray and red color option.

Can’t wait to see prototype pics!

[T0mb3ry]

Interesting.

1. How is the plate mounted and how much space is in the case? I would love to make one custom *flexing* plate for myself but i needs some space for extensions.
2. How about PCB with Bootmapper client support? Or if there is enough space in the back, make it so that we can choose pcb ourselves.
3. Led indicator/indicators (for caps lock) between the cooling rib would be nice.

[oldcat]

Love the design too but bad timing for one of you:
https://www.keebtalk.com/t/ic-dolumina-65/3604

Would be happy if one would switch to 60%.

Oh no! Cary has been working on this for 3 months, I am sure the other author has been conceiving this for a while, and somehow both ICs are posted today!!

[avid]

Love the design too but bad timing for one of you:
https://www.keebtalk.com/t/ic-dolumina-65/3604

Would be happy if one would switch to 60%.

I prefer the dolch.cr, i think theyre different enough.   Please keep this 65%, this is perfect.

[8six753o9]

Love the design too but bad timing for one of you:
https://www.keebtalk.com/t/ic-dolumina-65/3604

Would be happy if one would switch to 60%.

I saw the Dolch.cr last week on Alf’s Discord before the Dolumina. I think I would go for Dolch.cr because my wallet needs time to recover lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rmendis]

Love this! Some other colors could be interesting!

[mushubanane]

Split backspace  ?

[audax989]

really cool design. might want to match the original dolch pac color for the case. I think matte black might be too dark. maybe like a dark grey?

[pixelpusher]

I'm still pissed that the dolch set I have can't accomodate a 65% board.  No proper way to do the right column.  It was my very first custom set to buy years back, and I didn't know about compatibility

[avid]

I'm still pissed that the dolch set I have can't accomodate a 65% board.  No proper way to do the right column.  It was my very first custom set to buy years back, and I didn't know about compatibility

check out kekkon dolch, he made an add-on kit for compatability for older kit.

[UsualSuspectXXX]

This is awesome! Especially with qmk support. I'm in! 

A couple questions
- is this top or bottom mounted?
- will you offer the option to buy additional plates and pcbs?
- what type of plates are offered? Brass, ano, acrylic?
- day other layouts are supported? Split keys, bottom row, etc.
- will there be any indicator lights?
- do you have an estimated price?

[oldcat]

really cool design. might want to match the original dolch pac color for the case. I think matte black might be too dark. maybe like a dark grey?

Cary said he will consider other colors if enough people are interested in those colors during the IC process. Thank you very much for your kind words and the suggestion!

[dantambok]

Looks neat! I hope the price isnt that steep 

[prod]

That's really brilliant! awesome! beautiful!

[oldcat]

Split backspace  ?

Cary said he will provide some compatibility — e.g., WK/WKL, ISO enter. I will check with him about split backspace.

[kivx]

Why is there always a single tooth near arrow keys for 65% keyboard recently?
Could you guys provide a layout/top case without it?

I really like the design of this keyboard, but I prefer the old layout of 65% like M65-A that the bottom-row keys are stick together.

[hhkbp2]

Nice design. I would like to see a bigger weight in Dolch style, but that is just me.

[pixelpusher]

Is the matte black the newer ecoating method?  That would be instant buy for me

[oldcat]

Is the matte black the newer ecoating method?  That would be instant buy for me

Thanks! The Matte Black is regular anodization. The new technology is only available for Pearl White as of now.

[pixelpusher]

Is the matte black the newer ecoating method?  That would be instant buy for me

Thanks! The Matte Black is regular anodization. The new technology is only available for Pearl White as of now.

Well, it still looks spiffy.  I've just unwatched 3 group buys to make sure I don't buy anything until this runs.

[pixelpusher]

So, is the fox leaf the only current board that uses the black e-coating technology then?
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=97011.0

It just looks so nice.  I wonder why your manufacturer can only do white.

[futurecrime]

Nice looking board. Would like to see some more angles.

[Jkush463]

as stated above id like to see more angles for sure looks interesting, reminds me of a wilba case i saw no too long ago in some renders

[switchnollie]

That's really cool

[oldcat]

as stated above id like to see more angles for sure looks interesting, reminds me of a wilba case i saw no too long ago in some renders

here is one for you. Will release more design images soon! Proto is also in progress

[Jkush463]

ooo i like that too proto will tell all though, looks very nice! i shall start padding my wallet 

[pixelpusher]

as stated above id like to see more angles for sure looks interesting, reminds me of a wilba case i saw no too long ago in some renders

here is one for you. Will release more design images soon! Proto is also in progress

(Attachment Link)

oh man... that's perfect.

[oldcat]

Why is there always a single tooth near arrow keys for 65% keyboard recently?
Could you guys provide a layout/top case without it?

I really like the design of this keyboard, but I prefer the old layout of 65% like M65-A that the bottom-row keys are stick together.

Hey do you mean the blocker? Many people want the arrow cluster to be separated a bit
It’s a standard design layout adopted in many keyboards such as Canoe

[kivx]

typo

[kivx]

Why is there always a single tooth near arrow keys for 65% keyboard recently?
Could you guys provide a layout/top case without it?

I really like the design of this keyboard, but I prefer the old layout of 65% like M65-A that the bottom-row keys are stick together.

Hey do you mean the blocker? Many people want the arrow cluster to be separated a bit
It’s a standard design layout adopted in many keyboards such as Canoe

I knew Canoe, but I just don't like the blocker.
If this is the only one layout, I can save my money 

[hervuli]

This is awesome! Especially with qmk support. I'm in! 

A couple questions
- is this top or bottom mounted?
- will you offer the option to buy additional plates and pcbs?
- what type of plates are offered? Brass, ano, acrylic?
- day other layouts are supported? Split keys, bottom row, etc.
- will there be any indicator lights?
- do you have an estimated price?

I'd echo basically all of these questions

[pixelpusher]

I personally like the blocker, and I think it looks really nice on a case such as this where the blocker matches the thickness of the exterior bezels.

[oldcat]

This is awesome! Especially with qmk support. I'm in! 

A couple questions
- is this top or bottom mounted?
- will you offer the option to buy additional plates and pcbs?
- what type of plates are offered? Brass, ano, acrylic?
- day other layouts are supported? Split keys, bottom row, etc.
- will there be any indicator lights?
- do you have an estimated price?

I'd echo basically all of these questions

Hey more information coming soon -:)

[oldcat]

Why is there always a single tooth near arrow keys for 65% keyboard recently?
Could you guys provide a layout/top case without it?

I really like the design of this keyboard, but I prefer the old layout of 65% like M65-A that the bottom-row keys are stick together.

Hey do you mean the blocker? Many people want the arrow cluster to be separated a bit
It’s a standard design layout adopted in many keyboards such as Canoe

I knew Canoe, but I just don't like the blocker.
If this is the only one layout, I can save my money 

I will check with Cary to see if he can offer a version without blocker

[oldcat]

This is awesome! Especially with qmk support. I'm in! 

A couple questions
- is this top or bottom mounted?
- will you offer the option to buy additional plates and pcbs?
- what type of plates are offered? Brass, ano, acrylic?
- day other layouts are supported? Split keys, bottom row, etc.
- will there be any indicator lights?
- do you have an estimated price?

This should clarify most of your questions. It will have a thick integrated plate.

[pixelpusher]

Integrated plate is cool, but I've never seen one yet on a board that wasn't hotswap.  Wonder if that heavy top/plate combo will make it difficult to work with when soldering.

[oldcat]

Integrated plate is cool, but I've never seen one yet on a board that wasn't hotswap.  Wonder if that heavy top/plate combo will make it difficult to work with when soldering.

I think soldering should be ok. The key is to make a really reliable PCB. I will talk to Cary about hotswapping - generally, people's opinions are very polarized about hotswapping.

[switchnollie]

Yeah I've never owned a hotswap board yet.

I've heard of people pulling the switches out when removing caps but a good plate should prevent that.

[oldcat]

Yeah I've never owned a hotswap board yet.

I've heard of people pulling the switches out when removing caps but a good plate should prevent that.

I've had that happen many times with my K-type. I think the plate needs to be really snuggly fit with the switches in order not to. Personally, I prefer soldering as the set up will be much more stable.

[stoic-lemon]

The NIU Mini has an integrated plate and a regular PCB.

[oldcat]

Cary is considering offering hotswap PCB for Dolch.CR with integrated thick plate. What do you guys think?

[hhkbp2]

Cary is considering offering hotswap PCB for Dolch.CR with integrated thick plate. What do you guys think?

Usually only one layout is supported for hotswap PCB due to the hotswap sockets, unless many different types of PCB are provided, which will make the manufacture complex. I prefer to normal PCB which requires soldering, but with the flexibility to change the layout, e.g. split backspace or split right shift.

[oh_chesteroni]

Cary is considering offering hotswap PCB for Dolch.CR with integrated thick plate. What do you guys think?

Usually only one layout is supported for hotswap PCB due to the hotswap sockets, unless many different types of PCB are provided, which will make the manufacture complex. I prefer to normal PCB which requires soldering, but with the flexibility to change the layout, e.g. split backspace or split right shift.

Based on the renders, it looks like only one layout is supported by the plate anyways.

If only one layout is supported by the plate then might as well make the pcb hotswap.