Product Design

Titan65 – Custom Mechanical Keyboard Group Buy

A premium 65% mechanical keyboard designed for enthusiasts, featuring a seamless aluminum case, brass weight, and gasket mounting system.

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Project Specs

Role: Product Design & Sourcing
Timeline: 6 Months
Status: Shipped (450+ Units)
Tools: Fusion360, Keyshot

Overview

The Titan65 Group Buy Mechanical Keyboard represents a milestone in enthusiast peripheral design from PhaseStudio. A highly anticipated 65% form factor custom keyboard, the Titan65 was born from a vision to create a premium typing experience with uncompromising build quality.

This project demanded a rigorous journey from concept to reality, involving precision engineering, iterative prototyping, and the coordination of a complex international supply chain. As a design lead, I navigated the challenges of taking a high-end product from initial CAD sketches through to a large-scale Group Buy (GB), ensuring that over 450 units were manufactured to exact specifications and delivered to enthusiasts worldwide.

Technical Specifications

Form Factor: 65% Compact Layout
Materials: CNC Aluminum 6063, Brass (Weighted Base Option)
Finishes: Bead-blasted Anodized, E-coating, Passivation / UV Painting
Internal: Custom Molded Black Silicone Gaskets (40-50 Shore A)

Titan65 Front Hero Shot — The Titan65 in its final production form.

Core Responsibilities

Operating as a two-person team meant wearing many hats. Beyond design, my primary focus was establishing the supply chain and ensuring execution.

Sourcing Lead

Identified and vetted specialized manufacturers for CNC aluminum, brass, gaskets, and PCBs.

Manufacturing Logistics

Negotiated quotes, managed Purchase Orders, and overseen strict production timelines across multiple vendors.

Quality Control

Led defect resolution for anodization and surface finishes, implementing UV painting for brass protection.

Distribution

Coordinated international logistics and barcode systems for vendors like Kono Store, CandyKeys, and Deskhero.

Phase 1: Design & Prototyping

Engineering & Standards

I designed the plate and mounting system to provide a consistent typing feel and sound profile, a critical factor for enthusiasts. I also ensured all board dimensions met rigorous industry standards for switch and stabilizer compatibility.

Working with RapidDirect, we ordered multiple rounds of prototypes to perfect these geometries.

We experimented with a variety of finishes and materials to maximize the board's aesthetic and acoustic properties:

Aluminum Cases: Tested in White, Black, Blue, Purple, Yellow, and raw aluminum.
Brass Bases: A clear-coated brass weight was designed to add heft and a premium feel.
Finishes: We evaluated bead-blasted anodization, electrophoretic coating (e-coating) for smoother finishes, and passivation for the brass components.

Plate Prototypes — Rapid prototyping of the mounting plate to test switch fitment.

Component Sourcing & QC

I personally specified and sourced the critical components, including M3/M2 screws, hotswap sockets, and custom 40-50 Shore A silicone gaskets.

Quality Control Challenges: The prototyping phase wasn't without its hurdles. We faced incorrectly milled lettering, color matching issues (specifically with yellow Pantone shades), and dimensional offsets. Deep discussions were held regarding the brass passivation, which initially showed watermarks and oxidation spots. We investigated UV painting as an alternative to ensure a flawless finish.

Anodization Samples — Reviewing anodization samples for color matching and consistency.

Phase 2: Manufacturing & Sourcing

This phase involved securing reliable partners to bring the Titan65 to mass production.

Case Manufacturing

RapidDirect remained our primary partner for CNC machining. I maintained constant communication with their team (specifically Tammy Tang and Nanno) to quote and manufacture the complex case geometries and plates.

Coloured Prototypes — Batch of coloured prototypes ready for QC inspection.

PCB Production & Diagnostics

We partnered with Dalian JY Electronics & Technology Co., Ltd. for the PCB manufacturing. I worked closely on the board layout and diagnostics, overseeing the assembly (PCBA) and firmware flashing.

The 'Recall' Moment: Initial tests revealed the PCBs were non-functional. I led the diagnostic process to identify the root cause, requiring an urgent rerouting of the board traces. This experience was a crash course in crisis management and rapid iteration.

Phase 3: Group Buy & Distribution

The culmination of our work was the Group Buy launch on April 1, 2021. Originally slated for late 2020, we delayed the launch to ensure every manufacturing kink was ironed out.

Global Launch

The response was overwhelming. We sold over 120 units in North America alone on the first day. Approximately 50% of orders included the premium brass base upgrade, validating our material choices.

Beyond logistics, I personally handled customer support for all our direct buyers, addressing technical questions and ensuring a smooth pre-order experience.

Logistics Network

To handle global distribution, we established a network of proxy vendors:

CandyKeys (EU Distribution)
Deskhero (Canada)
Kono Store (US Distribution)
iLumkb (Asia Distribution)

Managing this network required navigating complex logistics, including coordinating freight shipments and implementing custom barcode labeling systems for vendors like Kono Store to ensure seamless warehouse receiving.

Manufacturing at Scale

The true test of our logistics capabilities began after the orders were locked. We moved from prototyping single units to managing the manufacturing of over 450 keyboards simultaneously. This massive scale-up required precise coordination with our CNC and PCB partners to minimize defect rates and ensure every unit met our "enthusiast-grade" quality standards before shipping to our international proxies.

Key Achievements & Challenges

Achievements

Market Validation: Successfully launched the Group Buy, selling over 120 units in North America alone on Day 1.
Global Delivery: Managed the global logistics pipeline to deliver 450+ units by Q4 2021 despite supply chain constraints.

Challenges Overcome

Prototyping QC: Overcame specific color matching and brass oxidation defects by pivoting to alternative finishing processes.
Crisis Management: Diagnosed and resolved a critical PCB defect requiring immediate trace re-routing to ensure functionality.