refining a compact layout

coredumb · 12 Apr 2013, 14:59

Really nice! Do you plan to sell some 60% in ISO format maybe ? at that price i'll take two

matt3o · 12 Apr 2013, 15:12

coredumb wrote:Really nice! Do you plan to sell some 60% in ISO format maybe ? at that price i'll take two

well, there's GH60 for the 60%, I'm not willing to interfere with that project. This is all about 65%. That being said, the layout is 15x5 so it would be compatible with a standard 60%, you just need to switch the plate.

Icarium · 12 Apr 2013, 15:53

What did that prototype cost and how is the quality?

matt3o · 12 Apr 2013, 16:30

Icarium wrote:What did that prototype cost and how is the quality?

quality is very high, but remember that it's unpolished stainless steel. you can have a nicer finish for a surcharge. The prototype is about 50 euros. which is not bad for a prototype.

Icarium · 12 Apr 2013, 16:55

Is it only 50 because they assume you will buy more or do the actually make these for 50?

matt3o · 12 Apr 2013, 17:13

Icarium wrote:Is it only 50 because they assume you will buy more or do the actually make these for 50?

no, I had no special discounts. The 1.5mm layer is pretty cheap. The 5mm is more expensive, but that layer could be done in acrylic and spare some bucks.

Trev · 13 Apr 2013, 06:56

Icarium wrote:Don't really have anything to say but there is no "like" button so I'm just going to spell it out: Nice!

Exactly my thoughts.

Looking impressive, Matt3o

matt3o · 13 Apr 2013, 13:50

What do you think of the name libellula (dragonfly) for the keyboard ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libellula ). I've got the very nice libellu.la domain name a while ago (I don't remember even why) and I thought It was a nice exotic name for the project. I know it sounds good in Italian, don't know about other languages

Fred · 13 Apr 2013, 23:05

It sounds silly! But as long as the keyboard itself is good, we can look past the name.

Grond · 13 Apr 2013, 23:26

If you're going for an italian name, I'd suggest "Lettera", like the classic Olivettis. Lettera 65.

Jmneuv · 14 Apr 2013, 00:40

Exciting to see a prototype.
Are the plates flush with the spacer? Think it would look a lot less diy if they were?

matt3o · 14 Apr 2013, 08:59

Jmneuv wrote:Exciting to see a prototype.
Are the plates flush with the spacer? Think it would look a lot less diy if they were?

Laser cut is very accurate, but sheets with different thickness create slightly different effect on the borders. Hard to explain, I'll take some more pictures. Also I have to try to screw the layers together.

Anyway I'm also going to have acrylic sides, I think that a black acrylic layer between two steel sheets would be extremely nice... and would spare us about $15-20 on the overall cost.

Also please note that the CNC case has not been abandoned. We are just experimenting. The advantages of the sandwich technique is that it can be done even for just 1 unit and it's relatively inexpensive. CNC is cheaper per unit, but you have pretty high MOQ.

Findecanor · 14 Apr 2013, 13:30

Okeg · 15 Apr 2013, 16:01

Extremely nice work, matt3o. Could we perhaps see a pic of it with keycaps?

matt3o · 15 Apr 2013, 17:24

Okeg wrote:Extremely nice work, matt3o. Could we perhaps see a pic of it with keycaps?

the keyboard uses very unique key sizes, I'm waiting for a keycap set (the DSA retro) that has all the required keys. I'll post a picture as soon as I get it (in a week or so).

Okeg · 15 Apr 2013, 19:05

matt3o wrote:
Okeg wrote:Extremely nice work, matt3o. Could we perhaps see a pic of it with keycaps?
the keyboard uses very unique key sizes, I'm waiting for a keycap set (the DSA retro) that has all the required keys. I'll post a picture as soon as I get it (in a week or so).

Ouch, would my Dolch's fit?

matt3o · 19 Apr 2013, 19:08

there you go

Okeg · 19 Apr 2013, 19:18

That's perfect, matt3o.
However, since this is a prorotype: Are there any bugs/problems?

matt3o · 19 Apr 2013, 20:07

I have to try it live to see if the layout actually works. So far everything seems fine. Maybe the backspace is a bit small.

The height of the case (10mm) is too low to fit a teensy, so I have to desolder the USB mini port and make direct wire connection to the usb cable. In the weekend I'll start soldering and hopefully I'll write the next post on the custom keyboard.

bearcat · 19 Apr 2013, 23:40

Good luck with the soldering!

Obra posted some good tips on soldering on my thread on GH, might be worth a look.

If i'd add anything to them, it would be to be sure to test your teensy with the blink program *first*. Either my teensy was DOA or i fried it putting it in, but either way it would've helped to have a baseline.

Relatedly, if you have that little space, what are you going to use for insulation on the bottom? Are you planning on running magnet wire direct to the teensy? If you have anything thicker, you might be surprised how much space it takes up...

good luck & can't wait to see it!

matt3o · 20 Apr 2013, 00:53

thanks for the suggestions.

the problem is the USB mini port, without that I have 2-3mm margin and being the case steel there's no risk of bending. I don't think I need insulation to the bottom but I could place a thin rubber layer if needed.

I'm going to remove the usb port from the teensy and solder the usb cable directly to it. It works in my mind, hopes it will work in real life too

A long way to go.

mintberryminuscrunch · 20 Apr 2013, 22:32

matt3o wrote:
Okeg wrote:Extremely nice work, matt3o. Could we perhaps see a pic of it with keycaps?
the keyboard uses very unique key sizes, I'm waiting for a keycap set (the DSA retro) that has all the required keys. I'll post a picture as soon as I get it (in a week or so).

You should rethink the key cap compatibility issue. Most ppl don't want to wait for a additional key cap group buy to come along to be able to use their keyboard

Icarium · 21 Apr 2013, 12:36

No, don't rethink it! Most layouts are terrible doing things differently is the only reasonable thing. If people want low effort and stock keyboards let them buy those instead. :p

Okeg · 23 Apr 2013, 14:20

Icarium wrote:No, don't rethink it! Most layouts are terrible doing things differently is the only reasonable thing. If people want low effort and stock keyboards let them buy those instead. :p

Agreed, also. Icarium, you're PM'ed

matt3o · 23 Apr 2013, 15:25

I had some time to play with my new keyboard.

Let me say that the stainless steel "open" case feels devastatingly well! The case is incredibly solid, the sound is neat with no reverberation, you hear just the sound of the switch. A Filco feels cheap compared to this case.

Actually I like this case so much that I think it should be the final one.

Also, the layout is great. The only problem I can see is the small backspace, but writing on it I never missed the BS so it must be just in my mind. We could even use a 2u backspace taking the last 2 1u of the row.