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Posted: 18 Feb 2014, 18:12
by matt3o
ماء wrote:Really nice translucent stems

matt30 are ahead CM now
i want see plugged on RF...

may with DSA retro

that is the next step

Posted: 18 Feb 2014, 18:20
by bemailer
Great job matt3o, you are my hero 
Posted: 18 Feb 2014, 18:23
by matt3o
I don't like saying it... but... LOL!
Posted: 18 Feb 2014, 18:29
by bemailer
Of course you can say it now and I'm sure hundred of people will do it too

Posted: 18 Feb 2014, 19:40
by matt3o
Ledies and Gents... The first Cherry MX Realforce
Something's growing down below.
Posted: 18 Feb 2014, 19:43
by Muirium
DSA Retro never felt as good. Now you've got to get these guys into production, or you'll have to spend more on a full set than you did on the Realforce!
Posted: 18 Feb 2014, 19:53
by matt3o
I would need a really huge GB to go into mass production. Anyway there's a small local company that casts fishing hooks, they can CNC the mold and do the casting... Last time I asked the price wasn't that bad.
Posted: 19 Feb 2014, 05:31
by ماء
Amagcing!!
But the stems looks dirty,interested with other colors may red,yellow,green,blue.etc
is feel different?
Posted: 19 Feb 2014, 07:55
by matt3o
the stem is not 100% clear. I believe that is due to the 3d printing process/material. I'd have to replace a cluster of sliders to say if the feel is really different. If me mass produce in ABS I'd say that the feel will be the same. The prototyping material is a bit stiffer and brittler than ABS, but I doubt you can feel the difference.
Posted: 19 Feb 2014, 20:50
by Ascaii
Color me interested, this is awesome. I would definitely encourage you to get this going as a GB.
Posted: 19 Feb 2014, 23:29
by lefthandedspatula
How is the fit and feel? I'm so excited for this to be a thing!
Posted: 19 Feb 2014, 23:35
by matt3o
lefthandedspatula wrote:How is the fit and feel? I'm so excited for this to be a thing!
i can't say from a single key. The material is definitely different from ABS but I don't think the difference is perceivable
Posted: 20 Feb 2014, 09:51
by lefthandedspatula
3D printed stuff is usually ABS or PLA
Posted: 20 Feb 2014, 09:55
by matt3o
lefthandedspatula wrote:3D printed stuff is usually ABS or PLA
"frosted ultra detail" material is not. I believe it's some kind of resin or wax
Posted: 20 Feb 2014, 09:55
by damorgue
lefthandedspatula wrote:3D printed stuff is usually ABS or PLA
When it comes to cheap at-home-FDM-printers, yes.
These are printed from a resin cured by light, so I the polymer is very different.
Edit: godspeed matteo
Posted: 21 Feb 2014, 21:28
by guilleguillaume
Add me to the list of people interested in this. I can't believe you made it!

Posted: 21 Feb 2014, 23:52
by matt3o
next week I'll have the final prototype... then production... (if we find the way...)
Posted: 23 Feb 2014, 18:19
by matt3o
Also the stabs in production!

- stab.png (18.12 KiB) Viewed 8536 times
Posted: 23 Feb 2014, 20:05
by bemailer
Stunning job, matt3o !
If you need money to launch production, I'm ready to help you with a few hundred euros, don't hesitate to request me

Posted: 23 Feb 2014, 20:13
by matt3o
thanks bemailer
there seems to be quite a lot of interest in such a thing, I've been contacted by a couple of vendors too.
let's see which is the best way to proceed into production.
I believe the mold would cost around €1000, but once we have it the cost per slider is really really low.
Posted: 23 Feb 2014, 23:11
by bemailer
Well, I'm not really surprised by the interest of TopRe users for your project
I will continue to follow your posts on DT and GH and hope read some good news really soon

Posted: 23 Feb 2014, 23:38
by avtar
matt3o wrote:I would state the obvious but... HHKB is 6u, you can't fit a 6.25 in a 6u

That's why you need Skull Squadron set

(or DSA retro)
SP calls all its spacebars 6.2u (not 6.25) I don't know if it's just for brevity or if the spacebars are really a pinch smaller, but from your pictures it seems they are actually smaller. Anyway the bottom line is, if you see a DSA set with a 6u spacebar you should take it. Just saying...
How challenging would it to get SP to manufacture just 6u spacebars to match existing sets (Dolch, please)? And I'm assuming the same applies to RF spacebars? I hope I can do this on a RF some day:

Posted: 23 Feb 2014, 23:43
by matt3o
I believe they only have DSA family in PBT, but I'll know better in a couple of days
Posted: 23 Feb 2014, 23:58
by Findecanor
avtar wrote:How challenging would it to get SP to manufacture just 6u spacebars to match existing sets (Dolch, please)?
They make 6u space bars in ABS. I've got a Dolch-coloured 6u from one of 7bit's rounds.
matt3o would also have to make space bar stabilizer sliders with cross-mount.
Posted: 24 Feb 2014, 06:30
by ماء
The stabs is different with Novatouch

matt30 stabs just fit costar? why not make split cherry/costar

but may the wire on hidden under like topre stabs

- stabstopre..png (4.53 KiB) Viewed 8464 times
Posted: 24 Feb 2014, 07:23
by dustinhxc
So stoked, will buy from shapeways or direct with you or a group buy.
If $2 each Ill buy enough for my Function row. If $1 or less Id buy enough for my Realforce..
Posted: 24 Feb 2014, 08:49
by matt3o
ماء wrote:The stabs is different with Novatouch

matt30 stabs just fit costar? why not make split cherry/costar

but may the wire on hidden under like topre stabs
stabstopre..png
because otherwise we have to also make the mold for the case of the stabilized keys (not just the slider)...
Posted: 05 Mar 2014, 11:34
by matt3o
Second prototype. It totally works. It can be perfected a bit more, basically to reduce 3d printing cost, but it's totally usable.
The white one is in low quality material and it turned out very well. The problem is that different materials shrink differently so I should make a model per material. Also the white one looks a bit brittle, the frosted one feels more solid.
Posted: 05 Mar 2014, 11:37
by Muirium
Elite Realforce you've got there now!
Posted: 05 Mar 2014, 11:42
by ماء
Can't wait full on RF

Is stabs fit?