Topre sliders, MX caps

[matt3o]

Really nice translucent stems matt30 are ahead CM now
i want see plugged on RF... may with DSA retro

that is the next step

[bemailer]

Great job matt3o, you are my hero

[matt3o]

I don't like saying it... but... LOL!

[bemailer]

Of course you can say it now and I'm sure hundred of people will do it too

[matt3o]

Ledies and Gents... The first Cherry MX Realforce





Something's growing down below.

[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!

[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.

[ماء]

Amagcing!!

But the stems looks dirty,interested with other colors may red,yellow,green,blue.etc
is feel different?

[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.

[Ascaii]

Color me interested, this is awesome. I would definitely encourage you to get this going as a GB.

[lefthandedspatula]

How is the fit and feel? I'm so excited for this to be a thing!

[matt3o]

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

[lefthandedspatula]

3D printed stuff is usually ABS or PLA

[matt3o]

3D printed stuff is usually ABS or PLA

"frosted ultra detail" material is not. I believe it's some kind of resin or wax

[damorgue]

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

[guilleguillaume]

Add me to the list of people interested in this. I can't believe you made it!

[matt3o]

next week I'll have the final prototype... then production... (if we find the way...)

[matt3o]

Also the stabs in production!

stab.png (18.12 KiB) Viewed 8117 times

[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

[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.

[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

[avtar]

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:

[matt3o]

I believe they only have DSA family in PBT, but I'll know better in a couple of days

[Findecanor]

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.

[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 8045 times

[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..

[matt3o]

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)...

[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.

[Muirium]

Elite Realforce you've got there now!

[ماء]

Can't wait full on RF Is stabs fit?