Aluminium Filco/Phantom Case - PROTOTYPE PICS IN!!!

photekq · 26 Mar 2013, 05:07

I can confidently say that the case is 99% finalised. The 1% is only tiny details.

I have :
-Made the side walls 5mm thick instead of 9mm thick
-Centered the switch holes on the plate
-Changed plate mounting arrangement
-Change mount slightly - hole is no longer usb-shaped
-Added holes for rubber feet (I have also ordered said feet)

I should be able to get a rough quote for the milling tomorrow. Hopefully it'll be nice and low.

EDIT : calavera over at geekhack has got me thinking.. it MIGHT be possible to make the case compatible with the custom plate mounting, as well as a clamping method for the stock filco plate like the vortex case. I highly doubt this, but I'll look into it.

photekq · 26 Mar 2013, 05:08

photekq wrote:I can confidently say that the case is 99% finalised. The 1% is only tiny details.

I have :
-Made the side walls 5mm thick instead of 9mm thick
-Centered the switch holes on the plate
-Changed plate mounting arrangement
-Change mount slightly - hole is no longer usb-shaped
-Added holes for rubber feet (I have also ordered said feet)

I should be able to get a rough quote for the milling tomorrow. Hopefully it'll be nice and low.

EDIT : calavera over at geekhack has got me thinking.. it MIGHT be possible to make the case compatible with the custom plate mounting, as well as a clamping method for the stock filco plate like the vortex case. I highly doubt this, but I'll look into it.

rindorbrot · 26 Mar 2013, 06:42

Hey looks good so far. Don't you think the space for the feet is a little small? I thought for some bit bigger rectangular ones. But if you can provide matching fwet I have no problem with the round ones.
Have you thought about colour options yet? Will we be able to choose a colour for ourselves from a wider range or will there only be a few options?

photekq · 26 Mar 2013, 13:25

rindorbrot wrote:Hey looks good so far. Don't you think the space for the feet is a little small? I thought for some bit bigger rectangular ones. But if you can provide matching fwet I have no problem with the round ones.
Have you thought about colour options yet? Will we be able to choose a colour for ourselves from a wider range or will there only be a few options?

The holes are the right size for the feet I've ordered. If it gets past prototyping then I'll provide all the feet etc.

I want to be able to offer as many colours as possible but it all depends on where I get the anodising done.

photekq · 26 Mar 2013, 23:38

Added platforms for the stock filco plate. The case will now work with the stock filco (maybe the QFR too - the plates look identical) plate as well as the custom one that i'll be making.

Thanks calavera@geekhack for reminding me about the stock plate and for explaining a few things.

rindorbrot · 27 Mar 2013, 06:45

Will that impact the stability when using the custom plate?
Because now the plate has less contact area with the case to rest on.
I guess the plate will probably be aluminium too and that is fairly flexible.
Is this just me being paranoid or could that really be an issue?

BimboBB · 27 Mar 2013, 12:34

looks like he added material for the stock plate stand off and kept dimensions for custom plate contact area.

photekq · 27 Mar 2013, 12:44

rindorbrot wrote:Will that impact the stability when using the custom plate?
Because now the plate has less contact area with the case to rest on.
I guess the plate will probably be aluminium too and that is fairly flexible.
Is this just me being paranoid or could that really be an issue?

I haven't changed the mounting of the custom plate whatsoever, I have simply added some platforms for the stock filco plate. The existing platforms remain the same, although I did have to make the plate slightly smaller. That won't impact stability though.

rindorbrot · 27 Mar 2013, 13:17

Ok then I can calm down

rindorbrot · 10 Apr 2013, 22:38

Any updates here?

photekq · 10 Apr 2013, 22:45

rindorbrot wrote:Any updates here?

Yup. CPTBadass from GH kindly offered to check over my cad files. He says everything is fine, and he helped me out with a few things. The design is complete.

I was going to try and find a way for the case to be able to support the Phantom plates that WFD has made, but in order to do that I'd have to add standoffs. Standoffs = pain in the ass, especially when they're angled. That's why I ditched the original design. I'm going to keep the design as it is - 2 mounting options : stock filco plate, or one of my custom ones which will support the phantom and many other tkl boards. I will offer many layouts for the plates, including 1.25, 1.5, iso, ansi, 7bit etc.

I'm currently looking for places to get the prototype made.

rindorbrot · 10 Apr 2013, 23:52

Sounds like good news. Now let's hope for a soon available prototype.

PixelScript · 24 Apr 2013, 13:15

what CAD software are you using?

photekq · 24 Apr 2013, 13:18

PixelScript wrote:what CAD software are you using?

Solidworks 2013.

Just a little update : I've found a place to make the prototype at a very good price. I just need to wait until the summer when my exams are over before I can get it made. Expect to see the prototype in early June/July.

rindorbrot · 24 Apr 2013, 14:01

I don't want to wait...

photekq · 24 Apr 2013, 17:44

rindorbrot wrote:I don't want to wait...

I don't either, but unfortunately exams take priority over keyboards.

photekq · 02 May 2013, 00:07

A few updates for those who are interested :

1. Core design is 100% done.
2. I have found a place to get the prototype made.
3. I've been quoted between £300 and £450 for the prototype (not including the plate). This is just about affordable for me at the moment.
4. I can't get the prototype made until early July due to my GCSE exams.
5. Platforms for stock Filco plate may not be in the final design. Please post here if you would genuinely use the stock plate over a custom plate that mounts better and allows you to remove the top half of switches without desoldering. I don't have quotes on the plates yet but I doubt they would be too pricey.
6. There is a possibility of the object in the picture below making an appearance in the prototype. All depends on how much it will add to the costs - I would personally love to have it in the design so if it's within my budget I will put it in. Any guesses what it is?

dirge · 02 May 2013, 08:40

Brass plate like the 356cl, enquire into volume discount mate. You may get others wanting prototypes and get the price down.

photekq · 02 May 2013, 13:21

dirge wrote:Brass plate like the 356cl, enquire into volume discount mate. You may get others wanting prototypes and get the price down.

Maybe.. My only worry would be that something might not function correctly. I guess I'll do an IC about that when it comes closer to July. Thanks for the idea.

Another possibility would be making the prototype, then doing an 'LE' run that includes the brass plate for a higher price and then doing a normal run without the brass.

Grond · 02 May 2013, 16:15

I would use the stock filco plate. I know the costum plate is technically better, but frankly I'd just like to switch the case alone, I don't have the skills for soldering and desoldering.

pasph · 02 May 2013, 17:11

Can we use the Phantom (GH) plates?

photekq · 02 May 2013, 17:14

pasph wrote:Can we use the Phantom (GH) plates?

'fraid not. That would require standoffs. Standoffs are a huge pain in the ass.

Wraul · 03 May 2013, 08:55

If you don't include that brass plate in the final version I will be mad

So please do. Thank you

photekq · 03 May 2013, 13:22

Wraul wrote:If you don't include that brass plate in the final version I will be mad
So please do. Thank you

I'll see at a later date. I didn't really think anyone's interested. I might do an 'LE' GB that includes the brass plate but understand that it will cost a lot.

pasph · 03 May 2013, 13:30

photekq wrote:
pasph wrote:Can we use the Phantom (GH) plates?
'fraid not. That would require standoffs. Standoffs are a huge pain in the ass.

But we can still use Phantom pcb on your custom plates, right?

photekq · 03 May 2013, 13:56

pasph wrote:
photekq wrote:
pasph wrote:Can we use the Phantom (GH) plates?
'fraid not. That would require standoffs. Standoffs are a huge pain in the ass.
But we can still use Phantom pcb on your custom plates, right?

Yeah. The best thing about the custom plates is that it will allow the case to support ANY pcb as long as I have a plate that has the same layout as the PCB.

rindorbrot · 03 May 2013, 15:27

I would want an LE version, too if it comes to it.

phetto · 03 May 2013, 15:53

Nice work pho. Wish I knew about this before buying that MKC case

photekq · 03 May 2013, 16:14

rindorbrot wrote:I would want an LE version, too if it comes to it.

:O seems like quite a lot of people want an LE.. I'll try my best to make it happen, but remember it'll probably cost quite a damn lot.

phetto wrote:Nice work pho. Wish I knew about this before buying that MKC case

Thanks a lot, man. It means a lot!

rindorbrot · 03 May 2013, 16:17

And I want it now!