Group Build prototyping phase

[Muirium]

What? GH60 is real? I thought it was a myth, like Big Foot, Compassionate Conservatives and Major League Soccer. Youre telling me it's as real as the Loch Ness Monster!?

Anyway, I couldn't wait. And perhaps I won't again!

[matt3o]

it seems gh60 will be out at the end of March.

[Ichigo87]

that's how a 60% should be. period 1.5u \| key makes no sense.

This is why european people invented the J-shape ISO Return.

[Muirium]

Staggering is to blame. There's always going to be a variable sized mess in that final column, with default stagger. Make them all mods! Well, BACKSPACE is a kind of mod…

Are new orders still welcome for the GH60? I've heard about its imminent arrival since the day I arrived here. But reading GH for more than 5 mins at a time literally gives me a headache. (Even with the DT style theme, something about their layout fights my eyes. Doesn't help that I have the text size jacked up, I suppose.)

[matt3o]

orders were closed something like... dunno 8 months ago? but you'll be able to grab some pcb when they will be out.

actually... silly me... I have one spare PCB in my order

[Muirium]

I look forward to your review.

Something I'd love to try is a custom case like Photekq made last year out of a slab of aluminium. Anything in your crystal ball about CNCing larger parts?

[bazh]

some friends of mine here still can get some revB (full leds) from taobao :/ so you might want to take a look there


but the one they've got is in purple color, which is, to me, fugly!

[matt3o]

CNC is just the first step. you'd also need anodization. I could theoretically do it, but I'd need to find a block of alu of the right size and the machine time would be extremely long (something like 6-8 hours).

[Muirium]

/drool

So, what happens without annodisation? You know me: I love a slab of shiny metal. Photekq's case looked mesmerising before he anodised it. Isn't aluminium tough enough? Does it tarnish in the air?

[matt3o]

it's 50% cosmetics and 50% protection. Alu tends to become darker over time... maybe you could simply paint it though.

[damorgue]

Oxidized aluminum is a technical ceramic called alumina when used in solid form, and it is very hard. Pure aluminum is very soft, and you can scratch it with almost anything. If you don't anodize (oxidize) , it will develop an oxide layer naturally anyway. It will likely be less even and also less thick.

[Muirium]

Interesting. So, is there a way to annodise and retain the original "bright shiny metal" look? Like fancypants Apple gear and indeed my shiny mirror steel custom keyboard?

[matt3o]

yes, anodize it in "silver" (it's called silver for the color, there's no actual silver involved)

[mzero]

some friends of mine here still can get some revB (full leds) from taobao :/ so you might want to take a look there

No anymore, all gone! I've tried recently to get one from there... Later I've asked to some GH60's members if there is some leftovers, no lucky! The other issue is the plate buy it or make one. I've looked everything, few ones but expensive to EU and all GB are closed.

What I know is the purple one was a order from an asian group, who couldn't wait for the GB to happen... Too many delays, what a pitty!

[damorgue]

Type 2 anodization can create quite glossy surfaces. We only need type 2.

some friends of mine here still can get some revB (full leds) from taobao :/ so you might want to take a look there

No anymore, all gone! I've tried recently to get one from there... Later I've asked to some GH60's members if there is some leftovers, no lucky! The other issue is the plate buy it or make one. I've looked everything, few ones but expensive to EU and all GB are closed.

What I know is the purple one was a order from an asian group, who couldn't wait for the GB to happen... Too many delays, what a pitty!

I will be selling a GH60 ISO125. Since they can't split orders I will wait until it is delivered. There might be others too. Don't PM, I can't do anything until it is delivered and I don't want to make a deal now when there is a risk that the buyer can change their mind in the months until it is delivered

[mzero]

Something I'd love to try is a custom case like Photekq made last year out of a slab of aluminium.

That's is a good reason to keep the 60% format or any common format. Like the keycaps, if you can't find the parts, you need to make one, and I don't have all the tools, skills and time to do it quickly.
If I go for a custom case, I might go for case like the following: https://www.behance.net/gallery/WILD-watch/13898477, with dark wood

[Ichigo87]

But it's already easy to buy 60% aluminium case and 60% is now a common size even for retailers... i thought that the goal of this post was to create something different from other group buy.

[mzero]

But it's already easy to buy 60% aluminium case... i thought that the goal of this post was to create something different from other group buy.

Sure! This project could be my second build ... I'm waiting for new designs and I'll try to help here

[matt3o]

the goal is to:

- build a keyboard from start to finish in 2 months, not 2 years
- build a layered, raw, heavy, stainless steel keyboard with exposed switches
- build it with any layout you want, no constraints
- have all the components you need from the same source (not PCB from one GB, case from another, teensy from another, etc...)
- build it yourself

[mzero]

[quote="matt3o"]- build a layered, raw, heavy, stainless steel keyboard with exposed switches
/quote]
This could be tricky, I was wondering why stainless steel? I've read from full assemble GB, the following options:
- Acrylic
- Polycarbonate
- 1,5mm Aluminium
- 4mm Aluminium
And the [korean] guy, who is running the GB, recommends the plastic ones or thin alumium (plus acrylic) if the spring are lower than 70g (korean I think). He said thick aluminium will be tiring for you fingers

I'm not an expert, so if somebody can clarify why this option, it will great!

[matt3o]

yes, I totally agree with him. Steel is very stiff and tiring, aluminum is okay. Acrylic case sucks.

In fact I suggest to place o-rings on the keys if you have soft springs

[Madhias]

I really like the straight forward style, matt3o!

[matt3o]

btw, if you want an acryl case we could do that, but there must be a very high demand.

[matt3o]

just one thing... do we all agree on ISO?

[Ichigo87]

the goal is to:

- build a keyboard from start to finish in 2 months, not 2 years
- build a layered, raw, heavy, stainless steel keyboard with exposed switches
- build it with any layout you want, no constraints
- have all the components you need from the same source (not PCB from one GB, case from another, teensy from another, etc...)
- build it yourself

sorry if i made you repeat something but i am not sure if i should understand that you only want to share material sourcing and sharing sheets of steel to reduce price or if you want to create a common base PCB which could allowed different layout and maybe different switches with a common base case and multiple top layer for the plate ?

and an idea of a KMAC mini ISO :

[rindorbrot]

just one thing... do we all agree on ISO?

Yes!

[Madhias]

just one thing... do we all agree on ISO?

Yes

[Muirium]

Hmm…

[snoopy]

just one thing... do we all agree on ISO?

yes!!!! this is what makes us different from gh

[matt3o]

sorry if i made you repeat something but i am not sure if i should understand that you only want to share material sourcing and sharing sheets of steel to reduce price or if you want to create a common base PCB which could allowed different layout and maybe different switches with a common base case and multiple top layer for the plate ?

if you get one of the "base" layout you get everything pre-configured and ready to go. If you want your very own layout you have to provide CAD files but I can still print it for you.

The PCB could be done "general purpose" so it could accept many layouts BUT the "official" plate will be just 1 per layout. The official designs will be cheaper.

people seem not to like 1.5 + 1 + 1.5. That mod variant sends their brains in division by zero and they can't type anymore.