Group Build prototyping phase

Vierax · 13 Jul 2014, 17:13

Wow, lots of great news here !

If you need some small design to try your devices, I still have mine (two halves mirrored) but I really need to test an option in the design with a modular plate to be sure so it should start with an acrylic plate.

matt3o · 15 Jul 2014, 13:53

CNC is in da house!

pyrelink · 15 Jul 2014, 13:59

Nice! How big of a machine is it (weight and space wise)? Not really sure what a CNC mill would look like, but I assume its about the size of a small appliance? Since its from a local place as you say, did they deliver it themselves, or did you have to pick it up?

matt3o · 15 Jul 2014, 14:29

it's about 25kg, it's the size of a small bench machine (It's a router not a mill). I'll post some pictures later, now I have to test it.

I had to change supplier at the last minute because they were delaying again and I was fed up. Anyway, I got it at the end. Have to make a gazillion tests

pyrelink · 15 Jul 2014, 14:33

Sounds great! Good luck!

Muirium · 15 Jul 2014, 14:51

I suspect, once you've got the hang of it, this will turn out to be a little awesome factory. Topre stem adapters? Custom caps? And PCBs, of course, speaking of which I'd better tell Peter!

matt3o · 16 Jul 2014, 15:09

unboxing

assembling

first test pattern... huge success!

I love this thing but I need a lot of time to set it up correctly.

Muirium · 16 Jul 2014, 15:14

The caterpillar track reminds me of this little guy…

How appropriate!

scottc · 16 Jul 2014, 15:21

Looking well!

EnigmaSA · 16 Jul 2014, 15:40

The CNC looks great! I'd love to get hold of something like that.

beltet · 22 Jul 2014, 21:02

Muirium wrote: ↑The caterpillar track reminds me of this little guy…

Spoiler:
How appropriate!

Ha ha! it reminded me of this:

EDIT:

Matt3o, what cnc have you bought? And from? Thinking of looking into a cnc for my own.

matt3o · 23 Jul 2014, 11:17

beltet wrote: ↑Matt3o, what cnc have you bought? And from? Thinking of looking into a cnc for my own.

I had to change supplier 100 times, at the end I had to take a Chinese CNC, although pretty good quality (PM me if you want details)

ماء · 20 Sep 2014, 13:22

thickness of layers 6mm is enough?
1,5mm plate
3mm-----
3mm-----
2mm base

matt3o · 20 Sep 2014, 14:35

ماء wrote: ↑thickness of layers 6mm is enough?
1,5mm plate
3mm-----
3mm-----
2mm base

8mm is safer

matt3o · 22 Nov 2014, 09:57

I'm sorry this took so much, the CNC absorbed all my spare time.

Anyway, I want to assure you that the project is not dead. Massdrop is willing to produce my 65% keyboard early next year. This means that the keyboard will have a professionally printed PCB, case and everything. It will probably be alps and mx compatible, too.

I will try to find a way to get some samples directly in Europe to save in taxes and shipping, I'll keep you updated.

Muirium · 22 Nov 2014, 11:04

What are the constraints? 65% like 16 columns * 5 rows, but pick whatever layouts inside that we like? What stabs are you arranging for Alps?

matt3o · 22 Nov 2014, 11:24

Muirium wrote: ↑What are the constraints? 65% like 16 columns * 5 rows, but pick whatever layouts inside that we like? What stabs are you arranging for Alps?

16*5 layout with as many options as physically possible. I'll post some pictures.

Stabs will be probably costar+cherry. I have to check if we can physically fit "traditional" alps stabs as well.

Muirium · 22 Nov 2014, 11:31

Nice. What's the controller?

matt3o · 22 Nov 2014, 11:39

not sure yet. AVR or ARM based, depends on pricing and availability.

pasph · 22 Nov 2014, 20:16

Obviously it won't have an iso option, right?

matt3o · 22 Nov 2014, 20:31

of course it will

pasph · 22 Nov 2014, 22:39

Mx alps ansi iso 65%?
[emoji33] [emoji15] there's something wrong here
It can't happen here!

macmakkara · 22 Nov 2014, 22:56

Ooh nice. We need some pics. I believe that ARMs are littlebit cheapers at the monen than AVR atmegas.

pyrelink · 25 Nov 2014, 18:03

Any chance of us seeing a revised Bianca on Massdrop anytime soon? After having a few months to reflect, I think Bianca wound up being my favorite of these boards. I just love the split up spacebars/lack of stabs.

matt3o · 25 Nov 2014, 19:30

it's such an hardcore board that it wouldn't get that much love I think

personally, I love it

matt3o · 27 Jan 2015, 14:23

let's get back to work

I made some more tests. It seems it would be possible to make a "tray" design with bent plates. The end result is not perfectly seamless, but quite good.

This would be a very quick render, don't mind the Victorian decorations too much, we could actually have anything lasered.

I would do the tray in steel, and the plate in aluminum. This would be extremely cheap.

Muirium · 27 Jan 2015, 14:24

Wait, what, you said the magic word!

matt3o · 27 Jan 2015, 14:48

Muirium wrote: ↑Wait, what, you said the magic word!

cheapcheapcheapcheapcheapcheapcheap

Muirium · 27 Jan 2015, 14:55

Great! I've got switches, caps and diodes at the ready.

Got a PCB in mind? One of 7bit's?

matt3o · 27 Jan 2015, 15:04

this one in particular is a 16x5, but once the design is ready you can make it work for anything.

This time I've been able to include the panel mounted USB port, it is expensive, but I believe it's that small detail that brings you from "nice" to "pro".