F104+SSK+122+62+77+50+Ergo orders now open! New Kishsaver+Industrial Model F Keyboards

[Hypersphere]

@Ellipse: Thanks for your incredible flexibility in offering so many great options! I would be interested in a smaller case option for the F62. Looking forward to seeing a mock-up.

[chalks]

Does the smaller case have the lip above the top row of keys? And does it keep the borders to the side and the top in roughly the same proportion to the original?

It would be great if you could show us a picture / mock up of the smaller case.

[Ellipse]

chalks there would most likely be no pencil holder style above the top row because the alternative design will look very different from the original. The borders on the left/right side will be equally wide like the original. I hope to post renderings soon.

[kekstee]

Nice to hear. Might be interesting, I came to enjoy all the space I can get with the 60% hype of recent years.

By the way, you mentioned somewhere that your F keyboards all end up sounding sightly different, but do any of those show the excessive... ringing the model M ping sound has? I really dislike that chattery aspect to it and enjoy the sound of large model F a lot more when watching youtube comparisons* :s

*) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cuo7Ut5kC0M

[Elrick]

I hope to post renderings soon.

Very eager to see them soon. Although regardless of how they look, as long as it's brand new Model-F switching this should be the keyboard of the YEAR .

[bhtooefr]

I'd prefer the smaller case, myself, most likely - I'm not so much interested in these replicas as exact replicas, but rather as new-production Model Fs.

[JanitorJoe]

Same, I'm interested in the Kishsaver because it's a 60% Model F. So the idea of a smaller version is definitely appealing to me. Can't wait to see those renderings.

[andrewjoy]

For further space savings in the 7" dimension, I would need a volunteer PCB designer to redesign the xwhatsit controller to take up less space. Currently it just sticks out of the capacitive PCB like on an original XT keyboard. Any volunteers?

Could you not mount it under the plate SSK style ? I know that would be additional cost . But it would not be as bad as you think as you could possibly still print them on one panel and then have them separated, additional labour cost sure but factions of a penny when it comes to PCB cost.

You could even test them still connected and then remove with methods like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5BDcEqEaKg


Talking controllers , will it have the headers populated for the add-on board so i can buy a buzzer or solenoid driver ?

[Ellipse]

Yep andrew some of the designs and PCBs will be attached underneath, including the prototypes and F77 split right shift most likely. And yep there will be the usual 6 expansion header pins pre-soldered for the F77 / F62 keyboards.

[Spaceman1200]

As an update, the powdercoating on the case should be finished within a day or so, and then we will just need to wait for the outside foam and box to be made and for the springs to be attached to the flippers - it is possible the prototypes could be here in about two weeks!

Excitement Intensifies

[scottc]

Is the smaller case compatible with the split right shift?

[Ellipse]

Yes scott. The only different pieces are the new case and new bottom inner assembly. The other parts are the same between the original and new case designs.

As an update, the factory was delayed again, and prototypes are now likely to arrive the week after Christmas.

[Vizir]

Back to my original question... Does the original case provide enough space for a solenoid driver pcb and a solenoid? And what about the smaller case?

[Muirium]

I doubt it.

[Vizir]

what about the f77?

[Ellipse]

The case prototypes have finally been completed!

The good news is that they seem to have gotten the "extra bumpy" powdercoating texture close to the originals - especially if you look at the first photo below:

**Please disregard the colors in the photos; they are not at all what you will get.

The colors and white balance are way off in these photos, so please take the photos with a grain of salt. The prototypes should get here in the next week or two and I will take many photos too and hopefully open up orders then

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[andrewjoy]

They look AMAZING! need to round off the edges of the top bar a little but still AMAZING!

[scottc]

Not bad at all.

[Spaceman1200]

Looking good!

[chzel]

That's one beautiful prototype! The ridge does need quite a bit of radius on the edges, and either seems a bit taller than it should, or the bare case confuses me!

[Khers]

That looks ace! I hope! The photo stinks!

[Muirium]

Everyone's right about the over-sharp squareness of the ridge, but other than that it looks very true to the original, externally.

I wonder what your reduced size "modern" design looks like. Anywhere near a prototype for that?

[ramnes]

Awesome. Thought, I wouldn't be against a slightly more "modern" design. Did you think about producing an alternative case?

[0100010]

Need internal case pictures, to see the plate assembly mounting holes, cable strain relief / grounding and cable hole.

[Aer Fixus]

When is the cutoff for signing up? I'm interested but won't be able to get enough money for a little while...

[Ellipse]

Aer - please sign the interest form if you are interested. There should be a 1-2 month window for sending payment only after the prototypes are confirmed good.

0100010 - The cable strain will be like the original - with a P clip. They also drilled two holes on the "far side" of the bottom case for bumpers at the bottom. I will take better photos when the prototypes arrive, including inside photos.

Yes ramnes I posted earlier about a small demand for a smaller style case that is less wide. There is a lot of empty space in the original cases.

Here is a rough prototype of the alternative case. No one will get this case unless they request it!

The bottom case is reminiscent of the stamped metal bottom case of the F122, while the top case is a curved design like that of the top of a Model M case. The bottom case includes the left and right side "walls" while the top case includes the top and bottom walls. The cases will be attached with four removable screws, like the original.

Please note that this alternative case will not be the one offered primarily for this project, but just a low volume alternative version for those who want a smaller form factor case. It will be powdercoated off-white or gray like the originals, or any other Pantone color you specify and if you pay for tooling (could be $100 or so, not sure yet).

Personally I prefer the CNC milled original style case as they are bigger, heavier, and more classic looking.

Due to the lower quantities expected for the smaller case, I do not have the minimum quantities to make them with CNC milling, so unfortunately the case had to be redesigned from scratch and simplified.

No need to say you will stay with the original case - I will assume everyone wants the original unless they specify otherwise in the order form. I do welcome feedback though on this design - if you can volunteer another design that does not need to be CNC milled please do post it.

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[codemonkeymike]

I can dig that smaller case! Looking good

[darkspider]

woooo, very excited! It looks rather very good. And want to see the smaller one also.

[Muirium]

Just above your post ought to do it…

I prefer the original Kishsaver style. The compact design strikes me as… Victorian, oddly enough! The Kishsaver case could definitely be improved (all designs can) but I'd go for something more SSK.

[Hypersphere]

If we get the smaller case as an add-on item, I assume we can easily move the innards of the keyboard to the smaller case if desired. Is this the case, as it were?