AlpineFox Interest Check (Alps based project)

[Hypersphere]

Mu, where did you get all those blue Alps switches?

[chzel]

Surprise box IIRC

[LeandreN]

okay first problem: plate thickness. As per specifications Alps plate is 1.2mm while cherry MX is 1.5mm. The whitefox case doesn't work well with 1.2mm top plate. I have a feeling that alps would work on 1.5mm as well but I'm not 100% sure. Can anyone confirm?

Hey!

Yes it should work. Better fit with 1,1 - 1,2mm though.

[Laser]

I wonder how hard would it be to also support Space Invaders (NMB, Hi-Tek) switches. Not necessarily on the same PCB, but an alternative one.

[seaworthy]

I’m very interested in a 60% Alps board. I’m trying to hack something together now by combining an AEK and a M0116 (see below). Vintage caps are attractive, but so is a sole-source, full solution if the caps are high quality PBT (likely considering the designer's taste).

I realize my redneck hybrid plan is very inefficient, but that’s just a testament to how appealing a 60% Alps board is to me—especially in an HHKB format. The layout priority for me would be an option to have Control located left of "A" and Backspace directly above Enter.

My goofy plans would require making a custom plate and PCB. The finished hybrid keyboard would closely resemble the HHKB excepting the Fn key will be on the bottom row (all the way to the right) instead of to the right of the right Shift key.

- Use the M0115 as the base layout and source for most of the keys including the spacebar.

- Take delete key from the M0116 and place it to the right of the }] key (directly above the return key) on the base layout of the M0115 (it goes in the location of the | \ key on the M0115)

- Take . (decimal point—bottom middle key in the numpad) from the M0115 to use as a proxy Fn key, and place it to the right of the Alt key on the bottom row.

- Take Control key from M0116 and place it on the M0115 to the left of the A key (where caps lock resides—Control key from M0116 is same size as Caps Lock on M0115...I think).

- Remove the bottom row Control keys from the M0115 so the bottom row looks like the HHKB with gaps (no keys) on the outside edges of the bottom row.

- Take the Esc key from the M0116 and place it in the top left on the M0115 (where the ~ ` key is on the M0115)

Harvest from M0116
- Delete key
- | \ (back slash key to left of spacebar)
-  Control key
- Esc

hybrid_M0115_M0116.png (149.64 KiB) Viewed 4967 times

[mastermachetier]

Is this project still moving forward ? I was looking to do a custom build hacking an old m0116, but this would be much cooler and I can keep the m0116 intact.

[matt3o]

yes, I just need to finalize the last few details on the whitefox then we can move on with the alpine fox

[Muirium]

Today's soldering job:

Alps 64.jpg (801.88 KiB) Viewed 4981 times

I know you're not into 60%s, Matteo, but if you happen to be making any Alps plates soon…

[matt3o]

who said that? I count at least 3 60% in the house hold.

[Muirium]

Ooh… does that mean we have a chance at a 60% Alps group build? So many people missed Hasu's PCB (technically I did too!) and Alps are right in fashion here in 2016. The time feels right!

And then there's Montereys. Everyone's favourite non-MX non-Alps modular switch, that still somehow never gets any custom love. Is it possible to support Alps and Monterey switches on the same PCB, I wonder?

[Matt_]

Given the way Alps and MX pads overlap on boards made to accomodate both, I'd say that making one for Alps & Montereys shouldn't be more problematic, but I may be wrong (measurements of Montereys' pinout would help).

I've offered to draft a PCB for Montereys on the thread you linked but if those unicorn switches can be fitted to an existing Alps project it's probably a better option!

[seaworthy]

The people (at very least two of us—sure there’s got to be dozens more) really want to do an Alps 60%. 100% of us want a quality group build and would be up for conventional Alps or Monterey—no one has done a Monterey custom group build and you’re the precedent setter who covers new ground.

Alps Match.png (609.11 KiB) Viewed 4946 times

[stratokaster]

I'm very interested in such a keyboard. I have lots of various Alps keyboards I can harvest switches and keycaps from. But all my keyboards are either ISO or with a big-ass Enter, so I'd like an ANSI-ISO layout (which looks like a normal ANSI, but with an ISO Return and a 1U [\|] key located right next to Return).

[MrNorse]

I would also be extremely interested. My only experience with mechanical switches has been Cherrys so far but everyone here seems to swear by Alps.

[matt3o]

sorry guys, but is the interest for just a standard "60%" (with few options)?

[stratokaster]

Yes, I'm interested in a standard 60%, maybe with an HHKB-style layout

[derzemel]

I would love to have it made in the 65% layout (like the WhiteFox) or even add the F row for a 75%
I would also love to have the possibility to install LEDs, for the ones of us who have Green Alps with LED slots:

[scottc]

Oooh, pretty! If you scrap that board for parts derzemel, could I please get a loose switch to try out? I'll swap you a Nixie for it.

[flabbergast]

My preferences would also go towards a 65%. The F-row is unnecessary for me, and I've already got a 60% built from BlueNalgene's GB and hasu's 60% Alps64 PCB. (People keep asking hasu for another round of PCBs, so it may happen; and his 60% PCBs are already well tested and support a whole bunch of layouts.) One thing which is relatively easy to get for a 60%, and there's a huge variety, are cases. For 65% you kind of have to build a case anew, so that's one of the reasons why I'd like to see a 65% ALPS happen here.

[pcaro]

I would love to have it made in the 65% layout (like the WhiteFox) or even add the F row for a 75%

I really agree. 75% layout with WhiteFox style cursors would be great. If you have alps switches (think blues from a donor) you want to use all them in your keyboard!

[wacko78]

65% like the white fox for me

[MrNorse]

65% would be my preference but 60 would also be nice.

[Muirium]

I'm up for a 60% Alps plate if you're getting things cut. Anything bigger isn't really my thing, but you have the magic touch so there's always a chance!

[themadnun]

I'm up for any Alps plate & maybe PCB depending on cost.

[seaworthy]

60% with some symmetry

[Wodan]

I'm very interested in ALPS compatible kits!

[matt3o]

ok. personally I'm not interested in "poker like" layouts. Not because I don't like it, but because this project would bring nothing new to the market.

That doesn't mean that we can't design a PCB that also supports a poker layout, but the core project needs to be something else to tickle my appetite.

My idea would be a split spacebar-hhkb like we discussed few pages ago.

[romevi]

Dunno how I completely missed this. Definitely interested in it!

[seaworthy]

ok. personally I'm not interested in "poker like" layouts. Not because I don't like it, but because this project would bring nothing new to the market.

That doesn't mean that we can't design a PCB that also supports a poker layout, but the core project needs to be something else to tickle my appetite.

My idea would be a split spacebar-hhkb like we discussed few pages ago.

Yes! split spacebar. A Happy Alps board.

[wacko78]

ok. personally I'm not interested in "poker like" layouts. Not because I don't like it, but because this project would bring nothing new to the market.

That doesn't mean that we can't design a PCB that also supports a poker layout, but the core project needs to be something else to tickle my appetite.

My idea would be a split spacebar-hhkb like we discussed few pages ago.

yes please