(Model MF) Remodeling the Model M (aka.. the Mara)

[regack]

The assembly by itself would need to be bubble wrapped (etc) to fill the difference.

I'm not having the best day, this just makes so much sense that it just didn't connect in my current state of mind... Another thought is that some people might consider buying the boxes separately. I have all of my spare Model Ms in a storage bin, but having a box for each one would be great; Also, when/if I thin the herd, it would be nice to ship out in that box.

[lot_lizard]

Another thought is that some people might consider buying the boxes separately. I have all of my spare Model Ms in a storage bin, but having a box for each one would be great; Also, when/if I thin the herd, it would be nice to ship out in that box.

Bingo... give credit to Techno. I hadn't even started thinking about shipping yet, and he brought up making it useful after the fact for the points you just mentioned (we had just received the industrial full-size cases from Unicomp). This is a substantial better design than theirs, but we will have to see what it does to cost. I will have the box man quote me on something to just hold the assembly for comparison and we'll vote

[E TwentyNine]

I like Unicomp's design better. I thought to accommodate SSK vs 101 there would be an extra cube that could be on one side of the SSK box that maybe could hold small parts as well.

[lot_lizard]

I like Unicomp's design better. I thought to accommodate SSK vs 101 there would be an extra cube that could be on one side of the SSK box that maybe could hold small parts as well.

Not to pick on Unicomp, but this was the box they sent me of the single EMPTY shell case. Keep in my this weighs much less than (multiple times) what we are sending, and was only from Kentucky to Minnesota. We just need something more high test unfortunately.

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[Techno Trousers]

Woah, that's some serious crushage there! It must have been quite the fall/knock to cause that.

I agree that these look to be head and shoulders better than the Unicomp boxes. I just hope the price is right.

[Techno Trousers]

I like Unicomp's design better. I thought to accommodate SSK vs 101 there would be an extra cube that could be on one side of the SSK box that maybe could hold small parts as well.

There is a LOT of empty space around the keyboard in these boxes, so when storing there will be plenty of room for small boxes or bags of other parts, key caps, etc. Now, if I were shipping with an SDL cable, for instance, I'd coil it up into the unused gap in one of the side bolsters. Those gaps will be much bigger in the SSK case.

[lot_lizard]

Woah, that's some serious crushage there! It must have been quite the fall/knock to cause that.

I was surprised as well. It could have been avoided if they would have put some insert on the top and bottom like we are (was the real reason for suggesting it was needed when working with our box friend). Some sort of poly packing foam makes more sense in my mind though, and is why I left out of the original pics. I threw the provided cardboard inserts in the subsequent post to explain how it is secured.


Unicomp is using a die to produce there little cardboard inserts. We would have to have that produced to replicate, and just isn't worth the die cost given our quantity. This design is actually quite a bit stronger, and definitely cheaper to make. I already know it is cheaper than purchasing boxes from Unicomp, just not sure how much cheaper yet until the design is approved for pricing

[E TwentyNine]

I like Unicomp's design better. I thought to accommodate SSK vs 101 there would be an extra cube that could be on one side of the SSK box that maybe could hold small parts as well.

Not to pick on Unicomp, but this was the box they sent me of the single EMPTY shell case. Keep in my this weighs much less than (multiple times) what we are sending, and was only from Kentucky to Minnesota. We just need something more high test unfortunately.

Well....if Unicomp did that extra cardboard insert front/rear, lateral forces like that wouldn't be an issue.

They used to have this folding menagerie thing for shipping their boards, but I'm fairly certain what we all got with the industrial shell is their standard box for shipping keyboards nowadays, and the top end blocks swap out based on the board being shipped. But they double box on top of that so that's some extra protection that this design seems to render unneeded.

I do wonder with your design if two simple C shaped ends and the extra cardboard "cube" for SSK's would be cheaper (or more expensive?).

I realized with these flippable end pieces when it's in a box on the shelf for simple storage you could flip them into the 101 format and have extra space still in the SSK box for a cable or whatever...

[lot_lizard]

I do wonder with your design if two simple C shaped ends and the extra cardboard "cube" for SSK's would be cheaper (or more expensive?)

Let me ask our friend... I see where you are going. Shorten the "C's" and keep the SSK off center (basically an I-Beam vs. an offset C). My inclination is the "C" is cheaper because they only have to crank out these little flippable guys, BUT the others would be smaller. Unfortunately these yahoos really only deal in corrugated board, so we would need to reach out to another firm for the "filler box" (or again, we just laser cut something out of poly foam to fill the void). I'll check.


BTW. We would definitely be making some poly foam pieces (wedges, etc) to harden the design. Luckily we have a laser cutter

As an example, I would definitely make a 101-key and SSK "wedge" to go on either side of the C-Beam to keep the front of the board from moving on the Z-axis in transit. Again... small little things to work out, but should be cost effective.

[fohat]

Have you talked to "1avidcollector" about this?

He had styrofoam inserts designed and fabricated for his bolt-mod M jobs. There would be no design cost for that.

[lot_lizard]

Have you talked to "1avidcollector" about this?

He had styrofoam inserts designed and fabricated for his bolt-mod M jobs. There would be no design cost for that.

I haven't... But it's a good idea if others have already journeyed here. We wouldn't be paying any design costs, but if there are better designs, or existing molds we could leverage... Why not?!?


There is a mold needed for the outer box here. Our box friend is checking to see if we can "rent" one similar to really drive costs down. Again, even if we have one made, we are cheaper than my original inquiry to buy them from Unicomp in bulk, but we are all about costs (especially when it comes to packaging) as long as it exceeds requirements.

[fohat]

I haven't

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-IBM-Model-M ... SwDV1XQ3bv

[Techno Trousers]

Wow, if it's affordable, that insert would be the Rolls Royce of packaging, to be sure.

[elecplus]

I haven't

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-IBM-Model-M ... SwDV1XQ3bv

Not to burst your bubble, but I am pretty sure I sold him those when the huge batches came through my warehouse couple of years ago. If that is the case, then the styrofoam came with the keyboards.

[fohat]

That particular one was indeed the original from Cindy's lot.

The ones that he had made are here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291865241868?ss ... 1555.l2649

[E TwentyNine]

That particular one was indeed the original from Cindy's lot.

The ones that he had made are here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291865241868?ss ... 1555.l2649

I had asked him about those a few years back. He said they cost him $20 a pop in lots of 100. I have to believe that's way more than what we're looking at with the cardboard construction.

[lot_lizard]

So the conversation in the "Great/Interesting Finds" thread about custom PBT dye-subs reminded me of work Nakazato did for me many months ago, and a little jewel of a one-off project he put together.

Inspired by the Selectric typewriter font (same as the Beamspring), he dye-subbed Model M PBT. For those that aren't aware of his work, these are Unicomp blanks that he dye-subs himself using some used equipment that he picked up in Japan... and he has gotten very good at it. I have several Beamsprings, and they are probably what I spend 33-50% of my time typing on. Love the Selectric font.

He spends a majority of his efforts making single key artisan dye-subs for Cherry and Model M caps, but I decided to reached out to him to see if he could do Selectrics in bulk for us, and what the pricing would be. I am really only interested in the alphas, number row, and the 10-key (in that order) to keep costs down... but the full set could be interesting with a couple of mild alignment tweaks if the pricing got more realistic. To my knowledge he has only ever produced one of these sets, and it is still for sale because of its artisan price.

No idea if it will work out, and I know I am pulling in scope creep to a project that is already a little nuts... but want to know what he could do for say 25+ sets of these.

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[E TwentyNine]

I learned to type on selectrics. If I could get my beamspring to have that constant hum of a selectric that resonates through the whole machine I would.

I think this would be kickass on an MF. Now if he could figure out a way to do dark grey with a white font that was more permanent than pad printing....

[fohat]

Oh, baby, I love those large centered legends!

[lot_lizard]

Oh, baby, I love those large centered legends!

I think this would be kickass on an MF

Couldn't agree more. Both say "I know I'm not supposed to be here... But should have been here day one!!!... MuthaFucka"

Now if he could figure out a way to do dark grey with a white font that was more permanent than pad printing....

Dye-sub stains well, but will never be double+ shot. The dye always has to be darker than the cap it's going onto unfortunately. You could dye everything but the legend, but that would be UBER tough. Until someone ABS double/triple/quad shots an M cap, this is our best chance.


SA ABS double shot texture is a bit "slimy" compared to PBT imo. The only thing saving it is the deep dish. Now if someone would sandblast SA double shots in the spherical cup only (ala the Wodan method)... That would be delicious

[Techno Trousers]

Wow, those are really nice. I could personally do without the front printing, if that would bring the price down to something "somewhat" affordable.

[lot_lizard]

Wow, those are really nice. I could personally do without the front printing, if that would bring the price down to something "somewhat" affordable.

I agree... Actually there are several things I think we could do to make this much more realistic price wise. Keep in my though, front printing here is much cheaper than a triple shot in ABS land.


I know I'm a brat, but after looking at this cap set for over a year, and nearly hitting "Confirm Order" several times... I grabbed shortly before I made the original post. I want to see it in front of me. I DO know he does awesome work, but want to know his bandwidth for bulk if we utilize his services. I think we could come up with something pretty special that is a scaled down version of this board. The hope is that they would be cheaper than these SA group guys if we could do at least a few sets... We'll see.

Next week I should FINALLY have time to put the full-size stainless edition together for testing. MOST of these caps will be on its maiden voyage. Even if Hajime is too tied up to help us, it should make for a "one-of-a-kind" full-size M, and a fun photo shoot

[elecplus]

Back to shipping boxes, there are probably better prices, but would something like this work?
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/polar-t ... ON55C.html

[lot_lizard]

Back to shipping boxes, there are probably better prices, but would something like this work?
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/polar-t ... ON55C.html

I'll reach out and see if they'll send me sample. It's hard to say without looking at it first hand.


I heard back from Hajime. Assuming we had a reasonable quantity, the pricing would be the following for the Selectric keycap sets. This is for all the keys as previously pictured. There are certainly things we could do to reduce costs ( eliminate the function row, control keys, front side printing, etc), but I would want to know if there was real interest before I bothered him for custom pricing. If nothing else, it does make you irritated at Unicomp that some guy can pick up used equipment, experiment, and come up with this having little or no experience to start with.

• SSK = 140
• Full-size = 160

Reminder as to what this is in reference to below. Scroll to previous post for additional pics

Spoiler:

[Khers]

That's not bad at all. I've been hoovering that order button many times myself... At $140, I'm most probably in! I could do without the front legends, but would ideally like a set in its entirety, as I kind of like the centered legends on the F-row etc.

[fohat]

the pricing would be the following for the Selectric keycap sets. This is for all the keys as previously pictured. There are certainly things we could do to reduce costs ( eliminate the function row, control keys, front side printing, etc),

• SSK = 140
• Full-size = 160

Too rich for me.

[Vizir]

I'm in for the custom keycaps. Love the Selectric look.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[pyrelink]

Custom set looks fantastic, but a little too pricey for me. Especially when I have delicious one piece XT alphas I can use.

[Techno Trousers]

I'm potentially interested in a TKL set. Would he do them on a set of Unicomp brilliant white alphas and gray modifiers, including Windows keys?

From the Massdrop Unicomp Ultra Classic:

[lot_lizard]

I'm potentially interested in a TKL set. Would he do them on a set of Unicomp brilliant white alphas and gray modifiers, including Windows keys?

Great minds... I was actually interested in that myself for the indy cases. It shouldn't effect pricing since a blank is a blank.


For the "windows" key, I don't believe that would be something he has already. My personal vote would be that we come up something to use for it that is platform independent. Text, image, combo.. whatever (maybe an MF key). He is really adaptable based on my experience.