Model MF - GB CLOSED

[E TwentyNine]

Looks good. Maybe it's the render, maybe I'm delusional, but are the F1-F4 cutouts *slightly* too far to the left?

[lot_lizard]

Maybe it's the render, maybe I'm delusional, but are the F1-F4 cutouts *slightly* too far to the left?

Shouldn't be... I can double check against the previous renders with version control though, but key alignment has been hardened for quite a while. We did take the opportunity to center all of the key clusters in the top shell cutouts when the opportunity arose. If you study your Ms closely, you will see multiple clusters of keys that are not centered properly. They are very close, but .1-.3mm improvements were made throughout the board.


EDIT: just noticed the bottom corners weren't rounded on the final top plates when checking against version control. That has been corrected for both the SSK and Full-Size. I have updated the previous posts with renders for the top and bottom plates

[Techno Trousers]

If you study your Ms closely, you will see multiple clusters of keys that are not centered properly. They are very close, but .1-.3mm improvements were made throughout the board.

I'm so glad that you are overseeing the design and production on these, lot_lizard. Your attention to detail is incredible! I had no idea that IBM had made errors like that in their design. Maybe it was because they were working in imperial units!

[lot_lizard]

I had no idea that IBM had made errors like that in their design. Maybe it was because they were working in imperial units!

Appreciate the kind words... I don't know that I would call them errors, but they were odd choices by today's standards. Again, these are just minor alignment bits at best. I can only assume the location the key clusters was based on vantage point (which we still are mind you even with adjustments), but that it would have been originally for a person with their face MUCH closer to the keyboard than any of us would be. Targeting shorter folks that still needed to be hunched over the keys to hunt and peck?!? No idea... but that is the only thing that makes sense as to the cluster/shell alignment they chose.

[E TwentyNine]

I thought F1 was centered over 2, F5 centered over Y, and F9 centered over minus, but I cannot say I ever took precise measurements. That's not the case?

Can you give some examples of improvements made vs the originals?

[lot_lizard]

I'm traveling this week, so don't have anything to photograph, but the following captures it reasonably well. There are MINOR adjustments really across the board to be honest (aside from the core cluster). Arrow/nav/10-key are too far left, Esc too far right, and only the slightest adjustment to the function row. Again, please don't think I shifted things all over creation (these are .1-.3mm bumps). It isn't ever really noticeable in photographs because the vantage is so far away with the camera when the whole board is in view. Maybe they did it to photograph better?!? If you get your M out, set it in front of you at any distance that would be comfortable typing, you'll notice I think. I've tested alignment against several different shells with our prototypes to verify, and we are in a very good place.

EDIT: If I hadn't have called it out, I doubt any/many would have even noticed. I just studied this thing like an eagle looking for fish for a couple of months early on, so it became something that started to bother me as time grew (never noticed before starting this project).

IMG_0296.JPG (81.51 KiB) Viewed 5453 times

[livingspeedbump]

I've noticed this in my pics a few times, but always just assumed it was due to the angle of the shot and the way the caps slant just giving the appearance of misalignment. I'll have to pull out my SSK's later and have a gander at them.

But if you hadn't mentioned this I surely never would have noticed or thought twice about it.

[lot_lizard]

Robe's open here... no secrets . I do think you'll be surprised when you start looking at the M closely at different angles (at least I was)

Spoiler:

[E TwentyNine]

Now that's just uncalled for. (there's no vomit smiley, so here's a duck )

[lot_lizard]

Threw inside of a spoiler so at least it can be avoided

[lot_lizard]

Return from my work trip tomorrow and will be home next week to make some progress. My wife has let me know that several packages have arrived this week. I did finish the updates to the Full-Size plates as well to align with our SSK adjustments. On Friday morning, I will visit our metal fabrication friends and have a final prototype made for both form factors. The following are the renders of the Full-Size top and bottom plates. It would probably be difficult to tell unless you really studied both the last and current versions, but there are approx. 15 changes of reasonable significance (mostly related to tension screw placement, the top ridge, LED cutout, and wire stabilizers... no adjustments to key locations). Like the SSK, the PCB will be grounded to the back plate with standoffs.

Full-Size top plate from above

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Full-Size top plate from beneath

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Full-Size top plate angled

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Full-Size top plate angled from the other side

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Full-Size top plate from the side

fullSizeTopPlateSideAngled.png (65.67 KiB) Viewed 5082 times

Full-Size backplate from above

fullSizeBackPlateTop.png (15.27 KiB) Viewed 5082 times

Full-Size backplate from beneath

fullSizeBackPlateBottom.png (32.33 KiB) Viewed 5082 times

Full-Size backplate angled from below

fullSizeBackPlateBottomAngled.png (60.33 KiB) Viewed 5082 times

Full-Size backplate angled from the side

fullSizeBackPlateSideAngled.png (33.98 KiB) Viewed 5082 times

[Techno Trousers]

Thanks for the update! Is it too late to ask for F style wire stabilizer points below the zero key position on the numpad? I can post a really crude mock up if it would help you to know what I'm talking about. I think that's all I'd need to have an all-F122 style numpad without alternate legends on the numbers.

[emdude]

I'm a little confused; shouldn't there be stabilizer cutouts for wire-stabilized numpad Enter and + keys?

I apologize if I missed something. If I did, then I'd also like to request stabilizer cutouts for those keys as well, if possible!

[lot_lizard]

They're there, just not in the renders for some reason again. I'll update the images when I return tomorrow/Friday. No worries, all three are present already on the numpad

[emdude]

Okay, sounds great, thanks a bunch for the update.

[Techno Trousers]

Fantastic! I'm really looking forward to seeing the prototypes in all their metal glory, and assembled too!

[lot_lizard]

The renders are currently rebuilding. But in the meantime, thought you might like seeing the stickers. The first batch that came in had "easy peel" (precut backing). Unfortunately, this left a small crease that was still apparent even when applied. I talked them into running another batch for us that will require a little more effort on your end to separate the sticker from the backing (no precut).

So... You will get double the amount of stickers you ordered (one precut, one solid), and you can decide for yourself which you prefer. Both are vinyl, and the print quality turned out excellent (didn't photo well).

Previous batch with the precut backing. They apply well, but a crease can be noticed at specific angles

IMG_0324.JPG (1.7 MiB) Viewed 5182 times

The new batch without the precut crease

IMG_0325.JPG (1.46 MiB) Viewed 5182 times

[Techno Trousers]

The stickers look great! It's exciting how everything is coming together.

[Ir0n]

I like the xtant2 sticker lol :p

[Techno Trousers]

I ordered the special edition black and red colors for one of mine, so the Xtant2 sticker is included for free!

[E TwentyNine]

No, no, not stickers. "Commemorative Decals"

[Techno Trousers]

"Damn it, Marie, they're minerals!"

[lot_lizard]

Previous renders have been updated. They take several hours at this point to build with the proper number of facets on a curved plane. We have managed to stress OpenSCAD to it's limits actually (at least with the high detail renders), as I have noticed on multiple occasions it omitting artifacts that should be there. Luckily the actual plates that are produced are only two dimensional PDFs, so we can really turn the facet counts up there as needed. It's been a fun exercise to learn the language, but it is certainly more suited to smaller projects... or at least those with less facets.

Attaching the images for the spacers for the Full-Size. The right side would be identical to the right side of the SSK.

Full-Size spacers

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Full-Size spacers from below

fullSizeSpacersBottomAngled.png (33.71 KiB) Viewed 5148 times

[Techno Trousers]

That's the stuff. Thanks for the updated renders. They're gorgeous!

[lot_lizard]

That's the stuff. Thanks for the updated renders. They're gorgeous!

Appreciate... I think we are solid on almost every front at this point structurally. We will need to make a couple of adjustments to pass-through hole locations on the PCBs to match the plates, but I will be able to drill out the current PCBs I have in hand once the final prototype plates are produced. I meet with the metal fabricators Monday as my friend was out today, and we will circle back with WCass about those adjustments before ordering the final PCBs.


Most of the unannounced marketing "flair" is planned or accounted for, with the exception of a couple of minor bits. The major testing points remaining will be the foam and dependability of the PCB and controller. I will upload the foam renders in the coming days (it's improved quite a bit since the original posts in the workshop thread).

I do have several boxes here btw that I need to open. Things like the foam layers, Unicomp parts, printer filament, dyes, etc. have all been delivered.

[micrex22]

There are MINOR adjustments really across the board to be honest (aside from the core cluster). Arrow/nav/10-key are too far left, Esc too far right, and only the slightest adjustment to the function row. Again, please don't think I shifted things all over creation (these are .1-.3mm bumps).

I've actually noticed this as well, and it has always bothered me (particularly with the arrow cluster being too far left). So I'm actually quite glad it's being adjusted...

[livingspeedbump]

I should have known there would be multiple massive updates after not checking back in for a few short days. Stickers look great! So many good renders as well! Seems like everything is really moving along smoothly!

edit: I have a very nice Industrial and standard SSK and picked up a beat to hell one a while back just for the case for this project. The case was chipped and scratched, but I got it back today looking much much better

[E TwentyNine]

edit: I have a very nice Industrial and standard SSK and picked up a beat to hell one a while back just for the case for this project. The case was chipped and scratched, but I got it back today looking much much better

Was that done with one of those "paint dip" setups?

[livingspeedbump]

edit: I have a very nice Industrial and standard SSK and picked up a beat to hell one a while back just for the case for this project. The case was chipped and scratched, but I got it back today looking much much better

Was that done with one of those "paint dip" setups?

Yeah it was hydrodipped by a buddy of mine that generally does gaming controllers and such. Base coat of grey paint+dipped in the pattern+matte finish paint. The case was in really awful condition with a few cracks and dents so I patched those up before and used what he did to cover up my messy repairs. Probably not something I'd do on a good condition SSK, but this definitely made the useless one I had something fun and presentable.

[E TwentyNine]

edit: I have a very nice Industrial and standard SSK and picked up a beat to hell one a while back just for the case for this project. The case was chipped and scratched, but I got it back today looking much much better

Was that done with one of those "paint dip" setups?

Yeah it was hydrodipped by a buddy of mine that generally does gaming controllers and such. Base coat of grey paint+dipped in the pattern+matte finish paint. The case was in really awful condition with a few cracks and dents so I patched those up before and used what he did to cover up my messy repairs. Probably not something I'd do on a good condition SSK, but this definitely made the useless one I had something fun and presentable.

Any issues with wear? What's the cost on that for a non-buddy?