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

[AlpsComeback]

I just received my keyboard about an hour ago, and everything is working great except the E, R, D, F, C, V, 3, and 4 keys aren't registering. The threshold is set at 120 and works perfectly except those 8 keys, which are all in column 3. I looked at xwhatsits documentation, and I couldn't find a solution. Should I just let it grow accustomed to the temperature, or is there another solution?

Edit: got it working!

[str8away]

Is there a fork of qmk for these on github with the capsense stuff? Or is it more of a closed beta at the moment?

[Elrick]

Everyone please do let us know when your new Model F arrives and how things are going so far.

Okay, so mine is pushed back to 2021 I guess, due to our current Covid-19 circumstance?

Don't mind as long as the order doesn't go missing altogether and no one from your factory actually has LOST the payment for my F77 keyboard?

Not tyre-kicking you here at all because I do know of the horrid aspect of what everyone is facing thus far for 2020, truly a miserable year for just about ........Everything .

[darkcruix]

Sneak Peek of the delivery of my life. I will do an unboxing video later ...

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[Wazrach]

Well, it's in the delivery depot ready for delivery, but of course I can't have my item without waiting for a letter to pay my customs charges (which doesn't look like it's coming until Monday). So Tuesday looks like it's going to be the earliest. Yay.

[Wazrach]

Good primitive system. Very good. Can't pay online with tracking number, no. Need a letter to come first.

[Ellipse]

darkcruix that is good news! Can't wait to see the unboxing video!

Hi Elrick, yes there have been significant delays due to COVID. The second of two container shipments for the early bird round was delayed for a while but should be leaving China in about one month from now. The factory completed assembly and is now finishing up the QC.

The factory is working on dye sublimation setup this month and I am hoping for mass sublimation to start in the coming weeks. I know that the dye sublimation has taken longer than expected.

Your keyboard actually arrived with the first container shipment last year and is in hand. I'd be happy to ship your keyboard in the next week or so (including the original IBM XT keys you ordered) with the new printed keys (for the differently sized XT keys that won't work on the new Model F) to ship later, if you wanted to borrow some Model M or Model F keys from other keyboards to use in the mean time. Or I could send you blank keys for those keys.

[Lagomorph]

Sneak Peek of the delivery of my life. I will do an unboxing video later ...

I'm excited for you! Congratulations.

[darkcruix]

Finally ..... I am writing this with a New Model-F (F77). I still have to tweak it and configure my layers, but boy ... the sound is so damn close! The feel is 100% right and Ellipse ... I have no words for what you have done here.

You wanted to see the Unboxing Video. I quickly recorded it without proper sound equipment or great editing. You basically see the two raw videos I merged together with the sound recorded by my cam. It has just been uploaded to youtube. If you want to get the HD version, you need to check back a little later:

[geneg1]

the bumpers - they should have been in the bag with the horizontal and vertical stabilizer inserts.

I checked again and found the bumpers. Thanks!

[jwegman]

I was thankful to receive my f77 earlier in the week (I had forgotten that I had ordered the black case; but was glad I had); with a temporary set of Unicomp keys. I didn't need to touch the xwhatsit layout or voltage settings (although I did verify the base/layer mappings with the tool, etc).

Here it is accompanied by it's slightly larger (and older) PC AT sibling that had been ANSI'fied (along with shorter spacebar and alt key additions):

[Elrick]

Your keyboard actually arrived with the first container shipment last year and is in hand.

Onya, Good to hear and am very happy it's in your House of the Model-F series .

I'd be happy to ship your keyboard in the next week or so (including the original IBM XT keys you ordered) with the new printed keys (for the differently sized XT keys that won't work on the new Model F) to ship later, if you wanted to borrow some Model M or Model F keys from other keyboards to use in the mean time.

Am next to dead-useless at manipulating any Model-F keyboard successfully without completely destroying it with my hands and fingers. It has to be completely installed by your good self here, since you are the only EXPERT I trust in the world to do that.

Or I could send you blank keys for those keys.

Definitely stick with the original order details, that is overall more important to me than any thing else. Because you have not forgotten me in regards to this F-77, then I know you will eventually finish it ALL off to perfection .

Getting older now and my younger days of repairing and attaching Model-M and/or F springs and key-caps is quite beyond my abilities. Can now only replace key-caps and hot-swap switches on certain Cherry-based keyboards, which any Moron can do on Planet Earth.

Just thanks for letting me know. Like some crotchety ole geezer, good to see the youngsters resurrecting ancient keyboards for the 21st Century. They truly are the very best that were made and once again available to those that have never experienced a decent keyboard in their lives before.

[dad]

Here it is accompanied by it's slightly larger (and older) PC AT sibling that had been ANSI'fied...

Thanks for sharing the image (F77 vs F AT) - I thought F77 classic style case is much smaller than the original PC AT, since F77 lacks F-keys and AT keyboard leds(very useful BTW). But it turns out it's almost the same width and height? The borders are so thick - why the original F77 existed at all if not for saving desk space?

[Scarpia]

Interesting size observation, and cool pic of the siblings!

Were the F77 and FAT contemporary?

[darkcruix]

First impression of the F62 with Unicomp Keys:

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[Ellipse]

Wonderful unboxing video and photos darkcruix - thank you for posting it!

Regarding the gap you pointed out in one of the cases - usually this is the issue of it being assembled with the inner assembly slightly out of place so the case can't close fully (it's tricky to get it exactly right - I usually adjust with the keyboard bottom side up, inside the foam packaging for protection. There are registration bumps on the left and right sides to line up the keyboard with the corresponding holes on the inner assembly). Sometimes the factory didn't 100% correctly adjust the case after it came out of the mold. They actually use a rubber mallet to adjust the cases back to spec if needed (I'd be careful if I were doing this after it's been powdercoated though - if anyone has any ideas please let me know).

[wondererwader]

Here's a pic of my F77, kludged with a mix of keycaps. The feeling and build quality are excellent. Thanks Ellipse.

[Shihatsu]

Fuck the more pictures are coming in (and videos, and thank all of youse guys for those, keep the blingbling coming) the harder the wating gets. I hate you, Ellipse. I fucking hate you. And love you all the same. I WANT MY MODEL F SO BAD OMGITSKILLINGME!

\rant

[darkcruix]

...
I WANT MY MODEL F SO BAD OMGITSKILLINGME!
...

The first half of my working day is over and I spent a lot of time using the keyboard(s). I have no idea, how I could be productive before. Ellipse has nailed it. Simple as that. Sound, quality, color, haptic, ...
And as a beautiful side effect, I can now keep a notebook to the right of me for making manual notes. With the F107 this was impossible because of the length...

[Ellipse]

Beam spring controllers and solenoid drivers now available to order! https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product ... ontroller/

Beam spring controllers are priced at $100 shipped (within the US) for a little while, and then the price will go up to $119.

Is there any interest in the displaywriter beam spring controller? I'd need commitments for 5-10 controllers at $100 each to order these controllers.

I have just posted the June update on the project web site, for those who have not been following the forum threads closely in the past month and want a summary of all the updates in one place.

https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/blog/

Summary of the blog update:

1 Orders continue shipping out (still time to order keyboards and add accessories to your order) and reviews and photos continue coming in!
2 Beam spring controllers and solenoid drivers are now available to order. Custom made solenoids to follow soon (compatible with all xwhatsit keyboards: Model F and beam spring!)
3 The early shipping option is still available (can request your keyboard to ship within about one month; details below)
4 Factory updates, details on my final stage QC work before each keyboard goes out: Dye sublimation setup continues this month at the factory. They are working as quickly as possible to start mass sublimation of key sets.
5 Some additional updates: xwhatsit 0.9.2 firmware update, photos, QMK firmware, more Model F technical tips


Why is shipping slower than expected? How will it speed up in the future? When can my keyboard ship? Read on to find out…

[Wazrach]

Well, I got it! I also recorded an unboxing - except I didn't. It wasn't in frame like I thought it was. Oh well, the unboxing won't see the light of day, but I will be doing a video review at some point.

[Wazrach]

Here's some pics. I bought a custom serial with my birthdate!

[nickg]

Dude these things are so beautiful I cant wait for my two to get here. and their size is pretty much perfect too. the hype is building.

[Ellipse]

Yes definitely nickg! I just checked reddit and saw at least a half dozen reviews / posts about people who have recently received their new Model F keyboards! One post that linked to an imgur photo had 7,000 views in the past week according to imgur!

[darkcruix]

Built my own first aid kit box combining a couple of orders. Only things missing on the picture are the inner foam mats. I am excited like a toddler getting his new toys

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[Wazrach]

Hmm, the only issue I seem to be having is with the spacebar, which likes to double press. It's more of an issue now after a few attempts to tune the spacebar.

[darkcruix]

Hmm, the only issue I seem to be having is with the spacebar, which likes to double press. It's more of an issue now after a few attempts to tune the spacebar.

Have you tried loading the 0.9.2 firmware? I upgraded all of the controllers instantly and had zero issues with it. Double-Presses smell like an issue with the debounce.

[Wazrach]

Hmm, the only issue I seem to be having is with the spacebar, which likes to double press. It's more of an issue now after a few attempts to tune the spacebar.

Have you tried loading the 0.9.2 firmware? I upgraded all of the controllers instantly and had zero issues with it. Double-Presses smell like an issue with the debounce.

How would I do that? I'm a newbie to this sort of thing. xD

[darkcruix]

How would I do that? I'm a newbie to this sort of thing. xD

Download this PDF: https://static.wongcornall.com/ibm-caps ... odel_f.pdf
Updating the firmware is described on page 15

What you need:
Download dfu-programmer from here:

dfu-programmer-win-0.7.2.zip

(333.22 KiB) Downloaded 199 times

The firmware is attached here as zip file:

Archive.zip

(24.47 KiB) Downloaded 206 times

Put the controller into the boot loader (start the IBM Capsense USB Util, clikc on Tools and Boot Loader). At this point you will need a secondary keyboard attached ...
Then run the commands described on page 15,

[Wazrach]

How would I do that? I'm a newbie to this sort of thing. xD

Download this PDF: https://static.wongcornall.com/ibm-caps ... odel_f.pdf
Updating the firmware is described on page 15

What you need:
Download dfu-programmer from here: http://dfu-programmer.github.io/
The firmware is attached here as zip file: Archive.zip
Put the controller into the boot loader (start the IBM Capsense USB Util, clikc on Tools and Boot Loader). At this point you will need a secondary keyboard attached ...
Then run the commands described on page 15,

-.-