Split ergonomic keyboard project

[ondast]

I'd be interested in a full version of the ergodox.. (what exactly does that mean, pcb, casing, soldering, wiring, teensy?)

If we need to purchase the switches separately, any tips on where to get those at a reasonable price?

[Djuzuh]

I'd be interested in a full version of the ergodox.. (what exactly does that mean, pcb, casing, soldering, wiring, teensy?)

If we need to purchase the switches separately, any tips on where to get those at a reasonable price?

Mouser if you are at the US, or 7bit's group buy.

[ondast]

i'm europe/sweden based, but I saw mouser ships for sweden also... Where can i find more info about 7bits group buy?

[Djuzuh]

i'm europe/sweden based, but I saw mouser ships for sweden also... Where can i find more info about 7bits group buy?

http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/ ... t2760.html

[ondast]

Thanks

[bpiphany]

Mouser have free shipping to Sweden on orders above $100. And they are fast. A few days tops. I like shopping from them, but you are in no hurry I suppose =) DigiKey have some similar shipping deal as well.

[bpiphany]

I think I'm pretty much done with the layout and routing \o/ Only some cosmetic things left, like silkscreen component references and explanatory text on how to fit components on the different sides of the PCB.

ergodone.png (237.64 KiB) Viewed 10579 times

Side note: ASCII file formats are nice. It's hard drawing traces with slopes in anything else than 45° intervals. So I drew the thumb section in a straight layout. Extracted the track info from the KiCAD board file, rotated all their coordinates in a spreadsheet and edited them back into the KiCAD file =D

[mSSM]

Mouser have free shipping to Sweden on orders above $100. And they are fast. A few days tops. I like shopping from them, but you are in no hurry I suppose =) DigiKey have some similar shipping deal as well.

I am going to be located in Sweden from September onwards (Stockholm area). If you guys want to bundle our orders, we could all order from Mouser. Less shipping costs and possibly cheaper price per switch.

[bpiphany]

There is always a reason to send an order to Mouser... =D Elfa, the local electronics supplier also don't have the IO-expander. I am probably going to add everything except switches to one pair of PCB, to have a functioning prototype. And also order a pair of PCB to have as reference for my design. Probably not going to use the keyboard for typing... =D

[Parak]

Neat, being able to have gerbers and a single flipable pcb will substantially lower the cost. I'd suggest sitopway for fabbing as I've used them for prototype and small volume pcbs with pretty good results. I think I might still get one even though I've shifted over to buckling spring experiments

[bpiphany]

There, that should do it I think. Some text and credits printed on that and that is all.

blue.png (249.65 KiB) Viewed 10484 times

[Merijn]

So... are we almost ready to mass produce the pcb?

[mSSM]

So... are we almost ready to mass produce the pcb?

I am getting so excited!

[heuristicist]

Now that this thread has migrated over here, I'll re-iterate my interest. My ideal is to get two keyboards, one with blues, one with browns, for no more than $500 including all materials (keycaps, switches, resistors/caps/LEDs), though I can assemble them myself (including soldering, probably). I'd be willing to bump that up to $600 if need be... Hopefully we can get enough people in to get the prices low! The symmetrical halves seems like a good step towards that, though (as with the non-symmetrical halves) everything should be well-tested!

[justcallmecrash]

Has there been any further estimation on the costs for this project? It seems REALLY promising and, if it's not too late (and depending on costs, of course, I'd be interested in getting in on the group-buy. Even if it's just for 4 of the PCB (I'm good with woodworking tools and I know how to solder)... again, depending on the costs of the whole shebang.
Great work, both of you.

[dorkvader]

Has there been any further estimation on the costs for this project? It seems REALLY promising and, if it's not too late (and depending on costs, of course, I'd be interested in getting in on the group-buy. Even if it's just for 4 of the PCB (I'm good with woodworking tools and I know how to solder)... again, depending on the costs of the whole shebang.
Great work, both of you.

Added (not updated yet).

Yep, that seems to really be what this will come down to: The costs. I'm working to update the layer-cake case design (to account for the thumb-placement change) and get it submitted to some laser/water cutters for quotes.

Since we'll (Hopefully) be ordering a ton of plates/cases (remember, you can flip them like the PCB, so everyone should get two sets (with maybe exceptions for which side needs the opening for the cable)) so I hope it won't be too bad. If we're lucky, we'll be able to pick from steel or aluminium, since the design would be the same.

[The_Beast]

Any estimate on a set of PCBs (one keyboard)? I have switches, can solder, and find a teensy pretty easy. My only concerns are keys (round 4 looks like a mess) and a case.


However, I know myself and someone in Sweden has offered to get quotes on cases. A dwg would be preferred, since I could send it right out to be quoted. He mostly does aluminum, but I think he could also do plastics. I looked at the iso pictures on the first page, it looks like a lot of thin repeat layers. I THINK it would be cheaper to have fewer thick layers if it didn't require milling.

[dox]

For 100 PCBs the price will probably be around 30$ for the pair. For the case, I will put my models available on shapeways for those who want to go with this. The flat case from shapeways cost ~200$ and the angled like the prototype ~280$ As dorkvader said, he is working on the plate layer case too.

[justcallmecrash]

Oh, wow... at $30 for the pair, I'd definitely in for enough plates to do two full keyboards.

[Merijn]

What if we find someone who can 3d print the cases for the cheapskates or the people with the starving student budget? (In my case the latter.) Methinks the prices would be very doable in that case.

[HzFaq]

I'm guessing the $200 is for the metal cases, the screenshot on page 2 shows prices of around $50 for plastic ones unless I'm mistaken.

[bpiphany]

I showed a friend without impulse control what I was working on, and he immediately said he wanted a set =) So I am going to want 3 PCB sets all in all.

[Merijn]

So I would buy a pair of pcbs ($30), a plastic case ($50), diodes ($2), switches from 7bit, about 80 pcs? (80*0.60=$48), a keycap set, some old ones of my own or from a gb that will pop up ($0 to $40), some connectors ($5), teensy ($16), so the total costs would be $190. Am I about right?

[richie]

cool maybe I've got enough for 2 KBs one metal case for home and the plastic for work, better shut down all extra spending to snag a couple of these!

[dox]

The shapeways screenshot is only for 1 top part of 1 hand. 50$x4 = 200$.

[Merijn]

That sure is a lot of money for a "simple" casing. Isn't there a discount on large orders or something in that direction? :X

[dirge]

The shapeways screenshot is only for 1 top part of 1 hand. 50$x4 = 200$.

ah right! I think a lot of us made an assumption after seeing your screenshot. Metal case sounds much more attractive in comparison now.

[The_Beast]

Depending on your design, I'm pretty sure I could do a metal case for under or around $200. That's MY guesstimate, not an actual quote (still waiting for drawings)

[modulor]

Shapeways is pretty neat, but can be quite costly... might be more practical for smaller 60% cases or novelty keycaps. The design and demo look incredible, dox!

[dox]

The layered plate construction might be possible to get it under 200$.
The CNC is just impossible. The cheapest quote I got was minimum 900$.
I like the result from shapeways. I might order some parts in the alumide material next.