Custom KBC Poker Aluminum Tray Session 1 Pre-order Deposit Commencing

[mkawa]

lol yes, the priority is on the TKL case

[gimpster]

Indeed...Phantom arrival is approaching imminent status.

[Acanthophis]

I am also very interested in a case for Filco TKL!
Any news/updates?

[treble318]

We are targeting end of this month, but that is only an estimate as of now.   We will be finished with our customer by the end of this week, so help me god, and therefore be able to dedicate more of our time on finishing up the remaining poker trays and then on to the new 2nd revision. This new revision we will have to use new material, 1" thick to have the walls higher than the previous version.

[Acanthophis]

Take your time. No need to rush things (also my bank account is suffering a little ).

[treble318]

Alright, I got a hold of the aluminum version of the Pure tray and PCB board.  There is an extra screw between G & H keys, otherwise pcb format for screws are the same as well as dip switch.  The revision design is being updated and worked on as we speak.

[jdcarpe]

I put my new Pure in your "first round" tray today, and it works perfectly. Having the extra mounting hole in the new revision will be nice, but it works great even without it.

I think the thing that will help the Pure (and Poker) the most with regard to PCB flex will be the addition of a support near the top center of the PCB. Those Vortex designs just flex there no matter what case they're in. Maybe you can solve the flex problem once and for all by supporting the PCB from the case at that point.

To be sure, there is less flex in your aluminum case than in the original plastic case, since, with your case, the case body  no longer has any "give" to it.

Can't wait to see the new revision design. Well, actually, what am I saying? I can wait. I already have one Treble case. But your job is prototyping, so I know you'll get it right and won't rush the design process. You have done a great job at keeping us all informed every step of the way. Can't thank you enough, Treble, for the awesome products you give us, with little thought of monetary return.

[treble318]

I put my new Pure in your "first round" tray today, and it works perfectly. Having the extra mounting hole in the new revision will be nice, but it works great even without it.

I think the thing that will help the Pure (and Poker) the most with regard to PCB flex will be the addition of a support near the top center of the PCB. Those Vortex designs just flex there no matter what case they're in. Maybe you can solve the flex problem once and for all by supporting the PCB from the case at that point.

To be sure, there is less flex in your aluminum case than in the original plastic case, since, with your case, the case body  no longer has any "give" to it.

Can't wait to see the new revision design. Well, actually, what am I saying? I can wait. I already have one Treble case. But your job is prototyping, so I know you'll get it right and won't rush the design process. You have done a great job at keeping us all informed every step of the way. Can't thank you enough, Treble, for the awesome products you give us, with little thought of monetary return.

Nice, fits just right. Love how the keycaps look on the pure!  

We are planning put ridges on corners bottom and top to support the pcb board in addition to the ribs. Hope this reduces the flex on the number keys row.  Also of course we are dropping the case a bit more by using 1" thick material which will allow for higher walls so the keycaps will sit slightly below the walls of the tray for a more solid look.  The original aluminum case that comes with the pure has a big gap between the wall of the case and the bottom of the key caps =(.  

It's been my pleasure jdcarpe!  Always fun and challenging, a plus is that we can all relate and enjoy the fruits of labor harvested ^_^

I will keep you guys posted!

[jdcarpe]

Please excuse my rudimentary photo editing, but can I suggest something for the revision? Look at the top inside of the case bottom. (This image is from before you added the supporting ribs, obviously). This is where all the flex is happening, at least on the Pure.

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52322[/ATTACH]

[treble318]

Please excuse my rudimentary photo editing, but can I suggest something for the revision? Look at the top inside of the case bottom. (This image is from before you added the supporting ribs, obviously). This is where all the flex is happening, at least on the Pure.

(Attachment Link) 52322[/ATTACH]

Even with the ribbs correct?  Hopefully the ridges placed strategically will reduce the flex if not eliminate it.  Thanks for the picture =)

[jdcarpe]

Yes, with ribs, too. Mmmm, ribs! With the addition of the screw mount for the Pure and this one additional support, I wager that 99% of PCB flex will be eliminated.

[4en]

Scrap my idea wife found my keyboard expense and goin crazy

[longweight]

anyone want to chip in to buy the color pink for their alum case? if i remember correctly, soulhunter bought his green gun for about $70 so the price should be around there. if at least 3 other people want to pay a bit more for one of this color you will only have to pay around 15 bucks more!

What pink?

[Nunez]

PM'd

In for White and Gun Metal.

[treble318]

PM'd

In for White and Gun Metal.

Thanks updated!

[Caaaarrrt]

PM'd

In for White and Gun Metal.

The Gun Metal one is mine, keen!

[treble318]

The Gun Metal one is mine, keen!

really? Nice =)

Hopefully we can get squared away by the end of this up coming week and start working out on the long over due trays!

[mkawa]

treble, if you look carefully at the pcb for the pure, do you think you could put raised support points at all the places where there is bare board? basically, the pcb is incredibly flexy, and needs to be supported in as many places as possible.

[treble318]

Hi Mkawa,

The ribs didn't help?  In the new revision we plan to put ledges on the corners front, back, and maybe the sides to support the pcb board. I am hoping that will help what flexing issue there maybe.

[dsjbirch]

Scrap my idea wife found my keyboard expense and goin crazy

lol!

[mkawa]

Hi Mkawa,

The ribs didn't help?  In the new revision we plan to put ledges on the corners front, back, and maybe the sides to support the pcb board. I am hoping that will help what flexing issue there maybe.

the ribs did not help so much. i think the mistake is assuming that the pcb is basically at all rigid in any way. with stronger springed switches, there is a lot of pressure on the pcb focused on a very small area, so unless one is putting pressure on the pcb _at_ a point that is supported by a rib, the pcb will flex.

anothing thing that might help is some ledges meant to retain the pcb from flexing upward at the edges, since the majority of pressure applied by the switches is down toward the bottom of the tray.

[treble318]

the ribs did not help so much. i think the mistake is assuming that the pcb is basically at all rigid in any way. with stronger springed switches, there is a lot of pressure on the pcb focused on a very small area, so unless one is putting pressure on the pcb _at_ a point that is supported by a rib, the pcb will flex.

anothing thing that might help is some ledges meant to retain the pcb from flexing upward at the edges, since the majority of pressure applied by the switches is down toward the bottom of the tray.

I never had that issue with the poker I have and with the pure which I have now as well, quite possible due to the fact that I have the lightest spring switches: red.  We will have to do some more tests, although I don't find the need to press that hard on the pcb board for the keys to actuate and do what I need them to =)

[WRXChris]

I have a red and blue poker.  On the red one, the only way to get the PCB to flex is by bottoming out the switches.  On the blue one, there is some very subtle pcb flex at the click point of the switch.  I confirmed this by watching the PCB under glare of bright light while actuating the '6' key.  Both of my Pokers are foam modded, so this may be even more noticeable on an unmodded kbd.  The flex is ever so slight, but nonetheless it exists.  Most people with light switches probably won't notice it, but some of use are more sensitive to the nuances of typing feel.  This slight PCB flex makes blues feel completely different from plate-mounted blues, they are often referred to as "bouncy" when PCB-mounted.

[mkawa]

yes, i'm a pathologically heavy presser that happily bottoms out 80g springs. most of us complaining about poker pcb flex are.

[WRXChris]

yes, i'm a pathologically heavy presser that happily bottoms out 80g springs. most of us complaining about poker pcb flex are.

i should have pointed out in my rant that if it is unnoticeable on 45g springs with red stems and quite noticeable on 45g springs with blue stems, then one can only assume that the flex is much more prevalent for those of you with heavier springs!

[GeorgeStorm]

Any update on the other cases (wood, carbon fiber etc)

[Snooter]

I would be really interested to see how the Cherry Wood case looks, that would be a really unique case. Any updates on this?

[jdcarpe]

AFAIK, the Filco TKL design is next. Then they will start to work on other materials, carbon fiber, wood, etc. Expect several months before that happens, as Treble's company is really busy right now with their prototyping business. He does this on the side, hence the delays when business is booming.

[Snooter]

AFAIK, the Filco TKL design is next. Then they will start to work on other materials, carbon fiber, wood, etc. Expect several months before that happens, as Treble's company is really busy right now with their prototyping business. He does this on the side, hence the delays when business is booming.

Ah ok well I could be interested in a TKL tray as well, did he specify whether it is just going to be aluminum or other material as well?

[jdcarpe]

Pretty sure he will start the TKL design with aluminum only, as well. Expect it to be more expensive, around $250 or so. TKL case is two parts which fit together, instead of a simple tray.