I have contacted a place about getting custom XTant plates made. He has estimated $70/ea for a small run of 5. Does anyone else with a prototype kit want one?
This is a GB for XTant prototype plates. You will most likely be able to use these with the production version but that has not yet been determined. WCass has his working using this plate and the prototype PCB. I plan to finish up my prototype kit with this plate. You may consider joining this GB if you plan to build a prototype XTant.
This GB will close on March 4. Payment is expected at the time the GB closes (or beforehand). If the price ends up being less than your payment I will partial refund the difference. Everyone is splitting shipping from the shop to me, which I will bill you for when I ship them to you.
Since there are only 10 prototype PCBs, and one has already been made, I figured getting a quote of 5 is a good start. Please refer to the XTant topic for details on the project as a whole.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=51767.0I will be monitoring this topic and will respond to questions here or via PM.
Interest list:
[1] dorkvader *paid*
[1] prdlm2009 *paid*
[1] HaaTa *paid*
[1] Hypersphere *paid*
[1] Fohat.digs *paid*
[1] Muirium (DT) *paid*
[1] Melvang *paid*
Total : 7/7
Here is a word from WCass about the Prototype kits:
The two rivets on the back plate are not where they need to be. I removed them using a rotary tool with a cut wheel - cut away the flange on the back of the plate then popped the tops off. The new PCB has one hole for a new stud between the Caps Lock and A and another hole between right bracket and pipe-backslash. The second of these two holes is not in the best location and I plan to move it between Enter and up arrow. You might make a new hole in the PCB there and use that. I used two clamps to hold the PCB to the back plate to mark the location to drill new holes. Aligned properly, you should see two white silkscreen dots through the old rivet holes on the back of the back plate. Mark the back plate through the new holes and drill with a 1/8" bit. Secure the PCB with two #4-40 x 1/4" flat head machines screw (plate side) and weld nuts (PCB side), and #6-32 x 3/8" bolt with a star washer on the PCB side. With the back plate facing up, put the rivet washer over the #6 bolt and around the captive nut. Put on the controller, star washer and then nut. Feed wire through controller and switch PCBs and solder on both sides. Columns 13 thru 16 go to ground on the switch matrix PCB, so no wires there if using xwhatsit controller (it might confuse the controller) but wires there should be OK for DPH controller (designed to auto-skip grounded columns).
Basically: some work is needed to get them put together properly. The location of some holes is not ideal. You can use the original XT backplate if you are prepared to drill new holes in it. I will be fully documenting my assembly efforts in a similar style to the bolt mod guide I did earlier.
NEWS3/4 plates close at 8 orders
3/5 Shop contacted with order
3/5 Error found in one of the CAD drawings. New file created
3/5 Shop contacts me back: $75/plate
3/6 Shop contacts me back with payment details. They take paypal. Payment is due before shipment. They have added our order to the queue.
3/6 with this info in hand I will start billing/invoicing.
3/6 payment PM sent
3/15 if I haven't heard back form them by 3/20, I will contact the shop again and voice my disappointments.
4/30 plates are done.
4/30 plates are paid for and in transit to me
