Print Page - Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)

geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: Delirious on Mon, 09 November 2020, 15:54:42

Title: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Delirious on Mon, 09 November 2020, 15:54:42

(https://i.imgur.com/hPKafKC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2KTZRJV.jpg?1)

Greetings,

I would like to share a project that I started back in December 2019.

Backstory:
Around November of last year I wanted to build a TKL for Omron B3G-S; so I decided to go for the Montage by Lin,... but I overslept and missed the cutoff by a solid 5 hours. Not only that, all the boards I've seen so far have a lot of features that I like, but they always miss the mark here and there to be my definitive board. That is acceptable because those are not my designs, they are someone else's works that I happen to appreciate. Then come the idea of the Boring Box, initially started out as a board that I would want to use, then it slowly involved into a collection of ideas for friends and family.

This post will mostly serve as a central reference hub for the participants of the gb, the developement process lasted up to 10 months and some of them forget what it means by triple-mounting system.

Requirements:
- It is a tool first and foremost, functions over forms.
- Something that satisfies me, my friends and family.
- Most compatible with aftermarket PCBs (Leaf, Hineys, Leeku, TX, winkeyless....)

Features:
- WEDGE!!! (requested by E3E)
- Top mount (requested by MikeEverett)
- Bottom mount similar to the Kmac (requested by myoth and chimp)
- O-ring mount (started as gasket/rubber mount requested by gainsborough)
- Simple and big ****ing weight (requested by E3E and Mike)
- Self-contained, no extra parts lying around in a box somewhere
- 7 degree tilt
Note that I am by no mean a master designer, I am a student of the game myself. This project is driven by the sheer love of mechanical keyboards and designings in general. None of these are my original ideas, through personal experience I think these are good design choices and my job is to mesh them all together. Boring Box is the end result.

Special thanks
- senter and Foxlab as the manufacturer and have been very patient with the slow process
- Evy from www.anykeys.eu as the designer for Omron-tkl pcb and Eon87 pcb
- Keebs from Homerow Co. as design/machining advisor
- the alps fanatics: E3E, gains, chimp, myoth, ball00n, tias, firebort, damonskv, siaw, mcmaxmcmc, hineybush, tinlong, alex
- the local gang for first hand testings and feedbacks: Shadohhh, Mike, Koobaczech, Martakia, Robotical, Jenhae

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Delirious on Mon, 09 November 2020, 15:54:52

There are 3 prototypes through 2 major revisions.

First revision:
- Silver WK with vint black in 72g (Eon87 pcb)
- I chopped off the usb-c on the Eon87 pcb and used fixed cable instead because I thought that cable was badass looking.
- Black WKL with tactile omrons (OmronTKL pcb)

Second revision:
- Changed from o-ring mount to grommet mount. O-rings only soften the downstrokes, not the upstrokes.
- better tolerances and minor changes here and there
- Silver WKL with skcl greens. (Leaf pcb)

Please excuse all the dings and dirt, I run my boards like household tools.

(https://i.imgur.com/Cnn3diN.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/J4GLsVu.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/sWt5Mac.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/iw9njUg.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/Ki2fz8r.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/LnYEJZi.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/3QatFhT.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/aCDCh6H.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/t9gjmzw.jpg)

Part list:
-Top
-Mid
-Bottom
-Weight
-Plate
-PCB
-8x Risers
(https://i.imgur.com/l8IdSmF.jpg)

Top mount Self explainatory, 7 mounting screws, 4 on top and 3 on the bottom
(https://i.imgur.com/PZL8MVJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6WHzfPQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jWxm1P9.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/T9Iru72.jpg)

Grommet mount Again, 7 mounting grommets
(https://i.imgur.com/FO6ZmYE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PC4bb1R.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Pmrbl7F.jpg)

The ''squish'' gap for grommet was 2mm, I have reduced it down to 1mm to make sure the grommets are not depressed too much and lose the softness.
(https://i.imgur.com/p3m6V1g.jpg?1)

Bottom mount This is where thing gets interesting. Grommet mount and bottom mount cannot go together because the bottom mount will hard cap the grommets, thus negates the bounce benefit. I ended up using a MID piece, combining with RISER to prop up the plate for bottom mount. When not utilizing bottom mount, you can store the RISERs inside the weight. Note there are only 7 mounting points but 8 RISERS, the extra is to make sure if you ever lose one you still have an extra.
(https://i.imgur.com/JMKFhHY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RhoiSJ3.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/XTYevtD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Ec0vcMz.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/p66C79w.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kXF7aUf.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/2O9eYlX.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/xfsRuta.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/hOAACm4.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/UWHLhBE.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/UyFrXKV.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/dDtRrqI.jpg)

At any given point you can start with Grommet Mount, then add screws to limit the squishiness.

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Delirious on Mon, 09 November 2020, 15:55:20

Some other notes:
- Wedge board at 8 plus pounds is very awkward to pick up, an absolute tank and everyone loves it so far.
- Because of the MID, the thing has huge bezel all around
- Cons: combination between Aftermarket PCB compatibility and Grommet mount, the USB port is a bit bigger than usual.

Again, thanks to all the boys, keep me going. The black one with tactile omrons is on loan so no fancy pictures.

Just more pictures, some show the differences between v1 and v2.

(https://i.imgur.com/aCDCh6H.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/qk9fUDS.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/lZtr6PX.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7u9QVlp.jpg?1)(https://i.imgur.com/qV4dv8r.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/xZEgkBZ.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/CUSXShy.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Cnn3diN.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/HW8oZGD.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/FlUsNGC.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/iQ2vzzW.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/OQ86Hjw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/prGQrz6.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/hNbLGR3.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/CUox0pp.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sYn9Bw1.jpg?2)(https://i.imgur.com/5Ymkehr.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/vl08Cev.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/FdAovAL.jpg?1)(https://i.imgur.com/eKdry0p.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/6LlcIrP.jpg?1)(https://i.imgur.com/ZWqJUIA.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/TEN65CL.jpg)

pre-pro/failed ideas

(https://i.imgur.com/iOGncIi.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/mbM5aWe.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/1npcpD7.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/vGDXlcc.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/xKwErLn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/EfMmlvM.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/lm1CFlJ.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/ZWkXJGL.png)(https://i.imgur.com/iVlUmmt.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/zz8jT7Y.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/9pAs3b0.jpg)

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Koobaczech on Mon, 09 November 2020, 16:26:47

Best keyboard 2020/2021

Also Pandora and Box 10u chad spacebar
(https://i.imgur.com/KOPyqkg.jpg)

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: homerowco on Mon, 09 November 2020, 16:37:52

Best keyboard 2020/2021

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Shadohhh on Mon, 09 November 2020, 16:39:26

Best keyboard 2020/2021

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Martakia on Mon, 09 November 2020, 16:40:22

Best keyboard 2020/2021

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: hwood34 on Mon, 09 November 2020, 17:00:09

This is wild. That mount is crazy, plus you can never go wrong with the simple wedge-shaped bottom :thumb: Helps that IBM made some beautiful alps caps back in the day.

What were the machining costs like?

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: treeleaf64 on Mon, 09 November 2020, 17:29:05

Tree leaf approved to the maximum possible score that is available. This will be a very very very very very good addition to any nice person's life

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Delirious on Mon, 09 November 2020, 18:48:21

Quote from: hwood34 on Mon, 09 November 2020, 17:00:09

What were the machining costs like?

It is very reasonable, partly because foxlab also like the design.

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: LightningXI on Mon, 09 November 2020, 20:00:43

Dang, now this is something really interesting that I'd love to try out.

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: bibobim on Mon, 09 November 2020, 22:12:55

That's one of the coolest mounting system that I've seen for a while.

How was the feeling of the SKCL Green comparing to your half plate TX84 project? I'm still struggling to find the right case, mounting, and plate for my SKCL Green.

I've tried a few modern keyboards but I can't get used to the short travel distance. For now, there's nothing come close to the typing feel of my Zenith ZKB-2 :p

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Sifo on Mon, 09 November 2020, 22:18:57

that's a pretty thicc bezel but i see it's necessary to fit the mounting system. really neat stuff

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Taeha Types on Tue, 10 November 2020, 00:20:49

These risers are definitely interesting and have me feeling some kind of way. Curious to see how this turns out!

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: pr0ximity on Tue, 10 November 2020, 05:34:09

I always love a keyboard with multiple mounting methods. It’s very cool to see the newer grommet method alongside a more classic KMAC-style top+bottom combo.

Keeping the spare mounting parts in the weight is genius!

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: GMK83 on Tue, 10 November 2020, 06:42:35

This is certainly interesting

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: The_Boom_Boy on Tue, 10 November 2020, 07:13:14

Wild!

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Delirious on Tue, 10 November 2020, 08:48:23

Quote from: bibobim on Mon, 09 November 2020, 22:12:55

That's one of the coolest mounting system that I've seen for a while.

How was the feeling of the SKCL Green comparing to your half plate TX84 project? I'm still struggling to find the right case, mounting, and plate for my SKCL Green.

I've tried a few modern keyboards but I can't get used to the short travel distance. For now, there's nothing come close to the typing feel of my Zenith ZKB-2 :p

I mained Pink Box for 2 months and I did not realize I built 2 wedge boards in SKCL greens until your post.

Half plate TX84:
- Sounds deeper because of the POM plate
- Smoother by a tiny bit, they both have typewriter SKCL's but I went the extra mile and powder lubed just because I already disassembled the switches for drilling.
- Grab-n-go OEM caps, anyone can just use the board without any learning curve
- Annoying tiny clicks at the very bottom.

Boring Box:
- Huge learning curve because of the caps, took me at least a month to get used to the spherical caps.
- No more clicks at the bottom thanks to the caps.
- Spherical caps make it a true linear SKCL board, I have to use the board for R&D for so long that I regain new appreciation for light linears. Definitely going to build another TKL w/ linear omron B3G-S.

Spherical caps also inspire me to revisit SKCM browns, need to convert the terminal eventually.

(https://i.imgur.com/Haxqdp3.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xUio8fp.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vKEhzIT.jpg)

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: wholypantalones on Tue, 10 November 2020, 08:52:51

I love everything about this :thumb:

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Sup on Tue, 10 November 2020, 09:15:49

Damn that **** looks good.

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Maj on Tue, 10 November 2020, 09:27:03

I love that 96 one.

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: bibobim on Tue, 10 November 2020, 12:50:14

Quote from: Delirious on Tue, 10 November 2020, 08:48:23

Quote from: bibobim on Mon, 09 November 2020, 22:12:55
More
That's one of the coolest mounting system that I've seen for a while.

How was the feeling of the SKCL Green comparing to your half plate TX84 project? I'm still struggling to find the right case, mounting, and plate for my SKCL Green.

I've tried a few modern keyboards but I can't get used to the short travel distance. For now, there's nothing come close to the typing feel of my Zenith ZKB-2 :p

More
I mained Pink Box for 2 months and I did not realize I built 2 wedge boards in SKCL greens until your post.

Half plate TX84:
- Sounds deeper because of the POM plate
- Smoother by a tiny bit, they both have typewriter SKCL's but I went the extra mile and powder lubed just because I already disassembled the switches for drilling.
- Grab-n-go OEM caps, anyone can just use the board without any learning curve
- Annoying tiny clicks at the very bottom.

Boring Box:
- Huge learning curve because of the caps, took me at least a month to get used to the spherical caps.
- No more clicks at the bottom thanks to the caps.
- Spherical caps make it a true linear SKCL board, I have to use the board for R&D for so long that I regain new appreciation for light linears. Definitely going to build another TKL w/ linear omron B3G-S.

Spherical caps also inspire me to revisit SKCM browns, need to convert the terminal eventually.

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/Haxqdp3.jpg)

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/xUio8fp.jpg)

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/vKEhzIT.jpg)

Thank you very much for the info. The weight of Green is just perfect to me, neither too light nor too heavy. The caps for sure also make a huge difference when typing. I got some Canon spherical caps a few weeks ago so I'll definitely give it a shot.

Your collection is absolutely amazing. Looking forward to your next one.

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: djmantis on Tue, 10 November 2020, 17:29:13

Lots of weird but smart ideas. Really cool.

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: pr0ximity on Tue, 10 November 2020, 21:26:15

Quote from: Delirious on Tue, 10 November 2020, 08:48:23

Quote from: bibobim on Mon, 09 November 2020, 22:12:55
That's one of the coolest mounting system that I've seen for a while.

How was the feeling of the SKCL Green comparing to your half plate TX84 project? I'm still struggling to find the right case, mounting, and plate for my SKCL Green.

I've tried a few modern keyboards but I can't get used to the short travel distance. For now, there's nothing come close to the typing feel of my Zenith ZKB-2 :p

I mained Pink Box for 2 months and I did not realize I built 2 wedge boards in SKCL greens until your post.

Half plate TX84:
- Sounds deeper because of the POM plate
- Smoother by a tiny bit, they both have typewriter SKCL's but I went the extra mile and powder lubed just because I already disassembled the switches for drilling.
- Grab-n-go OEM caps, anyone can just use the board without any learning curve
- Annoying tiny clicks at the very bottom.

Boring Box:
- Huge learning curve because of the caps, took me at least a month to get used to the spherical caps.
- No more clicks at the bottom thanks to the caps.
- Spherical caps make it a true linear SKCL board, I have to use the board for R&D for so long that I regain new appreciation for light linears. Definitely going to build another TKL w/ linear omron B3G-S.

Spherical caps also inspire me to revisit SKCM browns, need to convert the terminal eventually.

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/Haxqdp3.jpg)

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/xUio8fp.jpg)

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/vKEhzIT.jpg)

🤤

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: mcmaxmcmc on Wed, 11 November 2020, 08:25:58

Can't say that I'm not in for this one! ;D

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Zeelobby on Wed, 18 November 2020, 15:45:12

This is definitely wild. Fun to see more multimounts come about. Constellation has been a fun build and rebuild.

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: kohalified on Thu, 19 November 2020, 04:17:29

Nice.

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: TheInverseKey on Thu, 19 November 2020, 23:09:34

This is what I have been waiting for! Glad so many Alps enthusiasts are helping!

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: 7empest on Fri, 20 November 2020, 09:26:25

This is amazing! I love everything about this whole project. Really hope to see it come to fruition! I love the alps builds by the way. Soooo nice. I would love to try this board out with some tactile alps and see how the different mounts effect it. Hell, i would even want to get extra pcb's and plates to swap out different alps builds and mx builds to get a fresh feel when i want it. This is pretty damn epic. Nice work!

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: d.caminero on Tue, 01 December 2020, 10:34:35

Closely watching this project with great interest! Been looking for an ALPS TKL for ages.
Keep us posted and consider me in for a GB :)

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: toniwonkanobi on Mon, 14 June 2021, 19:53:41

Soooo will this happen as a GB or ... ? :)

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: homerowco on Sun, 20 June 2021, 17:41:10

Quote from: toniwonkanobi on Mon, 14 June 2021, 19:53:41

Soooo will this happen as a GB or ... ? :)

Already happened :)

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: toniwonkanobi on Sun, 20 June 2021, 18:04:20

Quote from: homerowco on Sun, 20 June 2021, 17:41:10

Quote from: toniwonkanobi on Mon, 14 June 2021, 19:53:41
Soooo will this happen as a GB or ... ? :)

Already happened :)

Really‽ nooooo! When did it happen? lol

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: E3E on Sat, 26 June 2021, 10:09:24

(https://i.imgur.com/WR9WiXj.jpg)

Sup

(https://puu.sh/HRTkW/169d5d9dab.jpg)

It's Alps.

And also very dope.

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Tias on Sat, 26 June 2021, 11:04:19

Another Iso BB checking in. Awesome board, thanks Delirious!

[attachimg=1]

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: toniwonkanobi on Sat, 26 June 2021, 12:15:15

Quote from: E3E on Sat, 26 June 2021, 10:09:24

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/WR9WiXj.jpg)

Sup

Show Image
(https://puu.sh/HRTkW/169d5d9dab.jpg)

It's Alps.

And also very dope.

Jealous! Was this a private GB like the OG GSKT-00? 😭

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: Delirious on Sat, 30 October 2021, 13:05:13

Still alive, finally taking a break from D2.

Anyways there are 13 extra units for sale, I will post them in classifies sometimes today or tomorrow:
- 9 will be available for grab
- 4 will be available at later date after Cerakote
- A few of you pm'ed me way way back, you guys will get priorities
- Otherwise, first come first served
- Not cheap

(https://i.imgur.com/Hrzz3pg.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/FT8iMxS.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/sp7i3sF.jpg)

Title: Re: Boring Box TKL (triple-mounting system)
Post by: toniwonkanobi on Sat, 30 October 2021, 13:10:41

Sweet!