[IC] budget96 PCB and Case - mmm, QMK?

[donutcat]

If some of the last few buys I've seen are representative of anything people perfer getting colorful cases whenever a "big" keyset drops (Laser) and generally they get one that matches one of the main colors for that set. Otherwise they go for more muted options as they have a higher chance of matching something that comes out in the future.

This is for the color of the PCB itself, not the case. For the case I'll probably go with black or white as a neutral color, but I may open the choice for a additional color.

[tanvir175]

It does go nicely with everything. Though, I do wish people were open to more "out there" colors.

I voted for purple because I never see those and I think they look the best, black was the backup color. Black and gold pads looks too good to me not to like but purple beats it hands down.

I think my main was purple as well, followed by matte black.

Purple was going really strong, but it looks like matte black is currently in the lead by quite a bit

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I'll probably leave the form open until after I'm back from the San Antonio meetup and see where it's at then if I finally have the sample PCBs on hand to check over.

Oh =[ but black is so boring!

It does go nicely with everything. Though, I do wish people were open to more "out there" colors.

If some of the last few buys I've seen are representative of anything people perfer getting colorful cases whenever a "big" keyset drops (Laser) and generally they get one that matches one of the main colors for that set. Otherwise they go for more muted options as they have a higher chance of matching something that comes out in the future.

Makes sense. I like to plan for the future by anticipating a keyset that will eventually match my case. I don't want to own too many of the same color boards right now, while there are still so many to explore.

[UsualSuspectXXX]

If some of the last few buys I've seen are representative of anything people perfer getting colorful cases whenever a "big" keyset drops (Laser) and generally they get one that matches one of the main colors for that set. Otherwise they go for more muted options as they have a higher chance of matching something that comes out in the future.

This is for the color of the PCB itself, not the case. For the case I'll probably go with black or white as a neutral color, but I may open the choice for a additional color.

All clear, or frosted would be my choice if that's an option.

[donutcat]

This is for the color of the PCB itself, not the case. For the case I'll probably go with black or white as a neutral color, but I may open the choice for a additional color.

All clear, or frosted would be my choice if that's an option.

We're most likely doing FR4 plates, so we'll have to use what coppermask colors we have available. Note that these colors will be more restrictive than the colors for the PCB since it's through a different manu.

[UsualSuspectXXX]

This is for the color of the PCB itself, not the case. For the case I'll probably go with black or white as a neutral color, but I may open the choice for a additional color.

All clear, or frosted would be my choice if that's an option.

We're most likely doing FR4 plates, so we'll have to use what coppermask colors we have available. Note that these colors will be more restrictive than the colors for the PCB since it's through a different manu.

Shucks. Was really hoping to get a case like the one that you posted in OP

More

[donutcat]

Shucks. Was really hoping to get a case like the one that you posted in OP

More

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The main reason for moving from acrylic plates was due mostly to the durability of acrylic in relation to thickness needed for switches. Most newer switches are plate mount and really need to snap into the plate in this case setup to hold the PCB where it needs to stay, but 1.6mm acrylic is pretty weak while thicker acrylic keeps the switches from staying in place and leads to the issues I currently have with my rev1 proto. FR4 is much stronger at 1.6mm, gives strong snap in fit, and is cheaper to have plates made from, especially in bulk.

[donutcat]

Good news lads, there's a lovely stack of PCBs on my desk right now


Haven't had a chance for advanced testing, but they seem to function correctly from simple testing, and there's even more good news with some adjustments to the design:
 
 - Numpad Enter and + switches have been oriented 90° to the others. They used the be the same as the others, causing the LED pads for those switches to be absurdly tiny and meaning that the switches there would not be able to click into the plates using our current plate and PCB mount stab compatibility. The rotation fixes both of these problems.

 - Indicator LEDs are white instead of green. This didn't me since I don't use the indicators, but someone had mentioned a ways upward that they would prefer something more neutral colored than green. Wish granted.

I'll be able to give these a proper rundown this weekend while I'm showing them off at the San Antonio meetup.

[UsualSuspectXXX]

Good news lads, there's a lovely stack of PCBs on my desk right now

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Haven't had a chance for advanced testing, but they seem to function correctly from simple testing, and there's even more good news with some adjustments to the design:
 
 - Numpad Enter and + switches have been oriented 90° to the others. They used the be the same as the others, causing the LED pads for those switches to be absurdly tiny and meaning that the switches there would not be able to click into the plates using our current plate and PCB mount stab compatibility. The rotation fixes both of these problems.

 - Indicator LEDs are white instead of green. This didn't me since I don't use the indicators, but someone had mentioned a ways upward that they would prefer something more neutral colored than green. Wish granted.

I'll be able to give these a proper rundown this weekend while I'm showing them off at the San Antonio meetup.

Great news! And such a good PCB color ;)

[Sifo]

does it fit LSv2?

[TerryMathews]

Good news lads, there's a lovely stack of PCBs on my desk right now

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Haven't had a chance for advanced testing, but they seem to function correctly from simple testing, and there's even more good news with some adjustments to the design:
 
 - Numpad Enter and + switches have been oriented 90° to the others. They used the be the same as the others, causing the LED pads for those switches to be absurdly tiny and meaning that the switches there would not be able to click into the plates using our current plate and PCB mount stab compatibility. The rotation fixes both of these problems.

 - Indicator LEDs are white instead of green. This didn't me since I don't use the indicators, but someone had mentioned a ways upward that they would prefer something more neutral colored than green. Wish granted.

I'll be able to give these a proper rundown this weekend while I'm showing them off at the San Antonio meetup.

Thanks for doing the LED color swap. I'll be picking up a couple PCBs as spares for my 96s.

[donutcat]

does it fit LSv2?

I myself don't know. The PCB should have the mounting points to fit the majority of cases available, but I'm not familiar with what's needed for everything.

[Sifo]

does it fit LSv2?

I myself don't know. The PCB should have the mounting points to fit the majority of cases available, but I'm not familiar with what's needed for everything.

lemme borrow one


ignore me, eyeing it I see the mounting points it should fit. I'm in for 2

[donutcat]

Building budget96 prototypes in the hotel room until it's time for the San Antonio meetup.

[lollipoplouie]

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Building budget96 prototypes in the hotel room until it's time for the San Antonio meetup.

Not usually a fan of sandwich cases, but the look of the green plate and the engraving mixed with the 96 layout just really works for me

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[Keebmeupscotty]

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Building budget96 prototypes in the hotel room until it's time for the San Antonio meetup.

Loving everything about this. Clear base (I think?), green plate, 96, cheap. Definitely in for one of these.

[BobCarltheThird]

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Building budget96 prototypes in the hotel room until it's time for the San Antonio meetup.

Any chance of there being different color switch plates? Even black would be great.

[donutcat]

There'll be at least white plates available, but I may just give the chance to get any color with MOQs.

[crusheddiamond]

Is this group buy still going on and what is the possible end date for the group buy?

Thanks,

Crushed

[donutcat]

Is this group buy still going on and what is the possible end date for the group buy?

Thanks,

Crushed

Not a GB yet, just an IC.



Moving on, it looks like matte black pretty solidly won the current poll


But I think I'll give you guys a shot at a tiebreaker since there wasn't much difference between the two numberwise. Once I figure out how I'll setup a poll here on the GH page and leave it for a few days to get a conclusive result.

In the meantime, I'll be working on ironing out the last few issues with the cases, mostly the screwhole situation, the stabholes being too snug, and looking into hipro case bits since someone suggested a pretty simple way to implement it. Also, I'll get some MOQ price points for some more options for colored plates for the case since people were interested.

[donutcat]

Found out I can't make a poll on my own post, which totally makes sense, thx GH. Have a strawpoll as an alternative
https://www.strawpoll.me/15374972
The winner from this tiebreaker will determine the PCB color for this run. Potential future runs could have different colors.

[BlindAssassin111]

Found out I can't make a poll on my own post, which totally makes sense, thx GH. Have a strawpoll as an alternative
https://www.strawpoll.me/15374972
The winner from this tiebreaker will determine the PCB color for this run. Potential future runs could have different colors.

Well so far I am alone on wanting purple...

[MatchstickMan]

Well so far I am alone on wanting purple...

I gotchu, fam

[tanvir175]

Well so far I am alone on wanting purple...

I gotchu, fam

Purple here as well. It's such a nice color. Too bad most people prefer more muted colors.

[KaosJ]

Is this group buy still going on and what is the possible end date for the group buy?

Thanks,

Crushed

Not a GB yet, just an IC.



Moving on, it looks like matte black pretty solidly won the current poll

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But I think I'll give you guys a shot at a tiebreaker since there wasn't much difference between the two numberwise. Once I figure out how I'll setup a poll here on the GH page and leave it for a few days to get a conclusive result.

In the meantime, I'll be working on ironing out the last few issues with the cases, mostly the screwhole situation, the stabholes being too snug, and looking into hipro case bits since someone suggested a pretty simple way to implement it. Also, I'll get some MOQ price points for some more options for colored plates for the case since people were interested.

Clearly rigged cuz purple didn't won.  Who wants red lol 

[helix999]

Well so far I am alone on wanting purple...

I gotchu, fam

Purple here as well. It's such a nice color. Too bad most people prefer more muted colors.

in for purple as well, but looks like a losing battle

[donutcat]

Poor purple is trying so hard

I might propose a possible solution to this battle, the option for both purple and black PCBs. I haven't asked the manu about it, but I don't see any reason they wouldn't do two colors as long as the 50 moq for custom color is met for both of them. What would probably have to happen is I give the option for either color, but if one of them doesn't make it your order defaults to the one that does hit or has the higher numbers at that time. Considering the price point of the PCBs is quite nice, I don't see this being a problem, but I do have to worry about people dropping if their PCB choice doesn't make it. Lemme know what you guys think on the matter.

[BlindAssassin111]

Poor purple is trying so hard

I might propose a possible solution to this battle, the option for both purple and black PCBs. I haven't asked the manu about it, but I don't see any reason they wouldn't do two colors as long as the 50 moq for custom color is met for both of them. What would probably have to happen is I give the option for either color, but if one of them doesn't make it your order defaults to the one that does hit or has the higher numbers at that time. Considering the price point of the PCBs is quite nice, I don't see this being a problem, but I do have to worry about people dropping if their PCB choice doesn't make it. Lemme know what you guys think on the matter.

Sounds fair, I would be okay with staying in, if purple doesn't reach MOQ, and getting a black board. Just want purple because it looks better imo.

[tanvir175]

Agreed with BlindAssassin111. I just want a more fun PCB color for pictures taken while building it. It's not like I can see it once it's inside the case, as far as I can tell from the pictures you've posted.

[donutcat]

Agreed with BlindAssassin111. I just want a more fun PCB color for pictures taken while building it. It's not like I can see it once it's inside the case, as far as I can tell from the pictures you've posted.

It's visible with the rev2 protos since they're using clear middles, but I'm looking to move back to the frosted middles. The frosted is a more expensive material, but it does a much better job of diffusing the underglow lighting than the clear does.

[UsualSuspectXXX]

Oh wow, totally missed the strawpoll. Looks like Purple is catching up 

I might propose a possible solution to this battle, the option for both purple and black PCBs. I haven't asked the manu about it, but I don't see any reason they wouldn't do two colors as long as the 50 moq for custom color is met for both of them. What would probably have to happen is I give the option for either color, but if one of them doesn't make it your order defaults to the one that does hit or has the higher numbers at that time. Considering the price point of the PCBs is quite nice, I don't see this being a problem, but I do have to worry about people dropping if their PCB choice doesn't make it. Lemme know what you guys think on the matter.

Sounds like a good idea to me. If purple doesn't make it, I'd totally be alright with black.

[Tree_]

+1 for Purple. I mean I'd buy one either way, but purple PCB would be the icing on the cake.

[MatchstickMan]

Same as above, I'll buy either way. I'd love to see that purple PCB though! (Purple is up 36-32 at the moment!!!)

[UsualSuspectXXX]

Purple is up 36-32 at the moment!!!

Woot woot!

[crusheddiamond]

Interested thinking this will be a good first build for me. Get me some Box Royal's for this bad boy.

[donutcat]

Another poll for you guys https://www.strawpoll.me/15384352 this one is to gauge interest in a high profile addon option for the cases. This would be just an acrylic slice, same as the middle, that would sit on top of the plate to make the case hipro. Someone suggested it so I figure throw a poll up and see. The acrylic bits are the easiest parts of the project to modify since they're coming from JOlimon and don't have to meet an moq.

[UsualSuspectXXX]

Interested in the hipro addon so long as it's optional during assembly. I can see myself using it with some keysets but not others.

[donutcat]

Interested in the hipro addon so long as it's optional during assembly. I can see myself using it with some keysets but not others.

Yeah, the hipro section would be an optional addon that may put the kit cost over $100 and would include the hardware for both lowpro and hipro configs.


In other news, I was checking over layout compatibility for the budget96 PCB and I thought you guys should know that it supports 1.25-1.5-1-6.25-1.25-1-1.5-1.25 bottom row

Do what you will with that knowledge. I'll have a full layout picture here shortly since I realized I never did one.

[Sifo]

it supports 1.25-1.5-1-6.25-1.25-1-1.5-1.25 bottom row

y tho

[geniekid]

it supports 1.25-1.5-1-6.25-1.25-1-1.5-1.25 bottom row

y tho

 )

[UsualSuspectXXX]

Yeah, the hipro section would be an optional addon that may put the kit cost over $100 and would include the hardware for both lowpro and hipro configs.

Hats That's alright by me.

In other news, I was checking over layout compatibility for the budget96 PCB and I thought you guys should know that it supports 1.25-1.5-1-6.25-1.25-1-1.5-1.25 bottom row

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Do what you will with that knowledge. I'll have a full layout picture here shortly since I realized I never did one.

That's quite the interesting bottom row.

[BlindAssassin111]

it supports 1.25-1.5-1-6.25-1.25-1-1.5-1.25 bottom row

y tho

I think it would only make sense with a vomit keyset...otherwise I don't see what the point is besides that.

[donutcat]

Here's the full compatibility I think, I feel like I might have missed something obvious.

it supports 1.25-1.5-1-6.25-1.25-1-1.5-1.25 bottom row

y tho

I don't know. Chances are it's a side effect of the "normal" bottom rows that just lines up for some reason. I think this particular one is using the 1.25u from normal ansi bottom row, the 1u is in the spot that a 1.5u would be for 7u bottom row, the 1.5u is where the 1u would be for 7u bottom row, and the last 1.25u is from the normal ansi row again. So this entire thing is kinda the ugly lovechild of 6.25u and 7u bottom rows. I'm looking forward to all the pics of this bottom row meant to make people uncomfortable

[donutcat]

Figured I'd show off some pics of the current case construction since I hadn't done that yet.

[HotRoderX]

I know this is sorta random but.. I would love to one day see some random PCB colors. Color's like Neon Yellow, Tangerine, Burnt Orange, Teal, Neon Purple or Green, maybe a muted blue color. Just some really crazy colors I don't know if such a thing would cost more or less but would just be fun instead of the same old.. Red, Black, white, green options.

[UsualSuspectXXX]

I know this is sorta random but.. I would love to one day see some random PCB colors. Color's like Neon Yellow, Tangerine, Burnt Orange, Teal, Neon Purple or Green, maybe a muted blue color. Just some really crazy colors I don't know if such a thing would cost more or less but would just be fun instead of the same old.. Red, Black, white, green options.

totes agree with you mate. Hence my huge support for the purple option on this one. Tangerine or Teal would be dope AF though.

[donutcat]

It's really close, and I'd be a fool to ignore what half of the votes want, so I'll go ahead and commit to having both as an option. I'll see about getting a quote from the manu here soon while we're polishing up the case design and the hipro addon.

[Tree_]

100% in for purple.

[rockydbull]

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It's really close, and I'd be a fool to ignore what half of the votes want, so I'll go ahead and commit to having both as an option. I'll see about getting a quote from the manu here soon while we're polishing up the case design and the hipro addon.

So would the internal pcb and the pcb plate be purple or would it just be the internal pcb that is purple?

[donutcat]

Just the inside PCB for now.

[donutcat]

Submitted the request for quote this afternoon, so I'll be looking to have prices available on the PCBs themselves soon and the cases soon after.