Let's make a acrylic casing for the upcoming phantom *PROTOTYPE OUT*

[takaki]

I think there are just too many people speculating around for a suitable casing GB, MO to happen. Honestly, the plu casing isn't going to cut it for me and I wanted something better.
I'm thinking why not we input all of our ideas and specifications and then we could start approaching suppliers to help create this casing that we wanted.
I've already seen a couple of casing threads around but nothing is really materialising.

I'm thinking to make a casing that can contain this plate with the extra keys.


Prototyping the 1st and 2nd board already. I know it looks awfully similar to litster and MKC woes. I've tried a few designs and it seems like layers of arcylic is the most easy and cost effective way to go.

Here are some pictures and the expected price range is almost 3 times cheaper than the original 150 usd.

87 key top plate


96 key type.


Using the filco as the substitute model while i wait for the WFD plates to arrive, the PCB size is exactly same as the filco. Also planned for the bottom area to have a hole so you don't have to disassemble the casing to press the teensy button.

[damorgue]

I sort of have a few finished designs already. I friend of a friend has a laser cutter and both the machine and he will have more time in late January. I have been waiting for this and hopefully I will be able to squeeze a couple of things in. In the meantime I have examples of things that have been cut before which I can post pics of later.

[The_Beast]

Any models of what they look like d-money?

[damorgue]

I am not at home nover the holidays, and I didn't put them on the NAS so I can't access them at the moment luffy-beast.

It seems the computer I am at can't access the pics in my phone which I took of the example. The thing I was going to show you is made out of 3mm plywood. Going to work on uploading those after New years.

This machine is a smaller one and can't cut metal at all, but it is far cheaper to use than the high power ones.

[The_Beast]

Not having a nice looking case is the only thing keeping me away from the phantom R2.

[takaki]

Did you use any software to come out with your design? Or everything is just on paper O:

[damorgue]

Depends on which you like. I suggest autocad, catia, proengineer or inventor. I know a lot of people prefer autocad when it comes to largely 2D cad, but it is fairly easy in the others as well. If you have access to any one of them or have previously used one of them, I suggest you use that one.

[The_Beast]

2D = AutoCAD is basically the standard
3D = I strongly prefer Solidworks, but inventor will do if it's the only thing available


I also like to model in Sketchup if I want something quick and dirty to remodel in Solidworks/Inventor later

[takaki]

Thank you, would try and work on it now, also keen to see damorgue's work!

[Acetrak]

Ditto on SolidWorks for this kind of design work. It would be a lot easier to figure out fitting issues if you own a Phantom from R1 though.

[takaki]

I saw that the PCB has a very similar fitting layout as compared to a filco, I could use a Filco PCB as a reference.

[nebo]

There is this thread and I think boost was thinking of doing something but I'm not sure (and of course I can't speak for them ).

[esoomenona]

^If that project is completed, couldn't you theoretically use the file with other types of material, such as wood?

[nebo]

^If that project is completed, couldn't you theoretically use the file with other types of material, such as wood?

I'm not an expert (it's been almost a decade since I did CAD or 3D work) but I would assume that if whatever you were using for milling could take the files it wouldn't be an issue. Might have limitations with materials? I dunno, I just buy the fancy things people make.

[esoomenona]

^I've never used either, and I do the same, but I just try to nudge people in the direction I'd hope to see them go. A nice wooden case would be great.

[boost]

I'm working on a case.

Got the plate done(sent out for prototype) and top half of the case finished(waiting for prototype quote)

I'll be making a thread sometime this.week about the case

[esoomenona]

What kind of material, boost?

[boost]

What kind of material, boost?

6061 aluminum

[Acetrak]

Hey boost did you use the stainless steel plate for testing? Will the plate used affect the case fitting since I know there's an IC for a new plate for WFD's design since not everyone was able to grab spares from the first GB.

Thanks ahead of time. I look forward to seeing your design

[nebo]

I'm working on a case.

Got the plate done(sent out for prototype) and top half of the case finished(waiting for prototype quote)

I'll be making a thread sometime this.week about the case

Make the top half of the case have a winkeyless option!

[boost]

Hey boost did you use the stainless steel plate for testing? Will the plate used affect the case fitting since I know there's an IC for a new plate for WFD's design since not everyone was able to grab spares from the first GB.

Thanks ahead of time. I look forward to seeing your design

plate design changed a bit and don't remember if it was SS. -_-

I'm working on a case.

Got the plate done(sent out for prototype) and top half of the case finished(waiting for prototype quote)

I'll be making a thread sometime this.week about the case

Make the top half of the case have a winkeyless option!

only Winkeyless and 86 key

[esoomenona]

I think he means to have the case cover the middle switch.

[Acetrak]

Ah so this is a plate+case combo, I see I see...

[boost]

Ah so this is a plate+case combo, I see I see...

yep, plate/case combo.

[esoomenona]

Will we be able to purchase the plates separately?

[boost]

Will we be able to purchase the plates separately?

No, it will be part of the case. The plate file is open source(I think -_-)

[esoomenona]

Right, but I was thinking it may be nice to be able to switch between two setups with the one case. Maybe the case could come with both plates?

[boost]

Right, but I was thinking it may be nice to be able to switch between two setups with the one case. Maybe the case could come with both plates?

both plate? Do you mean switching from winkeyless to 86key?

[esoomenona]

Yes, but never mind. I probably wouldn't do that anyway...

[Leewei]

Can't wait to see this! Missed out on kmac 2 from mmb's sell thread, so want to make up for it by focusing on phantom. If casing can be done winkeyless and aluminum material, don't think I will need a korean custom anymore =D

[jdcarpe]

boost, can you make a small change to the plate, where the 2x stabilized keys are. Just cut out those top tabs around the switch. Like this:

[boost]

boost, can you make a small change to the plate, where the 2x stabilized keys are. Just cut out those top tabs around the switch. Like this:

Show Image

I can, but why?

[alaricljs]

If the stabilizer/switch hole footprints are directly derived form the Phantom plate, the stabilized switches cannot be opened without a small modification to the plate.

[boost]

If the stabilizer/switch hole footprints are directly derived form the Phantom plate, the stabilized switches cannot be opened without a small modification to the plate.

Gottcha, will add this to the cad file when I get home.

Thanks

[t2russo]

My wallet is ready...

[inteli722]

I would love a Aluminum Case for a Phantom, but they're too expensive. I'm a aspiring keyboardist on a budget, unfortunately. An Alu case would be awesome for the Phantom, and being able to anodize it would add to the whole "it's YOUR Keyboard and no one else's" thing about the Phantom.

So: If someone (no matter how unlikely) could bring a decent Aluminum Case to market (don't need the Plate, just the case) at ~USD150, then I'd be set. Even better would be $100 but that's unlikely. I could also go for an Acrylic case, but the boundaries required to be solid would probably be too thick for me. Wood, if it were properly sealed and came in a variety of finishes, would be interesting to say the least. I'm not entirely sure I would like a Wood case though that would add even more to the "It's your keyboard and no one else's" thing.

[takaki]

the material cost of aluminium ( or maybe we can look into using composite aluminium) is relatively cheap, just have to find a place that can run productions of your case for a great value.

I'm a keyboardist on a budget too, the premium price people are willing to pay on geekhack is over the roof.

[boost]

the material cost of aluminium ( or maybe we can look into using composite aluminium) is relatively cheap, just have to find a place that can run productions of your case for a great value.

This is the hard part, finding a shop with a decent price.

Best quote I got for the top half to be prototyped is $200ish. -_-. If someone know a CNC shop please with decent pricing, please let me know.


Thanks

[esoomenona]

treble is getting close to setting up, right? I know that the other cases done by him are sort of a help to the community kind of thing, but if we're coming at this from a full group buy project sort of way, maybe he can work something out with us?

[boost]

Top Cover

[Acetrak]

Lookin' good boost. I assume this is a 2 layer case? (with the plate in the middle) What did you have in mind for the bottom layer? Something similar to KMAC? Or perhaps more unique?

Also what program are you working under? SolidWorks? Please let me know if I can help! I'm excited

[The_Beast]

the material cost of aluminium ( or maybe we can look into using composite aluminium) is relatively cheap, just have to find a place that can run productions of your case for a great value.

This is the hard part, finding a shop with a decent price.

Best quote I got for the top half to be prototyped is $200ish. -_-. If someone know a CNC shop please with decent pricing, please let me know.


Thanks

Maybe get the top laser cutter rough cut the top and then have a mill clean up the edges and make any holes you have on the bottom? (Since laser cutting thick stock leaves striations)

[takaki]

I'm trying to ask all the CNC shops as well.

say if someone else did find a very affordable CNC shop, is your CAD file going to be shared or ?

[inteli722]

Depending on the price, I think a lot of people would like to see variations of this case boost is working on. I personally would like to see it with a 7bit layout left of the main board (delete/arrow keys), though that's not what I'm using it for (Macros ftw). I don't really like the Winkeyless board, but I could manage (though I would want the menu key. I like the menu key for spell-checking while I'l typing something.)

Overall, I think this would be very cool, and I hope that this will come in at a price even budget Phantom builders can afford (IE less than a Filco Tenkeyless.) I also hope your plate design is basically the original Phantom's with some improvements if it's going to be built in.

I just want the plate be customizable (IE one for ANSI 1.25x mods, one for ANSI 1.50x mods, etc)


This is what I'm hoping for in the case, so I think having 4 variations (since you said "Only Winkeyless and 86-key) 2 without the 5 extra keys above the inverted-t shape and 2 with would make people happy (well, It would at least make ME happy.

<sarcasm> since I'm the only one that matters in this forum </sarcasm>

EDIT: Changed wording to sound less like I'm milling it and don't know what I'm getting/to sound less bossy

[alaricljs]

Problem is that it's not just the plate, the top frame has to match the plate.

[inteli722]

Yes, I know.

This is what I'm hoping for in the case,

I know it's a case, I just used WFD's ANSI150 plate design to show my preferred layout for it (which has nothing to do with the screws), so he could maybe look into having different variations on the case.

[Acetrak]

If you are building a Phantom in hopes of it being cheaper than Filcos, I think you might be slightly ill informed

[nebo]

If you are building a Phantom in hopes of it being cheaper than Filcos, I think you might be slightly ill informed

This. I'm guessing just whatever case you get is going to cost at least as much as a Filco (unless you're gutting a PLU or Filco). I'll gladly pay the price if it is a quality product that looks good. I mean the entire board without keys or case is ~$130 assembled if I remember right). So wanting this to be in the range of a Filco, you're looking at a $50 case with doing assembly yourself and that is without keys.

[inteli722]

If you are building a Phantom in hopes of it being cheaper than Filcos, I think you might be slightly ill informed

NO! That would be stupid of me. From 60 for the PCB/Teensy to 80 for the Keycaps (and a calculated 50 for the Cherry MX Green switches), there's no WAY I'll get a Phantom for less than a Filco. I'm hoping for a nice CASE that's cheaper than a full Filco keyboard.

[boost]

The top plate can be modded for other layouts down the line.

This case will be more then a filco.