Skeldon-GH Phantom Case

[boost]

Info:
I've always wanted a phantom with aluminum case because aluminum is just awesome .
My father and I started to build a case and he is doing most of the work since I'm pretty much useless in CAD -_-. With the help from The_beast, JD, and acetek we sent the top half of the case to get prototyped.

The plate design is done and prototyped has been created(Thanks bpiphany for making the original phantom plate). Current plate I have is winkeyless ANSI

We are currently working on the bottom half of the case which is almost done in CAD then needs to be 3D'ed.

Plate:


Top Case:



Bottom Case:


Testing the tolerance of the CNC shop. Everything is in .0005 to .001 which is awesome.





Color:


To do list:

Finish the bottom half of the case
Modify the plate to fix the issue removing switch top housing.
decide on 8 or 9 degree angle

[Halverson]

Awesome work!! Props to everyone involved in this!

Will this case work with the current GB for phantom plates? Or a new custom plate design? Err after looking at the case, I guess it will only fit the new plate due to a few things.

[The_Beast]

So the plate is being screwed to the top of the case?


If you need anything else, you know who to call. I should have a bit of free time at the beginning of the semester if you need a bit of design help

[djmattm]

Amazing project!!

[boost]

Awesome work!! Props to everyone involved in this!

Will this case work with the current GB for phantom plates? Or a new custom plate design? Err after looking at the case, I guess it will only fit the new plate due to a few things.

It will not work since the plate will bolt onto the bottom half of the case.
Don't worry, case will come with plate

[Halverson]

Awesome work!! Props to everyone involved in this!

Will this case work with the current GB for phantom plates? Or a new custom plate design? Err after looking at the case, I guess it will only fit the new plate due to a few things.

It will not work since the plate will bolt onto the bottom half of the case.
Don't worry, case will come with plate

The question is, should I cancel my phantom plate order now? hehe. Hate to ask so early, but any potential cost/eta of finish?

[alaricljs]

So the plate is being screwed to the top of the case?

Those are screw head clearance holes.

[The_Beast]

^^^ I see it now

Awesome work!! Props to everyone involved in this!

Will this case work with the current GB for phantom plates? Or a new custom plate design? Err after looking at the case, I guess it will only fit the new plate due to a few things.

It will not work since the plate will bolt onto the bottom half of the case.
Don't worry, case will come with plate

The question is, should I cancel my phantom plate order now? hehe. Hate to ask so early, but any potential cost/eta of finish?

I can always run a bro a plate. However it will be lister style, not WFD

[boost]

Awesome work!! Props to everyone involved in this!

Will this case work with the current GB for phantom plates? Or a new custom plate design? Err after looking at the case, I guess it will only fit the new plate due to a few things.

It will not work since the plate will bolt onto the bottom half of the case.
Don't worry, case will come with plate

The question is, should I cancel my phantom plate order now? hehe. Hate to ask so early, but any potential cost/eta of finish?

I don't you should cancel your plate order.

Got a rough guess and don't hold me to this but looking at $200-$300 for case/plate

[Halverson]

Thanks Beast

Ahh yea small run aluminum wouldn't be cheap. May have to suffice with my cardboard/duct tape case for now. Specially with so many metal boards in the upcoming times. MKC/LZ specifically.

[rknize]

Looks good so far.  We really could use some high-end cases here on GH to rival those from across the pond(s).

[boost]

Added pic of the color.

[Halverson]

Added pic of the color.

Will this baby be easy to re-anodize from that colour? Well not easy, but a viable option.

[The_Beast]

re-anodizing should be easy since the first step is typically stripping/cleaning the metal in a bath anyways

[IvanIvanovich]

Making these bolt head clearance in the top seems over complex. I would just make a threaded hole in those locations and pass bolts through the bottom piece and the plate (could thread those holes too for added lock in) into the threaded top. It would sandwich in the plate and fasten the top and bottom all at once.

[4LI4Z]

Looks good. But for me there's one question, do you think you could also make a Filco compatible version of this? It would be a dream if there was a universal aluminium case.

[boost]

Looks good. But for me there's one question, do you think you could also make a Filco compatible version of this? It would be a dream if there was a universal aluminium case.

IMO, you'll just need a new plate which can be made(Maybe like $30 for a 1off plate). Something I will look into

[nebo]

I'm a huge fan of the color. Any idea how thick the top cover will be and if you would allow for user submitted plates? Really want a nice case with the 5 keys opened up. I'd be fine hacking the cover myself it it is thin enough.

[boost]

I'm a huge fan of the color. Any idea how thick the top cover will be and if you would allow for user submitted plates? Really want a nice case with the 5 keys opened up. I'd be fine hacking the cover myself it it is thin enough.

just chopping off the 1.x block and making a new plates will make this open to all the layouts

[nebo]

I'm a huge fan of the color. Any idea how thick the top cover will be and if you would allow for user submitted plates? Really want a nice case with the 5 keys opened up. I'd be fine hacking the cover myself it it is thin enough.

just chopping off the 1.x block and making a new plates will make this open to all the layouts

Thanks, though I'd keep the 1x block. I'm stupid about what keys I want.

[jdcarpe]

Exactly. Modular case design. If you wanted, when you start taking orders for these, you could offer different top case and plates for different layouts. For example, a top case with no 1x tabs, the area between the cursor arrows and the six pack cut out, and a fully open f-row. That with a Prof plate would be an appealing option. Not sure how complicated you want to get with ordering options.

[alaricljs]

The issue being the cost of low Q runs.

[nebo]

The issue being the cost of low Q runs.

Note: I know nothing about CNCing

I wouldn't imagine using the same overall layout but removing straight cuts could change the cost all that much. At least for the case. Since this isn't compatible with the other plates that would add a bit.

[boost]

Exactly. Modular case design. If you wanted, when you start taking orders for these, you could offer different top case and plates for different layouts. For example, a top case with no 1x tabs, the area between the cursor arrows and the six pack cut out, and a fully open f-row. That with a Prof plate would be an appealing option. Not sure how complicated you want to get with ordering options.

way too many options to hit the MOQ -_-

Top case will be with or without block and 3-5 different plate designs

[The_Beast]

The base should be the same, two tops (one with blocks, one without) and however many plate designs their are

[rknize]

It just depends on how the shop charges for it.  It would use the same fixture.  Just a modified path.  For what it will cost, I probably would pass if 86 key was not an option.  The plate has holes for meta, so it's just the top cover.

[rknize]

Top case will be with or without block and 3-5 different plate designs

Perfect.

[4LI4Z]

Looks good. But for me there's one question, do you think you could also make a Filco compatible version of this? It would be a dream if there was a universal aluminium case.

IMO, you'll just need a new plate which can be made(Maybe like $30 for a 1off plate). Something I will look into

Great! A friend of me got a small CNC mill, he could produce a plate for me. But would the higher controller of a Filco be no problem? Also, dou you plan to have ISO layout available?

[Halverson]

Would love a no space F row top case, that would be hawt

Don't listen to me,. simple is best hah

[Acetrak]

Yay~

[nebo]

Top case will be with or without block and 3-5 different plate designs

Perfect.

By block are we referring to the 5key block or the winkey block?

Would love a no space F row top case, that would be hawt


Don't listen to me,. simple is best hah

We have dremels....




Also, on price, $300 is still good IMO with the few layout offerings and being block cut.

[Acetrak]

Winkey blocks

[nebo]

Winkey blocks

[The_Beast]

Winkey blocks

Please, for the love this puppy make the 1x blockers integrated into the case. Not like the Kmac 2

[boost]

Looks good. But for me there's one question, do you think you could also make a Filco compatible version of this? It would be a dream if there was a universal aluminium case.

IMO, you'll just need a new plate which can be made(Maybe like $30 for a 1off plate). Something I will look into

Great! A friend of me got a small CNC mill, he could produce a plate for me. But would the higher controller of a Filco be no problem? Also, dou you plan to have ISO layout available?

The plates are laser cut not CNC and plate will need to have the controller cutout

[WhiteFireDragon]

Nice! We finally have a TKL case in the works. This time, it looks like it'll actually come through production phase. Just make sure for the bottom piece, the controller area is a recessed cut to fit the teensy.

[Acetrak]

As shown in the pics boost posted, WKL layout top cover will be integrated into the case But outside of WKL and WK top cover options, I don't think any other top cover cases are being considered right now. The problem lies in hitting the MOQ for each different options.

[4LI4Z]

The plates are laser cut not CNC and plate will need to have the controller cutout

Nice, can't wait for it. 

[korne]

I'm in

[AKIMbO]

OMG...take my money....all of it.

Winkey blocks

Please, for the love this puppy make the 1x blockers integrated into the case. Not like the Kmac 2

Show Image

Yes, please!  I hate the KMAC 2 look.  Also, cute puppy! 

[rindorbrot]

Want Alu case!
Hoping for many plate options. ISO 1.5x and short right shigt ftw.

[KuhnTang]

Just to be perfectly clear.  If we want this case we SHOULD cancel our plate orders with prof? (yes | no)
Thanks

[The_Beast]

yes

[boost]

Just to be perfectly clear.  If we want this case we SHOULD cancel our plate orders with prof? (yes | no)
Thanks

umm, the plate i'm using will not fit in the OEM filco case.

Don't have an ETA on this project right now, it might be 1-4 months before I get a complete prototype.

[KuhnTang]

I forgot, one last question.

What about the switches from prof.  Are we still good there with the plate mount switches?

[jdcarpe]

Phantom PCB has no holes for PCB mount switches, so plate mount is your only option.

[alaricljs]

Or PCB mount and some personal time with flush cutters.

[KuhnTang]

Phantom PCB has no holes for PCB mount switches, so plate mount is your only option.

Thank you as always jdcarpe

[inteli722]

Top case will be with or without block and 3-5 different plate designs

Perfect.

Just to be clear, this means the block between the Delete Block and the Inverted-T keys?

I think the winkeyless boards look cool, and they have a certain flow going for them, but I use the left windows key a lot to turn off my computer (LWinKey then right arrow then enter), and I do enjoy the menu key...

[alaricljs]

To be clear, this means with or without 1x winkeys in the bottom row.  And the "with winkey" version can then be used for 1.25x mods as well.