Phantom Custom Keyboard Group Buy (CLOSED)

[Soarer]

Looks like it could work, at least for on/off per LED. It might even be feasible to get overall brightness control by varying the duration of the LEDROW pulses - instead of connecting each LEDROW transistor's emitter to ground, add in one extra transistor whose emitter is grounded and connect all the LEDROW transistors to its collector. Then drive it from a PWM (preferably running very fast so you don't have to synchronise it with the rest of the scanning).

[bpiphany]

Imagine connecting 12 or so of these in series. Shouldn't take even a ms to update them all. Then PWM as many of them that the USB port can handle at a time =) PWM can run from a IC separate from the controller as well. Double the hang up-burn-a-row-of-diodes-bug-protection...

[hazeluff]

Looks like it could work, at least for on/off per LED. It might even be feasible to get overall brightness control by varying the duration of the LEDROW pulses - instead of connecting each LEDROW transistor's emitter to ground, add in one extra transistor whose emitter is grounded and connect all the LEDROW transistors to its collector. Then drive it from a PWM (preferably running very fast so you don't have to synchronise it with the rest of the scanning).

Thats the main thing I like. But, i'm worried because the time an LED is "ON" is maximum only 1/numCol.

Imagine connecting 12 or so of these in series. Shouldn't take even a ms to update them all. Then PWM as many of them that the USB port can handle at a time =) PWM can run from a IC separate from the controller as well. Double the hang up-burn-a-row-of-diodes-bug-protection...

This is probably the simplest solution, serial the LED data out of the MC and have the shift registers drive the LEDs. We don't get to play with PWM tho.


Anyway, this is the phantom gb page. If we want to discuss this one, lets move it back to the appropriate thread:

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?26751-Next-GH-brewed-KB-design-The-Light-%28open-for-discussion%29

[Salisen]

7bit, any idea approximately when surplus PCBs and plates are likely to be (possibly) available?

Also, on the ErgoDOX front, I might be able to help out a bit, I've some experience with PCB design (particularly relating to driving LEDs actually), though I don't have a lot of time to commit.

[litster]

If/When there is left over PCBs and plates, we will announce it on this thread.  It will probably be a couple months after all the parts are shipped out to buyers.

[Salisen]

Awesome, thanks, I had no idea of timeframe!

[7bit]

I packed most packages (full with switches) for US orders and will bring them to the post office tomorrow.

:-)

[Salisen]

I swear 7bit, you're a machine.  So many group buys on the go at once!  

[longweight]

Damn I missed this one too!

[7bit]

I swear 7bit, you're a machine.  So many group buys on the go at once!  

Without my machine and some pieces of software, it would be impossible!

The worst thing about the switches was not packing them into bags for each order, but packing them into boxes and making sure that they weight less than 1kg.

I had to halve and take the guts out of keyboard boxes I got from Ascaii and then tape them close. I've one package which is slightly over the limit, so I've got to open it and throw some of its contents out.
:-(

The EU order will be plain sailing. Just pack everything in and don't think about weight or customs.

[Salisen]

Ouch!  How did you count them?  There were thousands!

On that note how on Earth will you sort the doubleshot keycaps?  The quantity of those is crazy...

Dispatched from the EU eh?

Well, that makes ordering leftovers even more tempting, I'm from the UK, customs fees are horrible.

[Tranquilite]

Man, If this groupbuy doesn't come to fruition soon, I may end up buying even more keyboard stuff... This bodes Ill for my wallet.

[Tarkoon]

Could you give us another status overview? (just came back from a long holiday trip)

[7bit]

Ouch!  How did you count them?  There were thousands!

On that note how on Earth will you sort the doubleshot keycaps?  The quantity of those is crazy...

Dispatched from the EU eh?

Well, that makes ordering leftovers even more tempting, I'm from the UK, customs fees are horrible.

By weight. I've counted 100 of each box manually and the rest by weight.

[7bit]

Could you give us another status overview? (just came back from a long holiday trip)

Most backeages asre packed. I ship all remaining order this week (except for those with Phantom stuff).

I hope to get the plates PCB etc this or next week.

[slueth]

Ugh, I hope my payment went through for this, the bot keeps telling me i have 5 cents due but when I pay it it still keeps nagging me :d.

[7bit]

Ugh, I hope my payment went through for this, the bot keeps telling me i have 5 cents due but when I pay it it still keeps nagging me :d.

Please don't pay $0.05 !!!

[Tranquilite]

Please don't pay $0.05 !!!

Please send 100 individual payments of: $0.05 to... I kid. Paypal would probably eat up any payment that is less than $0.50

[7bit]

Please send 100 individual payments of: $0.05 to... I kid. Paypal would probably eat up any payment that is less than $0.50

The limit is $5 where it says:

Please order more to make it worth to do another payment!!!!

[MMB]

I am looking for PCB's if anyone might have ordered extra. Hit me up with a PM if you do.

Much appreciated.

[slueth]

Can we just pretend I paid the 5 cents?   Or will I get a pretend phantom... >.<

[litster]

Update!  Parts on BiNiaRiS' side are all procured and received.  BiNiaRiS was able to get the plates anodized in black without additional cost, which is pretty amazing!  Kudos to BiNi!  There is still a lot of sorting work to do.

We still have to figure out how to get parts shipped across the pond.

Slueth, don't worry about the 5 cents :-).

[harrison]

Update!  Parts on BiNiaRiS' side are all procured and received.  BiNiaRiS was able to get the plates anodized in black without additional cost, which is pretty amazing!  Kudos to BiNi!  There is still a lot of sorting work to do.

We still have to figure out how to get parts shipped across the pond.

Slueth, don't worry about the 5 cents :-).

very exciting... but also frustrating to know the parts are just a short drive away, and now they have to travel half way around the world and back before i can have them.

[litster]

BiNiaRiS needs help to sort and pack parts.  I plan to drive to Portland next week to help him.  Anyone wants to come over to help?  We can have a Phantom party and you can take your orders with you when you leave!  You can also check out BiNi's collection.

[Tranquilite]

I would totally be up for that if I were even remotely close...

Get hype.

[dorkvader]

Update!  Parts on BiNiaRiS' side are all procured and received.  BiNiaRiS was able to get the plates anodized in black without additional cost, which is pretty amazing!  Kudos to BiNi!  There is still a lot of sorting work to do.

We still have to figure out how to get parts shipped across the pond.

Slueth, don't worry about the 5 cents :-).

This is amazing news. I will strip the switches out of an old keyboard if I have to, if it means getting this working faster. I'm saving up the cardboard for the case.

It's going to be legendary.

[mkawa]

can i just use my balance to have bii ship mu parts directly? seems silly to a) burden 7bit with more parts to keep track of and b) ship all that stuff acros and back

[mkawa]

ps, that sounded a lot like *****ing but it's not. everything about this is generally super cool

[alaricljs]

I'm pretty certain stuff is being cross shipped... 7bit's US switches to here, all the US sourced parts (for across the pond) to 7bit.  Then complete packages get shipped from the appropriate place.

[mkawa]

in that case ignore my posts dudes. i blame jetlag

[litster]

alaricljs is correct.  We cross ship parts across the pond in bulk to save shipping cost for everyone.

[7bit]

very exciting... but also frustrating to know the parts are just a short drive away, and now they have to travel half way around the world and back before i can have them.

can i just use my balance to have bii ship mu parts directly? seems silly to a) burden 7bit with more parts to keep track of and b) ship all that stuff acros and back

Shipping of the Phantom stuff will be directly from Biniaris.

I only ship switches to Biniaris or directly.

Only the European orders will be shipped all to me fisrt and then forwared to everybody else, along with the switches!

alaricljs is correct.  We cross ship parts across the pond in bulk to save shipping cost for everyone.

Bulks are hopefully not too bulky, so the customs won't catch them.
:-)

[gimpster]

BiNiaRiS needs help to sort and pack parts.  I plan to drive to Portland next week to help him.  Anyone wants to come over to help?  We can have a Phantom party and you can take your orders with you when you leave!  You can also check out BiNi's collection.

I'm tempted to go. What day are you planning on going?

[litster]

I am thinking Saturday and make it a day trip.  Might go with my family so they can do some tax-free shopping while I sort and pack.

[jdcarpe]

I am getting so excited! I can't wait for mkawa's Phantoms to ship!

[litster]

jdcarpe, you buying mkawa's Phantom?

[jdcarpe]

One of them. It has winkeys and clear switches.

[mkawa]

iirc i have two kits coming and one extra pcb and plate. jdcarpe is getting the clear phansiwin kit

[litster]

I see qtan is selling Filco replacement cases on eBay.  

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300726960317

Not sure how good they are.  I'd bet that these are better than feng's acrylic cases.  Need to see more and better pictures.

[mkawa]

well that's fascinating. material looks odd. maybe POM?

edit: oh, PBT.

hmm, litster, what's the current ETA on parts from bini? i'd be willing to buy the baby blue case for science

[mkawa]

btw jdcarpe, lmk if you want to switch the stems and springs with a different switch type. i have some switch stock sitting around

[litster]

I don't think switches from 7bit have be received by BiNi yet.  And I don't know how long it will take to sort, pack, address, postage, and mail.  

If you buy the case, check with qtan on his subforum here.  He should be able to sell it cheaper if you buy directly from him instead of through ebay.

[mkawa]

yah i just pinged him. i'm going to order a blue and take some bedroom studio quality pics for everyone

[litster]

wait, don't buy it yet, it can fit Filco but not Phantom.

[mkawa]

is this confirmed?

[litster]

looks like it is alo made by MKC.  His acrylic cases sold by feng was a mess, keys are stuck and the case top and bottom don't close together, and a few of them were broken when they were received by buyers.

Filco's USB connector is on 6-pack side of the keyboard.  Phantom's Teensy controller is below F3 and F4.  It may or may not work depends on how the bottom is made.

[litster]

they are about $27USD on taobao  http://s.taobao.com/search?q=filco+87+%BF%C7

[mkawa]

ok thanks man. i'm going to be getting regular shipments from taobao most likely so i'll toss one in if they start looking promising. i agree MKC's qc isn't quite there yet.

[jdcarpe]

When I get the Phantom, I will let you know how it fits in the MKC acrylic case. Hopefully the Teensy won't be a fit problem.

[harrison]

I am thinking Saturday and make it a day trip.  Might go with my family so they can do some tax-free shopping while I sort and pack.

i'd be seriously interested if it weren't for the fact that my wife is out of town next weekend, and i've got the kids by myself for 2 days. i'd MUCH rather trek down to Portland.