Signature Plastics' DSS tooling

[elfick]

from https://pimpmykeyboard.com/whats-new/

"We hope to have DSS Dolch ready to release by the middle of June."

[grizzly_teddy]

Came here to say that I just got some DSS caps in a grab bag! Not all 5 rows. Looks like 3 of them. Texture feels just like DSA. But honestly I'm confused because R3 seems to be tallest.

[cola375]

I saw the updated product page.
I was excited about the variety of child kits.
But the split space bar set is missing.
Do you have any plans for blank keys?

[elfick]

https://pimpmykeyboard.com/new-dss-dolch-keyset/

[dr_derivative]

Looks very nice

My only complaint is that there is no stepped caps lock key, just a regular 1.75u with an off-centre stem (at least that's how it seems from the pictures). I hope they plan to add a proper stepped caps in future.

[Findecanor]

My only complaint is that there is no stepped caps lock key, just a regular 1.75u with an off-centre stem (at least that's how it seems from the pictures).

Yikes. Pressing that off-centre would be like using a ANSI Enter key without stabilisers
Hmm. I would also question the choice of having function keys in the base set.

Nice to see a "NORDE" set ("International Kit"). Too bad that there's not yet any ISO Enter key. I have not identified which layout the Ñ key is for.

[euphxenos]

Looking at the kits, I wonder if they've heard of 65% keyboards.  They're not really giving us any options for the right hand column above the right arrow.  I realize the ~` / Delete / PgUp / PgDn I prefer isn't as common as Home/PgUp/PgDn/End, but it doesn't look like those kits allow for either one.  If the navigation keys in the modifiers kit have their rows labelled correctly, then the keys that should be R2 (Del, End, Page Down) are R1, which seems weird.  Hopefully that's just a bad picture.

[zslane]

I don’t understand the row profiles. I guess that DSS R1 is the same as DSA R3, and all the other rows angle “towards the top” like SA R4? That’s a really odd profile family, if you ask me.

DSA never had an ISO Enter key; DSS will be shipping with the same DCS ISO Enter key that DSA sets always have.

BTW, did DSS Dolch sell out already, or is it simply not out yet?

[euphxenos]

They haven't started selling DSS Dolch yet.  From the product description on this page:

https://pimpmykeyboard.com/new-dss-dolch-keyset/

"We will be launching DSS Dolch on Wednesday, May 29th, at 11:00am PT."

It's also mentioned in their keycap status here:

https://pimpmykeyboard.com/whats-new/

[Findecanor]

I don’t understand the row profiles. I guess that DSS R1 is the same as DSA R3, and all the other rows angle “towards the top” like SA R4? That’s a really odd profile family, if you ask me.

The angles are standard, comparable to most vintage keyboards and keyboards with cylindrical keycaps such as DCS.
It is SA that the odd one out: SA had been designed back in the day to be mounted on angled stems -- and it would get similar angles to DSS when mounted on such a keyboard. It just hasn't been used that way as much in recent times, so that we modern users of SA are not used to them.

[dr_derivative]

I don’t understand the row profiles. I guess that DSS R1 is the same as DSA R3, and all the other rows angle “towards the top” like SA R4? That’s a really odd profile family, if you ask me.

DSA never had an ISO Enter key; DSS will be shipping with the same DCS ISO Enter key that DSA sets always have.

BTW, did DSS Dolch sell out already, or is it simply not out yet?

It's very similar to DCS if you look at the picture above. SA has a kind of weird curved sculpt with no step between rows. Most 'normal' sculpted profiles like DCS or Cherry have a step down from each row to the one below it, as does DSS.

Also, where did you get that info about the ISO enter? Earlier in this thread they said they'd be making a DSS ISO key.

[dvorcol]

I don’t understand the row profiles. I guess that DSS R1 is the same as DSA R3, and all the other rows angle “towards the top” like SA R4? That’s a really odd profile family, if you ask me.

DSA never had an ISO Enter key; DSS will be shipping with the same DCS ISO Enter key that DSA sets always have.

BTW, did DSS Dolch sell out already, or is it simply not out yet?

(Attachment Link)

It's very similar to DCS if you look at the picture above. SA has a kind of weird curved sculpt with no step between rows. Most 'normal' sculpted profiles like DCS or Cherry have a step down from each row to the one below it, as does DSS.

Also, where did you get that info about the ISO enter? Earlier in this thread they said they'd be making a DSS ISO key.

DSS and GMK (Cherry) are also quite similar.  Biggest difference is the dish: DSS is spherical, GMK is cylindrical.





I set the bottom of the GMK keycaps below the top of the case to get a similar gap between keycaps.  This GMK case appears to protrude further above the PCB than this DSS case does.

Assuming both cases protrude the same amount above the PCB:

[zslane]

Ah, okay, it all makes sense now. DSS is sorta like a spherical Cherry profile. I will definitely give it a try, but I confess I was hoping it would like a lower profile version of SA (kinda how DSA is a lower profile version of SA row3). SA is my favorite keycap family, so...

[garbo]

Ah, okay, it all makes sense now. DSS is sorta like a spherical Cherry profile. I will definitely give it a try, but I confess I was hoping it would like a lower profile version of SA (kinda how DSA is a lower profile version of SA row3). SA is my favorite keycap family, so...

Sounds like JTK should have you covered on that front with their "half height SA"-like profile. Not to distract from the topic at hand.

[Sintpinty]

It looks like a mix of DSA and SA. High profile flat goodness.

[SpAmRaY]

Ah, okay, it all makes sense now. DSS is sorta like a spherical Cherry profile. I will definitely give it a try, but I confess I was hoping it would like a lower profile version of SA (kinda how DSA is a lower profile version of SA row3). SA is my favorite keycap family, so...

Sounds like JTK should have you covered on that front with their "half height SA"-like profile. Not to distract from the topic at hand.

Isn't JTK pretty much an exact replica of cherry profile?? Or do they have more than one profile they use??

On topic I want to try DSS profile.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Sintpinty]

Ah, okay, it all makes sense now. DSS is sorta like a spherical Cherry profile. I will definitely give it a try, but I confess I was hoping it would like a lower profile version of SA (kinda how DSA is a lower profile version of SA row3). SA is my favorite keycap family, so...

Sounds like JTK should have you covered on that front with their "half height SA"-like profile. Not to distract from the topic at hand.

Isn't JTK pretty much an exact replica of cherry profile?? Or do they have more than one profile they use??

On topic I want to try DSS profile.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

What is JTK ? 

[pixelpusher]

Ah, okay, it all makes sense now. DSS is sorta like a spherical Cherry profile. I will definitely give it a try, but I confess I was hoping it would like a lower profile version of SA (kinda how DSA is a lower profile version of SA row3). SA is my favorite keycap family, so...

Sounds like JTK should have you covered on that front with their "half height SA"-like profile. Not to distract from the topic at hand.

Isn't JTK pretty much an exact replica of cherry profile?? Or do they have more than one profile they use??

On topic I want to try DSS profile.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Yes, JTK is a cherry profile clone. I’ve never heard of JTK making an SA profile. That’s news to me

[garbo]

Isn't JTK pretty much an exact replica of cherry profile?? Or do they have more than one profile they use??

On topic I want to try DSS profile.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Yeah, they do the cherry caps, but are also developing the new lower SA profile. Pictures have been posted in the chinese community: https://www.zfrontier.com/post/detail/14066 and https://www.zfrontier.com/post/detail/14017

Also on topic... I've never really liked Dolch's brownish grey, but I'm psyched for DSS so will probably pick up this first set anyway.

[euphxenos]

I was looking at the DSS Dolch kits again, and I realized I don't see a 1.75U shift in there anywhere.  The Extreme Modifier Kit includes a 2.25U, 2U, and 1U shift, but there doesn't appear to be a 1.75U in any of the kits.

[Findecanor]

I was looking at the DSS Dolch kits again, and I realized I don't see a 1.75U shift in there anywhere.

It's at the bottom of the image of the Pro Modifier set.

[Sintpinty]

Ah, okay, it all makes sense now. DSS is sorta like a spherical Cherry profile. I will definitely give it a try, but I confess I was hoping it would like a lower profile version of SA (kinda how DSA is a lower profile version of SA row3). SA is my favorite keycap family, so...

Sounds like JTK should have you covered on that front with their "half height SA"-like profile. Not to distract from the topic at hand.

Isn't JTK pretty much an exact replica of cherry profile?? Or do they have more than one profile they use??

On topic I want to try DSS profile.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Yes, JTK is a cherry profile clone. I’ve never heard of JTK making an SA profile. That’s news to me

Ok thanks 

[tex_live_utility]

That top surface texture... why??

You guys could/should have done a community poll on this. I would be surprised if "textured like DSA" won out over "smooth like SA".

[SMKNGNZ]

This was existing tooling (except for a few shapes), not something new we built.

[macclack]

That top surface texture... why??

You guys could/should have done a community poll on this. I would be surprised if "textured like DSA" won out over "smooth like SA".

Yes the surface texture isn't ideal for me. Maybe some people prefer it though.

[japanitrat]

Isn't JTK pretty much an exact replica of cherry profile?? Or do they have more than one profile they use??

On topic I want to try DSS profile.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Yeah, they do the cherry caps, but are also developing the new lower SA profile. Pictures have been posted in the chinese community: https://www.zfrontier.com/post/detail/14066 and https://www.zfrontier.com/post/detail/14017

Also on topic... I've never really liked Dolch's brownish grey, but I'm psyched for DSS so will probably pick up this first set anyway.

Huh, that new JTK stuff looks quite good!
So glossy, too. Would love to get such a set (well, different coloway, though

[euphxenos]

This was existing tooling (except for a few shapes), not something new we built.

Would it be possible to add an R3 Page Up and R4 Page Down to one of the modifier kits?  Or is there some other way I could get those two keys?  I'd like to try this profile on a 65% (Tada68).

[SpAmRaY]

I keep wanting to checkout but I'd be spending ~$200 to get the kits I want/need to fit my board(s), just don't think I can do it.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Aerizu]

That top surface texture... why??

You guys could/should have done a community poll on this. I would be surprised if "textured like DSA" won out over "smooth like SA".

Yes the surface texture isn't ideal for me. Maybe some people prefer it though.

I prefer textured

[pixelpusher]

That top surface texture... why??

You guys could/should have done a community poll on this. I would be surprised if "textured like DSA" won out over "smooth like SA".

Yes the surface texture isn't ideal for me. Maybe some people prefer it though.

I prefer textured

I also prefer a bit of texture.  When the caps are smooth like on SPs SA finish, I find my fingers stick to the keycaps slightly as I move across the keys.

[tex_live_utility]

This was existing tooling (except for a few shapes), not something new we built.

Good to know! That's pretty cool actually.. how long were these molds sitting unused before you decided to start this project?

[Aerizu]

So DSS Hana when? 

[zslane]

I would have loved to see a 1.75u R3 “Fn” keycap. It is not uncommon for 60% users to configure the Caps Lock key to be a left-side Fn key.

It would also be good to have a source for extra spacebars given that these are ABS.

But other than that, the set looks great! Already ordered mine.

[Prelim]

what case is this?

[pixelpusher]

what case is this?

Show Image

pretty sure that is the revised poker 2 with USB C

[Prelim]

thanks! 

[blighty]

I would have loved to see a 1.75u R3 “Fn” keycap. It is not uncommon for 60% users to configure the Caps Lock key to be a left-side Fn key.

It would also be good to have a source for extra spacebars given that these are ABS.

But other than that, the set looks great! Already ordered mine.

You could order an extra space bar as an "individual key" for $10?  I did that for a 2.75u shift key.

[elfick]

This was existing tooling (except for a few shapes), not something new we built.

@SMKNGNZ Any idea when the ortho kit will be available?

[SMKNGNZ]

We're hoping within two to three weeks.

[pixelpusher]

Got my set today but haven't put it on anything yet.  Everything looks nice from what I see.  Some sprue markings on the edges are a bit rougher than other sets I've received from SP, but they mostly won't be visible when mounted.

I did test a shift and enter cap on my novatouch and confirmed that it contacts the stabilizer housings, similar to cherry profile caps.  So.  I'll likely keep my MT3 caps on the novatouch.

[blighty]

They didn't have me at hello like the MDA profile, but they are nice to type on.  The dolch coloured caps block light nicely, while the white on red, not so much.



I do like how the 7u space doesn't cut into one's thumbs.  I was afraid it was going to be like DCS all over again.  LOL

[pixelpusher]

They didn't have me at hello like the MDA profile, but they are nice to type on.  The dolch coloured caps block light nicely, while the white on red, not so much.

(Attachment Link)

I do like how the 7u space doesn't cut into one's thumbs.  I was afraid it was going to be like DCS all over again.  LOL

(Attachment Link)

Yes, the space bar might be my favorite thing about the profile

[cola375]

The Pro mod set included "R1" 1.5 BS. At first I thought it was a photo error, but it wasn't. HHK Layout cannot be set up correctly: ( 
Will it be fixed in the future?
Also, I would like you to support the right end column of 65%.

[Krelbit]

Still not a fan of this annoying kit system.

[japanitrat]

The Pro mod set included "R1" 1.5 BS. At first I thought it was a photo error, but it wasn't. HHK Layout cannot be set up correctly: ( 
Will it be fixed in the future?
Also, I would like you to support the right column of 65%.

This. R1 1.5U Backspace is such a fail. There are like three different modifier kits but none support HHKB.

[pixelpusher]

I’m hoping they plan to add some keys in the future.   Norbauer asked them about missing keys in this profile and they said it was an oversight on their part.  I know they plan to make the keys for his set, but I’m not sure they’ll go back and fix these kits. 

[RominRonin]

No it won't. Only double-shot. We went down that road with the double-shot (ABS) SA tooling and were very unhappy with the results, especially with the darker PBT colors. Because of the large void left to fill without a first shot insert to balance the wall thickness, the parts were subject to sink, warping, flow lines, you name it. We see the same results, to a lesser degree, with the DSA tooling which was also designed for double-shot ABS molding. New DSA PBT molds are in the schedule with a late '18 early '19 completion.

What about blanks? I noticed a 1.25u row 3 cap with a legend, can it be ordered without?

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

[cola375]

R1 1.5 BACKSPACE replacement support announced.
Check product page.Thank you, SP.

[pixelpusher]

R1 1.5 BACKSPACE replacement support announced.
Check product page.Thank you, SP.

Thanks for letting us know.  I sent a request for one

EDIT---
Aaaand, it's on the way

[melgeek]

They didn't have me at hello like the MDA profile, but they are nice to type on.  The dolch coloured caps block light nicely, while the white on red, not so much.

(Attachment Link)

I do like how the 7u space doesn't cut into one's thumbs.  I was afraid it was going to be like DCS all over again.  LOL

(Attachment Link)

MDA BID BONE PROFILE