I built a stainless steel Atreus using a pre-soldered PCB from technomancy. With Zealios 62g, and Leopold navy blank 1.5mm PBT keycaps. I also have the "stethoscope case" mentioned above.
My daily driver is an Ergodox EZ, but I built the Atreus to be a companion to my Surface Pro 4. Also, I like really heavy keyboards, and the two 1.5mm steel plates add quite a bit of weight, while staying in the realm of "portable". I am contemplating having a CNC milled steel bottom, but that will take the total weight into the 1kg / 2lbs range, and I'm not sure yet it's necessary. As I mentioned, I really like heavy keyboards. My Ergodox EZ outer steel case weights 2kg per half (
https://github.com/lucwastiaux/ergodox/tree/master/steel_case)
The typing experience is pretty much what I expected. The steel plate is solid. The noise level is higher than on my EZ with gateron browns, but I think that's expected with the metal not dissipating vibrations as much, and with the open design. I love it though.
Only thing I don't like are the mouse keys. By default, they are quite choppy, nowhere near as smooth as on the Ergodox EZ.
Instructions to build:
https://github.com/technomancy/atreus/tree/master/case/lasergist_steel_platesThe illustrator files are ready to be submitted as-is to Lasergist to make stainless steel plates (Cherry MX version)
Choose the following settings:
Material: AISI 304 - Shiny
Thickness: 1.5 mm
Sandblasting
Upload the two files:
switch-plate-only.ai
Overall dimensions: height: 116mm width: 257mm
Path lengths: 3369mm
base-plate-only.ai
Overall dimensions: height: 116mm width: 257mm
Path lengths: 749mm
The order comes out to about $95 USD, including shipping.
Additionally, you'll need the following hardware:
8x 14mm long M3 screws, low profile head
https://www.mcmaster.com/#93070A071 8x 8mm long M3 hex nuts
https://www.mcmaster.com/#94868A603 8x M3 small hex nuts
https://www.mcmaster.com/#98676A100