geekhack
geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: rutomoda on Wed, 05 May 2021, 14:46:51
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Group Buy is live: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=119460.0
(https://i.imgur.com/AMYDs2C.jpg)
Interest Check for the TRIFL alpha keycap run. Based on a triangular top shape and sculpted to fit the Cherry MX stem. The profile is uniform for all rows like DSA or KAM.
Keycaps will be 3D printed using Multi Jet Fusion printing method with PA12 also known as Nylon 12.
IC: https://forms.gle/RCKNqJ3uU13PCTkJ8 (https://forms.gle/RCKNqJ3uU13PCTkJ8)
(https://i.imgur.com/5V44rKH.jpg)
Planned kits
Core Collection Alphas (Homing will be moved to separate kit)
(https://i.imgur.com/5dyFscg.png)
Core Collection Mods
(https://i.imgur.com/vVwHxI5.png)
Packs
(https://i.imgur.com/Yr4eO9L.png)
Core Collection Ortho Alpha and Ortho Mods / Numpad
(https://i.imgur.com/EjdaJWU.png)
Due to the profile being uniform Numpad and Ortho Mods can be the same kit, making it easier for me to keep variants to a sensible minimum.
Braille Kits TBD
Visual Comparison: TRIFL, XDA, KAM, DSA, TRIFL
(https://i.imgur.com/XfEruOh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Jb2Dhaf.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/70n7XnJ.jpg)
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NE deskmat ic available? I kid, this is so much more interesting. Can you post some more photos from different angles?
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There will be more pictures when I have everything GB ready, like close ups and comparing to DSA and KAM. For now I have these two:
(https://i.imgur.com/5V44rKH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9gNLQFk.jpg)
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This is very cool! Love seeing new types of uniform layout profiles and the triangle shape is really unique.
What do the keycaps feel like compared to PBT/ABS keycaps or 3D printed keycaps in other materials (e.g. PLA)?
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Interesting shape! Any chance of ISO?
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I can feel the surface texture if I try to feel it, but not really during typing. It feels similar to SP DSA or XDA caps, but a tad softer.
ISO not for this run. That would be a custom sculpt for the enter key, which would probably just as long as getting this iteration right, i.e. days and weeks.
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Wut da hecc
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I don't know why but I really like this,
how comfortable are they?
Edit: nvm, I read your comment above.
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These look really unique. Definitely interested!
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looks interesting. Filled in IC.
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Very cool! I love the Braille on the numpad. Would be really cool to have a full Braille board, but I guess it is not the most comfortable to type on, if the cap is full of bumps. Anyway, form submitted!
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So it's kinda like a mullet for keycaps. Really have us all interested in how it feel to type on. I can imagine my fingies would like the grippy of that bottom edge sloping up a lot.
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Just a thought, but maybe you can include homing keys with deeper wells rather than a dot to identify them, and keep the look clean.
Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk
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Awesome :thumb: Following!
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The profile looks really great, I love the triangle look! How come you are using Nylon 12, instead of perhaps Resin Printed SLA?
I assume to keeps costs low, but I'd like to hear why from you. :)
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Unique! I like it!
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Very interesting. How does the Nylon 12 feel as a keycap material? More than that, how does it feel typing on these compared to Cherry or other sculpted PBT profiles, like say SA or MT3?
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Core Collection Alphas
(https://i.imgur.com/5dyFscg.png)
Core Collection Mods
(https://i.imgur.com/vVwHxI5.png)
Packs
(https://i.imgur.com/Yr4eO9L.png)
This is the current state of kitting. I hope this covers most keyboards out there, without me having to sell too many single keycaps or forcing people to overspent on stuff they do not want. If someone sees something is missing, please tell. I am trying to be as diligent as possible, but that is not always sufficient.
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Just a thought, but maybe you can include homing keys with deeper wells rather than a dot to identify them, and keep the look clean.
Deeper wells are sadly a can of worms I do not like to open at this point. It is on my list, but with my requirements towards perfection it would take way too long to get right.
Very interesting. How does the Nylon 12 feel as a keycap material? More than that, how does it feel typing on these compared to Cherry or other sculpted PBT profiles, like say SA or MT3?
The plastic is more flexible than ABS and PBT, so the feel is softer in my eyes. SA and Cherry surface textures feel noticably smoother and I am not the biggest fan to begin with. MT3 feels a little smoother, but has noticably sharper edges as well as a slightly smaller finger contact area. I feel that TRIFL is more forgiving regarding misplacement of the fingers compared to MT3 especially and Cherry somewhat, because of their sharper edges, while at the same time not making me feel lost like XDA does. Sculpted profile for me is mostly aesthetical and I have rearranged my MT3 and KAT rows for better feel and I still currently prefer my TRIFL. Could be novelty bias and IKEA effect, though.
The profile looks really great, I love the triangle look! How come you are using Nylon 12, instead of perhaps Resin Printed SLA?
I assume to keeps costs low, but I'd like to hear why from you. :)
Costs is the reason for Multi Jet Fusion. Traditional nylon SLS could do color, but is more expensive. I used resin printed SLA for my prototypes and there is way too many issues for high volume production:
1) Getting warping under control is an art form.
2) Even if that gets managed, resin likes to cling to the insides of the stems due to surface tension, making post processing extremely cumbersome.
3) The resins I used were way to brittle and did not survive more than a couple of couplings to a switch before breaking.
4) Even if I found a resin with the exact properties I needed, it is just way too expensive to produce more than prototypes or mold masters with resin printing.
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so interesting, count me in
I'm assuming you've considered it, but are there reasons why you chose to go with a concave spacebar instead of convex?
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ISO enter as well as convex keys mean additional sculpting and prototyping work, which I may do in the future. Right now I am focused on getting the profile out into as many people's hands as possible.
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Core Collection Ortho Alpha and Ortho Mods / Numpad
(https://i.imgur.com/EjdaJWU.png)
Due to the profile being uniform Numpad and Ortho Mods can be the same kit, making it easier for me to keep variants to a sensible minimum.
I am still debating whether or not to include the homing keys in all alpha kits or just leave them as a separate kit.
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Ooooo I would definitely love to try out a unique profile like this. The keycaps look like they have a pretty rough texture to them though, I assume from the 3d printing process. I am curious as to how they would sound compared to other profiles and materials.
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Visual Comparison: TRIFL, XDA, KAM, DSA, TRIFL
(https://i.imgur.com/XfEruOh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Jb2Dhaf.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/70n7XnJ.jpg)
Sound comparison is on my list and will probably be done, when I am ready to start the group buy.
The keycaps can be sanded, if roughness is an issue. I'd recommend 600grit for a velvety finish or 400grit for a tad more textured finish. I will post pictures at a later date.
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Any chance for ergodox compatibility in the future?
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Any chance for ergodox compatibility in the future?
I think you can cover an ergodox with alphas, 2 x 2u packs (4 x 4u total), 3 x 1.5u packs (12 x 1.5u total), and an extra 1u kit.
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Any chance for ergodox compatibility in the future?
I think you can cover an ergodox with alphas, 2 x 2u packs (4 x 4u total), 3 x 1.5u packs (12 x 1.5u total), and an extra 1u kit.
Oh! Cool! I just missed that! I think this is a really interesting profile and great project!
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Some renders of special keys
Array keys - closed
(https://i.imgur.com/mWiWMLA.jpg)
Array keys - gapped
(https://i.imgur.com/3TrfAiL.jpg)
Homing dot
(https://i.imgur.com/fXQtigE.jpg)
Homing dot with additional mound
(https://i.imgur.com/Qn1n2IU.jpg)
MOAR homing dots
(https://i.imgur.com/T7iwp9D.jpg)
Ribbed for your pleasure
(https://i.imgur.com/G8kl389.jpg)
Disclaimer: half of these are due to Discord suggestions, so if you need certain needs met, please speak up, I am happy to provide.
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Interested in these. Are there any updates or an estimated price?
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this looks cool af. Interested
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If anyone is still following, the group buy actually went live: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=119460.0