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Author Topic: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project  (Read 22546 times)

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Offline Yoe

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My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« on: Thu, 12 March 2015, 12:43:21 »
Ok! My first post! Please be gentle.. :)

So, after getting inspired by other creations here on geekhack I went through my stash of old Apple keyboards to find a suitable donor for a nice 60% mechanical keyboard. I found a M0118 with bad controller, took it apart and put the Dremel to the metal. The M0118 is actually really nice for a 60% project. It has got arrow keys, and that's something I wouldn't want hidden away in a function layer.

With the wonderful orange Alps switches in place, it looked like this.
93851-0
Got the diodes in place...
93853-1
The column wires...
93855-2
And the wires to the Teensy.
93857-3
While waiting for the Teensy to arrive, I took some time to un-yellow the space bar with some Vanish Oxi Action and UV light...

…and to dye some keys with Dylon dye. Now that's my pride and joy, right there! :)

Then, with the Teensy in place, I installed Hasu's awesome TMK Keyboard firmware (adapted for my design, of course).

Ta-da! :D

Now I just need a nice case. Probably making one from oak, with alu bottom.
« Last Edit: Thu, 12 March 2015, 12:45:04 by Yoe »
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Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 12 March 2015, 12:45:40 »
Your first post is about making a custom 60% board....and it's Alps?! I like you. Great job. Looking forward to the case :D.
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Offline MrRooks

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 12 March 2015, 12:47:55 »
That looks great! Welcome to GH.
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 12 March 2015, 13:44:14 »
Thank you! :)
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Offline Applet

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 12 March 2015, 13:58:03 »
Wow, beautiful build :)

If you ever want to get rid of a Swedish set of Apple-keycaps (or entire boards), I'd be interested :P
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Offline mashby

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 12 March 2015, 16:11:00 »
Yeah, that's a hell of an introduction and a GREAT looking board. From one 60% fan to another... Welcome to GeekHack!
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Offline jacobolus

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 12 March 2015, 18:19:20 »
Great work! Orange Alps are one of my favorite tactile switches, and make me nostalgic for my family’s M0116 of my childhood. I’m looking forward to seeing your case.
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Offline sethk_

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 12 March 2015, 18:23:27 »
Wow, thats very cool!
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Offline Lain1911

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 12 March 2015, 18:28:14 »
Dat mini enter key, I, don't know if I like or not but this is a neat board :)
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Offline Hypersphere

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 12 March 2015, 19:02:11 »
Well done! Orange Alps are a great switch, and 60% is my favorite form factor.
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Offline katushkin

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 12 March 2015, 19:14:36 »
I'm loving the set, and the layout! Awesome!
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Offline suicidal_orange

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 12 March 2015, 20:02:21 »
That is a very neat wiring job, and an interesting board you chose to repair.  I've not seen a mini ISO enter before, no wonder people complain about Alps boards needing random keycaps...

It's just a shame you didn't have enough dye to finish the rest of the caps to match the switches or it would have been perfect ;)
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Offline stoic-lemon

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 12 March 2015, 20:08:38 »
So clean. So very clean. That looks fantastic. It's a great sign when the inside looks as good as the outside. I have no experience with Alps, but would love to try them someday.
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #13 on: Fri, 13 March 2015, 03:10:05 »
Thank you, all of you! :)

And sucidal_orange can rest assured – I'm not out of dye! :D




Now those M0118s are nice and all, but (even) without a case my 60% really kicks their butts. The resonant ring from the plastic case is gone, and only the soft clatter of the Alps and the caps is heard. I should make a recording of that some day. If only I could figure out how to make the space bar not to make a racket due to the stabilizer.

Anyway, I'm putting the 60% to daily use at work, and it is a dream to type on!



I've programmed the escape key to be fn-key if held down, so I'm getting F-keys on top row and media controls on B (back), N (next), M (mute), space bar (play/pause), and volume up/down on comma and period keys. Plus page up/dn, home end on arrow keys and some other goodies thrown in.

I very much feel, though, that most of the credit for this needs to go to the geekhack and deskthority communities and above all Hasu for the excellent firmware programming. People here have shared their projects and experiences with such devotion that going in their footsteps making my own attempts to custom keyboard building and keycap dyeing a walk in the park, more or less. Most of the work hours put in was actually research on the forums. Thank you all so very much for that! And a big ありがとうございました to Hasu! :)
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Offline dustinhxc

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #14 on: Fri, 13 March 2015, 03:16:57 »
Love love love love! One of my dream boards is an orange Alps! I plan to get an Apple Orange Alps, remove switches, get a custom pcb of some sort, nice case, a cool keyset that fits, restore the caps.

Great job man!  :thumb:
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Offline Wilba

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #15 on: Fri, 13 March 2015, 03:23:04 »
Very cool... show more pics of the brown dyed keycaps, they look great!
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #16 on: Fri, 13 March 2015, 04:43:01 »
Quote from: Wilba on Fri, 13 March 2015, 03:23:04
Very cool... show more pics of the brown dyed keycaps, they look great!

Here you go :)



I'll take some more pictures later.
« Last Edit: Fri, 13 March 2015, 04:45:43 by Yoe »
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #17 on: Fri, 13 March 2015, 07:13:52 »
Another shot of the dyed M0118s.

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Offline Alpsie

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #18 on: Fri, 13 March 2015, 07:22:27 »
Oh woaw

I´m loving that brown dye job, may I enquirer about that product used to dye them? both the light and dark ones.
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Offline geniekid

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #19 on: Fri, 13 March 2015, 07:30:10 »
Whoa...great job on this project :thumb:
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #20 on: Fri, 13 March 2015, 08:34:14 »
Quote from: Alpsie on Fri, 13 March 2015, 07:22:27
Oh woaw

I´m loving that brown dye job, may I enquirer about that product used to dye them? both the light and dark ones.

I'm using Dylon Multi-Purpose dye. http://www.thedyeshop.eu/acatalog/MULTI-PURPOSE_DYE_4.5g.html

For dark brown I used #05, Havanna Brown. The light brown is more of a accidental discovery... I was using #02, Golden Glow, to get a soft yellow/gray/brownish tint by keeping it in for a shorter time (I had done some dyeing with Golden Glow before and remembered the color it got before really going yellow/orange as the modifier keys on the other keyboard). It didn't turn out the way I wanted it, so I poured the brown dye into the yellow and stirred away, hoping for the best. And it turned out pretty ok! :) The trick to success I suppose is to stir a lot and to watch them closely and now and then rinse off a test key in cold water to see the exact color. The only complete failure I've had was when I tried to dye an ABS space bar.
« Last Edit: Fri, 13 March 2015, 08:35:58 by Yoe »
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Offline Alpsie

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #21 on: Fri, 13 March 2015, 10:52:14 »
Ah I see

I´ll see if I can get  ahold of the dyes here in Denmark and some white PBT keycaps :)
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Offline mullidan

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #22 on: Fri, 13 March 2015, 11:19:18 »
Wow, thats an epic 1st post! Sweet looking board man.  :thumb:
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Offline evangs

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #23 on: Fri, 13 March 2015, 12:03:59 »
Dude, that hand wiring is soooo clean!  You're getting me super excited about my own custom keyboard project.  My plate shipped today so hopefully I can post some awesomeness soon.
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Offline Lain1911

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #24 on: Fri, 13 March 2015, 12:32:31 »
Yes the brown dye is epic.
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Offline Dihedral

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #25 on: Fri, 13 March 2015, 12:45:18 »
OK, let's see, normal steps for Geekhackers posting about the keyboards:

1. I got a keyboard -> QFR or Blackwidow etc.
2. I got a better keyboard -> Filco / Ducky / Poker
3. I got a keyboard with interesting switches -> Model M / WASD Code / Matias / Old Alps board
4. I got Topre -> Topre Board
5. I built a board!

Your steps when posting to GH:

1. I built a board!

TLDR: You're awesome and I like you. That is a really beautiful build too.
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #26 on: Sat, 14 March 2015, 01:18:34 »
Quote from: evangs on Fri, 13 March 2015, 12:03:59
Dude, that hand wiring is soooo clean!  You're getting me super excited about my own custom keyboard project.  My plate shipped today so hopefully I can post some awesomeness soon.

Cool! Thanks! I'd love to see that! :)
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #27 on: Sat, 14 March 2015, 01:48:08 »
Quote from: Dihedral on Fri, 13 March 2015, 12:45:18
OK, let's see, normal steps for Geekhackers posting about the keyboards:

1. I got a keyboard -> QFR or Blackwidow etc.
2. I got a better keyboard -> Filco / Ducky / Poker
3. I got a keyboard with interesting switches -> Model M / WASD Code / Matias / Old Alps board
4. I got Topre -> Topre Board
5. I built a board!

Your steps when posting to GH:

1. I built a board!

TLDR: You're awesome and I like you. That is a really beautiful build too.

Haha, thank you! :D Well, maybe I thought that no-one would care at all if I posted the 1-4 :P Or I don't know…

But I do have material for step 3 :)

I have a nice Model M, white label. Click-tastic!


And of course my hoard of classic 68K Mac computers also includes some nice Alps keyboards :)

To suit my mood for the day, I can choose from Alps SKCM White Dampened, Cream Dampened, Salmon and.. my favorite.. Orange! :)
94058-1

As for steps 4 and 2, I'm really curious and would like to try them out. A bit hard though to find Mac friendly Swedish ISO versions of them if I'd like one, isn't it? Or maybe I haven't been looking hard enough :)
« Last Edit: Sat, 14 March 2015, 01:50:30 by Yoe »
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Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #28 on: Sat, 14 March 2015, 02:46:43 »
That weird moment when I realize I've seen your pictures before....on the 'gram  :-X

Definitely not a bad thing, just saying ;)
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #29 on: Sat, 14 March 2015, 03:47:03 »
Quote from: CPTBadAss on Sat, 14 March 2015, 02:46:43
That weird moment when I realize I've seen your pictures before....on the 'gram  :-X

Definitely not a bad thing, just saying ;)

It was just a question who would realize it first :D You are absolutely right! I've been covering my progress on Instagram, and I thought those pics would be excellent to use for my post here.

I'm @trasselfrisyr at Instagram BTW.
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Offline mougrim

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #30 on: Sat, 14 March 2015, 04:17:12 »
It's beautiful... And I want all your boards :)

Or, maybe, only one with Oranges...
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Offline Dihedral

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #31 on: Sat, 14 March 2015, 05:36:21 »
Beautiful Model M!

Now get blue alps :D
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Offline zombimuncha

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #32 on: Sat, 14 March 2015, 06:32:09 »
!!!

[can't speak - too much awesome - trying not to cry!]

That is a seriously beautiful keyboard. It's inspiring me to do something similar as soon as I'm able.

Hey, is there a reason the tab key is a darker shade of orange than the others? Everything else you did here turned out so perfect, so I'm assuming it was intentional, but I can't figure out why.
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #33 on: Sat, 14 March 2015, 07:35:55 »
Quote from: Dihedral on Sat, 14 March 2015, 05:36:21
Beautiful Model M!

Now get blue alps :D

Thanks! You know I probably will :) Collect them all...
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #34 on: Sat, 14 March 2015, 07:41:08 »
Quote from: zombimuncha on Sat, 14 March 2015, 06:32:09
!!!

[can't speak - too much awesome - trying not to cry!]

That is a seriously beautiful keyboard. It's inspiring me to do something similar as soon as I'm able.

Hey, is there a reason the tab key is a darker shade of orange than the others? Everything else you did here turned out so perfect, so I'm assuming it was intentional, but I can't figure out why.

Thanks! Looking forward to seeing your creation :)

There sure is a reason :) The modifier keys are dyed with yellow dye, and though I knew they would turn out a bit darker than ordinary yellow, they went a bit beyond what I was aiming for, but it still looks ok, I think. The tab, enter and backspace keys are dyed with tangerine orange dye, and they were right on target.
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Offline mougrim

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #35 on: Sat, 14 March 2015, 11:07:07 »
Thats the keyboard Apple should be making now, not this flimsy scissor contraptions shipping with modern Macs.
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Offline jacobolus

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #36 on: Sat, 14 March 2015, 14:04:08 »
Quote from: mougrim on Sat, 14 March 2015, 11:07:07
Thats the keyboard Apple should be making now, not this flimsy scissor contraptions shipping with modern Macs.
(a) Alps doesn’t make keyboard switches anymore
(b) that keyboard costs 10x more to produce than the scissor switch thingy
(c) it’s important nowadays that keyboards be quiet
(d) it’s not "thinnovative" enough
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Offline mougrim

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #37 on: Sat, 14 March 2015, 15:39:07 »
Quote from: jacobolus on Sat, 14 March 2015, 14:04:08
Quote from: mougrim on Sat, 14 March 2015, 11:07:07
Thats the keyboard Apple should be making now, not this flimsy scissor contraptions shipping with modern Macs.
(a) Alps doesn’t make keyboard switches anymore
(b) that keyboard costs 10x more to produce than the scissor switch thingy
(c) it’s important nowadays that keyboards be quiet
(d) it’s not "thinnovative" enough

1) Matias
2) So they'll get not 99% profit, but only 90
3) They could sell it for "Professional writers", or "Typists".
4) Apple worshippers will gladly buy even Unicomp with Mac keys if they told by Apple it's the new Gospel.
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #38 on: Sun, 22 March 2015, 15:29:44 »
Ok, so I've made some progress on the case. Still some work left, like the alu bottom+feet and an opening in the back for the usb port.



After the pic was taken, I did countersink the screws, so don't worry… it's not supposed to look like that :)
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Offline sethk_

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #39 on: Sun, 22 March 2015, 15:45:34 »
Quote from: Yoe on Sun, 22 March 2015, 15:29:44
Ok, so I've made some progress on the case. Still some work left, like the alu bottom+feet and an opening in the back for the usb port.

(Attachment Link)

After the pic was taken, I did countersink the screws, so don't worry… it's not supposed to look like that :)
Thats coming along nicely!
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Offline Lain1911

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #40 on: Sun, 22 March 2015, 19:25:57 »
whoa this wood case makes me see it in a new light :thumb:
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #41 on: Mon, 23 March 2015, 02:13:30 »
I'm also planning to have a wrist rest and a mouse pad in tan leather made for it. My brother is good at shoemaking, so he's going to help me with that. Maybe even a mouse or trackpad in oak to match.
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #42 on: Tue, 24 March 2015, 13:24:07 »
USB port done! :D Old school Apple logo color palette complete :)



USB port, strain relief, teensy mount and mini to micro adapter - all in one! :)



Only bottom case left, but it's usable as is.
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #43 on: Wed, 25 March 2015, 02:25:40 »
More pics. For good measure.



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Offline Yeitso

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #44 on: Wed, 25 March 2015, 02:55:05 »
Now that's what im talkin about. #sexy
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #45 on: Wed, 25 March 2015, 03:03:56 »
thx! ^^
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Offline regack

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #46 on: Wed, 25 March 2015, 07:23:58 »
Yoe, I love the wooden frame case!
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Offline Yoe

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #47 on: Wed, 25 March 2015, 08:54:16 »
Thanks, regack :) I think I'll leave it unfinished and unpolished. I sort of like the color as it is now, and the kind of rough texture it's got.
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Offline morpheus

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #48 on: Tue, 31 March 2015, 04:50:50 »
That is amazing. So fresh.
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Offline mougrim

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Re: My 60% Orange Alps m0118 project
« Reply #49 on: Wed, 01 April 2015, 10:06:15 »
Hmm... If someone mass-produced it with same keycaps, Matias click switches and wooden case... It'd be cool.
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