Aluminum 60% case - GH60, Poker, Pure

[WhiteFireDragon]

Thanks for the leads guys. I don't mind trying to source from other countries either, it's hard to find these in the US. And just to be clear, i'm not looking for spacers. They need to be standoffs with male threads on the bottom (to screw into the case) and female threads no top (for PCB to screw into). The spacing height needs to be 0.125", or metric 3.25mm, and the male thread length needs to be less than 0.15". All these criteria is very similar to the KMAC2 standoff pictured below. Hex or round is fine. They don't even look like standoffs in typical computers you see, more like screws with threaded top.

That's an awfully short standoff.  The thread depth would be miniscule.  You sure that's what the KMAC2 parts are?

Yes, both standoff length and male thread lengths are pretty short, and that's more than enough clearance you need to raise the PCB high enough so the switch pins do not touch the case bottom. Thread length does not need to be long, it's not holding down much force like Beast said.

[jcrouse]

If the large diameter is only .125 thick then you will only have the length to work with for the female thread. That would be difficult to manufacture. The threads for iMAV cases were #2-56. A #2 thread has an O.D. of .086. You could extend the lengh available if the lower thread, the male, was made to be a larger diameter. Then the tap drill and threads of the female thread could go down into the male thread, from the opposite side, of course.

Just some rambling ...

John

[calavera]

Not sure if this would help but looks like you can get them made.

http://www.accuratescrew.com/CatalogPage.aspx?ProdCat=STFTHDQ_MFH

[metalliqaz]

Why not spacers?  Screw goes through pcb, through a sleeve,  directly into case.  Sleeve holds up pcb. Perhaps a little difficult to install but probably cheap.

[LechnerDE]

So many awesome cases and only on can give shelter to my precious GH60 PCB

[cobraj]

So many awesome cases and only on can give shelter to my precious GH60 PCB

Indeed there are haha

[rknize]

You only got one GH60?!?

[HoffmanMyster]

So many awesome cases and only on can give shelter to my precious GH60 PCB

The price of the GH60 just dropped to $30, you should buy 2 or 3!

[gomez18]

I have a GH60 on order with the Pure plate and switch placement. Will that plate fit in this case? Sorry if this is an obvious question. I'm kind of a newb at this.

[cobraj]

I have a GH60 on order with the Pure plate and switch placement. Will that plate fit in this case? Sorry if this is an obvious question. I'm kind of a newb at this.

Yeah it should.. This case was made for the GH60

[gomez18]

Ok. One more question. I currently have my order including the plate and plate mounted stabilizers. Should I forego the plate and get the plate that comes with this keyboard? Would the switches be soldered to the board and the plate can pass over it? It seems like I should be able to apply the stabilizers to the plate that comes with this case and put the plate over the PCB and be good to go. Is that accurate? If so, I will remove the plate from my GH60 order.

[Photekq]

I have a GH60 on order with the Pure plate and switch placement. Will that plate fit in this case? Sorry if this is an obvious question. I'm kind of a newb at this.

Yeah it should.. This case was made for the GH60

Looking at the designs i'd say that the case is only compatible with the custom plate that WFD will supply. However, if he gets his standoffs sorted out then it will support the GH60 plate.

[gomez18]

If the standoffs don't get sorted out and I have to swap this new plate for the GH60 plate, would that involve desoldering all the switches to get them mounted on the new plate or can they pop off and on after they have already been soldered? I'm getting it assembled from the GH60 groupbuy but, if I would need to desolder and solder the switches on again to get them in this case, I might consider forgoing the assembled option or, perhaps, look at a case that can take the GH60 plate.

[Jmneuv]

I keep wondering about the way the plate is mounted:
My understanding of a plate doing as intended is that the plate itself is mounted to the case, the switches are mounted to the plate and the force exerted on the switch is transmitted into the plate - all the while the pcb is practically dangling off the collective switch solder feet.
Now when i use standoffs on the PCB that would defeat the purpose of the plate, no? Sure it still strengthens the overall assembly, but it's much closer to a pure pcb mount since the pcb is directly taking force again.

[regack]

WFD's design allows for the plate to be optional.  In the case where you don't use a plate, you'll need the standoffs to mount the PCB.  The plate is generally less flexible than a PCB and translates to a more solid feel. 

I imagine WFD arrived at the size he did (standoff height) in order to help reduce overall material/machining costs.  Changing to a longer 0.25" standoff would probably mean starting with thicker stock and machining out additional material, or making the design thinner on the bottom or something else undesireable. 

I'm not sure what I'm responding to, maybe just keeping hope alive

[Jmneuv]

So when i use a plate, the standoffs become optional?
(sorry if there was a detail discussion about standoff heights, i missed it)

[eon]

Yes if you use the plate that comes with this case, you don't need the standoffs

[jdcarpe]

So when i use a plate, the standoffs become optional?
(sorry if there was a detail discussion about standoff heights, i missed it)

If you use the integrated plate that comes with the case, the standoffs are not necessary. If you use one of the existing Poker plates, or a plate from the GH60 group buy, using the standoffs is necessary to mount the board into the case.

[HannibalChew]

How much will this be? I'm going to remove the plate from my GH60 order so i can use the plate from this. Looks like an awesome case.

[Moosecraft]

How is it going with this case?
I've been holding up on my GH60 order because this is the only case I want with it.

[tradet]

This case should be possible with a GH60 full keys layout right?

Edit: Yeah it should be with the modular top. I just got  bit confused with the winkeyless blockers.

[remedyhalopc]

any new updates?

[tadbitnerdy]

I'd take one!

[bugsaint]

Read through the entire thread and it would seem my order for a GH60 and plate (with the soldering option) would mean I have to use the standoffs with this case 

Unless of course I desolder everything and use the plate that comes with this case - something I would loathe to do as I don't even own a soldering iron - plus the fact I've already paid for the soldering option /sigh.

Any chance this case can accommodate the plates that are coming with the GH60 GB? 

[domoaligato]

I just saw this and I instantly thought of your design


http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=43536.msg902039#msg902039


I can't wait to see where you go this your design.

[Photekq]

Out of curiosity why do you choose those circular brass weights instead of a single big one?

[WhiteFireDragon]

I know it's been many months since I intended to send it out for quotes, but I've been swamped with Phantom and GH60 GB. When things settle down in the summer, I can finally continue with this again.

I just saw this and I instantly thought of your design

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=43536.msg902039#msg902039

Yeah I saw that one too. I considered grabbing one, but it was too similar to my own design, and I'd rather wait until mine comes through. There's more self-satisfaction that way.

Out of curiosity why do you choose those circular brass weights instead of a single big one?

There are standoffs, so 1 large disc will interfere with at least one or more standoffs. Also, the larger the diameter, the thinner it must be, otherwise milling out the area for the disc will make it go all the way through the case at the front (the thinner side).

[Photekq]

There are standoffs, so 1 large disc will interfere with at least one or more standoffs. Also, the larger the diameter, the thinner it must be, otherwise milling out the area for the disc will make it go all the way through the case at the front (the thinner side).

Never understood why people don't just get the standoffs machined out of the piece of brass. Brass is a better material for threaded holes and it means you don't need to be making angled standoffs. You can simply mount the brass at an angle. However, if it'll go through the front then fair enough.

[kaiserreich]

When can we see real pictures?

So many cases GB going on right now it's so hard to choose.

[domoaligato]

When can we see real pictures?

So many cases GB going on right now it's so hard to choose.

it is still in the design/concept phase in the OP is some renderings from the software being used to design it.
it has been said before that it may be after the gh60 GB before this gets started.

[tricheboars]

Any update on this? I think this is my favorite case design and I would love to own one.

[korrelate]

I've been working on this for the past few months and this is what I have so far. It's nearly done but I still have to refine some stuff.

top view with some edge lines

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bottom view without any reference edge lines

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Color-coded by parts, and next to a matching concept GHkeyad

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Color-coded by parts, concept GH70 (GH60 + GHkeypad)

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What this design allows:

1) compatibility with all 60% layout - includes poker, pure, and upcoming GH60

2) integrated plate - there will be a plate that screws into the bottom piece of the main case.

3) removable switches - the plate allows for removal of the top switch housing without desoldering. The plate design also allows for rotated switches to be removed. You'll also have the option to choose between costar stabilizers, PCB-mounted stabilizers, or plate-mounted stabilizers. Refer to HERE for more info.

4) modular top cover - The top cover has 3 different designs, allows you to choose a winkeyless cover, HHKB style, or standard full keys

5) optional plate - The PCB can be mounted into the case without a plate, made possible by the 5 screw-in standoffs. This was for people that prefer PCB bottom-out feeling.

6) compatibility with the older poker plate - The PCB/plate combo is a direct drop-in without any mods. The old plate won't be able to screw into the case, but you can still screw this PCB/plate combo down to the standoffs.

7) (maybe) optional brass discs - You can add different numbers of brass discs at the bottom to make the case heavier, or take them all off for a lighter case. Any amount up to 4.


more details and description later....

"What this design allows" is a great checklist... that's a custom keyboard case & plate !

[amishmansteve]

This looks very cool, and exactly what I've been searching for recently! Will be watching this thread...

[Qipz]

Read through the entire thread and it would seem my order for a GH60 and plate (with the soldering option) would mean I have to use the standoffs with this case 

Unless of course I desolder everything and use the plate that comes with this case - something I would loathe to do as I don't even own a soldering iron - plus the fact I've already paid for the soldering option /sigh.

Any chance this case can accommodate the plates that are coming with the GH60 GB? 

I'd like to know this as well for the same reason.

[gropingmantis]

Really want one of these, best looking case with HHKB blockers I have seen.

Any chance of ISO plates?

[madderoftime]

Was just thinking the brass disks you could make slightly smaller than the whole for them and then put a thin UHMW or similar disk under it. Fasten with a nylon screw in the center and then it would be electrochemically isolated from the aluminum case. Eliminating corrosion issues for the disk no matter what material was used for it. To protect against shock (OMG don't drop it but...) put a strip of thin closed cell foam around the outside edge compressing it very slightly when mounting with the nylon screw. For a bit more torque I would suggest about a M6 flathead screw. My thoughts anyway nice work so far! Watching as many others.

[Qipz]

Really want one of these, best looking case with HHKB blockers I have seen.

Any chance of ISO plates?

Wait, reading this post made me wonder, I could use this case if I ordered the gh60 assembled on a 1.25 iso plate right?

[gnubag]

Really want one of these, best looking case with HHKB blockers I have seen.

Any chance of ISO plates?

Wait, reading this post made me wonder, I could use this case if I ordered the gh60 assembled on a 1.25 iso plate right?

5) optional plate - The PCB can be mounted into the case without a plate, made possible by the 5 screw-in standoffs. This was for people that prefer PCB bottom-out feeling.

6) compatibility with the older poker plate - The PCB/plate combo is a direct drop-in without any mods. The old plate won't be able to screw into the case, but you can still screw this PCB/plate combo down to the standoffs.

[Qipz]

5) optional plate - The PCB can be mounted into the case without a plate, made possible by the 5 screw-in standoffs. This was for people that prefer PCB bottom-out feeling.

6) compatibility with the older poker plate - The PCB/plate combo is a direct drop-in without any mods. The old plate won't be able to screw into the case, but you can still screw this PCB/plate combo down to the standoffs.

Ah, good to know!

[Qipz]

Any news about this case?

[domoaligato]

This is prob a dumb question but I would like to ask it anyway.

Could a design like this be 3d printed by shapeways?

[thoere]

Any updates on this?

[dkssudgktpdy]

any new updates?

i waiting it.

[Loligagger]

Had any time to work on this recently, WFD?

[TLSC.wipeOut]

i just came across this now... amazing design!

[Strelok]

This isn't dead - is it?

[SpAmRaY]

This isn't dead - is it?

Well considering the last few posts were more or less necro posts....and WFD is pretty much MIA, it seems to be dead.

[dkssudgktpdy]

OMG... really dead?