Author Topic: [IC] Modern Dasher D60 (GB open) (Read 31467 times)

Ramiel · « **on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:03:06 »

Hello, Ramiel here. I like vintage keyboards.

I bought a lot of vintage keyboards from ebay and Taobao in the recent two years. However, I then realized most vintage keyboards are too large for daily usage. SSK is much more expensive than normal Model M not just because they're more rare, but also more people like smaller keyboards nowadays. So I started buying 60% or 80% custom keyboards from last year.

The look of old Data General Dasher keyboards has always fascinated me. I just came up with the idea of making a 60% custom keyboard with the retro esthetics of dasher keyboard series.

Renders

More

I'm considering to make a prototype. It must be thick and heavy. Brass plate and large brass weight. MAO bottom case and dark blue ano top case.

What do you think?

Prototype

enrique.aliaga · « **Reply #1 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:05:26 »

Dammmmmn... it looks amazing!

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bluesclera · « **Reply #2 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:06:08 »

i like the case but not the color....how about raw aluminum?

eyedrop · « **Reply #3 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:06:48 »

Now you will create a home for people's Dasher & Dancer keycaps.

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Perfex · « **Reply #4 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:09:38 »

Interesting!

enrique.aliaga · « **Reply #5 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:09:43 »

Quote from: bluesclera on Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:06:08

i like the case but not the color....how about raw aluminum?

That white looks gorgeous, IMHO. Besides, it’s truer to the original thing.

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Techno Trousers · « **Reply #6 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:38:50 »

I'd be interested in a TKL size, if you do that down the road.

lovetree · « **Reply #7 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:55:22 »

xondat · « **Reply #8 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 11:06:06 »

I like the concept.

Will be interesting to see the design evolve and get cleaned up

Engels · « **Reply #9 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 11:16:12 »

Interesting!

RSC · « **Reply #10 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 11:43:56 »

Very cool design! Will you offer more colours?

Ramiel · « **Reply #11 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 11:56:31 »

Quote from: bluesclera on Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:06:08

i like the case but not the color....how about raw aluminum?

Quote from: enrique.aliaga on Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:09:43

That white looks gorgeous, IMHO. Besides, it’s truer to the original thing.

Quote from: RSC on Sat, 05 May 2018, 11:43:56

Very cool design! Will you offer more colours?

For now I only have the design and the render. Blue top and white bottom is the only color I would choose for myself. MAO white should be pretty good for the bottom case. I still have no idea if the factory can make the dark blue color I like tho. Will figure it out.

If it goes to the GB stage, there will be more colours for sure.

papa · « **Reply #12 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 12:59:11 »

Very nice, If it goes to the GB, Count me in

M · « **Reply #13 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 13:02:32 »

I like how it looks, too bad I'm not really a 60% fan

LightningXI · « **Reply #14 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 13:26:35 »

I really like the Dasher terminal, so I am very interested. Hope we will see any more developments in this project!

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zwartho · « **Reply #15 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 13:44:15 »

I’ve been waiting for this keyboard my whole life

pixelpusher · « **Reply #16 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 13:55:58 »

I like the design a lot. I would prefer two tone corian with a brass weight.

Techno Trousers · « **Reply #17 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 14:07:43 »

Quote from: pixelpusher on Sat, 05 May 2018, 13:55:58

I like the design a lot. I would prefer two tone corian with a brass weight.

This is an interesting point. What was the original made of? Metal of some kind?

zwartho · « **Reply #18 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 14:59:49 »

would love to see an OG colorway with cerakote beige

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PernusBernus · « **Reply #19 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 15:02:08 »

Oooooh very interested! Only thing I would change is that back plate, which I take is also inspired by the dasher keyboard?

zslane · « **Reply #20 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 16:23:22 »

Quote from: Techno Trousers on Sat, 05 May 2018, 14:07:43

Quote from: pixelpusher on Sat, 05 May 2018, 13:55:58
I like the design a lot. I would prefer two tone corian with a brass weight.
This is an interesting point. What was the original made of? Metal of some kind?

It was almost certainly made from ABS plastic.

Ramiel · « **Reply #21 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 20:15:32 »

Quote from: zslane on Sat, 05 May 2018, 16:23:22

Quote from: Techno Trousers on Sat, 05 May 2018, 14:07:43
Quote from: pixelpusher on Sat, 05 May 2018, 13:55:58
I like the design a lot. I would prefer two tone corian with a brass weight.
This is an interesting point. What was the original made of? Metal of some kind?

It was almost certainly made from ABS plastic.

The keyboard in the first picture is Dasher D1, which is an early model of dasher series. The top panel is painted steel plate. I'm not sure about the white bottom case since I don't happen to own a D1.
I know the bottom cases on D2, D100 and D200 are made from thick plastic tho.

dc_in_sf · « **Reply #22 on:** Sat, 05 May 2018, 22:27:38 »

My sweet spot is 65%-75% with TKL being my upper limit. Interested if you grow this beyond a 60%.

schmoktopus · « **Reply #23 on:** Sun, 06 May 2018, 06:31:33 »

Quote from: enrique.aliaga on Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:09:43

Quote from: bluesclera on Sat, 05 May 2018, 10:06:08
i like the case but not the color....how about raw aluminum?

That white looks gorgeous, IMHO. Besides, it’s truer to the original thing.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

To me it seems to be more of a beige tone... Beige would be sick too.

DMacKB · « **Reply #24 on:** Sun, 06 May 2018, 06:58:55 »

Do want! I saw this machine at the Powerhouse Museum in sydney and immediately googled for cases haha

Any chance you could please support DZ60 split spacebar layouts? Or maybe a way to replace the blue plate?

Here's the DZ60 main plate (B):
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1473/3902/products/1_93e92d46-2520-4afc-850e-fc981ef1eb5f_grande.jpg?v=1502153936

Ramiel · « **Reply #25 on:** Sun, 06 May 2018, 08:05:34 »

Quote from: schmoktopus on Sun, 06 May 2018, 06:31:33

To me it seems to be more of a beige tone... Beige would be sick too.

The museum described the color as cream

Ramiel · « **Reply #26 on:** Sun, 06 May 2018, 08:21:54 »

Quote from: DMacKB on Sun, 06 May 2018, 06:58:55

Do want! I saw this machine at the Powerhouse Museum in sydney and immediately googled for cases haha

Any chance you could please support DZ60 split spacebar layouts? Or maybe a way to replace the blue plate?

Here's the DZ60 main plate (B):
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1473/3902/products/1_93e92d46-2520-4afc-850e-fc981ef1eb5f_grande.jpg?v=1502153936

The blue plate is just a panel. There's a switch plate inside. I'm still working on the plate design and mounting approach.

I don't want to "support" DZ60 split spacebar layout. Plates cut for each switch are much better than swiss cheese plates. I may order several splitspacebar plates with cheaper materials such as carbon fiber or FR-4. At least I can send you the plate file.

DMacKB · « **Reply #27 on:** Sun, 06 May 2018, 09:10:53 »

No that’s cool, I just had the wrong term. I’m already buying the regular dz60 plate from kbdfans. if the blue panel lets everything pass through or can be cut/modified it’s all gravy

Baron · « **Reply #28 on:** Sun, 06 May 2018, 21:01:17 »

how much would something like this cost?

heavyheaded · « **Reply #29 on:** Sun, 06 May 2018, 22:47:46 »

An HHKB alternate option would make this a must-buy.

Sshimosawa · « **Reply #30 on:** Sun, 06 May 2018, 22:50:00 »

Yes. Yes. So dope.

Baron · « **Reply #31 on:** Sun, 06 May 2018, 23:06:07 »

Quote from: heavyheaded on Sun, 06 May 2018, 22:47:46

An HHKB alternate option would make this a must-buy.

this so much

Puddsy · « **Reply #32 on:** Sun, 06 May 2018, 23:14:11 »

i **** with it

Ravahan · « **Reply #33 on:** Mon, 07 May 2018, 04:02:06 »

This is wild, I love the look of it! A centered usb cable hole would be a nice addition to it imo, but I'm not sure what the cable placement on the original dasher board is. However, I'm fine with whatever and will be following the project closely

Mearaz · « **Reply #34 on:** Mon, 07 May 2018, 05:21:03 »

I want this to happen so bad! Definitely in on this. My Dasher set needs this.

beekey · « **Reply #35 on:** Mon, 07 May 2018, 11:12:04 »

Very cool. Interested in a 60% variant. The plan is that normal 60% PCBs and plates are supported, or will it come with a PCB and plate?
I'm also a fan of the split space layout and would love to drop in my BananaSplit.

KeLorean · « **Reply #36 on:** Mon, 07 May 2018, 11:31:40 »

wowza!

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Ramiel · « **Reply #37 on:** Mon, 07 May 2018, 12:05:30 »

Quote from: beekey on Mon, 07 May 2018, 11:12:04

Very cool. Interested in a 60% variant. The plan is that normal 60% PCBs and plates are supported, or will it come with a PCB and plate?
I'm also a fan of the split space layout and would love to drop in my BananaSplit.

The plan is to provide case and plate by default. Case will have two styles, GH60 style and 7u HHKB style.

The plate will be top mounted so normal 60% plate won't be supported. Oh wait, maybe it can?

Normal 60% PCB will be supported but I may provide hot swappable PCBs in blue color as extra parts.

Seems there are a lot of work to do LOL

Baron · « **Reply #38 on:** Mon, 07 May 2018, 13:48:10 »

Quote from: Ramiel on Mon, 07 May 2018, 12:05:30

Seems there are a lot of work to do LOL

dont worry, more time for everyone to save up money loool

ihalatch · « **Reply #39 on:** Thu, 10 May 2018, 09:13:52 »

Looks great.

Rykno · « **Reply #40 on:** Thu, 10 May 2018, 16:10:01 »

I really like this. I would consider running white mao base + red, blue, and green inner colors. A dark-ish version of those colors should generate a lot of interest from the potential keyset pairings. Purple might not be a bad idea either.

biip · « **Reply #41 on:** Thu, 10 May 2018, 16:44:55 »

Looks really cool!

Ramiel · « **Reply #42 on:** Thu, 10 May 2018, 18:01:08 »

It turns out the bezel is too large that normal 60% PCBs' connector are too far away from the front side. I decide to add a USB C female connector on the case it self. The female connector on the case will be connected to the female connector on the PCB through a short cable.

It will add a little cost but it will make the design closer to perfect. In this way I can modify the connector position similar to the OG design like this:

enrique.aliaga · « **Reply #43 on:** Thu, 10 May 2018, 18:52:08 »

Noice!!

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Tarienn · « **Reply #44 on:** Thu, 10 May 2018, 19:24:37 »

As a Data General fanboy. I am totally willing to trade my Data General Dasher D1 for one of these kits ._ .

I'm VERY interested!

ptiede · « **Reply #45 on:** Thu, 10 May 2018, 19:31:10 »

I'm in for this.

Eon2001 · « **Reply #46 on:** Thu, 10 May 2018, 20:31:16 »

This looks good, and I understand it is an homage to the original design, but that lip on the bottom could be smaller.

_ODIN_ · « **Reply #47 on:** Fri, 11 May 2018, 03:21:07 »

alps support?

_ODIN_ · « **Reply #48 on:** Fri, 11 May 2018, 03:39:04 »

Are you considering other options aswell.? 😇

Ramiel · « **Reply #49 on:** Fri, 11 May 2018, 08:29:59 »

Quote from: _ODIN_ on Fri, 11 May 2018, 03:21:07

alps support?

The case will support both tray mount and top mount.

The plates I'm gonna provide are top mount MX only plates. The PCB will be hot swappable and MX only.

ALPS is supported if you are able to source the pcb and tray mount plate by yourself. They are available on the market afaik.

News:

Author Topic: [IC] Modern Dasher D60 (GB open) (Read 31467 times)