[GB] The Enabler [Shipped] Shared on OshPark

[Melvang]

Current Orders in alphabetical order
Username - Without stabs - with stabs
...
thweir - 200 - 4
...

I was on my phone when I submitted the form, so "thweir" should be "tjweir" sorry about that.

Fixed.  I is correct on the order form.  I just typed it wrong.

[swill]

jdcarpe, we are going to need you to run another teensy GB now. 

[jdcarpe]

jdcarpe, we are going to need you to run another teensy GB now. 

Funny, I was just thinking I don't have enough Teensys now.

[MOZ]

I recommend including the option for Teensy shields as well.

[Melvang]

I recommend including the option for Teensy shields as well.

If you are talking about what I am thinking you are, there are two versions.  One with the screw holes on the end and one on the side.

[Melvang]

Alright guys and gals, I have run some maths and the break even point between sub 1k sq inch and 1k+ sq inch order with our discount will be 948 square inches.  When we get to this point I will post a second Google form asking if you want you order numbers increased or invoice price dropped.

An increase in pieces would result in an extra 5 pieces for every 100 or one for every 20.  Price reduction would be 5%.

[cjhard]

I'm in for 250. Probably overkill, but this seems like a neat idea.

[Melvang]

Do you guys think I should cross post this over at DT?

[CPTBadAss]

It can't hurt

[JaccoW]

Ordered 10. Gonna try to run these with my Qwerkeys switch tester.

[luckynet]

can i ask what are the stab holes for?? sorry kind slow about electroniks T.T interested tho

[AKmalamute]

can i ask what are the stab holes for??

Inserting stabilizers into. Nothing more elaborate than that; certain stabilizer designs attach to the PCB and passively ignore the plate. The new design facilitates that.

[Melvang]

I am going to cross post this to the DT forums as well.  Do you guys really think I should be worried about the additional stress of a keystroke being transfered to the pins on the switch for the stabilized caps when using PCB mount stabs?  To be honest I don't know if the switch or the stabs bottom out first.

If there really is no worry on that I will talk to moz about doing a 6.25 (standard center) location and a 7u version with the same circuit and just modify the cutout files.

[jdcarpe]

Do it anyway. Switches are cheap, and can be replaced. Even more easily with these little PCBs.

[Defect]

Not sure if this is where I should post, but had an idea:

How possible would it be to design a 60% that "falls into" a full size board?  Obviously designing a case is secondary, but does anyone know if this is possible at all from an EE perspective?

[CPTBadAss]

Well jdcarpe has this plate. I wonder if that would fit a Poker X or Poker 2 PCB. Then you could drop it into a full size case.

[Melvang]

Alright guys we are officially over the 1000 square inch mark.  Great work guys.  I have sent an email to Moz about doing a version for space bars.  Both 7u and 6.25u with centered switch locations will be done.  If anyone wants them just submit a new order with a comment on how many of each you would like.

[dorkvader]

isn't somebody developing an easy way to program custom layouts?

There was talk but I dont think anyone has published anything yet.  I started a thread on it but most likely everything will have to be from scratch.

as I've said before, it's super easy with a soarer controller. I'm using one on my ergodox now. I can reprogram / remap it without having to build or flash anything. it's great.

[n7]

I'm trying to wrap my head around how these would be kept in place inside a case with a plate. If the PCB is small enough to fit through the switch hole in the plate to remove a single switch, does that mean there is the potential for a lot of individual switches moving around (while typing, or even in transit, I suppose) if you were to build a full board from these PCBs? or would there be some other way you could ensure they were secure to the bottom of a case?

[Melvang]

I'm trying to wrap my head around how these would be kept in place inside a case with a plate. If the PCB is small enough to fit through the switch hole in the plate to remove a single switch, does that mean there is the potential for a lot of individual switches moving around (while typing, or even in transit, I suppose) if you were to build a full board from these PCBs? or would there be some other way you could ensure they were secure to the bottom of a case?

If I understand you correctly, you are referring to a case that could be used either with or without a plate as the plate does not attach to the case but the PCB does.  If that is what you are referring to then this would not work.  The primary audience of this (in my head at least) was people that are developing custom layouts/cases where the plate is either an integral part of or the plate physically attaches to the case in some way, shape, or form. 

[n7]

I'm trying to wrap my head around how these would be kept in place inside a case with a plate. If the PCB is small enough to fit through the switch hole in the plate to remove a single switch, does that mean there is the potential for a lot of individual switches moving around (while typing, or even in transit, I suppose) if you were to build a full board from these PCBs? or would there be some other way you could ensure they were secure to the bottom of a case?

If I understand you correctly, you are referring to a case that could be used either with or without a plate as the plate does not attach to the case but the PCB does.  If that is what you are referring to then this would not work.  The primary audience of this (in my head at least) was people that are developing custom layouts/cases where the plate is either an integral part of or the plate physically attaches to the case in some way, shape, or form.

Sorry, I feel dumb. I completely spaced about the fact that the switches actually clip onto the plate. After testing with some switches on one of my spare plates, I have a better idea of how this would actually fit together for a project.

[swill]

I am thinking of just getting some ergodox plates and trying to hand wire an ergodox with these. Will it work?

I'm not sure how I would connect the two boards together yet.

[jdcarpe]

I am thinking of just getting some ergodox plates and trying to hand wire an ergodox with these. Will it work?

I'm not sure how I would connect the two boards together yet.

But ErgoDox PCBs are available, and not expensive...

[mashby]

JD is referring to the PCBs that MK.com sell. They also have cases as well now.

[swill]

I am thinking of just getting some ergodox plates and trying to hand wire an ergodox with these. Will it work?

I'm not sure how I would connect the two boards together yet.

But ErgoDox PCBs are available, and not expensive...

Well for me they are expensive cause I will have to pay $20 in shipping and another $20 in duty because MK ships with a commercial invoice on the box.

So will cost $80 for just the pcbs by the time I get them. Usually I do not get dinged with duty on GBS, so it saves me a lot of money if I can get stuff from a gb instead.

Also, how would I do an alps egodox otherwise?

[mashby]

Tarzan is selling his for $20 right now. Might want to snatch that one up.

As for an ALPS version Ergodox, you'd have to build a custom PCB to get that to work.

[swill]

Tarzan is selling his for $20 right now. Might want to snatch that one up.

As for an ALPS version Ergodox, you'd have to build a custom PCB to get that to work.

I will check that. Thx.

Yes, if I use these pcbs, I would be hand wiring anyway.

[Melvang]

Well I have been thinking, since the discount we have been afforded by OshPark is rather on the minimal side (albeit for good reasons that I don't want to argue with them over) I will not be making another form.

For the record we are at the highest tier that can be hit with these folks.  If you want to add more to your order just submit another order and I will add them together. 

I have not heard back from Moz about the status of the spacebar versions yet.  I will email him tonight.

[jdcarpe]

Have you looked at any other vendors for quotes, e.g. pcbwing or pcbcart? Maybe they could provide a larger discount for larger volumes.

[Melvang]

Have you looked at any other vendors for quotes, e.g. pcbwing or pcbcart? Maybe they could provide a larger discount for larger volumes.

I have not yet but with these only being .5x.5 inch and the usual cutter size in .1 inch.  They are losing TONS of space on their sheet of blank PCB.  I can do a bit of shopping around though.

[boxfulofsanity]

Are the "stab holes" stabilizer holes? Just making sure I get my terminology right.

Also, do you think these would work for building one of these? https://github.com/technomancy/atreus

[Melvang]

Yes on the stabilizer holes.  And yes it will work for realistically any layout you can fit on the controller of choice.  I would however not recommend this setup of PCBs If you are planning on using DSA profile caps with clear stems and an acrylic plate.  That is unless you are planning non gluing the switches down.

[oystein.krog]

I've added my order, this should be great for prototyping.

[bueller]

Was just thinking about these and the potential is amazing. I'd love to see a standard 60% layout but with the bottom row made up of Enablers. If the main pcb had headers broken out you could easily try out different bottom row layouts without even doing any soldering.

[SpAmRaY]

Is this still going to end tomorrow?

[Melvang]

Is this still going to end tomorrow?

There has been slight snag in the PCB's for space bars with PCB mount stabilizers.  Moz is currently overwhelmed with his studies and finals at his university so he doesn't have the time to do them.  I sent a PM to OldDataHands to see if he would be willing to do them as he has helped me with KiCad in the past.  Well, he just had twin girls so he hardly has the time to breath right now.

If anyone here would be willing to modify the 2 unit version for 6.25 and 7u space bars I would be willing to provide free shipping on your order.  So as of right now it looks like ordering will be slightly delayed.

[Melvang]

Gratz to agodinhost for accepting the task of finishing up the space bar versions of these switches.  Updates will be posted when I receive them.  As of right now orders will remain open for one week after I receive the files for space bar versions of these to give everyone a chance to get them.  If you want some just submit a new order with what you want to add to your order and please put something in the note that you are adding to your previous order.

[agodinhost]

Have you looked at any other vendors for quotes, e.g. pcbwing or pcbcart? Maybe they could provide a larger discount for larger volumes.

seeed studio?
their price is normally good enough (IMHO)

[Melvang]

Have you looked at any other vendors for quotes, e.g. pcbwing or pcbcart? Maybe they could provide a larger discount for larger volumes.

seeed studio?
their price is normally good enough (IMHO)

I will send out some emails tonight.  I was looking at a couple sites and wasn't seeing anything cheaper.  But I also didn't send emails for official quote.

[Melvang]

Well, I did some digging and pcbwing was more expensive (31.35 cents per single pcb).  I did find PCBcart to be much cheaper though it is so cheap that it is scarring me away from it.  Just seems to good to be true (8 cents per single pcb).  If anyone wants to cancel their order and go with them by all means I can't stop you.  There are some benefits to going with OshPark.

• they advertise that they manufacture in the USA so shipping to me (for sorting will be quicker)
• Keeps jobs in the US (I supprort US made products whenever feasible)
• They are the only place I have found purple soldermask
• I already have an established line of communication with OshPark and no language barrier

[HoffmanMyster]

Well, I did some digging and pcbwing was more expensive (31.35 cents per single pcb).  I did find PCBcart to be much cheaper though it is so cheap that it is scarring me away from it.  Just seems to good to be true (8 cents per single pcb).  If anyone wants to cancel their order and go with them by all means I can't stop you.  There are some benefits to going with OshPark.

• they advertise that they manufacture in the USA so shipping to me (for sorting will be quicker)
• Keeps jobs in the US (I supprort US made products whenever feasible)
• They are the only place I have found purple soldermask
• I already have an established line of communication with OshPark and no language barrier

I'm in favour of all the 4 points you've outlined here, so I'm not bothered by this decision.  I'll let others speak up if they are though (or they can order separately, as you said).

[Melvang]

Well, I did some digging and pcbwing was more expensive (31.35 cents per single pcb).  I did find PCBcart to be much cheaper though it is so cheap that it is scarring me away from it.  Just seems to good to be true (8 cents per single pcb).  If anyone wants to cancel their order and go with them by all means I can't stop you.  There are some benefits to going with OshPark.

• they advertise that they manufacture in the USA so shipping to me (for sorting will be quicker)
• Keeps jobs in the US (I supprort US made products whenever feasible)
• They are the only place I have found purple soldermask
• I already have an established line of communication with OshPark and no language barrier

I'm in favour of all the 4 points you've outlined here, so I'm not bothered by this decision.  I'll let others speak up if they are though (or they can order separately, as you said).

Thank you for the support here HoffmanMyster.  Like I said if this decision doesn't agree with anyone I have no issues with someone ordering elsewhere.  I do understand that cost is a large factor in most purchasing decisions.

The files will be made public open source as soon as I actually place the order for this buy.

[Melvang]

Just for my reference the correct dimensions for standard 6.25 unit space bar to stabilizers is 50mm off the center stem, and 57.15mm for a 7 unit, correct?

[jdcarpe]

Well, I did some digging and pcbwing was more expensive (31.35 cents per single pcb).  I did find PCBcart to be much cheaper though it is so cheap that it is scarring me away from it.  Just seems to good to be true (8 cents per single pcb).  If anyone wants to cancel their order and go with them by all means I can't stop you.  There are some benefits to going with OshPark.

• they advertise that they manufacture in the USA so shipping to me (for sorting will be quicker)
• Keeps jobs in the US (I supprort US made products whenever feasible)
• They are the only place I have found purple soldermask
• I already have an established line of communication with OshPark and no language barrier

PCBCart is the fab for the GH60 group buy.

Also, I'm pretty certain that OSHPark uses Gold Phoenix in China as their fab.

[Melvang]

Well, I did some digging and pcbwing was more expensive (31.35 cents per single pcb).  I did find PCBcart to be much cheaper though it is so cheap that it is scarring me away from it.  Just seems to good to be true (8 cents per single pcb).  If anyone wants to cancel their order and go with them by all means I can't stop you.  There are some benefits to going with OshPark.

• they advertise that they manufacture in the USA so shipping to me (for sorting will be quicker)
• Keeps jobs in the US (I supprort US made products whenever feasible)
• They are the only place I have found purple soldermask
• I already have an established line of communication with OshPark and no language barrier

PCBCart is the fab for the GH60 group buy.

Also, I'm pretty certain that OSHPark uses Gold Phoenix in China as their fab.

This is right on their front page

"We bring you high quality, lead free boards (ENIG finish), manufactured in the USA, and shipped for free to anywhere in the world.

[jdcarpe]

Well, I did some digging and pcbwing was more expensive (31.35 cents per single pcb).  I did find PCBcart to be much cheaper though it is so cheap that it is scarring me away from it.  Just seems to good to be true (8 cents per single pcb).  If anyone wants to cancel their order and go with them by all means I can't stop you.  There are some benefits to going with OshPark.

• they advertise that they manufacture in the USA so shipping to me (for sorting will be quicker)
• Keeps jobs in the US (I supprort US made products whenever feasible)
• They are the only place I have found purple soldermask
• I already have an established line of communication with OshPark and no language barrier

PCBCart is the fab for the GH60 group buy.

Also, I'm pretty certain that OSHPark uses Gold Phoenix in China as their fab.

This is right on their front page

"We bring you high quality, lead free boards (ENIG finish), manufactured in the USA, and shipped for free to anywhere in the world.

Ah, I must have been thinking of BatchPCB. Sorry.

[Melvang]

All good.  Hopefully, I will have files for the space bar versions tomorrow.

[Melvang]

I currently have files for the 6.25 and the 7 unit space bars.  The one issue is the project files that Moz sent me were before fixing one of the pin locations drills.  He forgot to add the second drill for the other pin location.  For these to be MX and Alps compatible, both the right and left pin need 2 drills.  The files that I got sent from Moz only had one for the right pin.  He did correct it and I have the correct files for that but when agodinhost modified them for the longer keys, he didn't realize that they were missing that drill.  I have pm'ed him regarding this change and am awaiting reply.

[Melvang]

Pricing for the space bar version approximations.

6.25 - ~3.17 each
7u - ~3.61 each

This is based off $1 per square inch - 5% discount.

[Puddsy]

I'm gonna cancel, sorry

Building a keyboard is on my agenda, but I don't have the time/$$$ for all the other accessories right now

Maybe in the future