GH60 100% Open Source Acrylic Case IC

[agodinhost]

Well, the topic already says all that's needed to say:
Who is interested in one 100% Open Source Acrylic Case for the GH60 PCB? Simple Acrylic Layered - no fancy stuff, clear and simple.
I and Photekq were talking about this project and we would love to see whom is interested in ...

[CPTBadAss]

I would be interested.

[Photekq]

Would just like to add it doesn't need to be acrylic. Will most likely be a layered case but it could be machined from anything - metal, wood, acrylic etc.

I'm just waiting for the GH60 PCB to be finalised and then I will start work on the case.

I will try my best to ensure there are multiple options like hhkb etc.

[CPTBadAss]

Can we please get a 2TU style case? Aluminum-Acrylic-Aluminum sandwich case?

[Photekq]

Can we please get a 2TU style case? Aluminum-Acrylic-Aluminum sandwich case?

Sure, but bear in mind that in order to get it as neat and tidy as the 2TU it would need to be machined and not laser cut.

[CPTBadAss]

Laser cut is lame anyways. I like seeing the machine finishes. Makes my inner engineer all warm and fuzzy

[BimboBB]

Generally I am interested in all case projects, as I know that 80% of them will die before getting finished. For GH60 I think there are already a few projects in the pipeline.....but as mentioned....that doesnt mean anything. 

For me personally it would be important to have an HHKB layout as I would like to make an ISO-HHKB. \o/

[SmallFry]

Open source is right up my favorites list. Looking forward to it.

[pasph]

Something new like wood or carbon fiber

[agodinhost]

Generally I am interested in all case projects, as I know that 80% of them will die before getting finished. For GH60 I think there are already a few projects in the pipeline.....but as mentioned....that doesnt mean anything. 

For me personally it would be important to have an HHKB layout as I would like to make an ISO-HHKB. \o/

They die just because there isn't enough people interested in.  The GH60 PCB is selling good as far as I know and one open source case like this one will help all those guys without a case (or without money to pay for a US$150 case).
As I said - our idea is to make one simple case, we are not willing to compete with the professional cases that are already being sold out there.

To be honest Photekq already designed one basic case, we are just waiting the final PCB version to get the right dimensions.
So, it's already almost touchable - it's not just another dream ...

[Photekq]

Alright let's get this ball rolling. I already made this for agodinhost a few weeks ago but I think it's a good start.

It's a very simple three layer case and is meant to be laser cut. It's not particularly tidy and will have exposed screws but it's extremely simple and should be extremely cheap.

Top layer should be 1.5mm thick. Middle should be 10mm minimum, but can be as thick as you want. Bottom can be any thickness.

Pictures here : http://imgur.com/a/fOSwe
Files here : https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5wnpv17iftjqbp8/JR_rWjfHpo

All case files will be put in this folder in the future : https://www.dropbox.com/sh/486yq39dyllmvya/Qn5BGenjp0

[BunnyLake]

id be in

[CPTBadAss]

Do you think counterboring the holes would add a lot to the cost? That way the screwheads arent sticking up out of the case.

[Photekq]

Do you think counterboring the holes would add a lot to the cost? That way the screwheads arent sticking up out of the case.

Problem with machining the top plate is that the switch holes have to have internal radii. May have to come up with a new design of switch hole to allow it to be machined and to allow switch tops to be removed.

For low quantities machining can be cheaper than laser cutting so price isn't the problem.

[CPTBadAss]

What does counterboring the screw holes have to do with the switch holes?

Edit: Actually, if the plate is as thin as the plate I have for my KMAC, there wouldn't be enough room for a counterbore...But my question still stands. I'm just curious

[Photekq]

What does counterboring the screw holes have to do with the switch holes?

In order to have counterbored screw holes you would need to machine the pieces not laser cut them (unless you were to glue two laser cut pieces together). What I'm saying is that with laser cutting you don't need to have radii on internal corners, whereas with machining you do. I'm unsure whether these interal radii would stop the switch holes from functioning properly.

[CPTBadAss]

Gotcha. I got confused since I asked about the 2TU layout before and was still under the impression that your posted case was going to be machined.

[Photekq]

Gotcha. I got confused since I asked about the 2TU layout before and was still under the impression that your posted case was going to be machined.

The one I posted is designed to be laser cut. Working on two cases for machining right now

[jdcarpe]

Looks very nice, Photekq. All you need is a cutout on the middle layer for the USB connector.

CPTBadAss, I think you could just drill some countersinks after laser cutting. Use a drill press, or even a hand drill.

[Photekq]

Looks very nice, Photekq. All you need is a cutout on the middle layer for the USB connector.

CPTBadAss, I think you could just drill some countersinks after laser cutting. Use a drill press, or even a hand drill.

Will be adding the USB hole once the PCB is finalised. You could add countersink holes but not counterbore holes (at least not big enough to accomodate a full screw head) like cpt suggested.

[Grim Fandango]

id be in

Depending on the price.

[CPTBadAss]

CPTBadAss, I think you could just drill some countersinks after laser cutting. Use a drill press, or even a hand drill.

It would have to pass through the plate and then end in the case though right? I initially meant that the countersink should be in the plate but I don't think that would work.

[jdcarpe]

Use flat head machine screws that go all the way through the case (just barely), and use nuts on the bottom. The top side will be flush, and you'll never see the nuts on the bottom.

[Photekq]

Use flat head machine screws that go all the way through the case (just barely), and use nuts on the bottom. The top side will be flush, and you'll never see the nuts on the bottom.

Yep. This is the tidiest thing you can do with a fully lasercut case.

[IvanIvanovich]

I don't like seeing bolts from the top either. Possible to make layer 4 that will go on the top similar to the mid section, and have drilled (not all the way through obviously) and tapped so the bolts go through from the bottom and thread into the top border? Hell tap every layer for that matter so it is held together well.

[Photekq]

I don't like seeing bolts from the top either. Possible to make layer 4 that will go on the top similar to the mid section, and have drilled (not all the way through obviously) and tapped so the bolts go through from the bottom and thread into the top border? Hell tap every layer for that matter so it is held together well.

You'll see that soon. I'm making a few designs. The one posted earlier is the cheapest and is meant for laser cutting. Will be posting 2 pretty soon that are meant for machining. One is how you described.

[IvanIvanovich]

Nice. I keep seeing lots of nice concepts for cases, but too few seem to be interested in working with cheaper materials. Hoping to see some solutions in the under $75 tier that are actual cases.

[jdcarpe]

I changed the top layer to my HHKB layout. Added some screw holes. And made the cutout for the USB in the middle layer.

[Photekq]

I changed the top layer to my HHKB layout. Added some screw holes. And made the cutout for the USB in the middle layer.

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Nice :D I have added some more screwholes to the design.. The pictures I posted earlier were from a long time ago. I'll update the files shortly.

[mashby]

I would be interested.

[metalliqaz]

cool.

[agodinhost]

Nice. I keep seeing lots of nice concepts for cases, but too few seem to be interested in working with cheaper materials. Hoping to see some solutions in the under $75 tier that are actual cases.

That's the idea!
JDCarpe mentioned something like US$ 35,00 ...
Not sure if it's possible tought

[Photekq]

Second case : 'Simple Machined' Basically the same as the laser cut one but with countersunk/threaded holes. Tidier but most likely more expensive.

http://i.imgur.com/Y1fq80V.png

More will come later/tomorrow. Just trying to work some stuff out.

[agodinhost]

Pictures here : http://imgur.com/a/fOSwe
Files here : https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5wnpv17iftjqbp8/JR_rWjfHpo

All case files will be put in this folder in the future : https://www.dropbox.com/sh/486yq39dyllmvya/Qn5BGenjp0

What about Github?
I do love it's sharing and versioning features ...

[Photekq]

Pictures here : http://imgur.com/a/fOSwe
Files here : https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5wnpv17iftjqbp8/JR_rWjfHpo

All case files will be put in this folder in the future : https://www.dropbox.com/sh/486yq39dyllmvya/Qn5BGenjp0

What about Github?
I do love it's sharing and versioning features ...

I've never used it. I'll give it a try later on.

[jdcarpe]

Nice. I keep seeing lots of nice concepts for cases, but too few seem to be interested in working with cheaper materials. Hoping to see some solutions in the under $75 tier that are actual cases.

That's the idea!
JDCarpe mentioned something like US$ 35,00 ...
Not sure if it's possible tought

I was thinking for acrylic at that price.

I would bet that if we could order these in volume, we could get the price of the 3-layer laser cut design, in either stainless steel or aluminum, down to around $75 including hardware.

[CPTBadAss]

Second case : 'Simple Machined' Basically the same as the laser cut one but with countersunk/threaded holes. Tidier but most likely more expensive.

http://i.imgur.com/Y1fq80V.png

Oooo, I really like this one. Looking good mang

[Dubsgalore]

depending on price i'd be in

def interested

[nebo]

I like it a lot, would be interested depending what tops and materials are used. Can never have too many cases.

[Photekq]

I like it a lot, would be interested depending what tops and materials are used. Can never have too many cases.

Like the title says it's open source. Once the designs are actually done you can take the files to any laser cutter/machine shop and have them make the components from any material you want.

I can also adapt the top plate to any layout.

[regack]

clean and simple... I like it.

[Photekq]

Case 3 - "Semi-Complex Machined"

I really like this one. As you can see there are standoffs on the top plate with screwholes in them. These are here because I wasn't happy having a threaded 1.5mm layer.. It just didn't seem secure enough to me.

As you can see it fits nicely into the middle layer and the bottom layer has countersunk holes. Overall I think this has a really tidy appearance since no screws are visible and I think it's worth the extra machining costs.






And a cross section of the screws :

[Jocelyn]

Looking nice! Now I need to find another PCB

Edit - So removable switch tops and top piece is used as plate??

[nebo]

Love the screws on the bottom, makes it one of the cleanest/minimalist cases out there.

[gnubag]

the cutout for the usb connector is missing

(or is this the leek for the wireless add on 0.o)

[Photekq]

the cutout for the usb connector is missing

(or is this the leek for the wireless add on 0.o)

I haven't added USB holes to any of the designs since the GH60 PCB hasn't been finalised. Once it is I will add the holes and make sure the PCB fits.

[Tarzan]

Love the screws on the bottom, makes it one of the cleanest/minimalist cases out there.

Definitively second the comment!  Very spiffy work!

Personally, I think I'd go with a fourth layer, as I like cases with some shrouding for the key stems.  Perhaps making this top layer the one with the blind-threaded inserts, just a simple rectangle the same size as the middle layer, maybe 2mm in thickness.

Lots of possibilities with your design!   

[Photekq]

Definitively second the comment!  Very spiffy work!

Personally, I think I'd go with a fourth layer, as I like cases with some shrouding for the key stems.  Perhaps making this top layer the one with the blind-threaded inserts, just a simple rectangle the same size as the middle layer, maybe 2mm in thickness.

Lots of possibilities with your design!   

This is going to be the fourth 'Complex machined' design.

Thank you all for the positive comments. Feedback is always welcome.

[regack]

ooh, I want to get the middle layer made out of acrylic, then I can put LEDs on the underside of the PCB and have it glow out the sides... yessss... that is what I want...

[Photekq]

ooh, I want to get the middle layer made out of acrylic, then I can put LEDs on the underside of the PCB and have it glow out the sides... yessss... that is what I want...

I usually hate acrylic but that sounds awesome..