[IC] Topre PBT Spacebars...

[Juice]

 In for a couple in various colors. I agree that atleast some of the standard Topre colors would be a great starting point!

[Heliosphere]

I'm in as well.

[cooldiscretion]

I need these. In all available colors.

[Polymer]

I'd be in for this as well..multiples..

[Puddsy]

Any updates? Or still waiting?

[00zeRO]

Any updates? Or still waiting?

The only update is that the manufacturer now has what they need to research how to make this happen...it is only a matter of time. But...waiting sucks. 

[FrostyToast]

Any updates? Or still waiting?

The only update is that the manufacturer now has what they need to research how to make this happen...it is only a matter of time. But...waiting sucks. 

Research? Oh noes. All that I grabbed from that is, "We are going to have something pricey! Even if you toss your wallets at us you'll be getting a discount!"

[00zeRO]

Any updates? Or still waiting?

The only update is that the manufacturer now has what they need to research how to make this happen...it is only a matter of time. But...waiting sucks. 

Research? Oh noes. All that I grabbed from that is, "We are going to have something pricey! Even if you toss your wallets at us you'll be getting a discount!"

I only use the term since I know nothing about the MFRNG process...haha

[Matt3o]

I'm still waiting for the final quote.

They told me that it is technically feasible, but I don't have a cost yet. I'll try to contact them tomorrow.

[bowji]

Count me in! Im planning to purchase my first topre soon and my OCD wont allow an abs spacebar..
Hope theyll offer international shipping 

[00zeRO]

Count me in! Im planning to purchase my first topre soon and my OCD wont allow an abs spacebar..
Hope theyll offer international shipping 

If not then, MK will be able to ship them international once they are received into stock.

[bowji]

Count me in! Im planning to purchase my first topre soon and my OCD wont allow an abs spacebar..
Hope theyll offer international shipping 

If not then, MK will be able to ship them international once they are received into stock.

MK? Im still new to this community 

[HoffmanMyster]

Count me in! Im planning to purchase my first topre soon and my OCD wont allow an abs spacebar..
Hope theyll offer international shipping 

If not then, MK will be able to ship them international once they are received into stock.

MK? Im still new to this community 

mechanicalkeyboards.com    It's the company that 00zeRO is with as a vendor. 

[munch]

MK is the abbreviation for the name of their web store
www.mechanicalkeyboards.com

[bowji]

Thanks<3 Seems so obvious now.. way to look foolish of me

[Matt3o]

it is not clear yet where this GB will originate from. Zero started the IC but MK is not currently involved (probably I should open a new thread to avoid confusion).

I've been contacted by Massdrop that seems interested in handling this. I have not been officially contacted by MK, so I don't know their intentions. I guess they are waiting for a final quote.

The spacebars will be produced in Europe so if possible I'll try to ship European orders from Europe.

Yesterday, I contacted the manufacturer again and they promised a quote early next week.

[00zeRO]

Count me in! Im planning to purchase my first topre soon and my OCD wont allow an abs spacebar..
Hope theyll offer international shipping 

If not then, MK will be able to ship them international once they are received into stock.

MK? Im still new to this community 

Sorry I should have been more clear.

As for Mechanical Keyboards having official involvement, consider this post as confirmation of that fact. Even though I personally started this Group Buy interest check thread, it has grown a large enough interest to be spear-headed by my company.

To be crystal clear and to avoid confusion, the Topre PBT Spacebars Group Buy will be fully backed by Mechanical Keyboards and is being assisted by Matt3o. To whom I owe a great deal of thanks for getting this ball rolling: thank you Robot Emeritus, Matt3o!

[Matt3o]

thanks Zero for clearing things up.

how many spacebars MK would be interested in purchasing? would you handle the buy directly? are you interested in exclusivity?

These I believe are the most important things to solve as soon as we have a fixed quote.

[bowji]

sounds like music in my ears! the one common "con" over all topre boards were the abs spacebars and you guys seem to be close to finding the solution for it.
Thanks for the hassle yall are going through <3

[oscillik]

it is not clear yet where this GB will originate from. Zero started the IC but MK is not currently involved (probably I should open a new thread to avoid confusion).

I've been contacted by Massdrop that seems interested in handling this. I have not been officially contacted by MK, so I don't know their intentions. I guess they are waiting for a final quote.

The spacebars will be produced in Europe so if possible I'll try to ship European orders from Europe.

Yesterday, I contacted the manufacturer again and they promised a quote early next week.

this is pretty cool news!

Looking forward to the fruition of this project into being a proper PBT spacebar on my HHKB!

my sacrifice, it appears, will not be in vain!

[Matt3o]

oh right

everybody should thank 002 and oscillik for donating a spacebar (white and black respectively)

[oscillik]

oh right

everybody should thank 002 and oscillik for donating a spacebar (white and black respectively)

hey, I'm not the one doing the hard work. all my thanks to you for pushing this forward!

My hopes are that we all end up with some tasty looking PBT spacebars to put on our beloved boards

the power of this community is astounding. I know I've not been here very long, but it's pretty clear that stuff gets done around here. I'm just glad to be a small cog in the wheels.

[strict]

As a recent Realforce owner, I am super excited at the possibility of getting a PBT space bar for it. Guaranteed I will be buying a couple regardless of price. Thanks for all your work guys!

[FrostyToast]

This is indeed awesome.
If I may ask, have we settled on colours for the colour pack?

[Sygaldry]

I believe I will be rebuying an HHKB when this comes to fruition!

[00zeRO]

This is indeed awesome.
If I may ask, have we settled on colours for the colour pack?

I leave color choices in the capable hands of Matt3o. He has all the experience...

[cooldiscretion]

I believe I will be rebuying an HHKB when this comes to fruition!

:thumb

[rowdy]

Thanks<3 Seems so obvious now.. way to look foolish of me

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=50532.0

Might help

[bowji]

Thanks<3 Seems so obvious now.. way to look foolish of me

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=50532.0

Might help

OMG thank you so much! Bookmarked.

[Sturmfrau]

What's the status on this? I'm very interested in this and would love to have hhkb charcoal grey with the same profile as the original spacebar. Would also love if there were color pbt keycaps for hhkb meta, alt and fn keys

[00zeRO]

What's the status on this? I'm very interested in this and would love to have hhkb charcoal grey with the same profile as the original spacebar. Would also love if there were color pbt keycaps for hhkb meta, alt and fn keys

Still awaiting word from the manufacturer on this. We hope to have something definitive within the next couple of weeks.

[quovadis123]

Super excited to see a pbt spacebar for Topre.
Charcoal grey and White. 

[cooldiscretion]

Yes, Yes, Yes!

[Matt3o]

I finally got the quote. It's very hard to swallow, they actually raised the MOQ (and lowered the per piece price).

I'll talk with the various parties involved and let you know if this could become a reality.

[strict]

I finally got the quote. It's very hard to swallow, they actually raised the MOQ (and lowered the per piece price).

I'll talk with the various parties involved and let you know if this could become a reality.

I know it's still early but are you comfortable sharing any of the numbers quoted? I would buy an ass-load of these (as would others I'm sure) if it means helping hit MOQ.

[Matt3o]

I believe that 1 spacebar couldn't go lower than $9 each. Considering the high MOQ each order should be of at least 2 spacebars.

In this scenario we would need to sell at least 1000 spacebars (or 500 order x 2 spacebars).

Please take these numbers with a grain of salt.

[intelli78]

I just called Pantone and spoke with them, got some info that may be helpful.

We should be able to read out the Pantone color code of existing keycaps using the Pantone Capsure handheld device: http://www.pantone.com/pages/products/product.aspx?pid=1032&ca=1

It's a bit pricy at $649 but if the group splits the cost, it won't add much to the total.

Alternatively, we can order color chips (much cheaper) and try to match by hand under controlled lighting.

There is also a device called the RM 200 QC (http://www.xrite.com/rm200qc) that apparently provides additional quality control features, but it's like $1800. Not sure it's necessary or even appropriate for this endeavor, more research would be needed.


Of course, none of this is necessary if BSP has the right tools/know-how.

I hope this is helpful.

[Matt3o]

BSP guaranteed a 99% color match, I would leave that to them

[intelli78]

Perfect

[strict]

I believe that 1 spacebar couldn't go lower than $9 each. Considering the high MOQ each order should be of at least 2 spacebars.

In this scenario we would need to sell at least 1000 spacebars (or 500 order x 2 spacebars).

Please take these numbers with a grain of salt.

That doesn't seem as bad as I was expecting. Granted its still a ton of orders but with multiple vendors possibly jumping on board that should take care of a sizeable chunk. Maybe the rest could be filled by running a GB on MassDrop or something.

Is that MOQ per color or just total?

[00zeRO]

I believe that 1 spacebar couldn't go lower than $9 each. Considering the high MOQ each order should be of at least 2 spacebars.

In this scenario we would need to sell at least 1000 spacebars (or 500 order x 2 spacebars).

Please take these numbers with a grain of salt.

That doesn't seem as bad as I was expecting. Granted its still a ton of orders but with multiple vendors possibly jumping on board that should take care of a sizeable chunk. Maybe the rest could be filled by running a GB on MassDrop or something.

Is that MOQ per color or just total?

Total

[Matt3o]

I'm trying to have 5 colors. Black, white + 3 more (don't know yet which ones)

[FrostyToast]

I'm trying to have 5 colors. Black, white + 3 more (don't know yet which ones)

Shall we do a poll?

[Puddsy]

I'm trying to have 5 colors. Black, white + 3 more (don't know yet which ones)

Shall we do a poll?

I like this idea.

[byker]

I'm trying to have 5 colors. Black, white + 3 more (don't know yet which ones)

Shall we do a poll?

I like this idea.

Some colours to match the more popular realforce sets would probably be a good idea. Maybe a red/orange/blue or something.

[pasph]

yellow

[rowdy]

yellow

+1

[Puddsy]

My vote:

White, Black, Yellow, Pink, Red

[Sturmfrau]

 White, Charcoal Black (HHKB), Red, Blue (Penumbra blueish would be nice) and Grey.

[Matt3o]

the "purchase intention" form will include the color poll