[IC] Topre PBT Spacebars...

[Sygaldry]

SP told me they will likely be getting topre tooling early next year, around March or April.

But if you do this, I would be interested in at least 3

If this is true (and I hope you're not pulling our legs here) this is good, good news.
 

Sorry, I read it again and it says middle of the year.

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I wonder what kind of solution they have in mind (reverse Novatouch where the keycap stem is conpatible with both Topre and MX?)

[cookie]

Novatouch is irrelevant!

[00zeRO]

Novatouch is irrelevant!

I know. Did they have to rubberize the keys?

[Matt3o]

okay. it can be done.

I need to make A LOT of them. In the 2500-3000 range and they would cost around €9-10 each (but they could go as low a €4 based on quantity).

With those figures it would be mandatory to have the support of some vendors. If there's a real interest I can get this party started.

Important: I need to send one sample to the manufacturer. I can buy some from EK, but it would take time to ship from EK to me and then from me to the manufacturer. Does anyone in EU has one spare to speed things up? Thanks!

[esoomenona]

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[Matt3o]

That's a lot of spacebars. I'm not even sure that that can happen. Unless you get maybe EK on board.... But I think $13 is a bit much, and of course, he'd have to add money to that to profit. I don't think a lot of people would be up for that, so he might not even consider it.

the more we take the less they cost. €10 is the worst case scenario. They could go as low as €4-5 each, since the real cost is the tooling which is a one time fee.

[oscillik]

okay. it can be done.

I need to make A LOT of them. In the 2500-3000 range and they would cost around €9-10 each (but they could go as low a €4 based on quantity).

With those figures it would be mandatory to have the support of some vendors. If there's a real interest I can get this party started.

Important: I need to send one sample to the manufacturer. I can buy some from EK, but it would take time to ship from EK to me and then from me to the manufacturer. Does anyone in EU has one spare to speed things up? Thanks!

I am in the UK and have a black Topre spacebar I can send to you. I'll PM you shortly

[Kmynis]

I'd be in even if it's 10 eur. If they came in many colors, I'd surely grab more than one.

[oscillik]

and just for the record, even at €10 I would be totally in too.

[Matt3o]

I'll try to contact as many vendors as I can and see if we can make it.

[Topper]

Cool, I'd be interested in one in black and white both.

[Matt3o]

the idea would be to make them in at least 3 colors, possibly more.

[Sygaldry]

Even at 10 Euros I'm in for 1 of each color for the HHKB compatible one (no matter how many they end up making)!

[iamtootallforthis]

I don't even have a topre board but I would buy a few. I'd buy even more if there are multiple colors.

[Matt3o]

Next week I'll send the sample to the manufacturer, if they confirm feasibility I'll try to lower that darn MOQ!

[intelli78]

who is the manufacturer?

[Matt3o]

BSP Europe

[00zeRO]

BSP Europe

SP is a no go? or just not yet?

[radio_killah]

I'd be in for a couple!

[FrostyToast]

BSP Europe

SP is a no go? or just not yet?

I don't think they have the molds for them yet.

Btw I am in for 2 most likely.

[oscillik]

I'm definitely in for at least two, especially if there is a white option to match the existing HHKB white colour

[FrostyToast]

If there is a nice bright pink spacebar, I will be in fo sho

[Matt3o]

let's pick 5 colors, we will have 2 at least (black and white) but I'll try to have more.

- Dark gray, try to match existing HHKB/Realforce/Leopold but 100% match won't be possible I guess
- White, same as above
- Blue ?
- Red ?
- someone suggesting pink (really?)

[FrostyToast]

- someone suggesting pink (really?)

Wow rood. We r not friends anymore.

[esoomenona]

.

[FrostyToast]

Pink would be great.

Totally 100% QFT
See matt3o? U r just a h8r

[HoffmanMyster]

Pink would be great.

Totally 100% QFT
See matt3o? U r just a h8r

Pink would almost certainly get a lot of interest.

I'd also vote for that light blue that Realforce sets come in.

[strict]

I would definitely purchase at least 2-3 of whatever color would come close to matching an RF87UB

[iamtootallforthis]

Lime green, green, dark grey, and red are all colors I'd like to see.

[nya]

Any chance for the little JP spacebars? Don't have my keyboard handy, but I think it's 2.5u-ish?

[FrostyToast]

Any chance for the little JP spacebars? Don't have my keyboard handy, but I think it's 2.5u-ish?

I doubt there will be enough interest for that.
Definitely won't reach the MOQ that was given

[Sygaldry]

Any chance for the little JP spacebars? Don't have my keyboard handy, but I think it's 2.5u-ish?

Those are already PBT arent they?

[00zeRO]

Any chance for the little JP spacebars? Don't have my keyboard handy, but I think it's 2.5u-ish?

What is JP SB?

[FrostyToast]

Any chance for the little JP spacebars? Don't have my keyboard handy, but I think it's 2.5u-ish?

What is JP SB?

The HHKB JP is the Japanese HHKB which has a more 7bit style layout


The spacebar looks to be 2.25u

[esoomenona]

.

[Hypersphere]

Although I don't care for the layout on the JP variant of the HHKB, in general I like the idea of a very small spacebar.

However, what I have in mind for PBT Topre spacebars is the 6x size found on the RF 87u and HHKB Pro 2.

[00zeRO]

Although I don't care for the layout on the JP variant of the HHKB, in general I like the idea of a very small spacebar.

However, what I have in mind for PBT Topre spacebars is the 6x size found on the RF 87u and HHKB Pro 2.

MK has Pure Pros with small spacebars.

[Kmynis]

White
Dark grey
Orange
Green
Turquose

[Matt3o]

with such a high MOQ, honestly I don't think we will have any troubles making 5 or even 10 different colors

I would make the following kits:

- 2x black
- 2x white
- 5x mixed colors

(you can't buy just 1 spacebar, sorry)

In the most optimistic scenario (very optimistic) I believe we can sell 1000 spacebars, tops. I'll do my best to lower the MOQ and to find vendors.

[intelli78]

I am in for a kit. My request is that the beige and black colors match those on HHKB.

[Vizir]

I'd buy several for my hhkb and rf.

[00zeRO]

In case anyone can't tell, Matt3o and I are teaming up for this one.

[Topper]

Super, I'm in for one of these packs. But while you're at it, why not just make complete colored keycap sets for the HHKB?

[FrostyToast]

Super, I'm in for one of these packs. But while you're at it, why not just make complete colored keycap sets for the HHKB?

The MOQ is already kind of high and I am not sure if colored HHKB sets are as in demand as PBT topre spacebars which have never been done before.

[Topper]

Super, I'm in for one of these packs. But while you're at it, why not just make complete colored keycap sets for the HHKB?

The MOQ is already kind of high and I am not sure if colored HHKB sets are as in demand as PBT topre spacebars which have never been done before.

But complete key sets haven't been done either, have they? Would certainly be worth it to check how much interest is out there. I for one would buy a complete pack of all the colors

[FrostyToast]

Super, I'm in for one of these packs. But while you're at it, why not just make complete colored keycap sets for the HHKB?

The MOQ is already kind of high and I am not sure if colored HHKB sets are as in demand as PBT topre spacebars which have never been done before.

But complete key sets haven't been done either, have they? Would certainly be worth it to check how much interest is out there. I for one would buy a complete pack of all the colors

What do you mean by "complete keysets"? Do you mean everything including alphas and mods? Or do you just mean a basic HHKB kit including 1.75u control, fn, and esc?
You can in fact buy full keysets in lime green, orange, black etc in PBT.
The thing which has never been done before is a PBT topre spacebar. In fact 6x PBT spacebars themselves have never been made AFAIK

[esoomenona]

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[Topper]

Yes, I meant all the keys of the HHKB as the sets you can buy now for the Realforce do not include all the HHKB keys. Also, they are not available in otaku.

[Matt3o]

guys, let's concentrate on the spacebar for now.

I'll try to match as close as possible the original colors, does anyone know the exact pantone codes?

[cookie]

I think with "white" you mean the original color, which is more of a verry light gray.