[GB] Custom CNC Aluminum Cases for Cooler Master TKL boards (SHIPPED)

[norbauer]

If nobody is into the shiny chrome idea, I'm happy to drop my investigations. It isn't really my cup of tea either, but I wanted to try to give people some interesting options. Makes my life easier just to do anodizing, however, so you'll get no complaint from me. If anybody would want a shiny chrome case, please speak up.

Maybe I should start a new IC thread separate from this group buy thread?

Regarding the 87u case, I definitely want to do it. I have already started to sketch out some ideas, but keyboards are just a hobby for me and not a full-time job, so I just squeeze time in here and there when I can, and it's hard for me to predict when I'll get unexpected surges of free time. I hope to have something to show in the coming weeks, however. I should probably start an IC for that one too.

[cynviloq]

If nobody is into the shiny chrome idea, I'm happy to drop my investigations. It isn't really my cup of tea either, but I wanted to try to give people some interesting options. Makes my life easier just to do anodizing, however, so you'll get no complaint from me. If anybody would want a shiny chrome case, please speak up.

Maybe I should start a new IC thread separate from this group buy thread?

Regarding the 87u case, I definitely want to do it. I have already started to sketch out some ideas, but keyboards are just a hobby for me and not a full-time job, so I just squeeze time in here and there when I can, and it's hard for me to predict when I'll get unexpected surges of free time. I hope to have something to show in the coming weeks, however. I should probably start an IC for that one too.

R2 thread!!!

[Burt Macklin]

I should probably start an IC for that one too.

Please do so 

[norbauer]

Well, here we go. Here's an IC for r2 of the present group buy.

I'll probably wait a week or two until I have conducted a bit more research and experimentation on the 87u before starting and IC on that one, but I def would love to do such a project.

[Burt Macklin]

Cool, looking forward to it.

[pixelpusher]

Going to post this here in case anyone had similar intentions as I did.

Just so you know, Masterkeys Pro S and Rapid-i boards have upside down switches for led illumination and I found out today that they are NOT compatible with Cherry profile keycaps.  It still seems crazy to me, but I've confirmed and found other threads here and there that also confirm.  So, all of those cool GMK sets I own like Skeletor, Hydro, Dolch, Hyperfuse, Monkey; and the ones I have coming later like Terminal, Coniferous, and [hopefully] Nautilus... will have issues with R3 keys hitting the switch housing and not properly bottoming out.   So think twice before you grab one of those keyboards.  The case is awesome.  Just really pissed that I discovered the issue with the MX boards.  I have no idea about the Novatouch compatibility since I sold mine a while back.  Currently evaluating what SA or DSA caps I have that can replace my Dolch set in this beautiful case.  Grrr. angry.

If you have a Masterkeys S or Rapid-i in this case AND you have cherry profile caps on it, do me a solid and try out the caps lock row.  See if they sound/feel a bit muted when they bottom out.  And don't hate me for pointing it out 

[cynviloq]

Going to post this here in case anyone had similar intentions as I did.

Just so you know, Masterkeys Pro S and Rapid-i boards have upside down switches for led illumination and I found out today that they are NOT compatible with Cherry profile keycaps.  It still seems crazy to me, but I've confirmed and found other threads here and there that also confirm.  So, all of those cool GMK sets I own like Skeletor, Hydro, Dolch, Hyperfuse, Monkey; and the ones I have coming later like Terminal, Coniferous, and [hopefully] Nautilus... will have issues with R3 keys hitting the switch housing and not properly bottoming out.   So think twice before you grab one of those keyboards.  The case is awesome.  Just really pissed that I discovered the issue with the MX boards.  I have no idea about the Novatouch compatibility since I sold mine a while back.  Currently evaluating what SA or DSA caps I have that can replace my Dolch set in this beautiful case.  Grrr. angry.

If you have a Masterkeys S or Rapid-i in this case AND you have cherry profile caps on it, do me a solid and try out the caps lock row.  See if they sound/feel a bit muted when they bottom out.  And don't hate me for pointing it out 

NovaTouch isn't backlit so there shouldn't be issues.

[Blazestorm]

GMK stabilized keys will clack on the slider housing (shift, enter, backspace), but they still work. The rest are fine, including space bar, on Novatouch

Sent from my E5803 using Tapatalk

[zslane]

GMK stabilized keys will clack on the slider housing (shift, enter, backspace), but they still work.

Really? How disappointing. That completely undermines the signature thock sound of Topre switches.

I am now rethinking my consideration to put GMK Nautilus on my NovaTouch.

[Blazestorm]

GMK stabilized keys will clack on the slider housing (shift, enter, backspace), but they still work.

Really? How disappointing. That completely undermines the signature thock sound of Topre switches.

I am now rethinking my consideration to put GMK Nautilus on my NovaTouch.

O-rings stop the clack on everything except "Enter" because it's the lowest profile, but o-rings are mushy. Well actually if you're light enough you won't clack w/ an o-ring'd "Enter" but it still louder than the rest. I'm testing out some solutions for it though. Maybe adding some very thin padding (just so it's not plastic on plastic) on the slider housing, or on the underside of the keycaps.

Just had a thought of putting a hypersphere ring on the top of the housing, I have 6 extras from the two sets I bought.

[adamcobabe]

Anybody found/tried different riser feet? Angle is too tall for me with the included feet. Most others that I've looked into screw in from the inside of the case. Anyone found some what work for this case?

[norbauer]

Anybody found/tried different riser feet? Angle is too tall for me with the included feet. Most others that I've looked into screw in from the inside of the case. Anyone found some what work for this case?

The ones that MassDrop recently sold do fit through the holes. I can vouch at least that they can be screwed into the case from the inside. Because the screw heads have a chamfer on the underside and I don't have a chamfer on the screw hole interior, however, the screw head sits a little proud (raised above the surface) of the case interior, and this may interfere with the underside of some PCBs. I haven't actually tested that yet. Anybody else had any success using other feet with the case?

[norbauer]

A quick update for folks who ordered the enigma black custom finish. As you know from my direct email to you, the cases are at the powder coater and have been for a while. The shop sourced the wrong powder initially, and didn’t realize it for a week after it had arrived, and that ended up slowing everything down. However, I spoke with the shop just this Wednesday and they said they had the right powder in stock now and expected to have them done today or early next week. I promise to bug them again about it on Monday. Believe me, I would really love to get these out the door so I can call round 1 finally done, so I'll keep after them. My apologies that it's taking so longer, however.

[testplsignore]

Hey norbauer,

Are you judging interest for an FC660C Alu case in R2? 

Hasu is currently working on a custom controller and the FC660C is plate mount so the install is similar to a Realforce or Novatouch.

[norbauer]

Hey norbauer,

Are you judging interest for an FC660C Alu case in R2? 

Hasu is currently working on a custom controller and the FC660C is plate mount so the install is similar to a Realforce or Novatouch.

Not for r2 of this case, but so many people have asked me about it now that I might consider making such a case. I'm worried that I would feel like a bit of a fraud making a case for a keyboard that I don't own or use (I feel that the best stuff gets made when hobbyists are designing things to scratch their own itches). But, that doesn't mean that if I tried the keyboard that I might not end up liking it. So, yeah, I've been thinking of ordering one to play around with. Can you recommend the best place to buy one?

[testplsignore]

you're in luck! mk.com is getting some in April 
(Sometimes they can be a little hard to get a hold of, due to demand)

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1323

To me it's the ideal cross between a HHKB and a Realforce, it's plate mounted and the quality of the build is fantastic. The domes also seem to feel like a cross between 45g and 55g Topre, which is a big plus.

The programmable controller hasu is working on will pretty much be the icing on the cake 

[nightdriver]

Hey norbauer,

Are you judging interest for an FC660C Alu case in R2? 

Hasu is currently working on a custom controller and the FC660C is plate mount so the install is similar to a Realforce or Novatouch.

i feel like i've seen some alu cases for those already on massdrop...

[hpfalcon]

i feel like i've seen some alu cases for those already on massdrop...

those were for the f660m

[networkdrift]

Ah, these really are beautiful. I think I'd die if a Norbauer Realforce 87u case materialized.

[nightdriver]

[norbauer]

Nice!

[Phenix]

@norbauer:

any news regarding my idea with the improved switch-openers?

[fax668]

I finally managed to take some shots of my clear anodized case. Very impressed by the quality. I don't have any keys yet, should arrive in May:

   

[norbauer]

Here is a video I made about producing round 1. 

[Phenix]

Here is a video I made about producing round 1. 

maybe add an link?

[norbauer]

maybe add an link?

Hey Phenix. Not sure which link you mean, but:

Here is the Reddit thread

And the video itself on YouTube

And Round 2

[Phenix]

maybe add an link?

Hey Phenix. Not sure which link you mean, but:

Here is the Reddit thread

And the video itself on YouTube

And Round 2

thanks norbauer, meant the video. my phone didnt showed it to ms

[ihalatch]

Wow, the retro refrigerator...OMG!!! Why are you trying to bankrupt me? I'm trying very hard to resist my urge to get one. I've already got a silver case but only one Novatouch board. Any liberated boards left for sale?       

[numerus]

Just happy that i manage yesterday evening  to Order one of those crazzy Case in Tactical Gray so happy  :cool:cant wait for it 

[Phenix]

Just happy that i manage yesterday evening  to Order one of those crazzy Case in Tactical Gray so happy  :cool:cant wait for it 

From originative?

@norbauer: Would it be possible that you make an ERGODOX case in R3? (or something comparable, eyeing the Kurplop Planet 6 / Dactyl)

[pixelpusher]

I'm almost set with my "twins" pic (I have a clear anodized and a warm gray). Just waiting for a new keycap set to come in. 

Question:
Will R2 have better results on the powder coating (tricky masking issues) since it's done by a different shop?

[Gajible]

Here's my Norbatouch, dome-swapped with BKE-2010 domes. GMK Stormtrooper with some purple flair!

[norbauer]

I'm almost set with my "twins" pic (I have a clear anodized and a warm gray). Just waiting for a new keycap set to come in. 

Question:
Will R2 have better results on the powder coating (tricky masking issues) since it's done by a different shop?

Yes, totally different shop this time around, much higher-end, local to me here in the Bay Area. That's why the powder finishes are so expensive this round compared to last. =\

[norbauer]

Here's my Norbatouch, dome-swapped with BKE-2010 domes. GMK Stormtrooper with some purple flair!

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Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

Do you know what the gram-weight is on the BKE domes? I did a dome-swap on my RealForce to 30g domes and love it.

[nightdriver]

i really want 55 gram domes for my novatouch.

[Gajible]

Here's my Norbatouch, dome-swapped with BKE-2010 domes. GMK Stormtrooper with some purple flair!

Show Image

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

Do you know what the gram-weight is on the BKE domes? I did a dome-swap on my RealForce to 30g domes and love it.

I believe they are 45g, but the force curve is definitely different. They're much more tactile than any other Topre I've tried. The bump occurs  at the bottom of the stroke as opposed to the middle and the rubber is substantially more snappy.

Would be cool to see a HaaTa force curve with them.

[pixelpusher]

Here are the twins!

[nightdriver]

oh man that commodore keyboard is making me jealous!  i learned how to program on one of those guys!

[yonghf]

Here's mine

[nightdriver]

Here's mine

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that's pretty much what i'm typing on right now, except it's in a vortex case instead (shh don't tell ryan!)

[norbauer]

Here's mine

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that's pretty much what i'm typing on right now, except it's in a vortex case instead (shh don't tell ryan!)

Hehe. I actually think that the Vortex cases are greatly underrated. I have about three of them around here and really like them.

[Blazestorm]

Got mine yesterday, love the professional packaging. Galactic Blue was a tad darker than I expected but I think it'll still look good.

Will take pictures later after I tear apart the Novatouch, probably tonight.

[Blazestorm]

It only looks like that from certain angles, otherwise it's a very deep blue.

Easiest Keyboard "mod" I've ever done too... just popped off the Novatouch case (without removing keycaps), took out the plate, stuck the USB port on the new case, dropped the plate in, reassemble. Usually you have to pull keycaps or something to access the screws needed, but this was super easy. The box w/ foam made a nice workstation to keep the aluminum parts from sliding around on the table.

[elcubismo]

looks awesome!

[norbauer]

Show Image

Show Image

It only looks like that from certain angles, otherwise it's a very deep blue.

Easiest Keyboard "mod" I've ever done too... just popped off the Novatouch case (without removing keycaps), took out the plate, stuck the USB port on the new case, dropped the plate in, reassemble. Usually you have to pull keycaps or something to access the screws needed, but this was super easy. The box w/ foam made a nice workstation to keep the aluminum parts from sliding around on the table.

Awesome pics! But this is the r1 thread. I saw you posted over in r2 and will respond there as well, but I just wanted to clarify for folks reading this who might be confused.

As suggested by Auk over in the r2 thread, I'll lock this thread now to prevent any further confusion. Thanks for everyone who participated in this first keyboard case project I ever did!

More recent runs:
Round 2.5 open through 10 Sept 2017
Round 2