GH-122.2016 Weekend Update 2016-Mar-13
After pondering what to do for cases, and getting various estimates and quotes, I have come up with A Plan:
NOTE: None of these estimates include switches, stabilizers, a Teensy++, or anything other than what is specified explicitly.
Option A. Plain PCB. >$50 (plus plus shipping and duties, if any.)
Sized to fit into a Unicomp PC-122 or to be used otherwise, the PCB alone will cost >$50 (plus shipping and duties, if any.) The block spacing is 0.330", so if that works for Cherry cases, woo-hoo. (More on that below.)
Option B. Plain PCB plus adapter strips FOR the Unicomp PC-122 case. ~$70 (plus plus shipping and duties, if any.)
This option add three or four plastic strips to be glued into the Unicomp case to provide a base for attaching the PCB. The strips will be somewhere between $10 and $30 per case, depending on volume. This option provides a PCB-only fit in the Unicomp case. The case is $20 so this is the lowest-cost complete solution I can think of.
Option C. PCB plus adapter strips AND a pair of stainless steel plates to fit the Unicomp PC-122 case. ~$170 (plus plus shipping and duties, if any.)
This add a pair of steel plates to Option B, one for the main keyboard and a smaller one for the upper bank of 24 switches. This option provides probably the best feel in the Unicomp Case. The cost of the plate will depend greatly on the number of IDENTICAL plates ordered. So if everyone orders the same ISO-style plate like the original F-122 had, then cost might go down by $40 each. On the other hand, if everyone wants their very own plate layout, the cost for each plate will go up to $100+. So the total for this option is a semi-conservative estimate.
Option D. Plain PCB plus full ANSI plate. ~$170 (plus plus shipping and duties, if any.)
This is just a big plate and the plain PCB. It will enable you to use all 150+/- switch positions. As with Option C, this cost goes down with volume of IDENTICAL plates ordered. MOQ for the first price drop is FIVE IDENTICAL plates.
Option E. Plain PCB plus giant bendable stainless plate. ~$200 (plus plus shipping and duties, if any.)
This is just a very big plate that can be bent into a "bent-plate case" and the plain PCB. It will enable you to bend the plate, attach a populated PCB, and have a giant, hard-core keyboard. As with Option C and D, this cost goes down with volume of IDENTICAL plates ordered. MOQ for the first price drop is FIVE IDENTICAL plates.
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So those are the options I think will work. Naturally, if you want to get a PCB and a plate, and make your own case, that is ok as well. I will publish all of the measurements and DXF files for the plates, so if someone else wants to design a case or other solution, they can.
As always, my desire is to find 20 people who want to go in with me to get the GH-122.2016 PCB made. The case options are just enablers.
Please reply with comments and what option(s) seem interesting to you.
Happy Evil Clock Re-Setting Day!
- Ron | samwisekoi
p.s. I'd be happy to add mounting holes and check dimensions for Cherry case compatibility. However, I do not HAVE such a keyboard, so if someone wants to either lend me one OR take careful measurements, I can put that info into the PCB design. Absent a keyboard of the measurements I can't and won't add Cherry case compatibility except by accident!