geekhack

geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: profet on Sat, 31 October 2015, 16:28:18

Title: Ergodox PCB's
Post by: profet on Sat, 31 October 2015, 16:28:18

I know it's possible to buy ErgoDox PCB's from falbatech (~$28 USD + shipping to the USA which kills it for me) or from mechanicalkeyboards.com ($38 USD shipped).

That seems like pretty big difference in price. Have people had success printing these PCB's in relatively low quantities at a cheaper rate?

I saw some old google groups threads where they had them at ~10 a board. But those threads are old.

Title: Re: Ergodox PCB's
Post by: sitch on Sun, 01 November 2015, 06:58:04

taobao is selling 75rmb per side which is like 15$?



http://world.taobao.com/item/521027008637.htm?spm=a312a.7700714.0.0.fD55Po#detail

Title: Re: Ergodox PCB's
Post by: profet on Sun, 01 November 2015, 09:07:42

As an English only speaker from the US... No idea how to buy off taobao

Title: Re: Ergodox PCB's
Post by: plainbriny on Sun, 01 November 2015, 18:52:55

I got some spare boards, but to be honest, the largest portion of the price goes to shipping.

If shipping cost included, I think the prices of both falbatech and mechanicalkeyboards are reasonable.

Title: Re: Ergodox PCB's
Post by: Data on Sun, 01 November 2015, 21:34:14

Quote from: plainbriny on Sun, 01 November 2015, 18:52:55

I got some spare boards, but to be honest, the largest portion of the price goes to shipping.

If shipping cost included, I think the prices of both falbatech and mechanicalkeyboards are reasonable.

Agreed.  $38 shipped for the pair is a great price.  I like the black PCBs at Falbatech even more, so I'd probably buy from him (again!) and just suck it up on the shipping.  It's worth it for good PCBs.

Title: Re: Ergodox PCB's
Post by: vivalarevolución on Tue, 03 November 2015, 06:04:00

If it comes with the diodes pre-soldered, I'd be willing to pay $100 for the PCBs.

Title: Re: Ergodox PCB's
Post by: profet on Tue, 03 November 2015, 07:52:04

Quote from: vivalarevolución on Tue, 03 November 2015, 06:04:00

If it comes with the diodes pre-soldered, I'd be willing to pay $100 for the PCBs.

Really? I can do the diode soldering for both sides in about 20min (surface mount).

It's really not a big deal once you figure out:

• Flux an entire row of pads (both sides... this is important don't skip)
• Place the tip of your solder onto one of the pads and then just tap your hot soldering iron onto the solder/pad making an iron/solder/pad sandwich. Just a tap... don't hold.
• Do this for one side of each pair in the row you fluxed (you did flux right?)
• Place your diode onto the pads so that one side is just slightly elevated by the pad with solder and the other side is sitting on the fluxed pad (you sure there is flux on the pad?)
• Touch your hot iron to the solder and let the diode fall into place.
• Once the entire row has one side soldered. Flip the board around.
• Touch your solder to the fluxed pad and lightly touch your iron to the diode.
• Repeat for the rest of the diodes.

It's really a simple process.

Title: Re: Ergodox PCB's
Post by: davkol on Tue, 03 November 2015, 15:01:12

Quote from: vivalarevolución on Tue, 03 November 2015, 06:04:00

If it comes with the diodes pre-soldered, I'd be willing to pay $100 for the PCBs.

You know that FalbaTech offers partial assembly, don't you?

Title: Re: Ergodox PCB's
Post by: dorkvader on Thu, 05 November 2015, 00:08:28

Quote from: vivalarevolución on Tue, 03 November 2015, 06:04:00

If it comes with the diodes pre-soldered, I'd be willing to pay $100 for the PCBs.

I have a spare set I'm refurbishing that you can have for $shipping.

Title: Re: Ergodox PCB's
Post by: profet on Thu, 05 November 2015, 07:45:05

Quote from: dorkvader on Thu, 05 November 2015, 00:08:28

Quote from: vivalarevolución on Tue, 03 November 2015, 06:04:00

If it comes with the diodes pre-soldered, I'd be willing to pay $100 for the PCBs.

I have a spare set I'm refurbishing that you can have for $shipping.

PM'd!