geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mountainblocks on Wed, 12 June 2019, 18:36:52

Title: Walnut UT47
Post by: mountainblocks on Wed, 12 June 2019, 18:36:52
There were a lot of firsts for me with this build. It was the first board I soldered, the first wood case I'd made, and my first full wood keycap set. It's a UT47 with a walnut case and a full set of walnut DSA keycaps.

(https://i.imgur.com/QI3zPGl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/nT0RLzv.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3SdMesW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/EhrLDcG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/vXtF4Ja.jpg)


Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: ArchDill on Wed, 12 June 2019, 18:42:55
Quote from: mountainblocks on Wed, 12 June 2019, 18:36:52
There were a lot of firsts for me with this build. It was the first board I soldered, the first wood case I'd made, and my first full wood keycap set. It's a UT47 with a walnut case and a full set of walnut DSA keycaps.

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/QI3zPGl.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/nT0RLzv.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/3SdMesW.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/EhrLDcG.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/vXtF4Ja.jpg)



Interesting, typing test?
Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: mountainblocks on Wed, 12 June 2019, 19:06:40
Quote from: ArchDill on Wed, 12 June 2019, 18:42:55
Quote from: mountainblocks on Wed, 12 June 2019, 18:36:52
There were a lot of firsts for me with this build. It was the first board I soldered, the first wood case I'd made, and my first full wood keycap set. It's a UT47 with a walnut case and a full set of walnut DSA keycaps.

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/QI3zPGl.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/nT0RLzv.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/3SdMesW.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/EhrLDcG.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/vXtF4Ja.jpg)



Interesting, typing test?

I'm not set up to record a decent quality typing test. I will say that it's not great. The combination of the fr4 plate and the open bottom make for a harsh bottom out feel and a loud sound. It's not the sort of thing I'd try again.
Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: SlipperyPeteED on Thu, 13 June 2019, 02:38:48
That looks awesome! Did you use a mill for the case?
Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: mountainblocks on Thu, 13 June 2019, 07:35:04
Quote from: SlipperyPeteED on Thu, 13 June 2019, 02:38:48
That looks awesome! Did you use a mill for the case?

Thanks! I only used my mill to drill the holes for the standoffs in the case. The rest was done with a router and table saw. I did CNC the keycaps though.
Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: rinkaan on Thu, 13 June 2019, 08:05:12
Would you be interested to cnc a full set of 108 at a reasonable cost? Was trying to see if there are good places to do that... But all seemed pretty expensive for the tooling... I dont mind buying the wood and sending them over haha..

Sent from my MI 6 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: pixelpusher on Thu, 13 June 2019, 08:56:04
The project is beautiful.

how long did you let this stuff dry before final form? 
Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: mountainblocks on Thu, 13 June 2019, 10:23:04
Quote from: rinkaan on Thu, 13 June 2019, 08:05:12
Would you be interested to cnc a full set of 108 at a reasonable cost? Was trying to see if there are good places to do that... But all seemed pretty expensive for the tooling... I dont mind buying the wood and sending them over haha..

Sent from my MI 6 using Tapatalk

Unfortunately, no. You're not going to find a decent quality full wood keycap set at a reasonable price. The materials cost is negligible, it's the time that's costly. I would have to charge at least $2500 to make it worth my time if they're all sanded and finished. Your best bet would be to get the Chinese made OEM profile ones sold at kbdfans, aliexpress, ebay, amazon, etc. It would still be expensive for a full set though.
Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: mountainblocks on Thu, 13 June 2019, 10:28:06
Quote from: pixelpusher on Thu, 13 June 2019, 08:56:04
The project is beautiful.

how long did you let this stuff dry before final form?

Thank you! The walnut was already kiln dried and at 7% moisture when I bought it, so it was stable and ready to go right away.
Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: Sintpinty on Thu, 13 June 2019, 15:59:20
Nice Job mountainblocks!
Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: lightsout714 on Thu, 13 June 2019, 16:51:10
Thats sweet, I love walnut. Surprised the caps held up at that size. I am sure you had to have some crack?

I don't have experience with CNC's but plenty with saws and routers, and know the difficulty when you try to do things small and with detail.
Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: rinkaan on Thu, 13 June 2019, 18:47:17
Yeah figured tooling cost and time is the biggest money sink... But one can always have some hope haha... Thanks for the response! Prolly buying a small home use cnc might be more worth the cost haha(not to mention the fun)! Love ur keycaps!

Sent from my MI 6 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: mountainblocks on Fri, 14 June 2019, 00:05:09
Quote from: lightsout714 on Thu, 13 June 2019, 16:51:10
Thats sweet, I love walnut. Surprised the caps held up at that size. I am sure you had to have some crack?

I don't have experience with CNC's but plenty with saws and routers, and know the difficulty when you try to do things small and with detail.

The only ones I've had issues with cracking were highly figured woods with spalting and burl. Common kiln dried walnut has proven stable and relatively easy to machine. I've sold over 100 walnut spacebars with no complaints of warping or cracking.  The fact that I make the business end from resin helps I think.
Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: pixelpusher on Fri, 14 June 2019, 11:49:44
Quote from: mountainblocks on Fri, 14 June 2019, 00:05:09
Quote from: lightsout714 on Thu, 13 June 2019, 16:51:10
Thats sweet, I love walnut. Surprised the caps held up at that size. I am sure you had to have some crack?

I don't have experience with CNC's but plenty with saws and routers, and know the difficulty when you try to do things small and with detail.

The only ones I've had issues with cracking were highly figured woods with spalting and burl. Common kiln dried walnut has proven stable and relatively easy to machine. I've sold over 100 walnut spacebars with no complaints of warping or cracking.  The fact that I make the business end from resin helps I think.

how in the world do you get the stems straight?  Is there a trick or is it all by eye?
Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: lightsout714 on Fri, 14 June 2019, 15:21:46
Quote from: mountainblocks on Fri, 14 June 2019, 00:05:09
Quote from: lightsout714 on Thu, 13 June 2019, 16:51:10
Thats sweet, I love walnut. Surprised the caps held up at that size. I am sure you had to have some crack?

I don't have experience with CNC's but plenty with saws and routers, and know the difficulty when you try to do things small and with detail.

The only ones I've had issues with cracking were highly figured woods with spalting and burl. Common kiln dried walnut has proven stable and relatively easy to machine. I've sold over 100 walnut spacebars with no complaints of warping or cracking.  The fact that I make the business end from resin helps I think.
Good to know. I have had good experience with clean walnut, but the rustic stuff, with the dark knots can be pretty brittle. But thats all wood I suppose.
Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: mountainblocks on Fri, 14 June 2019, 21:08:17
Quote from: pixelpusher on Fri, 14 June 2019, 11:49:44
Quote from: mountainblocks on Fri, 14 June 2019, 00:05:09
Quote from: lightsout714 on Thu, 13 June 2019, 16:51:10
Thats sweet, I love walnut. Surprised the caps held up at that size. I am sure you had to have some crack?

I don't have experience with CNC's but plenty with saws and routers, and know the difficulty when you try to do things small and with detail.

The only ones I've had issues with cracking were highly figured woods with spalting and burl. Common kiln dried walnut has proven stable and relatively easy to machine. I've sold over 100 walnut spacebars with no complaints of warping or cracking.  The fact that I make the business end from resin helps I think.

how in the world do you get the stems straight?  Is there a trick or is it all by eye?

There's a trick. I use alignment jigs.
Title: Re: Walnut UT47
Post by: invariance on Sun, 16 June 2019, 21:42:16
Quote from: mountainblocks on Wed, 12 June 2019, 19:06:40
Quote from: ArchDill on Wed, 12 June 2019, 18:42:55
Quote from: mountainblocks on Wed, 12 June 2019, 18:36:52
There were a lot of firsts for me with this build. It was the first board I soldered, the first wood case I'd made, and my first full wood keycap set. It's a UT47 with a walnut case and a full set of walnut DSA keycaps.

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/QI3zPGl.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/nT0RLzv.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/3SdMesW.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/EhrLDcG.jpg)


Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/vXtF4Ja.jpg)



Interesting, typing test?

I'm not set up to record a decent quality typing test. I will say that it's not great. The combination of the fr4 plate and the open bottom make for a harsh bottom out feel and a loud sound. It's not the sort of thing I'd try again.


Rebate a thick steel plate into the base with a butyl/bitumen/neoprene sheet to dampen and lower the sound maybe?