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geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: somesounds on Thu, 08 August 2024, 21:16:01

Title: [IC] prism – a bluetooth, low profile numpad
Post by: somesounds on Thu, 08 August 2024, 21:16:01
(https://i.imgur.com/XvSmIPc.jpeg)
prism
a bluetooth, low profile number pad

I needed a numpad for work and saw just how few quality options exist (and next to no decent wireless ones), so I started carefully designing my own a few years ago. I think this fills some gaps in the market, and not just for the MK keyboard community.

KeebsForAll (https://keebsforall.com) has taken on this project, overseeing the manufacturing, sales, and fulfillment.

INTEREST CHECK FORM (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-PFZRpWDtJO6e-F3CMnrmG7hR-xynkrqr8Ve0cHIPwiZnig/viewform?usp=sf_link)

Features
These made particular sense for a number pad. Wireless means you can freely experiment with ideal placement, and easily tuck it away when not in use. Choc switches are more compact than MX (even the grid spacing), so this takes up a pretty small footprint. And low profile keycaps are pleasantly reminiscent of calculators.

Design

There are a couple of options I've been experimenting with, and I'm open to feedback:

Unibody
Integrated plate. Bottom piece will either clip in or screw into PCB posts.
   
Bottom mount-ish
Separate plate. Top piece screws in, holding plate & PCB on a ledge.
(https://i.imgur.com/IwXAdPP.png)
   
(https://i.imgur.com/M5BVkaV.png)
More
(https://i.imgur.com/x0JmQjg.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/A5i9DuY.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/59iEYrm.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/yA0JxIk.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/x9ciZFg.png)
   
More
(https://i.imgur.com/kfiIk5z.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/JGcz4Dx.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/RttwgtJ.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/rQSdb8X.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/THoVaiQ.png)

More renders

(https://i.imgur.com/IkrOJ5U.png)  (https://i.imgur.com/wGr75BP.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/FTzepan.png)  (https://i.imgur.com/YJtSWtU.png)

Thanks
Shout out to rainkeeb who helped me out in the very beginning, and Jerry, original owner of KFA, who was super open to taking this on.
Title: Re: [IC] prism – a bluetooth, low profile numpad
Post by: somesounds on Wed, 25 December 2024, 01:53:10
Just an update on this. This project didn’t gain enough traction at the time, and communications with KFA ended up falling off, so it’s been on the back burner for a while. That said, I’m still proud of the design and would love to see it come to life if the right opportunity comes along.

If you’re interested in seeing this happen, feel free to post here or reach out — renewed interest might help breathe some life back into it.

Cheers y’all
Title: Re: [IC] prism – a bluetooth, low profile numpad
Post by: boku on Thu, 26 December 2024, 17:09:02
Sad to see this is dead. I have the perfect use case for one of these. Right now I'm using a horrendous numpad/calc from 8bitDo for work. Most custom numpads are wired so this one had to do. I would have loved to see yours come to fruition, but I can completely understand the lack of interest. Fingers crossed for a revival
Title: Re: [IC] prism – a bluetooth, low profile numpad
Post by: somesounds on Fri, 21 February 2025, 16:47:11
Thanks so much for the comment! Glad to hear there’s still some interest out there. The design and PCB are basically complete, it would just need some prototyping.

Here's hoping the right partner or vendor might come along to help bring it to life. And yeah numpads are underrated, no question. :~)
Title: Re: [IC] prism – a bluetooth, low profile numpad
Post by: tankLancer on Sun, 23 February 2025, 01:09:07
a wireless numpad is attractive to me.