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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Capitalistix on Fri, 05 April 2013, 22:47:57

Title: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: Capitalistix on Fri, 05 April 2013, 22:47:57: Does/has anyone made them? I see acrylic colored cases every once in a while but Id love to have a metal or aluminum one! Just wonderin'. Thanks in advance!
Title: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: Halverson on Fri, 05 April 2013, 22:55:08: Pretty sure the vortex aluminum ones for sale on mechanical keyboards fit QFR boards. Red, black, silver or blue!
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: jdcarpe on Fri, 05 April 2013, 22:57:51: I can confirm that they do. Mine is in one now!
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 05 April 2013, 22:59:29: Quote from: Halverson on Fri, 05 April 2013, 22:55:08
Pretty sure the vortex aluminum ones for sale on mechanical keyboards fit QFR boards. Red, black, silver or blue!

Below be it...

I've modded my quickfire with the RGB flashing leds instead of the stock red ones... this requires Drilling holes in the plate..

This is a QUICKFIRE, not filco...

If you must know,, it's VERY HARD to do and dangerous, because I didn't remove the pcb before drilling.. :D
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: esoomenona on Fri, 05 April 2013, 23:00:22: Also, MKC cases held QFRs, correct?
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 05 April 2013, 23:00:55: Quote from: esoomenona on Fri, 05 April 2013, 23:00:22
Also, MKC cases held QFRs, correct?

YES...
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: Capitalistix on Sat, 06 April 2013, 02:58:24: Thanks guys! Alsom tp, Im assuming thats the silver vortex case right? Not the gunmetal gray one?
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 06 April 2013, 07:25:33: Quote from: Capitalistix on Sat, 06 April 2013, 02:58:24
Thanks guys! Alsom tp, Im assuming thats the silver vortex case right? Not the gunmetal gray one?

Silver :)

I would be careful with getting any "other" color, if you're in the USA... Because if you get a "severely" different top and bottom piece color, it'll look kinda funky.... This is less likely with the silver case... but still possible.
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: codyeatworld on Sat, 06 April 2013, 08:03:37: Thats an awesome mod tp!
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: mushupork on Sat, 06 April 2013, 14:21:33: The MKC ones were $325? MKC GB? (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34606.0)

The Filco ones on mechanicalkeyboards are $150 ... aluminum (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=212)

I would love aluminum for my QFR but it is hard to justify for a well under $100 keyboard ($60 right now at newegg ... newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823129003)

~~[ sorry about the URLs - can't figure out how to do true/clean links in this forum]~~ > disregard found Soulhunter's post (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40783.0) ... but quite manual
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: Leslieann on Sat, 06 April 2013, 14:34:42: You can actually spend more on an MKC case now than when new. I have seen one go for around $200, but the last one I saw for sale was $400-$450 after shipping. Honestly, it's not worth it. These came out back when we had no way to get KMACs and such as easily as we can now, and we have more cases and keyboards on the way.

If you just want a nice board with aluminum case, the Vortex isn't nearly as bad as it once was. I'm not saying it's perfect (a little work and it can nearly be), but it's now at least worth the money. For a Cm, this is probably your best bet.
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: tauburn on Sat, 06 April 2013, 14:58:09: Quote from: tp4tissue on Sat, 06 April 2013, 07:25:33
Quote from: Capitalistix on Sat, 06 April 2013, 02:58:24
Thanks guys! Alsom tp, Im assuming thats the silver vortex case right? Not the gunmetal gray one?

Silver :)

I would be careful with getting any "other" color, if you're in the USA... Because if you get a "severely" different top and bottom piece color, it'll look kinda funky.... This is less likely with the silver case... but still possible.

what kind of moron releases such a flawed product?
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: Leslieann on Sat, 06 April 2013, 22:48:35: Quote from: tauburn on Sat, 06 April 2013, 14:58:09
Quote from: tp4tissue on Sat, 06 April 2013, 07:25:33
Quote from: Capitalistix on Sat, 06 April 2013, 02:58:24
Thanks guys! Alsom tp, Im assuming thats the silver vortex case right? Not the gunmetal gray one?

Silver :)

I would be careful with getting any "other" color, if you're in the USA... Because if you get a "severely" different top and bottom piece color, it'll look kinda funky.... This is less likely with the silver case... but still possible.

what kind of moron releases such a flawed product?
Welcome to low-end Chinese manufacturing.
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: tauburn on Sat, 06 April 2013, 23:08:36: Quote from: Leslieann on Sat, 06 April 2013, 22:48:35
Quote from: tauburn on Sat, 06 April 2013, 14:58:09
Quote from: tp4tissue on Sat, 06 April 2013, 07:25:33
Quote from: Capitalistix on Sat, 06 April 2013, 02:58:24
Thanks guys! Alsom tp, Im assuming thats the silver vortex case right? Not the gunmetal gray one?

Silver :)

I would be careful with getting any "other" color, if you're in the USA... Because if you get a "severely" different top and bottom piece color, it'll look kinda funky.... This is less likely with the silver case... but still possible.

what kind of moron releases such a flawed product?
Welcome to low-end Chinese manufacturing.

nevermind that completely explains it.
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: Capitalistix on Sat, 06 April 2013, 23:32:18: It seems the cable would need to be re routed from the QFR bottom to the where the case has a cable whole. Is there anyone with info on how to do this?
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: jdcarpe on Sat, 06 April 2013, 23:36:31: Quote from: Capitalistix on Sat, 06 April 2013, 23:32:18
It seems the cable would need to be re routed from the QFR bottom to the where the case has a cable whole. Is there anyone with info on how to do this?

Just get MiMiC to make you a Filco cable. It uses the same connector on the PCB. :)
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: Capitalistix on Sat, 06 April 2013, 23:41:56: Quote from: jdcarpe on Sat, 06 April 2013, 23:36:31
Quote from: Capitalistix on Sat, 06 April 2013, 23:32:18
It seems the cable would need to be re routed from the QFR bottom to the where the case has a cable whole. Is there anyone with info on how to do this?

Just get MiMiC to make you a Filco cable. It uses the same connector on the PCB. :)

Well I have mini usb b, to usb cable already, or are you meaning something else? I was thinking Id have to move the mini usb female connector somehow to where the case hole is.
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: jdcarpe on Sat, 06 April 2013, 23:44:37: The Filco cables come with a Molex? connector where your USB Mini-B end is. That's what you need.

Otherwise the little daughterboard which breaks out the USB to the Mini-B socket will just be floating in your case somewhere...
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: Capitalistix on Sat, 06 April 2013, 23:48:33: Quote from: jdcarpe on Sat, 06 April 2013, 23:44:37
The Filco cables come with a Molex? connector where your USB Mini-B end is. That's what you need.

Otherwise the little daughterboard which breaks out the USB to the Mini-B socket will just be floating in your case somewhere...

ahhh I see! Thanks so much!
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: CPTBadAss on Sat, 06 April 2013, 23:51:03: The guys at MechanicalKeyboards.com put a QFR into the Vortex Alu case. They had it at their showroom today. Hopefully Mashby took some pictures or remembers exactly how they did it. I'm a bit tired right now so I can't recall offhand. I'll post more info here when I get it.
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 07 April 2013, 01:44:44: I r slightly shocked that anyone would even need to think "how it could be done"

it's such a straight forward job, i mean... how do you insert prong A into socket A? :D
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: omgFiRE on Sun, 07 April 2013, 02:40:50: Quote from: tp4tissue on Sun, 07 April 2013, 01:44:44
it's such a straight forward job, i mean... how do you insert prong A into socket A? :D
(http://lleo.me/dnevnik/2010/06/4.jpg)
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 07 April 2013, 08:20:20: Quote from: omgFiRE on Sun, 07 April 2013, 02:40:50
Quote from: tp4tissue on Sun, 07 April 2013, 01:44:44
it's such a straight forward job, i mean... how do you insert prong A into socket A? :D
Show Image
(http://lleo.me/dnevnik/2010/06/4.jpg)

I remember taking this test when I was in preschool. I thought the "only objective" was to get those blocks in the box, the apparatus I was presented with had 12 diff' shapes.. so I just flipped the flip cover in the back and put all 12 blocks in at the same time... My teachers were pissed.... and told me I couldn't do that..... I yelled "fvk off" and went to play with other toys......

This is when she got REALLY angry with me... but luckily my parents didn't give a sh.t and told my teacher to "fvk off" :D

ah.... the days when I could get away with cursing... can't do that these days... gotta be 'nice
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: Leslieann on Sun, 07 April 2013, 16:04:32: See, what you do is, you take all of those blocks out to the wood shop, cut/sand them down so they can go into any hole. That, or just use a sledgehammer to make them fit.

It's not cheating if you don't break any rules. :p
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: babyhands on Sun, 07 April 2013, 16:18:33: SO let me get this straight, to fit a QFR into a filco aluminum case you need to mod the cable or something?
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 07 April 2013, 16:40:04: Quote from: babyhands on Sun, 07 April 2013, 16:18:33
SO let me get this straight, to fit a QFR into a filco aluminum case you need to mod the cable or something?

Yes.
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: babyhands on Sun, 07 April 2013, 18:04:38: Quote from: tp4tissue on Sun, 07 April 2013, 16:40:04
Quote from: babyhands on Sun, 07 April 2013, 16:18:33
SO let me get this straight, to fit a QFR into a filco aluminum case you need to mod the cable or something?

Yes.
And is that it? I am seriously considering doing this thats why i am asking
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: SmallFry on Sun, 07 April 2013, 18:06:45: The QFR has a removable cable, unlike the Filco, hence you would need to buy a new cable/make one. MiMiC makes cables though I don't know if he has the correct molex connector for a QFR (they may be the same as a Filco, I don't have a Filco to check).
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: cyberwave on Sun, 07 April 2013, 18:18:05: filco and qfr have the same internal connector.

i.e. a filco cable will work with a qfr given a correct case :)
Title: Re: Metal/Aluminum QFR Cases
Post by: WhiteFireDragon on Sun, 07 April 2013, 19:48:45: The actual PCB and plate combo fits the Vortex aluminum case fine. You obviously can't use the detachable cable feature because it has an internal USB breakout board. However you can plug a filco cable right into the CM quickfire PCB, or just make your own. The connector you wan to get is a 5-pin female molex connector with a 2mm pin pitch.