geekhack
geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: infiniti on Mon, 23 February 2015, 09:07:27
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Well, might as well let this cat out of the bag...
I've been working on an aluminum HHKB case. That wood / alu 60% case was just something to fill the time while waiting for this.
It has to go through design reviews and then they'll let them run the numbers before I run an IC.
Here's some renders to tease!
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yeah...I need to sort out the cover for the dip switches ^-^
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Wait... Mistakemistake is doing the same and they have the machine to cut it.
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Damn that looks awesome. If this works out would it be possible to hear some sound tests before putting down my $? I would buy an HHKB just for this.
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dibs?
And yeah, there is a similar thread with a fancy CNC machine.
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Wait... Mistakemistake is doing the same and they have the machine to cut it.
dibs?
And yeah, there is a similar thread with a fancy CNC machine.
Yeah but I didn't know that when I started this...aaaaand I'm in too deep to stop now.
The WalletHack is REAL.
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Damn that looks awesome. If this works out would it be possible to hear some sound tests before putting down my $? I would buy an HHKB just for this.
The plan is to prototype a single switch housing before committing to the prototyping the entire case.
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Yeeee
This arouses me
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i've creamed my pants thoroughly bc of your renders. though my pants are whet, my hopes are sky high. ty
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The plunger would not down enough without cutout of top ring.
I forgot about well but if the square is not small enough, top edge of the square conflict with the keycap. The original case has chamfered edge on them.
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o ****
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dibs?
And yeah, there is a similar thread with a fancy CNC machine.
Bruh, I've had dibs since the start.
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This is very interesting!
What colours will be available?
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The plunger would not down enough without cutout of top ring.
I forgot about well but if the square is not small enough, top edge of the square conflict with the keycap. The original case has chamfered edge on them.
I see. We did that initially to cut down on machining time and cost.
I'll look into this when we do the design review. Thanks for the input! :thumb:
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This is very interesting!
What colours will be available?
Still working on that part. Anodizing options will be explored but focus is still on the design at this stage.
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I may have to buy both aluminum cases.
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Cause there's just not enough stuff on this site for me to blow my money on....yeeeeeeee
In all seriousness though, looks sweet - I'll definitely be following with great interest. Who would've thought that there may end up being not one but two aluminum HHKB cases designed this year? Making stuff is kewl.
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removed.
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Any updates on this or any aluminum hhkb case?
Check the TSD design sub forum
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dibs?
And yeah, there is a similar thread with a fancy CNC machine.
Bruh, I've had dibs since the start.
You lost your dibs when you sold your hhkb. ;)
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...any news 'bout this "Master Piece" ?
...or any kind of brutal Aluminium CNC Machined enclosure for HHKB Pro 2 ?
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necrobumped...ಠ_ಠ
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necrobumped...ಠ_ಠ
pooop. :(
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^^ ... This process of dying and being reborn will continue until the conditions that cause it, the mental factors
of gear acquisition syndrome, cease.
When they will put a price on it and a "Ready to Ship" alert. =)
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Infiniti was very serious about launching this, but Mistakemistake posted regarding his immediately prior to Infiniti posting about his. Infiniti is currently in the process of both a) being on vacation and b) launching a makerspace, but I'll reach out to him and see what his plans are. I know he spend a good chunk of time getting accurate hhkb drawings, so I wouldn't be terribly surprised if he still intends on running it at some point.
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... sounds good =)
...let's pray the CNC Lords to make it real ;)
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The Long Story: I used to work in the local defense industry and approached one manufacturer at a time that business was slow because of new legislation restricting sales. At the time, they agreed to do the design, prototyping, and production. Things picked up on their end and they could no longer accommodate prototyping or production. *weep*
I've approached other outfits that we used to outsource work to but they are only interested in the mass production but not to continue development and the prototyping.
On my end, life and business happened. Some :), some :(, a :confused: and :-\, then a :-X, and a ton of learning experience.
TL;DR: Moving forward I need to work on the design files and get a prototype out.
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pls round up those sharp edges. :'(
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pls round up those sharp edges. :'(
Added to the list of things to do.
While we're all here, let's talk about the design and other revisions.
During the creation of the design depicted in the renders, it was decided to remove the notches where the bumps on the Topre sliders sit and prevent the sliders from falling out when you flip the case over. This was done to reduce machining time but it also means we need to cut of the bumps on the sliders. Not quite sure if this would be an issue with people.
Another thing entirely is to address that the alu case on MD was rather noisy to type on.
(Video from CPTBadAss' Massdrop Metal HHKB Case - Ask Me Anything (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=76746.msg1926491#msg1926491)
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Not sure if it is possible, but a plastic plate would be amazing. I don't think I would want a fully alu hhkb case because it would be so noisy and would lose the "hhkb feel".
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Not sure if it is possible, but a plastic plate would be amazing. I don't think I would want a fully alu hhkb case because it would be so noisy and would lose the "hhkb feel".
The problem with that is that it would make everything more expensive because then we need to look at a) injection molding the plate which would require having a mold made and b) incorporating that plate into the case somehow which would require all new design files
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Probably just a fantasy, but I would buy if it was machined from wood.
Wood does wonders to the acoustics of keyboards and topre would probably benefit a great deal by allowing the thock to resonate and acquire a warm tone.
When compared to metal which is the absolute worst choice when considering acoustics I think it's viable; I would only see myself using metal with silenced switches.
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Probably just a fantasy, but I would buy if it was machined from wood.
Wood does wonders to the acoustics of keyboards and topre would probably benefit a great deal by allowing the thock to resonate and acquire a warm tone.
When compared to metal which is the absolute worst choice when considering acoustics I think it's viable; I would only see myself using metal with silenced switches.
I agree. I think a wood design would be well-received with the Topre community. However, I think that the main issue here has to do with the HHKB plate design itself...It's going to be very difficult to produce quality plate/cases in another material that's actually functional enough to get large amounts of people to buy it. Wood could potentially have so many issues, especially when it's being machined into the shape of the HHKB plate and case. It would be easier to cut the existing plate, and then transfer it into a wood case. A completely custom Topre keyboard might be a better option instead of trying to mod the HHKB.
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Probably just a fantasy, but I would buy if it was machined from wood.
Wood does wonders to the acoustics of keyboards and topre would probably benefit a great deal by allowing the thock to resonate and acquire a warm tone.
When compared to metal which is the absolute worst choice when considering acoustics I think it's viable; I would only see myself using metal with silenced switches.
I agree. I think a wood design would be well-received with the Topre community. However, I think that the main issue here has to do with the HHKB plate design itself...It's going to be very difficult to produce quality plate/cases in another material that's actually functional enough to get large amounts of people to buy it. Wood could potentially have so many issues, especially when it's being machined into the shape of the HHKB plate and case. It would be easier to cut the existing plate, and then transfer it into a wood case. A completely custom Topre keyboard might be a better option instead of trying to mod the HHKB.
The main issue I see with wood is trying to find the right kind of wood for durability, aesthetic, and acoustics. The machining might also have to be handled differently.
However, the biggest concern is that wood can crack.
Willow might be an option since it has some give to it and is known to be capable of bending in ridiculous ways. This means that, when under stress, the wood will flex rather than crack.
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Not sure if it is possible, but a plastic plate would be amazing. I don't think I would want a fully alu hhkb case because it would be so noisy and would lose the "hhkb feel".
The problem with that is that it would make everything more expensive because then we need to look at a) injection molding the plate which would require having a mold made and b) incorporating that plate into the case somehow which would require all new design files
Yeah that is true. I guess the other option would be to somehow cut out a current hhkb plate.
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Not sure if it is possible, but a plastic plate would be amazing. I don't think I would want a fully alu hhkb case because it would be so noisy and would lose the "hhkb feel".
The problem with that is that it would make everything more expensive because then we need to look at a) injection molding the plate which would require having a mold made and b) incorporating that plate into the case somehow which would require all new design files
Yeah that is true. I guess the other option would be to somehow cut out a current hhkb plate.
If people already require an hhkb to transfer then it won't be an issue to salvage cases.
The only problem with this would be limitation in "accessibility" as many won't be comfortable with ripping apart their cases; especially with the fear of messing up the job and not being able to get a replacement case.
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Let me hear how it goes. If it is well and proper, I probably want one!
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We could use the plastic plate from the original case...but this means hacking up the original case for a one-way ticket to alu-case-ville.
Costs however would be greatly reduced since the machining would just be for the alu case. This would also make it possible to have a wooden case. We could insert steel pieces in the bottom of the wooden case for weight.
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We could use the plastic plate from the original case...but this means hacking up the original case for a one-way ticket to alu-case-ville.
Costs however would be greatly reduced since the machining would just be for the alu case.
My biggest concern is that it would be difficult for those who don't have the tools readily available.
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infiniti, did you get 3D scans of the HHKB? Or did you just take hand measurements?
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removed.
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Marking my intredast for this project.
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will the plastic plungers get 'scratched' by rubbing with the metal housing?
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We could use the plastic plate from the original case...but this means hacking up the original case for a one-way ticket to alu-case-ville.
Costs however would be greatly reduced since the machining would just be for the alu case.
My biggest concern is that it would be difficult for those who don't have the tools readily available.
Hmm...good point.
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infiniti, did you get 3D scans of the HHKB? Or did you just take hand measurements?
Hand-measured with calibrated calipers.
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would it be possible to engrave an HHKB logo on the case? I think that's what it is missing
It would be possible to have that as an option at some point.
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will the plastic plungers get 'scratched' by rubbing with the metal housing?
That's what I always wondered hence the need for a prototype...at this point I'd settle for a small piece with a single housing so I can test with a slider.