Milled aluminum or milled acrylic with new plates that bolt down like the kmac.
edit: and yes standoffs would probably be the best bet.
I do not think it's wise to try and build a custom around the Phantom. Trust me, I made one.
The PCB was designed to allow a Filco to use custom layouts. It wasn't designed as a PCB to be used for fully custom boards.
When designing a housing around it there are sacrifices you need to make. An exception would be JD's lasered case that used spacers, since that dodges the limitations of the PCB.
Also, in comparison to more modern PCBs, it's lacking in features. Compare it to GONs NerD PCBs, for example.
I just think that if you're going to make an open source housing, you'd be best picking a PCB more suited to the job.
what makes the tek-80 so expensive? if the bottom insert was removed would it not be cheaper?The fact that it was a 1-off was what made it expensive. Removing the brass plate would've made it cheaper, but still.. 1-offs ain't cheap.
I do not think it's wise to try and build a custom around the Phantom. Trust me, I made one.
The PCB was designed to allow a Filco to use custom layouts. It wasn't designed as a PCB to be used for fully custom boards.
When designing a housing around it there are sacrifices you need to make. An exception would be JD's lasered case that used spacers, since that dodges the limitations of the PCB.
Also, in comparison to more modern PCBs, it's lacking in features. Compare it to GONs NerD PCBs, for example.
I just think that if you're going to make an open source housing, you'd be best picking a PCB more suited to the job.
I kind of want one of those CNCd polycarbonate cases from the TX87 IC.
there is a lot of phantom pcb;s floating around with no case to call home. that is why I was thinking about phantom compatibility.
granted, yes I would love for a updated phantom that supported rgby cherry switches. same with the gh60.
If the prototyping was milled acrylic instead would that make the one off cost cheaper?
I kind of want one of those CNCd polycarbonate cases from the TX87 IC.
you can have a case made from these files pretty easily to have a phantom in a later case in whatever material you would like.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48007.msg1280272#msg1280272
there are already milled aluminium cases that are compatible, and reasonably priced.
Also, from what I understand about CNC milling, the material cost difference between say aluminum and polycarbonate is actually negligible. What you are paying for is machine time. Granted, with a softer material the time required for milling might be a bit less, but not enough to make a big price difference.
I kind of want one of those CNCd polycarbonate cases from the TX87 IC.
you can have a case made from these files pretty easily to have a phantom in a later case in whatever material you would like.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48007.msg1280272#msg1280272Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/rfvM9KG.jpg)
Like Wilba said, when I first asked him to help me with an Alps-compatible TKL PCB, he explained to me that when designing a new PCB, it makes sense to design the case around it, rather than trying to design around existing products. That's because I originally wanted the case to be compatible with Phantom PCBs.
I still think making a milled case for the Phantom is a worthy goal, since no one has really provided a great case for it yet. It doesn't have to be open source, though, since it wouldn't really make financial sense for individuals to have one-offs produced.
The problem with open sourcing hardware designs like that is that as someone who makes things, it can be discouraging to see others selling your designs for profit (e.g. Chinese taobao sellers), when the intent was to make it available for everyone to use.
Moz's layered acrylic case wasn't too bad.Like Wilba said, when I first asked him to help me with an Alps-compatible TKL PCB, he explained to me that when designing a new PCB, it makes sense to design the case around it, rather than trying to design around existing products. That's because I originally wanted the case to be compatible with Phantom PCBs.
I still think making a milled case for the Phantom is a worthy goal, since no one has really provided a great case for it yet. It doesn't have to be open source, though, since it wouldn't really make financial sense for individuals to have one-offs produced.
The problem with open sourcing hardware designs like that is that as someone who makes things, it can be discouraging to see others selling your designs for profit (e.g. Chinese taobao sellers), when the intent was to make it available for everyone to use.
I just want to be able to have a TKL case design be readily available like the phantom pcb's.
I find it kinda annoying that there are no options for the expanded phantom layout options right now at all. 7bit layout anyone? :p
I would love to have an SSK, but if I was building my own TKL, I would want standard layout
For the most part mini-usb sockets could be relocated with a extension cable/mini pcb to relocate the socket.
It could have a thicker upper area above the F row where most usb plugs are.
this area can be used to reroute the usb plug to a standard location.
I am now thinking IBM space saver mixed with kmac...Show Image(http://webwit.nl/input/ibm_mini/1391472-1.jpg)
lets switch to design. Does everyone like the idea of a case designed kinda like the space saver?
anyone interesting in this project?I'm still interested.