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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: Yoe on Wed, 16 September 2015, 09:20:10

Title: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: Yoe on Wed, 16 September 2015, 09:20:10: Finally I got my mould made so I could try casting that case I've been talking about for a couple of months now.

The mould was made using this method i found on YouTube, but I added a plastic clad balsa plug for a precision made "hole" for the keyboard. I cast the keyboard upside down to get the ugly part at the bottom. :)
https://youtu.be/pP-7FQNArco (https://youtu.be/pP-7FQNArco)

I prepped the mould with release agent and poured in the mix of Quarry Tone Granite FX Filler and Smooth-Cast 325.
http://www.smooth-on.com/Urethane-Plastic-a/c5_1120_1206/index.html (http://www.smooth-on.com/Urethane-Plastic-a/c5_1120_1206/index.html)
http://www.smooth-on.com/Urethane-Plastic-a/c5_1119_1389/index.html (http://www.smooth-on.com/Urethane-Plastic-a/c5_1119_1389/index.html)

Thirty minutes later I dismantled the mould and removed the cast. There were some imperfections, probably because I had mixed too little of the stuff, and had to make more real quick..

[attach=1]

But anyway.. after some shaving of edges, some leveling by sanding the bottom, and then dremeling a hole for the USB it was all done! So… this is what it looks like now. The keyboard is an Apple M0118 based custom with tactile Brown Alps.

[attachimg=2]

[attach=3] [attach=4]

Ta-da! :D
Title: Re: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: sth on Wed, 16 September 2015, 09:21:23: ha! ridiculous. fantastic.
Title: Re: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: azhdar on Wed, 16 September 2015, 09:27:18: You'll never stop to impress me Yoe, ~~how much does the case alone weight?~~.

Edit: Inanis post made me re-read and realise it's not actually stone haha.
Title: Re: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: inanis on Wed, 16 September 2015, 09:33:15: I love it! It is pretty impressive how much it looks like stone.
Title: Re: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: Invaderevan on Wed, 16 September 2015, 09:34:19: That looks fantastic, well done!
Title: Re: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: CPTBadAss on Wed, 16 September 2015, 09:43:51: I love you
Title: Re: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: jbondeson on Wed, 16 September 2015, 10:00:26: IRC has voted and we think you need to put SGI Granite keycaps in this case! :p
Title: Re: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: Yoe on Wed, 16 September 2015, 11:13:01: Quote from: inanis on Wed, 16 September 2015, 09:33:15
I love it! It is pretty impressive how much it looks like stone.

I know! I was impressed myself! Even the imperfections look realistic, like unpolished.

Quote from: CPTBadAss on Wed, 16 September 2015, 09:43:51
I love you

I know. :)

Quote from: jbondeson on Wed, 16 September 2015, 10:00:26
IRC has voted and we think you need to put SGI Granite keycaps in this case! :p

I would agree, but I'm afraid they wouldn't fit. This keyboard is a bit narrower than standard ISO/ANSI 60%. I'd have to make a wider case… but.. well… that's not impossible :)

Quote from: azhdar on Wed, 16 September 2015, 09:27:18
You'll never stop to impress me Yoe, ~~how much does the case alone weight?~~.

Edit: Inanis post made me re-read and realise it's not actually stone haha.

Haha, gotcha! :D Well, it's kinda heavy anyway.. like 910 grammes with keyboard installed.
Title: Re: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: jbondeson on Wed, 16 September 2015, 11:21:54: Quote from: Yoe on Wed, 16 September 2015, 11:13:01
I would agree, but I'm afraid they wouldn't fit. This keyboard is a bit narrower than standard ISO/ANSI 60%. I'd have to make a wider case… but.. well… that's not impossible :)

:'(

Now we need to start a collection for you to raise the funds for the Granite Granite board! Lord knows that resin isn't cheap.
Title: Re: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: KHAANNN on Wed, 16 September 2015, 21:26:33: how does it smell?
Title: Re: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: njbair on Wed, 16 September 2015, 21:28:27: This guy always makes the coolest stuff.
Title: Re: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: CPTBadAss on Wed, 16 September 2015, 22:33:07: Quote from: njbair on Wed, 16 September 2015, 21:28:27
This guy always makes the coolest stuff.

His instagram page is so ****ing good I can't even. So glad he posts here too <3

/me refuses to turn his fanboy.exe off
Title: Re: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: Yoe on Thu, 17 September 2015, 01:16:43: Quote from: KHAANNN on Wed, 16 September 2015, 21:26:33
how does it smell?

It's completely odorless as far as I can tell.
Title: Re: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: Yoe on Thu, 17 September 2015, 09:29:49: Updated OP with some more pics.
Title: Re: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: Dernubenfrieken on Thu, 17 September 2015, 13:27:41: How much of the mix did you end up using?
Title: Granite look DIY cast urethane plastic 60% case
Post by: Yoe on Thu, 17 September 2015, 14:40:01: Quote from: Dernubenfrieken on Thu, 17 September 2015, 13:27:41
How much of the mix did you end up using?

About half of it I think. The plan is to make another cast this weekend if I get time for it.

Edit: By volume I used about 1.5 dl of each component, plus 3 dl of the filler.