geekhack
geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: MajorKoos on Thu, 30 June 2016, 10:46:39
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Hi GH,
I'd like to build a dozen 60% keyboards - one for each of my team - as an end of project gift.
Wish list:
I'd like to keep it under $150 a go including keycaps.
I'd like them in a couple of different colors.
Open source firmware (they're all developers).
Gateron browns
Any suggestions on where I could start looking?
Buying the parts retail gets expensive real quick and it's all coming out of my pocket.
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There is this on massdrop but it dropped pretty recently so you probably won't be able to get in on it anytime soon:
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/sentraq-60-diy-keyboard-kit
buuuut... You can get all the parts from sentrantPC it looks like:
http://sentraq.com/
plate + case + pcb + switches and you are looking at $120 a pop. That leaves you at about $30 for keycaps, which you can find but they will not be great.
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GH 60% Satan PCBs might be a touch cheaper (+/- shipping I guess - and GH 60% Satan offers LED support if that is a thing you might want) if you want some more options. You'd be hard pressed to find a case cheaper than SentrantPC's $25 60% case though, wow :eek:
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To be honest 130 is a long shot budget.
gh60 pcb They have atmega chips
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SATAN-pre-soldered-DIY-GH60-Keyboard-PCB-support-Breathing-LED-60-cherry-MX-/272032784852?hash=item3f566ae1d4:g:o-oAAOSw~bFWNQs4
plate
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminium-60-Plate-Universal-Frame-Kechanical-Keyboard-GH60-multiple-colors-/272106950371?var=&hash=item3f5ad68ee3:m:mxWlDixz3yIoelf1uH2C5Rw
case
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CNC-Aluminum-Case-for-60-Mechanical-Keyboard-GH60-Poker-Multi-colors-option-/272238143610?var=&hash=item3f62a8687a:m:m17Mr5kEkL9p-rhTmp2zW1Q
thats already ~$115
stabs, switches, and keycaps you need to find those
will run you about
$10+$30+$??
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Hand wiring is the best way to go with sandwich cases, check out my build log here https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=82976.0 (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=82976.0) You can commission me :D and I can get you a fully customized board with RGB under glow :thumb:
Edit* if you want to build it, I can help you get the parts cheap through taobao..PM me if interested.
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I appreciate the feedback :)
This is what I'm currently thinking.
Any suggestions on where I could optimize or find alternates?
Part Price Vendor
PCB 35 Techkeys http://techkeys.us/collections/keyboards/products/gh60
Plate 0 3D Printed :)
Case 25 Sentrant http://sentraq.com/products/plastic-60-case
Switches 18 Sentrant http://sentraq.com/products/gateron-switches
Caps 15 Clueboard https://shop.clueboard.co/Tai-Hao-ABS-Keycaps-for-66-or-TKL-MX-Mount.html
Stabs 10 Clueboard https://shop.clueboard.co/Cherry-MX-PCB-Mount-Stabilizers-for-Clueboard.html
TOTAL 106
It's the keycaps I think where I need some suggestions - I'd like a range of different colors to mix things up a bit, but that gets expensive quickly.
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Aluminum plates can be cut at BigBlueSaw for less than $35 each if you're ordering 10 or more. That would be a lot nicer than 3D printing, but not as cheap. :P
I'd also consider getting your switches at mechanicalkeyboards.com, unless you're committed to Gateron. Never mind. You're not going to beat Sentrant's price for Gateron switches. That's pretty much rock-bottom.
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3D printed plates need to be quite thick, don't they?
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What about the new 60%s from Originativeco.com
If they're all going to be the same layout + switches + caps, theres really no reason to build them yourself.
also they are 75$ a pop.
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What about the new 60%s from Originativeco.com
If they're all going to be the same layout + switches + caps, theres really no reason to build them yourself.
also they are 75$ a pop.
I don't think they are set to be shipped out for a couple months.
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Ah good call. Had not thought about that
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Hmm, that KBD from originative.co is a really good price, but I really want to build them myself.
The personal touch is more important here, and I want to be able to customize each one for it's intended recipient, case, FW and keycaps.
The Sentraq case is an interesting option.
I think I could spray paint the inside of each case a different color - I've ordered one to test with.
With a couple of white LEDs inside I think it could look quite nice.
Then I just need to wax a couple of different sets of keycaps in various colors to match.
For a pok3r style 60% it's the PCB which screws to the case and takes the load, so 3d printed plates work fine printed 1.5mm thick in PLA, even when split in half to accommodate for the print bed size. Filament is <$40 a spool, so a printed plate costs me <$2 and takes an hour to print. I've experimented with CF reinforced exotic filaments, but it's honestly not worth the trouble.
I wish I could just get everyone a planck, but they're not ready for that yet.
I just got the notification that mine has shipped - Thanks Jack!
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Mass drop has a buy on gateron switches right now but there's only 10 hours left.
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/gateron-switches
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For a pok3r style 60% it's the PCB which screws to the case and takes the load, so 3d printed plates work fine printed 1.5mm thick in PLA, even when split in half to accommodate for the print bed size. Filament is <$40 a spool, so a printed plate costs me <$2 and takes an hour to print. I've experimented with CF reinforced exotic filaments, but it's honestly not worth the trouble.
If you're using PCB-mount switches and not relying on the plate for any reinforcement, why bother with a plate at all?
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I would make a list of the comp[onenet you will need for each on the multiply it by 12 and see how many you need then contact different supplier and get thier rate for the amount you need
checkout here they give discount on volume: https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1271
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You might get discounts from vendors selling the items you need, since you are buying 12 of everything.