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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: rsbseb on Tue, 11 April 2017, 13:17:49

Title: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: rsbseb on Tue, 11 April 2017, 13:17:49
I've been gone awhile but am back involved with keyboards again and have decided to pick up the SBS project with my son and move it forward. As we finish up our prototyping and look forward towards production tooling  I could really use some input on the finished product. Most of the Feedback on color I have received over at DT so far centers around classic beam spring colorways and will probably go that direction unless I see a need for other color options.

I really need some input on potential legends for the spherical buckling spring caps as well as any other input the community might have to offer.

Thanks


[attach=1]




Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: rsbseb on Tue, 11 April 2017, 13:43:25
I just realized this didn't land in the Key cap section, if it could or should be moved I would appreciate it.  :-[
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: dantan on Wed, 12 April 2017, 13:07:29
Here's a suggestion. You could get all blanks. These caps are high enough to put side legends on labels if you really need them.
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: rsbseb on Thu, 13 April 2017, 21:36:07
Here's a few pictures of the currently proposed legends / colors for some of the caps.

Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: romevi on Thu, 13 April 2017, 21:39:22
Ooh, black on white would be rad.
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: OldIsNew on Fri, 14 April 2017, 11:51:36
Yes - black on white is very nice, but any/all would be great!
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: dantan on Fri, 14 April 2017, 12:17:55
Here's a few pictures of the currently proposed legends / colors for some of the caps.

They look nice, but bump into the great obstacle: actually making these available at a reasonable (not $000s) of prices and within a reasonable (not 2 year) production timeline.
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: Niomosy on Sat, 15 April 2017, 01:31:14
Honestly, I think a classic beamspring colorway would do really well for something like this.  Gray alphas with white legends, black mods with white legends.

(https://webwit.nl/input/ibm_beam_spring/rojon/1.jpg)
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: xtrafrood on Sat, 15 April 2017, 03:54:37
Wow, extra deep dish. Another vote for black on white.
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: madhias on Sat, 15 April 2017, 04:24:14
I'd prefer white on black or (dark) grey, or at least white on black modifiers.
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: rsbseb on Sat, 15 April 2017, 23:04:53
Here's a few pictures of the currently proposed legends / colors for some of the caps.

They look nice, but bump into the great obstacle: actually making these available at a reasonable (not $000s) of prices and within a reasonable (not 2 year) production timeline.

Yes, those are obstacles to overcome. As of now we plan on producing them in house and possibly even handling fulfillment as well to better manage those issues. Maintaining a high level of quality and keeping the price down without massive lead times is probably going to require cutting out some middlemen if the demand allows for it when the time comes.
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: rsbseb on Mon, 01 May 2017, 17:30:59
SBS is moving forward. Two potential production venues have been identified and options for tooling are being researched.
Work on prototype evaluation sets will resume next week. Hopefully a new font scheme will be ready soon.
An informational website has also been set up.

http://sbskeycaps.com/


Here's a short video of SBS on a model F switch

http://vid183.photobucket.com/albums/x260/rsbseb/SBs%20F.mp4
Title: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: str8away on Fri, 02 June 2017, 18:02:00
Any progress on this project over the last month?
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: rsbseb on Sat, 03 June 2017, 16:30:00
Yes there has been some progress but it is a little slow. My son is in the process of relocating and working two jobs. We have located some production space and we are currently gathering together the equipment to produce the production tooling. Once the dust settles from his move we will have more to update on. I am putting together my own buckling spring keyboard in anticipation for SBS right now.  ;)

https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/another-wheelwriter-project-t16145.html
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: f32h80fsd08h34r5 on Wed, 07 June 2017, 09:40:27
Maybe something like round 5?

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/4f/9c/e7/4f9ce7a540ba5562fa96f2b6ed343b0a.jpg)
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: KACHAKEYS on Tue, 27 June 2017, 01:55:00
These look great! If I ever get my hands on an IBM board Ill have to get a set. I feel that something like SA profile would work really well on teh high profile boards like model m
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: InvidiousIgnoramus on Sat, 26 August 2017, 15:35:18
Definitely keeping an eye on this one.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: rsbseb on Mon, 28 August 2017, 09:01:01
I should have some progress updates soon. Work on the tooling has been begun.
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: Kavik on Mon, 28 August 2017, 11:01:06
Commenting for thread notifications.
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: InvidiousIgnoramus on Mon, 28 August 2017, 11:15:01
I should have some progress updates soon. Work on the tooling has been begun.
Is it planned to make two piece keycaps, or one piece?

Endgame is a myth

Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: Kavik on Sat, 24 February 2018, 23:22:27
Any update on this project? I just remembered it and wondered what ever came of this.
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: ShivaYash on Thu, 01 March 2018, 15:20:16
I'd be keen.
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: gbchk on Thu, 01 March 2018, 16:01:35
Any update on this project? I just remembered it and wondered what ever came of this.

This is the latest from DA -

UPDATE: I promised to keep everyone informed on the status of SBS and I know it's been a bit of a moving target. I am out of physical therapy and going back to work full time next week. This milestone should soon provide me with the cash flow to move forward with SBS once again.

My son and I are currently reviewing our capacity to make a short production run on the 1u caps for testing and have negotiated a suitable space to do so. This will not happen overnight and will take 2-3 months to get set up at earliest as this is still a hobby venture. If everything goes smoothly we could possibly see a full production run later this summer.

If along the way it looks like the project is going to be unfeasible to pursue in the short term we will consider releasing all our digital work as open source so anyone wanting to print one-off sets or do short runs of their own can do so. I'll keep in touch with any updates. For the next several weeks I will be focused on settling in with my new employer so I will probably be MIA.
Title: Re: Spherical Buckling Spring Caps
Post by: ionnicus on Sun, 09 May 2021, 13:33:00
Any Update on this project?

Would love to put these on a new Model F-77,
The black and dark grey Beamspring color schematic would be killer.