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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: steinerlein on Tue, 02 May 2017, 04:08:26

Title: DIY Costar style stabilizers
Post by: steinerlein on Tue, 02 May 2017, 04:08:26

Hey all,

I am fairly new on this forum and I hope I didn't miss an existing thread on this topic.
Fisrt off: I am basend in germany, so just buying parts is very difficult for me.
I plan on building a one off plate-mount and handwired keyboard but I am missing the stabilizers. I have some cherry MX keyboards laying around, but the stabilizers in there are all pcb mounted so I can't use these. I do have access to a lot of tools like a CNC mill, though.

I would like to attempt to make Costar style plate mount stabilizers. What I have decided so far:

• All plastic parts will be made from flat stock
• thus, I will adapt the design features of all plastic parts to be a 2D contour.
• I will bend the wires by hand

I will start building my own stabilizers in CAD but I am most grateful for any input on dimensions. If you have Costar stabilizers, calipers and a bit of time I would be very thankful for your help in getting some of the dimesions right.
Or are there maybe resources I didn't find that already hold everything I need?

In any case I will update this thread as progress is being made!

Title: Re: DIY Costar style stabilizers
Post by: steinerlein on Tue, 02 May 2017, 11:05:27

My progress from today:

[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3][attach=4][attach=5]

And if anyone using fusion would like have a look, you can do so here: http://a360.co/2qoUWuh (http://a360.co/2qoUWuh)

I am thankful for any input, especially if someone could compare some of the measurements with a costar stabilizer.
Cheers!

Title: Re: DIY Costar style stabilizers
Post by: TalkingTree on Tue, 02 May 2017, 14:35:25

That's very nice. I'm just unsure about the stability of the T shaped insert over a cross shaped one.
I have no input to give you but BunnyLake (https://geekhack.org/index.php?action=profile;u=24682) has had Costar inserts made by JTK. You could ask him some info, he's a friendly fellow.

Title: Re: DIY Costar style stabilizers
Post by: steinerlein on Tue, 02 May 2017, 15:24:37

Yeah, I did think quite thoroughly about that, too. As I see it, even just a flat piece should be strong enough. It might even be that the T-shape only came about to accurately position the keycap on the stem. Not sure about that, though.

We will see if it works as soon as I have made a test  :thumb: I am just waiting for some super fine end mills.