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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: kgolden on Sun, 28 January 2018, 15:18:40

Title: Phantom TKL plate question
Post by: kgolden on Sun, 28 January 2018, 15:18:40

Has anyone used the universal stainless steel 104 ansi 125 plate from mk.com and cut it down to use with a TKL? Is it similar to just buying a TKL plate? I'm very comfortable with cutting metals, just wondering about fit and finish.

Title: Re: Phantom TKL plate question
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 28 January 2018, 15:37:49

Quote from: kgolden on Sun, 28 January 2018, 15:18:40

Has anyone used the universal stainless steel 104 ansi 125 plate from mk.com and cut it down to use with a TKL? Is it similar to just buying a TKL plate? I'm very comfortable with cutting metals, just wondering about fit and finish.

if they're the ones i think they are, you can totally cut it down to 87 size

Title: Re: Phantom TKL plate question
Post by: kgolden on Sun, 28 January 2018, 15:46:33

I'm just trying to decide weather I buy an actual Phantom plate in aluminum that I don't have to mod or cut the stainless  plate down and make it work. Decisions decisions

Title: Re: Phantom TKL plate question
Post by: jdcarpe on Sun, 28 January 2018, 15:50:59

I prefer stainless plates, myself. The universal 87/104/108 plate should work great with a Phantom PCB. And the metal isn’t very hard to cut with just a simple rotary tool or similar. I designed it to be user friendly and widely compatible!

Title: Re: Phantom TKL plate question
Post by: kgolden on Sun, 28 January 2018, 16:09:54

... you designed it? Really? That's pretty awesome. Well if it'll work that well with my Phantom TKL pcb then I'm sold on it. I've worked with metal with hand and power tools( drill press, bandsaw) for many years, I was just worried the plate was so universal that it wouldn't work well.

Title: Re: Phantom TKL plate question
Post by: jdcarpe on Mon, 29 January 2018, 08:22:42

Quote from: kgolden on Sun, 28 January 2018, 16:09:54

... you designed it? Really? That's pretty awesome.

Yep, sure did. Here is the original IC: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56007.0

Thanks!

Title: Re: Phantom TKL plate question
Post by: kgolden on Mon, 29 January 2018, 12:28:11

Awesome, just bought one from mk.

Title: Re: Phantom TKL plate question
Post by: futurecrime on Tue, 30 January 2018, 11:02:20

This topic was helpful. I feel helped. I have a phantom PCB that I should really get around to making into a keyboard.

Title: Re: Phantom TKL plate question
Post by: kgolden on Tue, 30 January 2018, 18:22:47

That's awesome! It's always good when someone else benefits from these posts. Please post pictures if or when you build yours. I love seeing other people's projects.

Title: Re: Phantom TKL plate question
Post by: kgolden on Sat, 10 February 2018, 10:51:04

Just to follow up, thanks to Jdcarpe this is the plate before and after.

Title: Re: Phantom TKL plate question
Post by: metalliqaz on Sat, 10 February 2018, 11:37:16

What are you going to mount it in?

Title: Re: Phantom TKL plate question
Post by: kgolden on Sat, 10 February 2018, 12:08:46

Honestly I'm not 100% sure. I'm thinking of doing a "sandwich" type of case/frame. I've worked with aluminum quite a lot so I'll figure out something.

Title: Re: Phantom TKL plate question
Post by: jdcarpe on Sat, 10 February 2018, 12:27:52

Plus you can make a separate numpad with the part you cut off! :D

I may have a GHpad PCB around here somewhere...

Title: Re: Phantom TKL plate question
Post by: kgolden on Sat, 10 February 2018, 13:26:17

I certainly kept the keypad I cut off. Don't tempt me.. haha