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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: enrique.aliaga on Thu, 12 April 2018, 08:55:41

Title: Why aren't there any mass-produced Tenkeyless wooden cases?
Post by: enrique.aliaga on Thu, 12 April 2018, 08:55:41
There are several 60% keyboard cases in the market:

There are not any wooden TKL cases, though. I wonder why that is. Is it the difficulty of working with the wood? Is it lack of interest in the community? Any other reason?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Why aren't there any mass-produced Tenkeyless wooden cases?
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 12 April 2018, 09:02:40
Wood warps over time, especially thin long pieces..


They also don't teach people how to maintain wood anymore, because of the proliferation of MDF furniture.


Understanding wood used to be a big deal..

Title: Re: Why aren't there any mass-produced Tenkeyless wooden cases?
Post by: xondat on Thu, 12 April 2018, 09:04:29
There isn't a design standard that means all TKLs fit in cases.
Title: Re: Why aren't there any mass-produced Tenkeyless wooden cases?
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 12 April 2018, 10:34:25
Regular wood is also not very strong in the thicknesses used for a keyboards.

Only plywood holds their own thin, and that's only cuz the glue is resin/plastic
Title: Re: Why aren't there any mass-produced Tenkeyless wooden cases?
Post by: xondat on Thu, 12 April 2018, 10:37:44
Quote from: tp4tissue on Thu, 12 April 2018, 10:34:25
Regular wood is also not very strong in the thicknesses used for a keyboards.

Only plywood holds their own thin, and that's only cuz the glue is resin/plastic

Are you okay? You forgot something.
Title: Re: Why aren't there any mass-produced Tenkeyless wooden cases?
Post by: Findecanor on Thu, 12 April 2018, 11:28:39
The "Poker standard" for 60% cases is a simple tray. All parts are dumped into it from the top and then bolted in.

TKL cases that would fit Filco/CM QFR/Phantom need to have a top and a bottom. Making the spacing between key-groups fit is much harder than just four edges. The top and bottom have to fit each other, and might need threaded inserts to fit together sturdily that might require some manual work, not just CNC'd wood.

There have been a few custom-made cases in wood, most with both top and bottom and some with floating keys.
Some ideas were flung around for a community project on Deskthority. One was to have solid wood for the sides and floating keys in the middle, inspired by audio mixing equipment. Another thing made for that project w  as that Matt3o made a few prototypes out of layers of laser-cut plywood similar to laser-cut acrylic cases ... but then he went away on his own and introduced the WhiteFox with metal case instead.
Title: Re: Why aren't there any mass-produced Tenkeyless wooden cases?
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 12 April 2018, 13:45:48
Quote from: xondat on Thu, 12 April 2018, 10:37:44
Quote from: tp4tissue on Thu, 12 April 2018, 10:34:25
Regular wood is also not very strong in the thicknesses used for a keyboards.

Only plywood holds their own thin, and that's only cuz the glue is resin/plastic

Are you okay? You forgot something.

Fixed,  !!