I hope this log may interest some of my fellow GHers. I know there are other similar logs, but I have not seen one with the acrylic case. Besides, this time I will add some Zealios that are still in the mail.
This job will take some time, because I am still waiting for some parts, including the silicon balls from IMSTO. I will try the trampolin mod using IMSTO's silicon balls with the Zealios. For now, I will be posting pictures of the parts, tools and the soldering steps. I am a newbie at soldering, that may help fellow GHers that are still intimidating to try it, demostrating that it is not that hard, even the surface mount leds and resistors. I already build the current Nerd60 I am typing on right now, so this will be my second kit.
The switches modsThe board will have purple Zealios for the alphas, and ergo-clears with sprit's gold springs for the rest, top number row, modifiers and space bar. I am planning to add the trampoline mod with one or two IMSTO's balls each, but, considering that the plate will not allow top removal, I will do it first with my current GON that has PCB mounted switches, if I do not like it I can reverse it easily with it. The ergo clears will have Gateron bottoms, gold springs and original Cherry clear stems. The Zealios will be stock.
5b27The iron tip was grinded in a ax shape that works wonderful for this soldering job, including surface mount as well as pass through components.
5b21 SMD solderingThe first step is to put flux and melt some solder on one of the paths of each component. In the case of the LEDs polarity is important.
The component should be place besides the solder, melt it and push the component inside the molten solder drop. The other side of it is the easiest one to solder. The final result for one resistor and its LED is shown bellow.
5b21 four layers acrylic case5b21 Soldering unit and iron tip picturesGON 4 layer acrylic case mini-reviewGeneral description
This is the cheapest sixty case in the GON's catalog, it has a plate that holds the switches, a top frame, a middle frame and a bottom. I ordered it with translucent top frame and bottom, the plate and middle frame are transparent and they came with the protector film still installed. The bolts and two legs are included, they are nice aluminum pieces that I ordered anodized in red.
Layouts available
The case support ANSI layout only and the shift keys and backspace can be splitted. It has openings for the stabilizers, that should be PCB mounted. The bottom row can be standard with 6.25u space bar and 1.25 mods, or the winkeyless style with 1.5 mods and 7u space bar. I will use the last one.
The switch plate
The plate holds the switches loosely, I will check if this feature makes the assembly a little bit harder. It does not allow top removal, therefore the switches should be customized before to mount them, or they will have to be desoldered to change springs, stems, or tops.
I will try to use it with no top frame to get a lower profile, it seems that it only needs shorter bolts.
More details and pictures coming soon.
5b19 - ComponentsType | Component | Supplier | Status | Qty | Price/pc | Total |
Case | Acrylic 4 layers Case | GON | On-Hand | 1 | 66 | 66.00 |
PCB | Nerd60 PCB Version 2.10 | GON | On-Hand | 1 | 55 | 55.00 |
PCB | Surface mount LED | GON | On-Hand | 26 | 0.1 | 2.60 |
PCB | Surface mount resistor | GON | On-Hand | 30 | 0.03 | 0.90 |
PCB | Cristal diodes pass thru | GON | On-Hand | 61 | 0.075 | 4.58 |
Switch | Purple Zealios (Alphas) | Zeal PC | In-the-Mail | 34 | 0.75 | 25.50 |
Switch | Gold springs 62g | sprit | On-Hand | 27 | 0.12 | 3.24 |
Switch | Gateron bottoms | hwood | On-Hand | 27 | 0.3 | 8.10 |
Switch | Gateron clear tops | hwood | On-Hand | 27 | 0.3 | 8.10 |
Switch | Cherry clear stems | Old stock | On-Hand | 27 | 0.1 | 2.70 |
Switch | IMSTO Balls | IMSTO | In-the-Mail | 122 | 0.015 | 1.83 |
Key caps | OG Cherry Alphas DS WoB set | Muirium | On-Hand | 1 | 35 | 35.00 |
Key caps | Bluegaloo Mods set | billnye | To be shiped | 1 | 45 | 45.00 |
Key caps | PBT Cherry space bar 7u | IMSTO | In-the-Mail | 1 | 5 | 5.00 |
Stabs | Cherry Stabs PCB set | IMSTO | On-Hand | 1 | 7 | 7.00 |
| | | | | Total w/o shipping | 270.55 |
5b18 - Surface mount LED and resistors:
Pass thru diodes