[GB] DCS Alps Pingmaster // Replacement keys shipped to vendors

[Fredington]

Hi all,

Welcome to the GB for DCS Alps Pingmaster, an Alps-specific set based on the legendary IBM Pingmaster from the 1980s:





**Please note that the renders are done in Cherry profile, which is quite similar to but not exactly the same as DCS. Nevertheless, they should give you a good idea of how the final set will look like.



Specifications

Manufacturer: Signature Plastics
Profile: DCS 1-1-2-3-4-4
Material: PBT, except longer spacebars and relegendables
Legends: Dye-sublimated top legends w/ pad-printed front side legends
Colors: Stock SP PBT colors
Switch Mount: Alps
Stabilizer Mount: MX

**Please note that these caps are for Alps/Matias switches only and are not compatible with MX-style switches. Stabilizer mounts however, will be MX-shaped.



GB Details

The GB will run with the following vendors from August 16 to September 13 and is estimated to ship in Q1 2022.

US: Mechs&Co
CA: Desk[H]ero
UK: Proto[Typist]
EU: MyKeyboard
AS: zFrontier Chinese and International
OC: Daily Clack




Kits

Base

Please note that the longer spacebars will be made in ABS due to warping. Front legends will be pad printed.



JIS & macOS

I know this doesn't cover true JIS layouts, but we wanted to focus compatibility on common Alps layouts while also being constrained by the key sizes that SP currently has due to costing. Also includes macOS bottom row swaps.



Spacebars & 40s

Again, the longer bars will be ABS. Includes complete support for hiney's H60 PCB, as well as 3-key 40s support.



Relegendables & Ortho

For those who want that authentic Pingmaster look. This kit is also designed to be able to cover an ortho board. Due to shrinkage, all relegendable keys will be ABS.



Accents





Renders by Kingk22

TKC1800



TGR Jane





Bean by Kingk22







Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Franco, Kingk22, konstantin, KidViddy, and all the vendors, especially Mike from Mechs&Co.



Social Media

Finally, if you'd like, you can follow me and my other projects on my IG @fredington.

[Fredington]

4.22.22
ABS to PBT color matching (longer spacebars and relegendables) complete

4.28.22
PBT molding complete, start of sublimation phase

6.1.22
Production complete, packing commencing.

[justinhigley]

Looks great! I'm in for everything.

Hope there's still enough alps interest to make things like this a reality.

[IO Sam]

Order is in! 
Thank you for keeping the Alps flame alive!!!

[dvorcol]

[joshuarubin]

:fingers crossed:
Come on people, make this happen!

[Fredington]

:fingers crossed:
Come on people, make this happen!

I think this a is a pretty good start so I’m not too worried!

[shansoft]

:fingers crossed:
Come on people, make this happen!

I bought 2 set myself.... 

It would be fine since this is only the first week 

Anyone know if there are MX to Alps stab adapter? Some old board I have only have the traditional alps stab, not sure if Costar stem will fit properly.

[konstantin]

Really hoping this does well! Awesome set.

[loud_asian]

:fingers crossed:
Come on people, make this happen!

I bought 2 set myself.... 

It would be fine since this is only the first week 

Anyone know if there are MX to Alps stab adapter? Some old board I have only have the traditional alps stab, not sure if Costar stem will fit properly.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=112117.msg3047146#msg3047146

[shansoft]

:fingers crossed:
Come on people, make this happen!

I bought 2 set myself.... 

It would be fine since this is only the first week 

Anyone know if there are MX to Alps stab adapter? Some old board I have only have the traditional alps stab, not sure if Costar stem will fit properly.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=112117.msg3047146#msg3047146

Thank you so much!!!

[AeternusCo]

I'd love to see some 40% boards get alps support now, very cool set

[tpec]

Got my set in. Can't wait

[Genericusername56]

Would base+JIS cover a standard ISO layout? I guess so, even though the legends will be incorrect?

How far from MOQ is this?

[Fredington]

Would base+JIS cover a standard ISO layout? I guess so, even though the legends will be incorrect?

How far from MOQ is this?

That’s correct. Updated numbers will be posted shortly. We’re about 50% to MOQ but JIS/macOS is struggling a bit.

[dvorcol]

[Howgii]

Do you know if the alps mount for the iso enter is rotated or not?

[justinhigley]

Do you know if the alps mount for the iso enter is rotated or not?

It is not rotated on DCS Alps Yuri. I'd assume the same for this set.

[Fredington]

Do you know if the alps mount for the iso enter is rotated or not?

Do you know if the alps mount for the iso enter is rotated or not?

It is not rotated on DCS Alps Yuri. I'd assume the same for this set.

Actually, according to Melissa they can be either. I assumed people would want the vertical orientation. If this is not the case, please speak up!

[Howgii]

Do you know if the alps mount for the iso enter is rotated or not?

Do you know if the alps mount for the iso enter is rotated or not?

It is not rotated on DCS Alps Yuri. I'd assume the same for this set.

Actually, according to Melissa they can be either. I assumed people would want the vertical orientation. If this is not the case, please speak up!

It don’t own an iso alps board yet but I do plan on building one. So others will have to vote for or against the rotation of the mount,and I’ll design my pcb accordingly

[joshuarubin]

and I’ll design my pcb accordingly

hah, enjoyment of alps is a labor of love

[Fredington]

Do you know if the alps mount for the iso enter is rotated or not?

Do you know if the alps mount for the iso enter is rotated or not?

It is not rotated on DCS Alps Yuri. I'd assume the same for this set.

Actually, according to Melissa they can be either. I assumed people would want the vertical orientation. If this is not the case, please speak up!

It don’t own an iso alps board yet but I do plan on building one. So others will have to vote for or against the rotation of the mount,and I’ll design my pcb accordingly

Actually, I misunderstood your question and Melissa's answer. Here is a diagram of the options for the switch mount:



Unless people speak up regarding a preference for the orientation on the right, I'll be proceeding with the horizontal orientation on the left.

[Applet]

If comparing with older alps keycaps, I'm pretty sure the right one is the common rotation for ISO enter switches, not saying this is necessarily the best approach tho. Check for example alps64 or plain60 alps edition, it does not have any support for horizontal switches for ISO enter.

EDIT: You could argue that the left one may be more common in PCB's that have both MX and Alps support, but, there are already three common-ish vertical positions for ISO enter, and I'd personally appreciate if we did not get a fourth common ISO-enter position/rotation. Yuri has the left rotation? Is there any other new alps-set from SP that does it the same way?

[Yakbats]

Do you know if the alps mount for the iso enter is rotated or not?

Do you know if the alps mount for the iso enter is rotated or not?

It is not rotated on DCS Alps Yuri. I'd assume the same for this set.

Actually, according to Melissa they can be either. I assumed people would want the vertical orientation. If this is not the case, please speak up!

It don’t own an iso alps board yet but I do plan on building one. So others will have to vote for or against the rotation of the mount,and I’ll design my pcb accordingly

Actually, I misunderstood your question and Melissa's answer. Here is a diagram of the options for the switch mount:

Show Image

Unless people speak up regarding a preference for the orientation on the right, I'll be proceeding with the horizontal orientation on the left.

I just finalized a pcb design using the vertical orientation (the one on the right), since that is what I have seen on the vintage boards I've come across. So, vertical is my preference, and I hope that's how this set gets made :)

[FearsomeCubedWarrior]

~

[Fredington]

After further investigation, the ISO Enter switch mount will indeed be rotated (vertical).

[chevykeeb]

What would be the average thickness of the keycaps?

[dvorcol]

[Fredington]

What would be the average thickness of the keycaps?

They’re about 1mm thick.

[kaworu]

Hi, JIS & macOS kit buyer here.

After further investigation, the ISO Enter switch mount will indeed be rotated (vertical).

That is good to hear, I'm planning on using a PCB based on Steezy60 (https://keebmeup.com/index.php?id_product=129&id_product_attribute=1856&rewrite=60-alps-pcb-ansi-aek-support-coming-soon&controller=product#/52-plate_add_on-no_plate_needed_0) and as far as I can see it has a vertical mount ISO Enter.

[Applet]

I'm planning on using a PCB based on Steezy60 (https://keebmeup.com/index.php?id_product=129&id_product_attribute=1856&rewrite=60-alps-pcb-ansi-aek-support-coming-soon&controller=product#/52-plate_add_on-no_plate_needed_0) and as far as I can see it has a vertical mount ISO Enter.

Yeah, it supports the three common vertical ISO enter stem positions and PCB stabilizers is placed centered just like the MX-standard (I'm the designer). They are also open sourced and available here if you want to make it yourself: https://github.com/4pplet/Steezy60

[Fredington]

Hi all,

Just popping in here to remind everyone that this GB will be closing in a few days on Monday, September 13. If you're interested in this set, now is the time to pull the trigger! All kits will be made, so order with confidence.

I also wanted to say a special thank you to everyone who supported this set. You guys showed that the interest in Alps sets is not inconsequential, despite initial doubts at the price per key of this set. Hopefully, this can pave the way for more Alps sets in the future.

[TjarleN]

All kits will be made

Glad to hear that.

[Fredington]

LAST CALL! Closing tomorrow!

[FearsomeCubedWarrior]

~

[Friendship]

All kits will be made

YEEHAW! Thanks for running this beautiful set!

[Define]

Also pulled the trigger on base and accents. Alps caps are rare.
Curious about the final numbers though!

[The0rigina1]

Bought base and relegendables, cuz I don't use JIS (also not full JIS), the accent kit doesn't look the part imo (and it ruins the retro grey beige vibe),
and I don't really plan on using this great retro on anything other than a tkl or full size 
Also, if you don't mind, would you share the final sales number? just curious, thanks 

[Fredington]

Also pulled the trigger on base and accents. Alps caps are rare.
Curious about the final numbers though!

It will close tonight and take a few days to tally everything.

[gaunt]

RIP, 2 days too late to find this - there should be some newsletter for Alps-related group buys, I don't pay enough attention anymore since almost everything is MX-related. Looks like an awesome project, best of luck to you.

[joshuarubin]

DCS 9009 has an alps kit and is running now. https://cannonkeys.com/collections/featured/products/dcs-9009

[Fredington]

RIP, 2 days too late to find this - there should be some newsletter for Alps-related group buys, I don't pay enough attention anymore since almost everything is MX-related. Looks like an awesome project, best of luck to you.

There will be extras early next year.

[gaunt]

RIP, 2 days too late to find this - there should be some newsletter for Alps-related group buys, I don't pay enough attention anymore since almost everything is MX-related. Looks like an awesome project, best of luck to you.

There will be extras early next year.

Oooh, I'll need to keep an eye out then 

[dvorcol]

[TjarleN]

Wow the numbers doubled in the last week.

Pretty solid after the slow start.

[The0rigina1]

Show Image

Looks good, especially without extras  :thumb:

[tex_live_utility]

Is there any chance of a future run in MX?

[audax989]

Thank you for running this set!

[Fredington]

Is there any chance of a future run in MX?

Of course there’s a chance

[dvorcol]

More

<-- without extras