Phantom Custom Keyboard Group Buy (CLOSED)

[litster]

Since test plates are done and teset PCBs are ordered, I ordered the rest of the parts to get ready to build the first complete Phantom prototype.  The last remaining part is the firmware for Teensy.  

I am wondering if anyone could port the AIKON firmware to run on Teensy, so one could use AIKON's software to configure the Teensy for Phantom.  Anyone?  :-)

[Skoobs]

if you guys get a lot of orders for clear switches i would like to buy some.

maybe even browns or blues as well. would love to try blues with clear springs.

[dorkvader]

if you guys get a lot of orders for clear switches i would like to buy some.

maybe even browns or blues as well. would love to try blues with clear springs.

Strikes me as the best use for clear springs. I'm considering changing my order to blues... maybe I can drop by a bestbuy and try blues sometime? I've never been in a bestbuy, so I don't know if they let you do that there.

[TheProfosist]

the bigger question is if they have one on display.  if they do, they let you play with them.

If not you can test the black window sorta because the arrow keys are exposed.

[hashbaz]

Strikes me as the best use for clear springs. I'm considering changing my order to blues... maybe I can drop by a bestbuy and try blues sometime? I've never been in a bestbuy, so I don't know if they let you do that there.

No Fry's close to you?

[dorkvader]

No Fry's close to you?

I live on the east coast: The closest one appears to be in Indiana:
http://www.frys.com/ac/storelocator/index.jsp

No surprise I hadn't heard of them until recently, when I read posts about people buying parts from them locally. Looks like the only one that's even in the same time zone is in Georgia.
---
Thanks for the info everyone. I think there's a bestbuy near where I go to college, so I'll see if I can try it out.

[litster]

Test PCBs are on their way to me, should be delivered early next week.  2 new plates are coming to me from BiNiaRiS as well.  Most of the rest of the parts I need have arrived, minus Cherry stabilizers, which should be here in 2 weeks.  Kaiserreich is getting me some costar stabilizers from taobao, but no ETA.  I can probably cannibalize one of my Filcos for its costar stabilizers :-(.

Does anyone have any suggestions on paint to use for the aluminum mounting plate?  It is silver and it doesn't look too awesome.  I want to get it to at least matt black, if not some flashy color like blue or red.  Any suggestion which paint and where to get it (prefer obtainable locally.

Thanks.

[TheProfosist]

wasd will have the costar plate mounts soon

[trax]

Test PCBs are on their way to me, should be delivered early next week.  2 new plates are coming to me from BiNiaRiS as well.  Most of the rest of the parts I need have arrived, minus Cherry stabilizers, which should be here in 2 weeks.  Kaiserreich is getting me some costar stabilizers from taobao, but no ETA.  I can probably cannibalize one of my Filcos for its costar stabilizers :-(.

Does anyone have any suggestions on paint to use for the aluminum mounting plate?  It is silver and it doesn't look too awesome.  I want to get it to at least matt black, if not some flashy color like blue or red.  Any suggestion which paint and where to get it (prefer obtainable locally.

Thanks.

Cant you use a graffiti can (or whatever its called) to paint them?
Would be very fast, just do it a few times.

[litster]

yes, I could use that, if I knew what paint it is and where to get them.

[dorkvader]

I think he means spraypaint: You can get it in matte at a local walmart, hardware store, etc.

That's what I'm planning at least.

[TheProfosist]

You should get some spray on truck bed liner and try that to dampen the noise of the switch. I was thinking about trying the stuff from rustoleum as I have always had good luck with their products.

[Findecanor]

Does anyone have any suggestions on paint to use for the aluminum mounting plate?  It is silver and it doesn't look too awesome.  I want to get it to at least matt black, if not some flashy color like blue or red.  Any suggestion which paint and where to get it (prefer obtainable locally.

First find spray primer for aluminium. Then select the same brand of spray paint.
You should use the same brand for primer, paint and (optional) top coat, if possible. There are many good brands of spray paint, but not as many that have a primer that is made especially for aluminium. There shouldn't be any problem finding matt black, I think; That is one of the most common ones.

[litster]

You should get some spray on truck bed liner and try that to dampen the noise of the switch. I was thinking about trying the stuff from rustoleum as I have always had good luck with their products.

I'd imagine that truck liner would increase the thickness of the plate too much, which I wouldn't recommend that.

First find spray primer for aluminium. Then select the same brand of spray paint.
You should use the same brand for primer, paint and (optional) top coat, if possible. There are many good brands of spray paint, but not as many that have a primer that is made especially for aluminium. There shouldn't be any problem finding matt black, I think; That is one of the most common ones.

I will have to check Home Depot to see what they have.  Thanks.

[TheProfosist]

I'd imagine that truck liner would increase the thickness of the plate too much, which I wouldn't recommend that.

I was thinking teh same thing but the only way to know would be to try and find out.

[alaricljs]

I will have to check Home Depot to see what they have.  Thanks.

Check AutoZone/Pep Boys/random Joe auto store... May have better luck getting metal specific primers/paints.

[TheProfosist]

Just got my 3 PLUs in todsay they to me look like exact  clones of Filcos from what I have seen I dont have a Filco my self to compare exactly.

[litster]

So I did some testing on one of the the second set of mounting plates.  This video demonstrates that it is possible to open up a plate-mounted switch on Phantom's metal plate without de-soldering it first.  In fact, the 4 holes on the PCB is not necessary, but are there just in case.

Way to go, PrinsValim!!

[video=youtube;HLQzFEdBTvQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLQzFEdBTvQ[/video]

[dorkvader]

Oh, I see how it works, I'm very happy about that. Thanks for the video!

Phantom is very cool.

[RiGS]

Cool video. Thanks.

[litster]

OK, a 720p video at a better angle.

[video=youtube;HysRQnJiupQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HysRQnJiupQ[/video]

[kaiserreich]

The plate looks pretty darn thick.

[TheProfosist]

The plate looks pretty darn thick.

Plate thickness is standard so im sure that they stuck with  that.

[dorkvader]

The plate looks pretty darn thick.

and awesome! I'm sure litster has a standard-size one: it appears to work with his switch there, so I'm sure it's within spec.

Thanks for the better angle, though your ugly hands are still in it. It looks like it's not too easy to change these, but since it's possible I'm sure it won't be a huge issue. Changing switches around is a hassle anyway.

[hashbaz]

So I did some testing on one of the the second set of mounting plates.  This video demonstrates that it is possible to open up a plate-mounted switch on Phantom's metal plate without de-soldering it first.  In fact, the 4 holes on the PCB is not necessary, but are there just in case.

Way to go, PrinsValim!!

Yes!

[litster]

and awesome! I'm sure litster has a standard-size one: it appears to work with his switch there, so I'm sure it's within spec.

Thanks for the better angle, though your ugly hands are still in it. It looks like it's not too easy to change these, but since it's possible I'm sure it won't be a huge issue. Changing switches around is a hassle anyway.

It is actually a lot easier to open a switch than it looks in the video.  It took me longer because I actually had to keep the switch *down* with one of the  screw drivers so the switch bottom doesn't fly out and ruin the shot :-).  I just pulled all the stems and springs from a Cherry POS keyboard (like 120 switches?) in less than 25 minutes actual time.  

The spec plate thickness is 1/16 inch, and our plate is also 1/16 inch.  I tried a Costar stabilizer clip and it was a tight fit, but it works.

Shoulda had my nails done first...  I just got some spray paint from O'Reilly.  The plate is being dried now.

[Skoobs]

wait...so you guys are saying I might be able to change the switch type of my das keyboard? This would be quite exciting. I got browns, but they are so boring imo.

[bpiphany]

wait...so you guys are saying I might be able to change the switch type of my das keyboard? This would be quite exciting. I got browns, but they are so boring imo.

Sure thing, just let me design a mounting plate for your switches, have it water cut, surface treated, and swap your old one out... Easy peasy!

[litster]

Skoobs, only PrinsValium's awesome, kickass, super duper custom Phantom mounting plate can do this.  As far as we know, no other existing keyboard can do this.  Not even Korean custom keyboards.  Definitely not your Das.  Not unless you have PrinsValium design a new plate for your Das and have it made.

[dorkvader]

Not unless you have PrinsValium design a new plate for your Das and have it made.

Sure thing, just let me design a mounting plate for your switches, have it water cut, surface treated, and swap your old one out... Easy peasy!

He did say it was "Easy peasy", is a das phantom in the works?

[litster]

Just took delivery of our first test PCB!!

I have all the parts EXCEPT stabilizers.  I ordered some but they are back-ordered.  Does anyone have extra Cherry stabilizers that you can sell to me so I can complete the prototype build?

[keyboardlover]

Do you need pcb-mounted cherry stabilizers? I think I have some laying around...

[litster]

I need plate-mounted ones.

[bpiphany]

Honestly, that looks slick beyond my wildest dreams =D Let's just hope they work as well...

[TheProfosist]

I have some plate mounted  costar knock offs from the PLUs that I bought.

[litster]

TheProfosist, did you disassambled your PLU keyboards?

[TheProfosist]

TheProfosist, did you disassambled your PLU keyboards?

Yep I have almost everything apart I should get to desoldering the switching sometime this week but otherwise everything is in pieces.

[litster]

mind selling a set of stabilizers to me?

[TheProfosist]

mind selling a set of stabilizers to me?

not a problem though I wouldnt recommended using them in the final build get some from WASD once he has them as these are knockoffs and fit much looser buit should be fine for a mock up.

[litster]

OK then.  I already tested with some fake costar stabilizers, but they are like 15 years old.  They don't fit very well.  My original order of Cherry stabilizers are back ordered at newark.com.  I just ordered again from onlinecomponents.com, but they are much more expensive.  They should be here in a week.

[TheProfosist]

OK then.  I already tested with some fake costar stabilizers, but they are like 15 years old.  They don't fit very well.  My original order of Cherry stabilizers are back ordered at newark.com.  I just ordered again from onlinecomponents.com, but they are much more expensive.  They should be here in a week.

Did you still want the ones from the PLU I could ship them tomorrow if that is the case.

[litster]

No thanks.  But thanks for the offer.  I will wait for the Cherry ones.

[TheProfosist]

No thanks.  But thanks for the offer.  I will wait for the Cherry ones.

Ok, hope WASD puts the Costar ones up on his site soon.

[hashbaz]

Exciting!  The first Phantom is nearly complete...

[TheProfosist]

This makes me sad because we were much further ahead with the dox build and now wever fallen behind

[Tarkoon]

Hmm, this look makes me thinking about changing my order from ISO to ANSI and get clear keycaps with clear acrylic case to see everything in this board.

[litster]

I was able to butcher my Goldtouch numpads to get 5 Cherry plate-mounted stabilizers (will replace once my new Cherry stabilizers arrive.  A couple of issues:

- due to the water jet's diameter, the inside corners are not 90-degree cuts.  They are a little round, just a little.  But enough to make the stabilizers not fit.  A little filing to make the corner 90 degrees will fix it.
- The cutouts to support both Cherry and Costar stabilizers did not pan out.  The little notch on the top of the stabilizer cutout to support Costar stabilizers made Cherry stabilizers not able to clip onto the plate securely.  There is nothing for the hook to grab onto.  This is something Prinsvalium pointed out before and now has been confirmed.

So a few things buyers need to be aware of:
- Filing is required.  There is a very small risk that you file down too much and your stabilizers don't fit tightly on the plate any more.  If that happens, a little bit of glue should fix it.

- Phantom will not support multiple stabilizers (not a problem with the 7bit layout as it doesn't need any).  We are not going to have multiple plate designs to support either of the stabilizers.  That would DOUBLE the number of plate ANSI and ISO designs that we already have.  More plate designs, higher cost, lower bulk buying power, easier to screw up your orders.

- We will switch to support only Cherry plate-mounted stabilizers.  The reason is, even though they are back-ordered, when online stores have them back in stock, you can buy hundreds of them.  And you know they are made by Cherry.  It is still unclear to me how we could procure the number of Costar stabilizers we would need for this project.  And they may not be as good as the real Costar stabilizers you have in your Filco keyboards.  WASDKeyboards may have them in stock in the future.  But no one knows how many there will be in stock, available for how long, how much, and of what quality.

Please keep these in mind when you order (or change your order).

[litster]

This makes me sad because we were much further ahead with the dox build and now wever fallen behind

This is not a competition :-).  We do it for fun.

we are not as close as you might think.  It is going to take me another few days to finish the prototype build.  I was only able to get 15 or so diodes inserted and soldered last night.

[RiGS]

I was able to butcher my Goldtouch numpads to get 5 Cherry plate-mounted stabilizers (will replace once my new Cherry stabilizers arrive.

Why did not you use your plate mounted WYSE stabilizers? It seems everyone is raving about those.
Do you see any difference between the Goldtouch Cherry plate-mounted stabilizers and the WYSE?

[litster]

The Wyse keyboards I have use PCB-mount Cherry stabilizers, even though the switches are plate-mount.

Edit: Oh, and the Goldtouch Cherry stabilizers look exactly the same as the currently Cherry stabilizers (from pictures I found on the internet).