Phantom Custom Keyboard Group Buy (CLOSED)

[litster]

Good news! WASDkeyboards can help us with Costar 2x stabilizers. I will still have to bend 30 7x stabilizers, but good that we have a source for 2x stabilizers, inserts, and clips.

Totally unrelated, but here is a picture of the Phantom prototype dressed in Cherry dye sub keycaps, plus Cherry RGB dye sub modifiers, plus Tarkoon's Blue Esc keycap and handbag capslock.

I have been just having the prototype sitting on the bottom half of a Filco case. The exposed white-colored plate makes it pleasant to look at. It is nice and free. Like surfing the web in your underwear!  :-)

[TheProfosist]

great to hear wanting it even more

[tsangan]

You need a red esc in there litster!

[litster]

It is coming... ;-)

[digitalleftovers]

Ok.  I put an order in.  I know we have no source for mx greens, and I certainly haven't found one yet on my own, but I thought I would throw it in there just to express interest.

[TheProfosist]

Ok.  I put an order in.  I know we have no source for mx greens, and I certainly haven't found one yet on my own, but I thought I would throw it in there just to express interest.

There is going to be a groupbuy or you could do getto greens

[tsangan]

Ok.  I put an order in.  I know we have no source for mx greens, and I certainly haven't found one yet on my own, but I thought I would throw it in there just to express interest.

There is going to be a groupbuy or you could do getto greens

Even if you find it, it would be a lot much more affordable to go with the ghetto green mod instead

[NumberJ]

Even if you find it, it would be a lot much more affordable to go with the ghetto green mod instead

How exactly does the ghetto green mod work again? Is it just a blue switch with a black spring?

[digitalleftovers]

That is what I was considering (blue with black spring).  I did see prices on grey switches, and yeah, if green is similar than it won't be worth it.  But, as I said, consider it interest until we know for sure.  

I also noticed that Cherry lists two types of grey switches.  A linear 2.8oz (MX1A-2XXX), and a tactile 2.8 oz (MX1A-DXXX).  But, I haven't seen those either so probably in the same boat with greens.  The reason for the greens was an attempt at more of an alps-like feel.  I've got some black switches in the mail, so I'll see what I can do.

[bpiphany]

I ordered a bunch of the linear MX gray from mouser a while back (MX1A-21NW). I thought I should try them out on a keyboard, but they are way too heavy for me to put on an entire board... So I've got plenty of them to get rid of. Some I've pulled the stem and spring from already to combine PCB/plate mount switches as I've needed them. So I could reassemble both PCB and plate mount switches if anyone is interested. I paid $1.80 each and would only want to get that back.

[hazeluff]

I've suddenly pursuaded myself to get one of these:


TEENSY 1
PHANTOM 1

PHANSIWIN 1

DIODE 100
MXBROWN 100
MXCLEAR 2 --just cos i want to mess with some switches
MXBLACK 2
MXBLUE 2
MXRED 2
MXDARKBLUE 2

But just wondering about the stabilizers for like shift/enter/space...Can I order them, or do I have to get them myself? Also LEDs.

[bpiphany]

the ONLY reason for buying an actual green switch is for the novelty of having the green stem under the key... for some, it's worth it.

Gotta catch them all... I would certainly want to have a few only to have them =)

It's also sort of like 0 ohm resistors, sorta stupid, why not use a jumper.. but it looks nice.

But just wondering about the stabilizers for like shift/enter/space...Can I order them, or do I have to get them myself? Also LEDs.

The intention is that there will be stabilizers included in the group buy. Probably some LEDs too, one or two colors perhaps. There are tons of different LEDs, and they are cheap enough for everyone to be bought with fitting resistors on their own. That way there are more options for the ones who like to customize.

[hazeluff]

The intention is that there will be stabilizers included in the group buy. Probably some LEDs too, one or two colors perhaps. There are tons of different LEDs, and they are cheap enough for everyone to be bought with fitting resistors on their own. That way there are more options for the ones who like to customize.

So I'll wait till these are added to the list?

[litster]

Stabilizers are already there, I don't know for sure whether they are Cherry or Costar.  WASDkeyboards.com is going to help us with stabilizers clips, inserts, and 2x and 6.25x stabilizer bars.  For PHANSI and PHISO plates, I will bend 7x stabilizer bars for the group buy.  I think I will need to bend over 30 of them, and then later mail them to BiNiaRiS and 7bit for final delivery!!!!  

For LEDs and resistors, I am thinking to just order LEDs of 2 colors, and bunch of matching resistors, and just throw them in with each PCB order.  I think we will have money to cover the parts since they are so cheap.  

I really like the white LEDs because they are cool looking and unique for keyboards.  Anyone want to pick out another color?  Please post a link to digikey and mouser for the parts.  The white LEDs I chose is 3.5v and paired with 75 ohm resistors.

I still need to lock down on the pricing.

[TheProfosist]

White is good maybe red and not too bright most leds on keyboards scorch my eyes.

[bpiphany]

White is good maybe red and not too bright most leds on keyboards scorch my eyes.

PWM for beginners.

[TheProfosist]

PWM for beginners.

O yea forgot about the PWM that was implemented. Then, buy the brightest LED so that people who want to scorch their eyes really can and have a setting for people like me where its noticeable but not glaring right in your eye.

[hazeluff]

Stabilizers are already there, I don't know for sure whether they are Cherry or Costar. WASDkeyboards.com is going to help us with stabilizers clips, inserts, and 2x and 6.25x stabilizer bars. For PHANSI and PHISO plates, I will bend 7x stabilizer bars for the group buy. I think I will need to bend over 30 of them, and then later mail them to BiNiaRiS and 7bit for final delivery!!!!

For LEDs and resistors, I am thinking to just order LEDs of 2 colors, and bunch of matching resistors, and just throw them in with each PCB order. I think we will have money to cover the parts since they are so cheap.

I really like the white LEDs because they are cool looking and unique for keyboards. Anyone want to pick out another color? Please post a link to digikey and mouser for the parts. The white LEDs I chose is 3.5v and paired with 75 ohm resistors.

I still need to lock down on the pricing.

Alright, thats cool. So should I expect a email back from the bot when I order?

I love purple, http://search.digikey.com/uk/en/products/UV3TZ-395-30/492-1319-ND/2407230. But I don't mind it being blue/red.

PWM for beginners.

Let me explain it:

We turn the LED on and off really fast and control the length of how long it is 'on' and 'off'. Don't worry it doesn't damage it. We won't see it flashing on and off, since of the high frequency, but we'll see a change in brightness. The more often it is 'on', the brighter.

[riffautae]

Look what just arrived
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 38084[/ATTACH]

[litster]

That's fast!  It ships from Oregon.  Where are you at?  Look forward to testing your new firmware builds!

[riffautae]

I'm east coast. And yea I am setting up the in chip debug tools as we speak.

[bpiphany]

Adapter to be able to use the stock Filco cable without modifying it. I never manage to solder wires neatly =P I made the miniUSB cable part too short, the gland on the Filco cable doesn't reach all the way to the hole in the case... The stump I used was too short to start with, so no loss really, I just need to cut a new one.

[litster]

We would like to close this Phantom group buy by January 31st.  Please get your orders in now.  7bit is updating the price list and will send new invoices to all buyers soon.  Thanks.

[F u r u y á]

Will the controller come with a basic functional firmware? Or will we have to either build our own or wait for someone to write one?


Also, I see that 7bit layout is the only one with place for an extra key in the Shift row. Is that correct? If so, I assume that it allows to build a PT-BR layout (it's ISO with an extra key next to the right Shift).

Still, it would be weird because 7bit layout it's weird by design (1.25 key not in the rightmost place! :tongue1:)

[litster]

If the shift row you want is just like the 7bit layout, then the PCB can support it, but we don't have a plate layout like that (extra keys on the shift row with normal PHANSIWIN front row.  Maybe PrinsValium can create a special layout for you so you can cut your own plate.

[tsangan]

We would like to close this Phantom group buy by January 31st.  Please get your orders in now.  7bit is updating the price list and will send new invoices to all buyers soon.  Thanks.

Awesome to hear!

Any update on the acrylic casing group buy? Would they end approximately the same time?

[litster]

BTW, I have had over 1,600 clicks on my Phantom signature :-)

[F u r u y á]

If the shift row you want is just like the 7bit layout, then the PCB can support it, but we don't have a plate layout like that (extra keys on the shift row with normal PHANSIWIN front row.  Maybe PrinsValium can create a special layout for you so you can cut your own plate.

PH7BIT doesn't do it?

Code: [Select]

PH7BIT          |  1|   35|mount plate 7BIT

[litster]

PH7BIT doesn't do it?

Code: [Select]

PH7BIT          |  1|   35|mount plate 7BIT

Sure, if you want your spacebar be broken into a few tiny ones.

[litster]

Will the controller come with a basic functional firmware? Or will we have to either build our own or wait for someone to write one?

Didn't reply to this part.  6KRO firmware is already working, perfectly I must say.  Flashing firmware onto Teensy is very easy.  We will provide the firmware .hex files for all layouts.  You just need to download the upload software that runs on Linux, Windows, and Mac and it takes no time to do it.  

You all should get yourselves familiar with how to do it so you can flash your firmware when you receive your Phantom kit, and then later upgrade to NKRO over USB if/when it becomes available.  If you use one of the soldering service providers, contact them about flashing firmware for you.  If you are going to solder yourselves, I believe you won't need any help flashing firmware.

[F u r u y á]

Didn't reply to this part.  6KRO firmware is already working, perfectly I must say.  Flashing firmware onto Teensy is very easy.  We will provide the firmware .hex files for all layouts.  You just need to download the upload software that runs on Linux, Windows, and Mac and it takes no time to do it.  

You all should get yourselves familiar with how to do it so you can flash your firmware when you receive your Phantom kit, and then later upgrade to NKRO over USB if/when it becomes available.  If you use one of the soldering service providers, contact them about flashing firmware for you.  If you are going to solder yourselves, I believe you won't need any help flashing firmware.

Thanks.

I was interested in this because I have all the tools for soldering and I've implemented a firmware before (actually I'm electrical engineer), so building a Phantom should be no problem for me. But I guess I'll pass it for now (I didn't realize that about the spacebar with PH7BIT).

Trying to stick to my "natural" layout only complicates things. sigh

[hashbaz]

We would like to close this Phantom group buy by January 31st.  Please get your orders in now.  7bit is updating the price list and will send new invoices to all buyers soon.  Thanks.

Snap, looks like I need to get off the fence and decide what I want.

[Tranquilite]

Welp, looks like I will be buying one of these, however I have one question before submitting my order. I have a Donor board with Cherry PCB mount stabilizers. Are these compatible with the phantom? If not is there some place I can just get the plate mounting clips, or should I just suck it up and order some costar stabilizers?

Edit: Did some reading, looks like pcb mount stabilizers are a no-go, and I can get cherry plate mount stabilizers from mouser. Depending on the updated price list I may just go with that.

[litster]

PCB-mount switches could be used, if you take the time to cut off the two little pins off of each switch's bottom case.  If you do that, you will want to do a very good job and make sure the bottom is flush or the switch won't sit properly on the PCB.

[Tarkoon]

Will the controller come with a basic functional firmware? Or will we have to either build our own or wait for someone to write one?


Also, I see that 7bit layout is the only one with place for an extra key in the Shift row. Is that correct? If so, I assume that it allows to build a PT-BR layout (it's ISO with an extra key next to the right Shift).

Still, it would be weird because 7bit layout it's weird by design (1.25 key not in the rightmost place! :tongue1:)

That's exactly what I asked for much earlier! An ISOWIN with split right shift... And I am still sure that there are more who would like that!

[F u r u y á]

That's exactly what I asked for much earlier! An ISOWIN with split right shift... And I am still sure that there are more who would like that!

I asked BiNiaRiS about that, let's see what he says.

[7bit]

Will the controller come with a basic functional firmware? Or will we have to either build our own or wait for someone to write one?


Also, I see that 7bit layout is the only one with place for an extra key in the Shift row. Is that correct? If so, I assume that it allows to build a PT-BR layout (it's ISO with an extra key next to the right Shift).

Still, it would be weird because 7bit layout it's weird by design (1.25 key not in the rightmost place! :tongue1:)

The reason for Shift being at their inner-most positions is that on ANSI-layouts you can hit shift at the same places. Left and right of them are the extra keys. My layout is not made for ISO layout which seems quite weird to me.

If you find a way to mount the stabilisers, you can fit a 7 units space bar to a 7BIT layout keyboard.

[OkGold]

what a neat project! wish I could get in on it, but con season approaches.

hope we'll see lots of cool keyboards when you guys get rolling~!

[scrubadub]

Alright, I'm in!

Code: [Select]

TEENSY 1
PHANTOM 1
PHANSI 1
MXRED 90
DIODE 100
STAB200 4
STAB700 1

Hopefully my order was right, I pretty much cut and paste it from the front page. Now I just need to find the keycaps to actually put on the board.

[alaricljs]

What's your fancy for keycaps?

[scrubadub]

What's your fancy for keycaps?

I'd like to find a nice set of black on white doubleshots with beige modifiers. I'm camping out Ascaii's leftovers thread on DT (or wait for GB3). I'd also like to track down a 7x black space bar and 1.5 Control/Alt keys in white on black to complete my existing set (which has a bunch of 1.25x keys). I'll probably also order some custom keys via WASD to replace the unused Scroll Lock, Pause, etc.

[mkawa]

what is the projected delivery date for these (for the US)? i'd like to buy into the boards in particular, but if i'm going to build up a project around the board, i don't want to have to deal with a floating deadline like eg the key gbs

[hazeluff]

what is the projected delivery date for these (for the US)? i'd like to buy into the boards in particular, but if i'm going to build up a project around the board, i don't want to have to deal with a floating deadline like eg the key gbs

If you're talking about R4 GB, that ones just a mess. This ones moving on properly.

[mkawa]

does that mean there's a projected delivery date?

[alaricljs]

Litster wants to close the GB Jan 31st.  As for projected delivery that depends on everyone paying and a number of different vendors manufacturing and delivering product.  Not the easiest thing to predict.

[hazeluff]

does that mean there's a projected delivery date?

Maybe not a projected delivery date. But its running into less issues/detours than R4 is.

[litster]

Litster wants to close the GB Jan 31st.  As for projected delivery that depends on everyone paying and a number of different vendors manufacturing and delivering product.  Not the easiest thing to predict.

alaricljs is correct.  Any date I give you now other than the closing date is going to be wrong.  We still have a few things to close out, but we are on the right track though.

[Sojik]

Everything we need to build this keyboard can be purchased from this group buy besides the Filco case and keycaps, correct?

Secondly, will the 7bit layout allow for those 5 buttons above the arrow keys (to make it a 3x5 block of keys)? If so the Filco case would need to be modified to fit, yeah? How hard was it to make your own case? Did it require any special equipment?

[litster]

yes, besides case and keycaps, you should be able to get everything you need in this group buy.  every plate and PCB combination lets you create a 3x5 block on the right.  You just need to figure out what to do with the case.  If you already have a Filco case, you can just put the Phantom onto the bottom shell of the Filco case.

This cardboard case is pretty easy to make :D  You just need some cardboards, a cutter, a ruler and an hour or two.  LOL!!!

[jwaz]

Not sure if this was already suggested or not but what about a thinner aluminum case for this similar to the Vortex Pure?