Author Topic: Aluminum Case for Filco Tenkeyless (Read 9534 times)

litster · « **on:** Sat, 03 December 2011, 22:56:26 »

Three months ago, I left one of my treasured Filco keyboards with a friend of a friend who has access to the necessary resources, I see the result in person the first time today.

For questions I think people will ask, here are the answers:

- this is a prototype, nowhere near final.
- The final one will not look like this.
- the under plate is going to be re-made for this prototype.
- Those tiny slots will be gone, most likely.
- It could use a warmer. The case is super cold to touch! Great for the summer heat. Not so much for the winter.
- This thing is heavy. And rock solid. If you could balance, you could stand on its edge and it would support your weight.
- As you see it in the picture, it is not polished or coated. We may anodized it later.
- No, you can't have the CAD file. I won't have the CAD file myself.
- A couple will be made for me and my friend, but it will be at least a few months away.
- No, this won't be part of the Phantom group buy.

tsangan · « **Reply #1 on:** Sat, 03 December 2011, 23:05:21 »

Oh man, give it another 3-6 months, we could have Korean-esque keyboards soon.

Thanks lister and your friend!

mmmty · « **Reply #2 on:** Sat, 03 December 2011, 23:08:43 »

Did somebody say Aluminum Keyboard??

demik · « **Reply #3 on:** Sat, 03 December 2011, 23:10:48 »

No, he said aluminum case.

tsangan · « **Reply #4 on:** Sat, 03 December 2011, 23:11:04 »

The day these custom cases is available is the day I get my Filco to put it in

demik · « **Reply #5 on:** Sat, 03 December 2011, 23:12:42 »

If he decides to share the wealth.

nolliepoper · « **Reply #6 on:** Sat, 03 December 2011, 23:33:57 »

Looks amazing, can't wait for the group buy.

tsangan · « **Reply #7 on:** Sat, 03 December 2011, 23:37:31 »

That rough look i think looks better then polish, and definitely better then anodize, too bad it's going to tarnish in this state.

Also definitely need some nubs for feet, flat keyboards are mehh

whiskerBox · « **Reply #8 on:** Sat, 03 December 2011, 23:39:36 »

Looks good things sure are getting interesting around here

litster · « **Reply #9 on:** Sat, 03 December 2011, 23:39:48 »

Quote from: tsangan;463747

Also definitely need some nubs for feet, flat keyboards are mehh

Quote from: litster;463732

- this is a prototype, nowhere near final.
- The final one will not look like this.

dorkvader · « **Reply #10 on:** Sun, 04 December 2011, 03:56:40 »

wow, that's a LOT of CNC work! I imagine the Al stock alone cost a lot.

Looks excellent, though. Anodyze it like a typenow solid.

godofdeath · « **Reply #11 on:** Sun, 04 December 2011, 11:57:49 »

powder coat it

Clickey · « **Reply #12 on:** Sun, 04 December 2011, 13:55:14 »

Looks amazing, but I am assuming you are not going to have any extras made to sell to us?

litster · « **Reply #13 on:** Sun, 04 December 2011, 15:20:59 »

We are a long, long way from that.

digitalleftovers · « **Reply #14 on:** Sun, 04 December 2011, 15:24:12 »

Perhaps this question has been asked many times, but is their a logistical reason to using aluminium over another material? Obviously the CNC process for stainless steel would require harder bits, but the material itself would be cheaper.

pitashen · « **Reply #15 on:** Sun, 04 December 2011, 16:02:29 »

Quote from: digitalleftovers;464035

Perhaps this question has been asked many times, but is their a logistical reason to using aluminium over another material? Obviously the CNC process for stainless steel would require harder bits, but the material itself would be cheaper.

I believe alum being easier to work with could play a part or two in cost.

Nice work indeed!

How does the overall thickness compare to the Korean counter part?

litster · « **Reply #16 on:** Sun, 04 December 2011, 16:31:33 »

I have no idea. I have not seen one in person.

heliar · « **Reply #17 on:** Sun, 04 December 2011, 21:29:46 »

i want a wood one, accoustic wise must be more desirable.

hashbaz · « **Reply #18 on:** Sun, 04 December 2011, 21:37:58 »

Looks great litster.

Does it ping?

jpm804 · « **Reply #19 on:** Sun, 04 December 2011, 22:25:59 »

Nice looking case lister...

laffindude · « **Reply #20 on:** Mon, 05 December 2011, 05:02:08 »

Quote from: digitalleftovers;464035

Perhaps this question has been asked many times, but is their a logistical reason to using aluminium over another material? Obviously the CNC process for stainless steel would require harder bits, but the material itself would be cheaper.

Take longer to mill. Time on the machine greatly outweigh the cost of the material itself.

omgFiRE · « **Reply #21 on:** Mon, 05 December 2011, 05:40:15 »

Quote from: litster;463732

The case is super cold to touch! Great for the summer heat. Not so much for the winter.

Aluminum is one of the best thermal conductor (is slightly inferior to copper and silver). Aluminum's thermal conductivity is 237 W/mK. While thermal conductivity for instance of titanium is 21.9 W/mK. That is why titanium is more than ten times "warmer" to touch. Stainless steel have even less thermal conductivity.
Aluminum usually is a poor choice for something you need to touch. For example aluminum dishes (mugs, spoons, forks) widely spread in USSR was a bad idea.

laffindude · « **Reply #22 on:** Mon, 05 December 2011, 07:57:23 »

Not to mention aluminum gives you Alzheimer and Parkinson.

DaemonRaccoon · « **Reply #23 on:** Mon, 05 December 2011, 08:29:19 »

Care to site some sources?

ishtob · « **Reply #24 on:** Mon, 05 December 2011, 09:18:07 »

Quote from: digitalleftovers;464035

Perhaps this question has been asked many times, but is their a logistical reason to using aluminium over another material? Obviously the CNC process for stainless steel would require harder bits, but the material itself would be cheaper.

it is cheaper to machine aluminum in terms of tooling, and stainless steel is still more expensive than aluminum depending on the composition of the alloy

digitalleftovers · « **Reply #25 on:** Mon, 05 December 2011, 11:58:13 »

Quote from: laffindude;464376

Take longer to mill. Time on the machine greatly outweigh the cost of the material itself.

That makes sense...

shawn o · « **Reply #26 on:** Mon, 05 December 2011, 16:00:13 »

I can imagine something like this easily costing $2-300. Wouldn't the aluminum alone be over $100?

Elrick · « **Reply #27 on:** Wed, 18 January 2012, 16:50:31 »

Quote from: heliar;464215

i want a wood one, accoustic wise must be more desirable.

That sounds good, I think material wise it's way cheaper than Aluminium and Stainless Steel. Plus each casing milled from wood is different and unique.

If you ever decide to engage in this type of material, I would be interested. But then again I'm interested in anything to do with keyboard casings.

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Author Topic: Aluminum Case for Filco Tenkeyless (Read 9534 times)