[IC] Another Universal TKL plate / PCB GB

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Hey guys! I am desperately in the market for a Universal TKL Plate, and depending on the price, PCB.
I can't even find the last time a GB was done for this, but it seems to have been a few months. Nobody is stepping up to sell me one, so I figure I'll gauge interest in doing another GB on this.

To be clear. I'm new here, I don't know where to go to get plates and PCBs, and shipping to me, and from me, would add extra -weeks- to the GB as a whole.
that being said, I don't want to lead this group buy. I'm happy to if nobody else wants to step up, and people actually want me to run it. I can do the leg work no problem, but my running the GB adds more problems than it solves, so I figure somebody out there already have the info and contacts, and should be able to step up.

So, this is an interest check only from me, and a call for someone to lead a GB.

Are there enough people interested in getting this set up? Anyone have an idea of how many people we should be looking at before we try and proceed with a buy?

There aren't many universal TKLs plates out there, from what I can see, so let's add some more to the pool.

I'm down for one of each.

[jonathanyu]

  Interested in this. I like TKL

[Photekq]

Phantom GB has been run twice. Universal TKL plate was run, then WFD did a smaller run quite recently. I don't see another Phantom GB happening any time soon, if ever, but I wouldn't doubt WFD making more Universal TKL plates.

Also, don't expect people to 'step up' and sell you one. They're very useful items, and most of the time people would like to keep them.

You can have a plate made for yourself by a laser cutter. Find one online, or locally. I'm sure WFD would give you the files needed.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Hmm. Maybe I'll give WFD a shout, see if he wants to do another GB

[Photekq]

Hmm. Maybe I'll give WFD a shout, see if he wants to do another GB

I wouldn't ask him to do another GB. He's a busy guy.. However, he may have some spare plates. Also, I edited my previous post.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Well, too late. I just sent him a PM asking if he'd be interested. If he says no, no harm done right?
And I asked, failing that, if he could point me in the right direction for sourcing plates and PCBs so I could try and run the GB on my end (preferrably with a CONUS proxy)

[nickr]

Well, too late. I just sent him a PM asking if he'd be interested. If he says no, no harm done right?
And I asked, failing that, if he could point me in the right direction for sourcing plates and PCBs so I could try and run the GB on my end (preferrably with a CONUS proxy)

If you wouldn't mind, let me know what you find out about this.  I am definitely interested in this but missed the group buy.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

If there's enough feedback, even if I track down a plate for myself I'll at least try to facilitate a GB, even if I'm not running it.

[jdcarpe]

I thought WFD was selling the "leftover" Universal TKL plates still?

Also, if the PCB you mean in the Phantom, you'll need to contact bpiphany. It's his design, and he can have more made at PCBwing for a reasonable cost. But I'm not sure he would want to do another round so soon. So you may be out of luck there. Not sure.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Are there any other TKL PCBs out there? In the universal/Filco/QFR style? Or is Phantom the only one?

[jonathanyu]

Are there any other TKL PCBs out there? In the universal/Filco/QFR style? Or is Phantom the only one?

if you are talking about pcb, i think PS2AVR87 can be count as one. but PS2AVR87 can buy from GON.

[Vintage]

Also looking to get my hands on a universal plate   Would be sick if another GB happened.

[Photekq]

Are there any other TKL PCBs out there? In the universal/Filco/QFR style? Or is Phantom the only one?

There are others, but the Phantom is the only one that fits the QFR/Filco etc.

[oaklandishh]

I am interested. In the plate and possibly a PCB depending on price.

[lcs]

also interested. us new members are having a quite hard time finding these items.

[terran5992]

+Intrest from me , I Need One to build my custom keyboard

[BliTzKiN]

I'd be interested in roughly 2 pieces as well if this goes through

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Nobody interested in taking the reigns on this one? Seems like we've got plenty of buyers, we just need a recognized forum member to stand up and take the lead on the GB.

[SpAmRaY]

Nobody interested in taking the reigns on this one? Seems like we've got plenty of buyers, we just need a recognized forum member to stand up and take the lead on the GB.

  Right now a lot of people are in line for the GH60. There are already plans on future GH60/75 boards as well as ALPS projects coming.

And there are quite a few who are still waiting on their phantoms.

How many orders do you think are enough?

Also if your looking for some newly designed tkl PCB that's a huge request.

[Moosecraft]

Nobody interested in taking the reigns on this one? Seems like we've got plenty of buyers, we just need a recognized forum member to stand up and take the lead on the GB.

With everything going on atm I don't think this would be possible until atleast next year.

[MOZ]

I'd be interested in this as well, and willing to run the GB as I may get acrylic cut at cheap where I'm located, but not for atleast 2-3 months once my current projects are finished.

[Photekq]

Nobody interested in taking the reigns on this one? Seems like we've got plenty of buyers, we just need a recognized forum member to stand up and take the lead on the GB.

Why not run it yourself?

I'd be interested in this as well, and willing to run the GB as I may get acrylic cut at cheap where I'm located, but not for atleast 2-3 months once my current projects are finished.

I wouldn't recommend acrylic plates.

[MOZ]

I wouldn't recommend acrylic plates.

Why not?

Edit: OP, checked this: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=44896.0

[Photekq]

I wouldn't recommend acrylic plates.

Why not?

Edit: OP, checked this: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=44896.0

Because acrylic, especially at 1.5mm (cherry spec thickness), is very flimsy.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Nobody interested in taking the reigns on this one? Seems like we've got plenty of buyers, we just need a recognized forum member to stand up and take the lead on the GB.

Why not run it yourself?

I have the time, but not the connections. I don't know who to go to for a good price, and I know there's people out there who have done the GB before. If anyone wants to let me know who they've gone to in the past, I'd be happy to set this up. But I personally feel less comfortable sending hundreds of dollars to a member who was new on the boards, and wasn't a proven, trustworthy member.

Additionally, even though I can send out conus shipping, shipping to me, and back from me, would add a total of 2-3 weeks shipping time.

I feel like my running the GB would create more problems than it would solve.

However, if people want me to go forward with it, and I can get some info on who's run GBs like it in the past, with info on who to talk to for quotes, and a proxy set up stateside for shipping, yeah, I can do it.

So, that being said. Who's run past GBs for plates? And does anybody know who manufactured them?

Anybody have a link to the blueprint for the plate, and who created/owns the details so I can get permission?

There's a lot of information I need to gather for this, but I'll happily seek it. If nobody steps up, I'll probably put up the GB next week for it, and start contacting manufacturers.

[Photekq]

I have the time, but not the connections. I don't know who to go to for a good price, and I know there's people out there who have done the GB before. If anyone wants to let me know who they've gone to in the past, I'd be happy to set this up. But I personally feel less comfortable sending hundreds of dollars to a member who was new on the boards, and wasn't a proven, trustworthy member.

Additionally, even though I can send out conus shipping, shipping to me, and back from me, would add a total of 2-3 weeks shipping time.

I feel like my running the GB would create more problems than it would solve.

However, if people want me to go forward with it, and I can get some info on who's run GBs like it in the past, with info on who to talk to for quotes, and a proxy set up stateside for shipping, yeah, I can do it.

So, that being said. Who's run past GBs for plates? And does anybody know who manufactured them?

Anybody have a link to the blueprint for the plate, and who created/owns the details so I can get permission?

There's a lot of information I need to gather for this, but I'll happily seek it. If nobody steps up, I'll probably put up the GB next week for it, and start contacting manufacturers.

That's fair enough. If you do want to try and run it yourself :

-User Whitefiredragon made the universal tkl plate.
-You'll need to find a laser cutter who can do the plates. Since prices change as quantities increase you should maybe ask for a tiered price for quantities between say 10 and 50 units.

[The_Beast]

There's a lot of information I need to gather for this, but I'll happily seek it. If nobody steps up, I'll probably put up the GB next week for it, and start contacting manufacturers.

setting up a GB without a manufacture, price tiers, test plates... is a setup for disaster

[CalmB4tehPwn]

There's a lot of information I need to gather for this, but I'll happily seek it. If nobody steps up, I'll probably put up the GB next week for it, and start contacting manufacturers.

setting up a GB without a manufacture, price tiers, test plates... is a setup for disaster

That's why I haven't set anything up yet, and don't plan to until I have all the information I need, and can give a clear, concise, and well executed GB. I might be new to GBing, but it seems as long as I keep my head on straight and do it right, there's no reason it should be difficult.

If I can get in contact with the people I need to for this info.

[Vintage]

Sweet man. Excited to see if you pull it off!

[MOZ]

What material do you plan on getting these made from?

[CalmB4tehPwn]

What material do you plan on getting these made from?

Aluminum is the standard, no? Inexpensive, lightweight (though I like weight), and relatively strong.

[SpAmRaY]

What material do you plan on getting these made from?

Aluminum is the standard, no? Inexpensive, lightweight (though I like weight), and relatively strong.

Most of the recent plates have been stainless steel.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Oh! That's cool.

I'm fine either way, but wouldn't mind getting it anodized, and I figure Au would be cheaper to source and work.

Any input? What do you guys prefer?

[SpAmRaY]

Oh! That's cool.

I'm fine either way, but wouldn't mind getting it anodized, and I figure Au would be cheaper to source and work.

Any input? What do you guys prefer?

Just for reference the original phantom group buy did use anodized aluminum plates.

I believe the trick is making sure the final plate thickness works with the stabilizers.

[MOZ]

I like acrylic, there are some questions over its strength, which I am looking answers for.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

I'm definitely leaning a metal for the plate, but I'm flexible on what kind.

[jdcarpe]

The plate needs to be exactly 0.060" in thickness in order for the switches and stabilizers to mount correctly. Recent plates have been made from 16-gauge stainless steel, which is 0.0625" thick, and it works fairly well, but sometimes you have to file the plate for the stabilizers to mount properly, etc. Stainless steel has the weight advantage over aluminum, as most people like heavy plate-mounted keyboards.

The original Phantom plates were made from 16-gauge aluminum, which was then sanded to spec, and then anodized black. Very nicely done, if you ask me.

Edit: As others have said, acrylic at that thickness is just too fragile. While installing the stabilizers onto my Epsilon's acrylic plate, I cracked the plate in a few locations.

Edit 2: Also, thicker acrylic plates won't work, as there are no PCB mounting holes for stabilizers on the Phantom PCB. Other PCBs (Korean) may be less of a concern.

[SpAmRaY]

The plate needs to be exactly 0.060" in thickness in order for the switches and stabilizers to mount correctly. Recent plates have been made from 16-gauge stainless steel, which is 0.0625" thick, and it works fairly well, but sometimes you have to file the plate for the stabilizers to mount properly, etc. Stainless steel has the weight advantage over aluminum, as most people like heavy plate-mounted keyboards.

The original Phantom plates were made from 16-gauge aluminum, which was then sanded to spec, and then anodized black. Very nicely done, if you ask me.

Edit: As others have said, acrylic at that thickness is just too fragile. While installing the stabilizers onto my Epsilon's acrylic plate, I cracked the plate in a few locations.

I like the finish of the anodized black aluminum R1 plates that I have!

[esoomenona]

Being that there HAVE been so many SS plates, I'd really like to see some plates in anodized aluminum. That would be the only thing that would make me buy some at this point. Also, custom designs, so I could grab some UTKL as well as a couple Phantom ones, possibly. There have been promise of anodized aluminum, but sadly, it has yet to come to fruition...

[CPTBadAss]

I like acrylic, there are some questions over its strength, which I am looking answers for.

I also have an Epsilon acrylic plate that is extremely flimsy. I would not buy acrylic plates unless they were very thick and reinforced. I have some for my Alixinzhai case and I'm not interested in using it. Going to hunt down a metal plate.

[SpAmRaY]

I like acrylic, there are some questions over its strength, which I am looking answers for.

I also have an Epsilon acrylic plate that is extremely flimsy. I would not buy acrylic plates unless they were very thick and reinforced. I have some for my Alixinzhai case and I'm not interested in using it. Going to hunt down a metal plate.

Can those Alixinzhai cases be used as a tray? Or do you have to us the included plate?

[CPTBadAss]

I wouldn't. The bottom part isn't that thick. You would really need the whole sandwich to get proper stability imo.

But anyways, I'd be interested in a TKL plate. I'm definitely not interested in running a group buy though.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Well, if aluminum isn't as common, let's do aluminum.

I'd love to get a blue one, personally, and I'll see if we can figure out some available colors.

[Moosecraft]

If this actually gets going for aluminum plates, especially with a pcb I would buy atleast one.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

I was thinking, since I know absolutely nothing about PCBs, I would save that for another GB, but if WFD doesn't mind us using his Phantom, then I guess I don't need to know anything about PCBs to set up the GB.

We'll see once I start hearing back from people, I know WFD is just coming off of vacation today.

[SpAmRaY]

I was thinking, since I know absolutely nothing about PCBs, I would save that for another GB, but if WFD doesn't mind us using his Phantom, then I guess I don't need to know anything about PCBs to set up the GB.

We'll see once I start hearing back from people, I know WFD is just coming off of vacation today.

WFD isn't set to be back until the 27th. And WFD did the R2 plates not the PCB for the phantom.

[jdcarpe]

The Phantom is bpiphany's baby. He has everything set up with PCBwing, so if another GB round were to be done for the Phantom PCB, it would need to go through him. No sense in paying setup costs, when future orders of the same PCB don't charge for it. You can find his email address silkscreened on the front of the Phantom PCB.

For the universal TKL plate, WFD has the drawing files, so he can probably coordinate things through his laser cutter. However, as you know, he is on vacation, and also very busy.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Alright, I'll try and get in touch with BPap today at work, and you're right about setup fees.

Everyone is cool doing Phantom PCB and Ano Alum UTKL plate?

[SpAmRaY]

The Phantom is bpiphany's baby. He has everything set up with PCBwing, so if another GB round were to be done for the Phantom PCB, it would need to go through him. No sense in paying setup costs, when future orders of the same PCB don't charge for it. You can find his email address silkscreened on the front of the Phantom PCB.

For the universal TKL plate, WFD has the drawing files, so he can probably coordinate things through his laser cutter. However, as you know, he is on vacation, and also very busy.

A little off-topic.

Jd do you know why for R2 the holes in the extra holes for pcb style switches were removed from the PCB? I'm sure I've asked before but I can't remember.

[jdcarpe]

The Phantom is bpiphany's baby. He has everything set up with PCBwing, so if another GB round were to be done for the Phantom PCB, it would need to go through him. No sense in paying setup costs, when future orders of the same PCB don't charge for it. You can find his email address silkscreened on the front of the Phantom PCB.

For the universal TKL plate, WFD has the drawing files, so he can probably coordinate things through his laser cutter. However, as you know, he is on vacation, and also very busy.

A little off-topic.

Jd do you know why for R2 the holes in the extra holes for pcb style switches were removed from the PCB? I'm sure I've asked before but I can't remember.

Phantom PCB never had PCB mounting holes for switches. It originally did have holes so that you could release the switch housing top clips from the bottom of the PCB, but bpiphany removed those in the new revision PCBs, because they aren't necessary at all. He also changed some stuff on the silkscreen.