An entire lack of phantom cases

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Am I the only one astounded by the complete lack of phantom cases?
There were a couple GBs awhile ago, but I made it late to the game, and Takaki's GB fell through, and now there's just nothing. Nothing on the market, no potential GBs to jump in on. The only option I have is that inexpensive magnet cases that Qtan sells.

Is there nothing else out there?

I heard Moz might be doing stuff now, does anyone have links to examples of what he's done, or any word on any other acrylic or aluminum GBs?

[Pacifist]

moz's work is great

apart from that make your own?

[SpAmRaY]

They were originally designed to go into a filco tkl case.

[Puddsy]

Just put it on a piece of cardboard

[terran5992]

[Findecanor]

If you don't have your thumb in the middle of your hand, I think you should consider a case like the case that nanu made for his Filco. The Phantom's plate is the same size, but not bent in the front and back and it has the corners cut off.

The wood that nanu used was from a hobby/crafts store. I have found that discarded wooden window blinds is a great, free, source of long thin pieces of wood that could be used for a project such as this. I have already (re)built myself a Phantom case out of plastic, but I will build a case of wood for my ErgoDox once my long-overdue custom plates arrive.

[terran5992]

Dayum dat looks kewl

[dorkvader]

Phantom cases

They were designed to replace a filco PCB and thus will work in a filco case.
With a little modification, you can use a QFR case as well.

Some cases designed for filco will also work with the phantom. The biggest issue is having enough clearance for the teensy. Sherryton's new filco / qfr replacement cases will not work, not sure about vortex from mk.

I used a phantom as my daily driver for many months sitting on top of two pieces of cardboard.

Currently I'm using probably the best phantom case: the skeldon. This was designed exclusively for the phantom PCB and is pretty awesome.

[MOZ]

I wanted to do a Phantom case GB, but the troublesome Indian Post has me rethinking, besides I do have to first ship out a lot of packages from previous GBs.

I might, not confident yet, start a GB in Jan, but unlike my previous plan, collect money in Feb, after I have shipped out the current packages, so it is a long way to go.

[terran5992]

I wanted to do a Phantom case GB, but the troublesome Indian Post has me rethinking, besides I do have to first ship out a lot of packages from previous GBs.

I might, not confident yet, start a GB in Jan, but unlike my previous plan, collect money in Feb, after I have shipped out the current packages, so it is a long way to go.

You should do it

[domoaligato]

qtan has some
http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/keyboard-accessory/colorful-replace-case-filco-an/lid=31051008

also MK
http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_list&c=44

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Nothing against Qtan, because he's definitely filling a required niche at "the only low price phantom case in the world" but I ended up with two of those cases, and one arrived in terrible condition, didn't even survive the post (at no fault of the packaging) and both are just... Magnets, you know? Magnets and super glue. It feels cheap.

And I've not heard the best things about Vortex in my time here at GH. It sounds like my only option if I want something in a reasonable amount of time (Not saying anything against you, Moz, or what you've got going on in your life. everybody knows what happened to my GB, and the delays it's facing because of interference from my life) because every single thing is either halted, in the distant future, or is simply never going to actually come to fruition.

So qtan and vortex. And Skeldon, if I could get my hands on one.

[domoaligato]

I was only suggesting options. I have not had a issue with qtan and I am sorry to hear thos. Did you tell him about the shipping?

[CalmB4tehPwn]

I didn't order it from him, and the second one I got, there wasn't anything wrong with it, I just want to find something super professional looking without spending 200 bucks and waiting a year.

So, Vortex I guess.

Can anyone confirm that their quality has improved? I know their older cases needed significant help.

[domoaligato]

I have heard a lot of bad stuff about there pure/poker cases. I have not heard much about the tkl cases.

[Glod]

The vortex cases are fine, i have 2 of them and both came in acceptable condition, there are some minor imperfections that you cannot see unless you are really looking close at it.

And I used with phantom, only thing you have to consider is that
1. the teensy has to be soldered as close to the pcb as possible and
2. you have to support the pcb because the phantom plate does not have a curved lip to support,

i used sugru but there were a nice invention by Leslieann geekhacker http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46827.0
my adaptation with sugru "gumdrops" is pictured here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/panicfx/sets/72157634185333242/ i sold that pictured phantom to a friend and he uses it hardcore and hasnt had any problems.

i also have built another phantoms with QFR cases, one of them is pictured. There really isnt that much of a modification involved, you just clip one of the plastic standoffs and it doesnt screw into the case. Some used QFRs can be aquired on amazon under warehouse deals sometimes for like $50 shipped.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Cripes, Glod.

Thank you for answering my questions. All of them, really. Unfortunately I literally just made a thread asking in a clear and concise way what you just answered before I realized you'd answered it.

Let me go delete that thread.

Thank you again, and I think I might just get a Vortex case, if their Quality Control has improved, and there's a way to make a phantom work.

[HoffmanMyster]

And I used with phantom, only thing you have to consider is that
1. the teensy has to be soldered as close to the pcb as possible and
2. you have to support the pcb because the phantom plate does not have a curved lip to support,

i used sugru but there were a nice invention by Leslieann geekhacker http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46827.0
my adaptation with sugru "gumdrops" is pictured here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/panicfx/sets/72157634185333242/ i sold that pictured phantom to a friend and he uses it hardcore and hasnt had any problems.

I'm sorry but I'm having a hard time seeing what you're referring to in your set of pictures.  Can you go into more detail about the phantom that uses those sugru things, maybe pointing them out in the pictures?  I don't see them in the photos.      And is the black case in those pictures the vortex case?  Sorry for being so confused, but I'd really appreciate the help.  Thanks!

[Glod]

the black case is indeed vortex

see the little "gumdrops" on the back of it here


they hold up the pcb/plate otherwise it would fall through

[HoffmanMyster]

the black case is indeed vortex

see the little "gumdrops" on the back of it here

Show Image

they hold up the pcb/plate otherwise it would fall through

Show Image

That makes a bunch more sense, thank you!   

One more question though, since it doesn't screw into standoffs, what stops it from lifting up?  Does the case top secure the plate around the edges, or is it something else?

[Glod]

there is no space between the top and the plate, it clamps it down, it doesn't move one bit. the vortex case is 2 solid pieces of aluminium with a cut out for the filco or cmstorm controller above the arrow cluster (obviously not needed for phantom)

[YoungMichael88]

Patiently waiting for a purple or green (not dark green) phantom case. I think I'll be waiting a while....

[HoffmanMyster]

there is no space between the top and the plate, it clamps it down, it doesn't move one bit. the vortex case is 2 solid pieces of aluminium with a cut out for the filco or cmstorm controller above the arrow cluster (obviously not needed for phantom)

Gotcha.  Thanks!!  You've helped a lot.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Now, if only they'd release a vortex case without the plate between the arrow cluster and the home cluster, so I could make my dream come true with a arrownumpad

I've been dreaming about it.

[SpAmRaY]

Now, if only they'd release a vortex case without the plate between the arrow cluster and the home cluster, so I could make my dream come true with a arrownumpad

I've been dreaming about it.

I've got an acrylic case that allows that.

[pasph]

Now, if only they'd release a vortex case without the plate between the arrow cluster and the home cluster, so I could make my dream come true with a arrownumpad

I've been dreaming about it.

I've got an acrylic case that allows that.

Where did you get it?

[SpAmRaY]

Now, if only they'd release a vortex case without the plate between the arrow cluster and the home cluster, so I could make my dream come true with a arrownumpad

I've been dreaming about it.

I've got an acrylic case that allows that.

Where did you get it?

moz

[pasph]

Now, if only they'd release a vortex case without the plate between the arrow cluster and the home cluster, so I could make my dream come true with a arrownumpad

I've been dreaming about it.

I've got an acrylic case that allows that.

Where did you get it?

moz

I see, so let's wait for a GB

[Glod]

I doubt moz would even be discussing orders until February given his current availability and location away from home. at least from my current understanding. but if he is able to pull it off when he gets back I think he would make a lot of TKL fans very happy. <3 phantom ftw

[MOZ]

I definitely am, what I am possible planning si, sometime in the month of January start a GB for the various cases, as the designs are finalised (Almost all), don't take any money as I am not comfortable with that, given how I haven't fulfilled my current GBs. So I will allow people to join-in int he GB and allow them to pay once I return to India in February and have shipped current GB orders.

One problem is how to take in orders, given the level of customisability.

[domoaligato]

could you make stoppers like the kmacs have?
you could have a standard design and allow the users to block off the spaces that they do not use?
I think you should put up a interest check thread or a poll.

[MOZ]

could you make stoppers like the kmacs have?
you could have a standard design and allow the users to block off the spaces that they do not use?
I think you should put up a interest check thread or a poll.

I could, but, I think it looks more finished with the blocker already part of the case.

IC for the case or blockers?

[SpAmRaY]

You would just need extra tops with blockers built in.

[MOZ]

You would just need extra tops with blockers built in.

Yeah that would be an option to get various top layers or acrylic plates, those with different layouts.

[YoungMichael88]

Purple and green layers please!!!

[SpAmRaY]

You would just need extra tops with blockers built in.

Yeah that would be an option to get various top layers or acrylic plates, those with different layouts.

All my acrylic stuff is still in the box I got it in.....one day maybe I'll get it put together

[YoungMichael88]

How is this going? It's now mid January. Any GB plans Moz?

[MOZ]

I'm finishing up the various case designs, and evaluating how I want to go about the GB, the level of flexibility that I would be comfortable with and what the community would expect.

Will start an IC soon.

[bueller]

Sweet. Not usually a huge fan of acrylic cases but considering I have a Phantom now I want a case to fit the numpad instead of normal arrows.

[Pacifist]

I'm finishing up the various case designs, and evaluating how I want to go about the GB, the level of flexibility that I would be comfortable with and what the community would expect.

Will start an IC soon.

Will there be a version that allows the layout with the 0-9 keys on the right of the board where the arrow keys used to be?

[MOZ]

I'm finishing up the various case designs, and evaluating how I want to go about the GB, the level of flexibility that I would be comfortable with and what the community would expect.

Will start an IC soon.

Will there be a version that allows the layout with the 0-9 keys on the right of the board where the arrow keys used to be?

Son, you have a look at the TKL open source case thread and you see the number of layouts I have there

[YoungMichael88]

I would love a standard TKL layout. My only wish is an option for translucent purple an translucent green layers. I would be so happy. Also, acrylic phantom plates would be amazing.

[dorkvader]

My phantom case is the skeldon. I have no complaints.
http://imgur.com/a/kHUEf
You can see my earlier phantom case in this picture The case is 100% cardboard :
http://i.imgur.com/MPiVD7n.jpg?1
again: no complaints.

The issue with cases like the skeldon is that they were expensive (I mean, LOOK at the machining on it! It's pretty much the first american custom, and it lives up to that title.) so there wasn't much interest (like 10-15 made I guess?) Still, the GB was open for a while. I'm sure there'll be another phantom case GB sometime in the future. You jut have to watch for them.

[AKmalamute]

There really are laser services closer than India (absolutely no offence, MOZ), but so far very, very few (none) seem willing to laser things for people. I've got a stale IC for an aluminum ergodox case because the local company isn't getting back with me, and the other one doesn't seem to want to talk to me either, although that guy said they don't have a laser they have to farm it out. Maybe the busy manager is the one I want to keep pestering.

Anyway, I sent the litster files to pololu for a quote, and using 1/16th-inch clear acrylic, it would be $80 -- can't remember if that's shipped or not. I assume the .dxf provided by MOZ (8 layers, if I'm reading it right) would be at least as bad. I've talked to someone here on the forum who says it can be done much cheaper and he can do it ... then he went silent; presumably real work caught up with him.

 Sheesh. That's a lot of complaining I just typed out. What I came to this thread to say, was MOZ has, as he points out, written up a nice casefile, and someone else converted it to both .DXF and .PNG which more laser shops seem to say they want, then the .dwg MOZ works with.

 But it's a file, and you can't wrap a PCB in a file without a laser and some plastic -- that's a thing of which there's an uncomfortable dearth around here.

So, MOZ -- how thick are the layers supposed to be? And, let's say for the sake of argument, I sent the file off (to a responsive company, or paid the money to BigBlueSaw (who wouldn't take your file as it exists right now but that's another problem)) and said "eight layers, each sixteen gauge stainless steel" (that's around 1.5mm AFAICT) ... any reason your case wouldn't work with a phantom in that form? Or will it short something out, do you suppose ?

[bueller]

I can get acrylic and metal laser cut dirt cheap here in Aus but unfortunately the price of shipping means a GB is pretty much pointless.

[MOZ]

There really are laser services closer than India (absolutely no offence, MOZ), but so far very, very few (none) seem willing to laser things for people. I've got a stale IC for an aluminum ergodox case because the local company isn't getting back with me, and the other one doesn't seem to want to talk to me either, although that guy said they don't have a laser they have to farm it out. Maybe the busy manager is the one I want to keep pestering.

Anyway, I sent the litster files to pololu for a quote, and using 1/16th-inch clear acrylic, it would be $80 -- can't remember if that's shipped or not. I assume the .dxf provided by MOZ (8 layers, if I'm reading it right) would be at least as bad. I've talked to someone here on the forum who says it can be done much cheaper and he can do it ... then he went silent; presumably real work caught up with him.

 Sheesh. That's a lot of complaining I just typed out. What I came to this thread to say, was MOZ has, as he points out, written up a nice casefile, and someone else converted it to both .DXF and .PNG which more laser shops seem to say they want, then the .dwg MOZ works with.

 But it's a file, and you can't wrap a PCB in a file without a laser and some plastic -- that's a thing of which there's an uncomfortable dearth around here.

So, MOZ -- how thick are the layers supposed to be? And, let's say for the sake of argument, I sent the file off (to a responsive company, or paid the money to BigBlueSaw (who wouldn't take your file as it exists right now but that's another problem)) and said "eight layers, each sixteen gauge stainless steel" (that's around 1.5mm AFAICT) ... any reason your case wouldn't work with a phantom in that form? Or will it short something out, do you suppose ?

1. I can post DXF files no problem, there are just so many formats out there, just ask, and most likely, I should be able to give the case files in that format.

2. I have no problem with anyone getting cases cut elsewhere, when I started making these cases, I did so not to start GBs, the same thing with the switch stickers. It just happened to happen that I saw how hard it was for most member to access lasers at a reasonable price and if at all and I had fairly easy access. My aim with the switch stickers was to get switch sticker sheet as cheap as possible since I knew it could be cut here in India for for cheaper than getting them from the US, specially when I just needed a couple of 100 switch stickers only. It was mkawa that pushed me to making the desing myself.

As for the cases, it began with the ErgoDox assembly, when I discovered the fairly cheap acrylic cutting services here. I then decided to build a Phantom and a 60%, saw the Open Source GH60 thread, and took things from there to make cases for these for myself, and though, why not share them with everyone.

I then started getting request from people to get a case or two, and some wanted to genuinely help out refine the cases, so I went ahead. And trust me, the few cases I have got done, it is a nightmare as there is so much micromanagement required, since the laser cutters here aren't highly educated and are used to doing signages and large advertisement boards, so their tolerances aren't as high. This is why I am revaluating how I want to do a GB if I want to do one.

3. All the cases I have designed use 3mm ~10% acrylic as that is the most easily available in various colors.

4. You should be able to use a SS case, however, I would recommend some liner between the PCB and the bottom most plate just to be extra sure, and also to added a hole somewhere on the plate layer and ground it with a wire from the PCB.