deskthority

Yes the sample springs met the US spring factory's quality standards, finished production and shipped this week. They should arrive next week. I will be examining the specs and testing the springs thoroughly and then they can be approved for production!

That's great news! Looks like christmas might come early this year...

consolation wrote: That's great news! Looks like christmas might come early this year...

Yep! Cant wait Delivery at the end of 2017 here we come!

Mattr567 wrote:

consolation wrote: That's great news! Looks like christmas might come early this year...

Yep! Cant wait Delivery at the end of 2017 here we come!

2017 will be a YEAR to remember, especially for those who have waited for the Perfect Model-F keyboard, built to Ellipse's high standard .

But... but... what about 2018?

Mattr567 wrote: Yep! Cant wait Delivery at the end of 2017 here we come!

Do we even have a currently estimated delivery date?

Yes, still looking at shipping around year end.

Ellipse wrote: Yes, still looking at shipping around year end.

OOO christmas deliveries? Will you be wrapping these up in shiny green paper and pretty red ribbons

wobbled wrote:

Ellipse wrote: Yes, still looking at shipping around year end.

OOO christmas deliveries? Will you be wrapping these up in shiny green paper and pretty red ribbons

YES, my minions already know to leave this particular package alone. If they ever try to open it before me, the wrath of the heavens shall befall them.

They always go through all my other purchases and some even damage the goods, but this item is sacred and shall not be harmed under any circumstance.

The misery of having kids which can be more damaging than owning dogs and cats combined (hope the Mrs doesn't read this) .

Thanks for the laugh Elrick, I absolutely hate it when people open my shit. It takes all the fun away from getting something new

Elrick wrote: The misery of having kids which can be more damaging than owning dogs and cats combined (hope the Mrs doesn't read this) .

You have kids?! Like, more than one?!



In all seriousness, I'm sure they're delightful.

XMIT wrote: In all seriousness, I'm sure they're delightful.

The boys which are becoming teenagers are developing into evil spawn, the girls which are still in primary school, seem to be more tolerant and compassionate.

I always laugh when I hear any father mentioning he loves all of his children equally, if only that could be based on reality.

Elrick, you never cease to amaze...

Do we have any update on the progress of key legends, that Zed was working on?

The plan is to get some sample dye sub legends on the production keys, and then examine the bleed patterns before finishing up the legend design. This will likely be in late October/early November after I get some updated key samples from the new factory.

I have just approved production of the top and bottom inner assembly plates! The latest first run parts passed my quality control. I am typing on a compact case F77 now with these new plates.

With brand new non-degraded foam (1.6 to 2mm) the cases do require some tools and force to close the inner assembly. I use clamps, pliers, and a hammer but the factory may devise some kind of tool for more efficient closing.

A tightly compressed inner assembly allows for a strong click in my experience. Some Model F's with weaker clicks have too much space between the plates.

Using these clamps I also refurbished my F122 this past week with the first F122 foam from the factory and now all is well again.

Investigate PTFE spray when assembling the keyboard. If you use it on the PCB it mitigates binding (the foam sticks to it) in a major way. My F AT could be assembled by hand after I applied the lube.

Production update:

The US factory's aerospace-grade spring samples are technically excellent - they meet or exceed all the tolerances specified - but the spring sound is not yet perfect. It's a little too sharp/high pitched. Either the material alloy is off or they were heat treated a little too long/too high a temperature is my guess. Or maybe the sound dulls a bit over time and with corrosion of the original springs after 30 years.

The factory suggested I have the original springs analyzed at a material analysis lab - I have sent off some original XT springs to a lab. They can determine with reasonable accuracy the content of the original springs. We should know more next week.

Meanwhile the main factory is still preparing to finish up production of the remaining parts - inner assembly plates, boxes, inner foam, outside foam, and ultra compact cases. I am hoping to have these completed parts, key samples from the new mold supplier, and all the springs by early November.

Fascinating. Thanks for keeping us updated!

Ellipse, your effort to make everything absolutely perfect is just incredible. Stunning. I bow my head, Sir!

The next step might be a good idea to strike a deal with unicomp (using a new logo of course) and making some capacitive model M's, or some cherry sliders for the current switches. People love their caps lol

Ellipse wrote: Production update:
The factory suggested I have the original springs analyzed at a material analysis lab - I have sent off some original XT springs to a lab. They can determine with reasonable accuracy the content of the original springs. We should know more next week.

This would be excellent to know so that it becomes the mainstay of knowledge supplied about Model-F springs and their actual material/construction specifications.

Someone has to let everyone know the details of model-F keyboards especially their hallowed springs, that gives the true meaning of what these keyboards were to a whole (new & old) generation of keyboard fanatics .

Wingklip wrote: The next step might be a good idea to strike a deal with unicomp (using a new logo of course) and making some capacitive model M's, or some cherry sliders for the current switches. People love their caps lol

Also so it gives Unicomp some much needed press as well. The amount that was given to this model f project could only help them. More people need to know that buckling springs still exist!

Elrick wrote:

Ellipse wrote: Production update:
The factory suggested I have the original springs analyzed at a material analysis lab - I have sent off some original XT springs to a lab. They can determine with reasonable accuracy the content of the original springs. We should know more next week.

This would be excellent to know so that it becomes the mainstay of knowledge supplied about Model-F springs and their actual material/construction specifications.

Someone has to let everyone know the details of model-F keyboards especially their hallowed springs, that gives the true meaning of what these keyboards were to a whole (new & old) generation of keyboard fanatics .

There should definitely be superior alloys with the same (if not cheaper) price and force curve - something that doesn't rust would do great

Tungsten springs XDddddd

@Wingklip - Tungsten's pretty brittle, are you sure you want that? I would think if you want a non-rusting flexible metal you'd go with titanium?

Wingklip wrote: The next step might be a good idea to strike a deal with unicomp (using a new logo of course) and making some capacitive model M's, or some cherry sliders for the current switches. People love their caps lol

What, should WE all Deskthoritiers form a LLC, buy out Unicomp and take over the keyboard production?

After further discussions with the PCB factories I have discovered some suppliers of PCB materials in Taiwan and China that may be even more close to the 80s originals. These materials may further enhance the sharpness of the flipper click as a key is pressed on a new Model F. I have ordered some samples and should get them around month end.

If this is a noticeable improvement I plan on using them for everyone's keyboards even though I already ordered the ones from the other supplier.

I noticed that the '96 4704 refurbs had weaker/muddier clicks and part of that reason seems to be the '96 manufactured PCB itself.

PCBs are quick to make (they can fulfill the whole order in under two weeks) so this will not bottleneck the project. This doesn't affect the controllers which are 100% good and are not being re-made.

Ellipse wrote: I noticed that the '96 4704 refurbs had weaker/muddier clicks and part of that reason seems to be the '96 manufactured PCB itself.

PCBs are quick to make (they can fulfill the whole order in under two weeks) so this will not bottleneck the project. This doesn't affect the controllers which are 100% good and are not being re-made.

Geez, please avoid the "muddier" clicks, no one wants that with their keyboard purchase.

So glad you're doing this Ellipse because it looks like this will be the PERFECT Model-F keyboard - ever built .

Someone contacted me through the project web site that he's interested in blue and can chip in $100. Two other people expressed interest last month as well.

We would need just one or two more interested people and then we can reach the $500 for tooling.

People have been asking for Carolina Blue, a popular light blue color used by UNC. Please let me know! The extra case itself runs $100 and for $100 in tooling you can order as many extra cases as you'd like for the standard $100 price. You can even order extras and hold on to them, to sell long after production ends. I think once people see the case in its color and how it turned out, there will be more interest but I am only doing this custom color with one production run because of the tooling.

This reminds me! Can we still order regular-colored extra cases?