I started designing the Qazimodo in February and just got the first aluminum case from the manufacturer a couple days ago. Very happy with how it turned out.
When you hit Q, A, and Z at the same time it spits this out
You guys always kill me because it’s like you come up with a funny idea for a keyboard meme product and then someone spends actual effort mocking it up or making a CAD model and then someone decides to actually make it and you spend real money on it because nobody had the sense to just say “this is actually stupid” somewhere along the way.
I get that a small keyboard is nice, and that a numpad is not necessary for everyone, but no numbers at all seems quite drastic, and also no Ctrl or alt just looks very unpractical to work on.
Haha so I posted my layout from KLE on a Discord server that Noah is on and he sent me a DM asking if he could use the layout in his video. It worked out perfectly because he posted that video as I was starting to design my PCB and I used his template.
yep, personal project – half learning how to get away from just using Pro Micros, half just a random challenge – fit a 42 key split ergo into a Minivan case – thus, the tuk-tuk, a 12.75u × 4u size, 42 keys, katana stagger
It started as a joke but then I posted the layout from KLE on the 40% Discord and things got out of hand and the next thing I knew I was reaching out to manufacturers on Alibaba.
Could you elaborate some into your experience on Alibaba? That case is gorgeous. I’d love to hear more about the process and costs. (I have an mATX project I’d like to put in a custom little box.)
For sure! As far as process, I came up with the layout using keyboard-layout-editor.com and from there I designed the PCB in KiCad and the switch plate and case with Fusion 360. The case took a lot of trial and error to get everything fitting right so I made a lot of 3d printed prototypes before I was satisfied with it. After I had my printed prototype done I basically went on Alibaba and searched for manufacturers who had keyboard cases listed as products they could make and I messaged a bunch of them asking for quotes on 1, 3, and 25 cases (I was trying to decide on 1 or 3 prototypes and then 25 will be the minimum order quantity if it makes it to group buy). The one that gave me the lowest price was also the company that someone I’ve been getting advice from has used on group buys he’s done, so I ended up going with them since he vouched for their quality.
The cost goes up quite a bit as the order quantity decreases, so this prototype was expensive. After shipping and fees and everything, it was over $600. I probably wouldn’t have paid it if I hadn’t just gotten a tax refund honestly. Some of the other manufacturers that I talked to had slightly lower prices for smaller order quantities but they were too expensive for the group buy quantity.
That’s about the price I was expecting, really does need to be at least a group buy to make sense! Or a tax refund :)
Was there anything you have to do to translate the model from FDM plastic to the manufactured prototype? At $600 I’d be worried that I have snug plastic that becomes too loose or impossible to fit in a different material.
Oh I was very worried that something wouldn’t fit right once I got the prototype; mostly the USB cutout. I did like 20 printed prototypes with little adjustments to the cutout until I was as confident as I could be, but I still wasn’t positive it would fit because of differing tolerances but thankfully my printer was pretty much spot on with what I got from the manufacturer.
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