Modding Project all-plexi keyboard --KONG is a god!! -- no really! he is!!!

You will need a set of needle files, there are some slightly off-square holes in there! As for the keys, I am either going to cut the acrylic so there is about 1/2 mm left on the bottom, or, just cut out 90% of the way around each key, leaving you to snap them off. I should have time to give it a go tomorrow

 

wow that will be so great kong you are the best and i have all the needle files under the sun lol

 

Kong that is awsome.
That CNC machine looks like it works great.

(Hey if I win the techTV contest I will make a laser cut one for ya , so vote)

 

I WANT ONE!...wait thats just that part...ya i still want it

 

It's good, and for what it cost to build, it's excellent. Unfortunately, it is slow. Machining with fast spindle speeds, such as with a router, requires an equally fast movement, especially on softer materials, to get a decent surface finnish. I ran mine flat out to cut this, and the result was that the MDF framework flexed a bit, causing some holes to come out slightly skewed. I could rectify it by either beefing up the structure (ie new cnc machine) or by using a slower spindle speed that would allow me to run the machine slower. However if I run the machine slower, you get greater heat build up within the cutter and the plastic. Problems either way, which is why a laser would be far superior.
I just sent techTV a crispy tenner, so I think you'll win!
Hyjnx, check your sig, then start dreaming!

 

i kiiinda get what ur saying bout my sig...but ya i understand the whole plexi and drill speed...that makes logical sense but it does look good...i like it mang

 

Salicon Technologies...if you can dream it we can build it...if you pay us enough

 

yup its out buizness me and m0nk3y...assumin we get it underway

 

wow i am definately voting for you Zap

 

ya zap and kong are gods

 

It might stand more chance of getting off the ground if you learn to spell. People might take you more seriously.

 

aaaaaand with that...

back on topic!!!

ok i got the bl00 smt leds and the capacitors today... just one problem really, the LEDs are really not bright at all lol to be fair though they are immensly small (1mm * 1mm *2mm) there is also a fade.. but not much of one, only just quick enough to make it seem as if it hasn't been switched off...

 

Hehe sorry malcs, never got around to those keys today, no excuse, just too busy on my own project. Tomorrow I promise!

 

Malcs, maybe you should consider using the 3mm LEDs from www.lsdiodes.com then? They are only 3 times as big, and they can be sanded down to half size within seconds using a dremel.
(Could still use smt capacitors, though).

 

good idea bard i could embed them into the acrylic then with a bit of epoxy carefully laid down in small holes

 

actually i have been playing around with some plexi and the traces, and when the smt LED is shining, it actually provides a nice blue glow around the keyswitch and then lights up the edges of the small plexi button... i like

 

Boohoo I am not a god anymore!
Back to reality I'm afraid, my machine is not quick enough to route acrylic. Even with coolant, here's all that happens:


See that build-up around the cutter? Caused the machine moving too slow. You can either wait unti lthe completion of the uber router, or I can send you the acrylic for you to cut the keys out yourself. Sorry!

 

whew!!! eek!! ok dont want you to break your CNC machine

umm.. ok if i can find a contact to laser cut the buttons--


kong you still have the polycarbonate cut of the top?

 

Of course. I can do the bottom aswell, no probs if you want. Mind you, I'm out of polycarb, so I'll have to get some. Let me know. It really is amazing, the differences between acrylic and polycarbonate!

 

i think that just the top will be ok until i can figure out and get the lighting circuits made


kong you really do rule