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Datamancer
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« on: October 19, 2007, 07:15:55 am » |
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Hey folks, I thought you all might like to see how the Industrial keyboard turned out.      The faceplate is an aluminum sculpting mesh, the keys are hex jam nuts, the feet are planetary gears from a car transmission (thanks to Ethan from WretchedKustoms), and the LEDs are hollowed-out flashlight bulbs mounted in threaded holders. -~D~- |
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“I'm not a paranoid deranged millionaire. Goddamit, I'm a billionaire.” - Howard Hughes
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Mallin
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« Reply #1 on: October 19, 2007, 07:18:16 am » |
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Wow, thats inspiring, I'm amazed
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J.Wilson Esq.
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« Reply #2 on: October 19, 2007, 07:24:20 am » |
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Beautiful. The nut keys are brilliant, and the LED "bulbs" are incredibly sweet.
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A well-rounded gentleman should be capable of reading and writing both Greek and Latin, being a fair hand with most firearms and edged weapons, as well as being adequate at maintaining his own steam carriage and making his own laboratory apparatus.
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Lizbt Action
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« Reply #3 on: October 19, 2007, 07:40:09 am » |
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Okay, I want it. A lot. A. Lot.
I think I need a good top-down picture, so I can print it out, put it on top of my plastic thing and pretend.
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alfa1
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« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2007, 07:58:49 am » |
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Fantastic, but a few questions...
-What did you do to the space bar? Is it coated with anything, or perhaps paint?
-The edges of the mesh look dangerously exposed. Is it possible to cut a finger on the exposed edges?
-The planetary gears look like they might damage a wooden table. Yes, no?
If the last two issues are non-existent then I think you'll sell HEAPS of those keyboard designs.
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cthulhu_spawn
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« Reply #5 on: October 19, 2007, 08:55:25 am » |
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youve outdone yourself with the keys, totally wonderful. love it x
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NazT
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« Reply #6 on: October 19, 2007, 09:26:29 am » |
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Now that is smeggin awesome!!
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Datamancer
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« Reply #7 on: October 19, 2007, 10:39:04 am » |
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Fantastic, but a few questions...
-What did you do to the space bar? Is it coated with anything, or perhaps paint?
-The edges of the mesh look dangerously exposed. Is it possible to cut a finger on the exposed edges?
-The planetary gears look like they might damage a wooden table. Yes, no?
If the last two issues are non-existent then I think you'll sell HEAPS of those keyboard designs.
Thanks, everyone! alfa, All of the rectangular keys are flat pieces of 1/16th inch aluminum sheetmetal. All of the mesh edges are covered with the exception of the areas right around the keyswitches. For those, I punched the holes slightly smaller than the keyswitches so when the faceplate was pressed down, the "fingers" of the mesh would lean tightly against them. like... __/[switch]\___ ...savvy? If you look at the closeup photo, you can see the effect most pronounced between the 'Z' and 'X' keys and also between the 'X' and 'C'. The mesh bows as it leans up against each key. Hopefully that should be enough. I haven't tried it on a wooden table, but the gears aren't very sharp. I imagine that after a while they might wear some scratches into a table, but this keyboard is so heavy that it shouldn't move around much unintentionally. Still...good point. Maybe I should glue a little piece of soft, non-slip material on the feet just to be certain. Thanks! -~D~- |
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The Infernal Mr Adams
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« Reply #8 on: October 19, 2007, 10:47:08 am » |
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Beautiful work as always Mr Datamancer, the thought of typing with those gorgeous keys make my fingers happy  |
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Signed,
Mr. M___ E_____ Adams
Tinkerer, Adventurer, Man of Leisure, Weird Westerner, and Cad
18--
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CinnamonAndSpite
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« Reply #9 on: October 19, 2007, 11:20:49 am » |
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I love the gears, it makes it look a bit like a tank! Awesomeness.  |
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Lester Catchpole
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« Reply #10 on: October 19, 2007, 11:21:46 am » |
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That is a most fantasmagorical creation my friend! Bravo...!!
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Commissar Swoosh
Officer
 United States
Inventor of the Mechanical Cheese Wheel
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« Reply #11 on: October 19, 2007, 12:22:16 pm » |
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Excellent work! The keys are great and the mesh is a perfect background for them.
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If God thought The Doors were better than Cream, Jim Morrison would be able to defend his band today. Either this disproves God, or proves Clapton is the real god.
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Tyro Prate
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« Reply #12 on: October 19, 2007, 01:50:24 pm » |
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That's amazing. Great work as always.
Maybe you addressed this elsewhere and I missed it, but how did you make the key tops? At first I assumed they were some of sort of craft store item, but the number keys have the shift characters on them...
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Great Bizarro
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« Reply #13 on: October 19, 2007, 02:02:13 pm » |
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Hey that looks nuts, hex nuts that is. When you get really serious on this stuff I have a company I work with that does laser cutting at a very good price, just need cad files to cut from. I am venturing in to electroplating, so if you need plating on items that is going to be easy enough.
Great work by the way. Take a look at some of the perforated sheet metals for use under the keys. It can be had in stainless brass or aluminum in various sizes of holes and centers and some in hex cut outs.
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"No matter where you go, there you are"
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blackrider23
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« Reply #14 on: October 19, 2007, 02:56:52 pm » |
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I am always impressed by your keyboards but THIS.... THIS is freakin AMAZING!
By far my favorite keyboard yet. You will have a HELL of a time topping this one in my mind.
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We’re all as mad as hatters here.
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TinkererInTraining
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« Reply #15 on: October 19, 2007, 03:16:18 pm » |
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Alls I can say is, I want one.
Do you mind if I attempt to make one of my own?
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« Last Edit: October 19, 2007, 03:26:09 pm by TinkererInTraining »
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Curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought him back, then he ate my brain.
Give me a big enough lever and I'll beat the problem into submission.
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Smaggers
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« Reply #16 on: October 19, 2007, 03:23:59 pm » |
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wowser.
So how /where did you get etched keycaps? They're beautiful.
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« Last Edit: October 19, 2007, 07:21:32 pm by Smaggers »
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Jake of All Trades
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« Reply #17 on: October 19, 2007, 04:14:01 pm » |
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Not to criticize your past 'board designs, but I have to say this one by far the most Victorian Steampunk (IMHO). The indicator bulbs really make it!
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"...it's a form of fiction, and as such, while there may be times when it's considered a worthy vehicle for pointing out some of society and individual flaws - I still want a side that will let there be lighthearted adventures in the clouds, on mars, or under the sea."
--Tinkergirl
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J.Wilson Esq.
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« Reply #18 on: October 19, 2007, 04:28:54 pm » |
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Speaking of the bulbs: this is a minor quibble, and I still think they're incredibly sweet; but in looking at the photos again, I was thinking that their coloration is a bit cold for the context. I realize that you can't always go by a photo, but the light from white LEDs does tend to be a bit blue-ish white, so I'm assuming that the photo is fairly accurate in color balance. Maybe a thin film of transparent amber-tinted epoxy applied to the LEDs before you do whatever you did to work them into bulb shape? They wouldn't look like amber or yellow LED's, they'd just look more like teeny tungsten incandescent sources.
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Jake of All Trades
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« Reply #19 on: October 19, 2007, 04:40:12 pm » |
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Speaking of the bulbs: this is a minor quibble, and I still think they're incredibly sweet; but in looking at the photos again, I was thinking that their coloration is a bit cold for the context. I realize that you can't always go by a photo, but the light from white LEDs does tend to be a bit blue-ish white, so I'm assuming that the photo is fairly accurate in color balance. Maybe a thin film of transparent amber-tinted epoxy applied to the LEDs before you do whatever you did to work them into bulb shape? They wouldn't look like amber or yellow LED's, they'd just look more like teeny tungsten incandescent sources.
In most cases, I would agree with you 100%. Here, however, I think the odd hue works--suggesting that they are indeed not incandescent bulbs, but some mysterious electrochemical device. |
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Hikaro Takayama
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« Reply #20 on: October 19, 2007, 05:21:23 pm » |
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Excellent work Doc! I also like your hollowed out flashlight bulb idea....
I'm doing something similar with my battery-backed power supply mod, but instead am using some Square D pilot lamps with the original 120VAC bulbs removed and replaced with LEDs (I had to use some small, thin, uninsulated fast-on spade connectors to make sure the LEDs stayed in, though)... Overall effect looks pretty much like a pilot lamp with a small bulb in it.
I also aggree with Jake: They look like some kind of wierd Electro-chemical lighting.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to wipe the drool off my keyboard.
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"It is by steam alone that I set my contraptions in motion.
It is by combustion of coal and boiling water that the engines acquire speed.
For protection, the eyes acquire goggles,
The goggles become a warning.
It is by steam alone that I set my contraptions in motion."
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Doctor Trakov
Officer
 United Kingdom
Admiral of the 14th Belogravian Airship Navy
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« Reply #21 on: October 19, 2007, 05:54:54 pm » |
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Does it make a satisfying sound as you type.
It looks like a lovely thing to have around.
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Captain of the IBN Czar
"Sin is a dangerous toy in the hands of the virtuous. It should be left to the congenitally sinful, who know when to play with in and when to let it alone."
Long live the Czar!
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juxtimon
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« Reply #22 on: October 19, 2007, 06:46:59 pm » |
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the hex nuts are awesome!
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ProfDelphiniusTucker
Gunner
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« Reply #23 on: October 19, 2007, 07:16:45 pm » |
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In the common vernacular of this era: SQUEEEEEE! OMFG IT'S HAWT!
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Professor Delphinius S. Tucker
Professor of History and Religious Studies
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WisconsinPlatt
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« Reply #24 on: October 19, 2007, 07:35:43 pm » |
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Another nice job. Not my personal favorite of your creations, but very nice and unique (and not using those bloody expensive Underwood Keys.  ) I'd have to say the lack of treatment to the PS/2 cable is almost a let down. C'mon...I know you had some braided cable somewhere you could have sheathed it in. |
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