类型: IC
作者: Matt3o
发布时间: 2014-12-12 09:31:41
更新时间:
2016-07-14 02:03:21
原链接:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=66623.0
- GB will start really soon (few hours) GB just started!
- order more or equal than what you committed (not less)
- colors will be: light blue, red, light gray, dark gray.
- the spacebars are actually already in production, you’ll get them really soon
The story so far
A little by chance at
the end of last year I found a manufacturer in Europe able
to make the Topre spacebars in PBT. Only problem… a
ginormous MOQ and quite a steep cost for the mold. Anyway I
started this “purchase intent” to check on the interest of
such a project and hopefully find some sponsors.
Sponsor
that materialized in the form of Massdrop. Months passed and
soon was clear that it couldn’t be possible to produce the
spacebar at a reasonable price point in Europe… so China it
is.
From China with love
First of
all let me say that all you hear about manufacturing in
China is true. Making them do exactly what you need is a
darn odyssey, but sure it’s cheaper. Anyway, the purchase
intent went well, so we have the numbers to proceed.
We
ordered 8 prototypes. These prototypes are milled not
injected, they are needed just to check that the 3d model is
good. On that 3d model we will be forging the final mold.
And here we are now
I have the prototypes in my hands, the colors are
still not perfect and there are few things to update, but
that’s what prototypes are for. Overall I’m very satisfied
by the product. The 3D model is a perfect 1:1 replica of the
original. Seriously you can’t tell the difference.
I’m
happy to finally be able to tell you that… the mold has
already been paid for and it is in production! This means
that when the GB ends the spacebars will be already done (or
close to).
Shut up and take my money
The group buy will start very soon (it’s a matter of
hours now). I’ll do my best to have some kind of bonus for
all those who preordered but MOQ is still pretty high and
margin very small. I hope you’ll understand if that won’t be
possible.
The cost per key should be around what we
estimated, $9, possibly something less, I’ll know for sure
in the next few hours. Volume discount will be available. It
will be possible to buy 1 black and 1 white, 2 black, 2
white, 2 colors, all 4. I don’t think it will be possible to
buy only one, sorry. That is because the high MOQ.
Colors
will be: white (aka: light gray), black (aka: dark gray),
red, light blue. These colors have been chosen by you and I
believe they are just perfect. Remember that you can always
dye-at-home the white one.
Colors are all matched, but
100% match won’t be technically possible.
Pre production samples
Let me thank the guys at Massdrop that made all this
possible. Especially Andrew and Kunal. They agreed at
running pre-production samples. This means that a couple of
weeks from now, while you will be still ordering your
spacebars, I will be holding a semi-final product. If
anything is wrong with it, we will have 2 more weeks to fix
it in time for the GB end.
I’m closing the “purchase
intent” form now, if you participated, you are the one who
made this possible. Thanks to the huge numbers we raised I
was able to persuade Massdrop to join this adventure. As
soon as the GB will be up I will be emailing you a friendly
reminder. You can change your order, but please try not to
order less than what you already told us.
Thank you
everybody! Now let’s inject some plastic!
Yours,
Matt3o