Hike News
Hike News

【IC】Signature Plastics 6.5u Alps spacebars (ARRIVED! Pricing updated)

类型: IC
作者: vewy_nice
发布时间: 2018-01-30 16:38:29
更新时间: 2018-04-11 16:43:28
原链接: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=93816.0


IC FORM UP HERE

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-zlof-K7SidpMM7bNjJBjjSY2ShrdnLD6S80wEFwBE-aRSg/viewform
I could have sworn I limited it to 1 response, but I have a couple duplicates of emails, and reddit usernames… Hm.


PICS HERE:
https://imgur.com/a/40ShM


ALL SPACEBARS HAVE BEEN ORDERED!
And according to the form numbers, about half of them have been “claimed”!
I’m sure it’ll sell out fast once everything is all set and the GB officially launches :)


I have been trying to hunt down a 6.5u alps spacebar to replace the broken one in my AEKII keyset, and without having much luck, turned to Signature Plastics to see what they could do.
They have the ability to produce spacebars in 6.5u, alps stem, MX stabilizer mounts, and made of ABS. I asked about PBT, and they can’t do it.
I would assume the most popular choice for a color would be an un-yellowed AEK color match to replace gross yellow bars, but I was thinking about how neat it would be to have something like navy blue, deep red, or possibly purple or retro brown.
I would for sure run a color match, and if there’s overwhelming support for another color, that too, maybe 2 different colors.
The quoted lead time would be around 8 weeks from order date to arrival, plus a week or so (probably 2) to package and ship them. (I am in the USA)
Depending on how much interest there is, if the projected cost is under $300 (25 spacebars in 3 colors?), I’ll shell out my own money to pre-buy everything, and then send out invoices once the bars arrive. I have never run a group buy before, and I’m fairly new to the community, so I figure that would be a good way to gain some trust and merit.
Anybody have any questions or think they might want to get in on this?
Thanks!


2/1/18 EDIT:
More

I have contacted SP about pricing and the possibility of color-matching.
I think I am going to buy 50 color matched bars, and 25 navy blue (BFU) bars to start, and just sell them, instead of doing a full GB style thing. I have materials to make artisan caps coming, too, so I will probably sell them through my future store.
Soon, I will make up a Google form to take pre-orders, but I won’t send out invoices until I have everything in line.
PRICING IS STILL TBD, especially with the new stab wire revelations.
Especially with the wire issue, I very well may have the spacebars set and ready to go by the time I get everything settled and send out invoices/start selling.


2/5/18 EDIT:
More

Color matching carries an $800 min-buy, which isn’t going to happen this time around.
I have purchased 7 different color chips from SP to try and find a match.
(WFK, WFO, GSL, GRX, GTQ, GTR, GAL)
Let me know if you have any other good color ideas.


2/21/18 UPDATE
More

I selected a color based on comparison with 3 different AEK keysets, and the winner ended up being… GAL, I think? I can’t remember it’s sitting on my desk at home.
I’ve been very distracted lately, but I am hoping to place my order tonight, and then production can start. I’m going to see if I can get the first bar off the line shipped to me so I can start work on the stabilizer design. I haven’t had any luck sourcing anyone else’s SP bar, yet.
I’ve decided to buy 50 grey bars, 25 navy blue bars (BFU), and 25 royal maroon/dark red bars (RAS).
As soon as I get a spacebar, and work out the stabilizer shape (and make a jig to make them), I’ll open a form to take orders, and start churning out stabilizer wire.


2/27 UPDATE:
More

Order placed, looks like lead time is 6 to 8 weeks to receiving.
50x GAL
25x RAS (Dark red)
25x BFU (dark blue)
I am working with another user to get my hands on an Alpine Winter spacebar soon so I can start stabilizer work.
Also might be in cahootz with the user running the Cherry/Alps stem converter on direct-fit cherry mount Alps style stabilizers (with the proper offset). I will try and get my hands on a prototype and see where that goes.
I am not opposed to re-running these in other colors. I’ve seen lots of support for pastel colors, so maybe that will be next.
I don’t see many sources of spacebars for AEK keysets, so maybe I can become the “unofficial source” or something, we will see.
I am thinking of a scheme for getting these out to people… I MIGHT limit it to one AEK grey bar per person to start if there’s more than 50 people initially interested in 2 or more. If there’s still suffucuent demand, I could do a larger quantity round 2 of the grey color in the near future.


3/1 UPDATE:
More

Someone on Reddit rose the concern of the mismatch in profile.
I’m aware of this, and I’m sure pretty much everyone interested knows we can’t get exactly the same…
I found this chart:
http://i.imgur.com/kFxqOm8.jpg
And did some rudimentary snip-snip paintwork
https://i.imgur.com/5BW2G6d.png
It’s really not a bad fit! The front of the caps are virtually identical height (according to this chart), but the angle is just a bit off. I think it’s actually going to be a better match than I thought!
Mods: What do I do with this thread? I wouldn’t consider what I’m doing a “group buy”… I’m just footing the bill and re-distributing later… I’ll just keep adding updates here until someone tells me to stop I guess.


3/17 UPDATE
More

See post 25 for images of DCS spacebar on AEK key profile
Still kicking around stabilizer ideas. I am working on a tool to cut an Alps stabilizer hole into the MX cross mount. It seems to work alright, but I am also going to look into 3D printing an alps style insert with an MX cross mount.
Also on the table is an optional stabilizing post like the original spacebars. I found some Delrin rods that are the right height and diameter, and I’d make a fixture to epoxy them in place permanently.


3/22/18 UPDATE
More

I have worked with BlindAssasin (of the NEXUS Alps slider GB) to order 100 pairs of his custom stabilizer inserts. This will allow for the use of the original Alps stabilizer wire!
We’re on the eve of 3 weeks since I placed the spacebar order. Best case sccenario, we’re half-way there!
The stabilizer inserts will definitely beat the spacebars (My transaction was outside Assasin’s GB). Once they get here, I will provide some pictures and feedback about how they work!
Later today I will open an official GB thread. I will not send out invoices until everything is ready to ship.
PRICING: It’s looking to be about $6 per bar/insert pair, and I’ll figure something out for shipping, but that will be cheap. Expect sub-$10 all-inclusive! (Inside the USA, international might be a tad bit more)


4/11/18 UPDATE
So the spacebars will be arriving at my place TONIGHT!
And the stabilizer inserts are scheduled for TOMORROW.
I will be opening up the official GB on Wednesday or Thursday.
I have also purchased a few things for some nifty packaging, so you’re not just getting a spacebar in some bubble wrap!
And when everything arrives, I’ll start sending these out!
Expect shipping to begin the week of the 23rd (pending payment, of course)
This is by no means a promise, but If everything arrives when it says it should, then it’s a damn good estimate.
FINAL PRICING:Space-bar plus NEXUS stabilizer inserts - $6.50
Shipping for 1 spacebar kit - $3.60
Shipping for 2 spacebar kits - $4.50
The shipping is an estimate. There’s a good chance it will be LOWER.
I will post a GB thread when I have pictures of everything.

,