What is SpaceFN and why you should give it a try
The SpaceFN concept - setting up your space key as a layer switch when held - is probably one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby. Let me explain how it works. My SpaceFN article on kbd.news made some rounds recently - quite surprisingly given the age of this concept. This piece you're reading is a condensed version of the full post. If you're left with unanswered questions, you'll most likely find the info you're looking for in the original write-up. On my imaginary top list of the most useful keyboard features, tweaks and hacks, SpaceFN would deserve a podium finish for sure. But what makes it so special? In short: SpaceFN is easy to implement, easy to learn, costs nothing, can be used with any keyboard, and can improve your productivity instantly. I will list its benefits below, but can state right at this point that the SpaceFN concept, setting up your space key as a layer switch when held, is clearly one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby....
Apr 30, 2024
As one round of the ErgoDox closes, another begins! Starting tomorrow morning and continuing through the end of the month, you’ll be able to order an ErgoDox Mechanical Keyboard. With each round of the ErgoDox buy we learn more about how to streamline and improve the process. Here’s a summary of the important changes we’re making this time around in an effort to improve the experience for everyone involved.
Switches: All Cherry MX switches (except black, please buy more of those) are incredibly difficult to source in the quantities these buys demand. We go through EVERY possible channel and call EVERY possible supplier EVERY time we run an ErgoDox buy and it’s not getting any easier (don’t worry though, if we offer it as an option, it’ll be fulfilled by any means necessary).
With that in mind, we’re going to offer the following switch choices: Cherry MX Black (please choose these), Cherry MX Blue (ok, these aren’t the WORST to source), and Cherry MX Clear (every set of clear switches you buy reduces my lifespan by 10 minutes due to added stress).
Cherry MX Red and Cherry MX Brown are impossible. We would LOVE to offer those options but the things we did to source Cherry Reds last time... never again (until cherry gets better at producing switches).
Case Materials: Same deal as last time, clear acrylic by default with the option to add an aluminum top plate.
Assembly Service: We’re not going to have an assembly service option since the manufacturer who handles the assembly service is backed up with orders due to the holiday season. As of now, they can’t give us a solid production schedule. Once they can commit to a prompt production schedule, we’ll launch a separate assembly service buy you can join. Ideally we can launch the assembly service buy while this round of the ErgoDox is still running, if not, we’ll do our best to launch it as quickly as possible.
International Shipping: This one is going to hurt a little. After doing some post buy analysis, we’ve been grossly under charging for international shipping. As an example, we shipped a package of three kits to a member in the UAE, we charged ~$60 for shipping, it cost us ~$150. We always try to keep the ErgoDox price as low as possible (especially shipping fees) but we have to raise the price on international shipping so it covers the actual cost of shipping to your country.
Thanks for your patience, thanks for your support, and thanks for your feedback! We’re always working to improve the process and we’re confident this’ll be the smoothest ErgoDox buy so far.
Thanks for these great news !
Regarding the international Shipping, what about an option to order more sets simultaneously ?
Do you know yet what international shipping costs will be changing too? Will it be shown when submitting the group buy? I'll be ordering several kits that need to come to the UK, and I'm just wondering what kind of cost to expect.
Also, since you have trouble sourcing large quantities of some of the Cherry MX switches, I thought I might get the kit from you sans switches (since I'm one of those people who would be getting the clears). I know I can source enough for myself reasonably easily here, so I figure that would make both our lives easier. But I want to make sure I'm looking at the right mounting. The MassDrop kit uses PCB-mounted switches, not plate mounted switches, is that right?
Thanks!
We didn't want to punish classic case buyers for the additional costs brought by full hand case shipments.
Sounds like you can get blues : )
" Cool news on the shipping prices. We did some additional analysis and it looks like the main problem with shipping costs (international and domestic) was due to full hand cases weighing significantly more than classics. Rather than nearly double the price of shipping across the board, we opted to add a $10 charge if you want the full hand case. Because of this, we're able to keep domestic shipping free and only increase international shipping costs by $5."
As far as the switches go, we've got an option that lets you buy without the switches. That said, we wouldn't offer the option if we couldn't source it so, while I appreciate your kindness, don't let my limited lifespan stand in the way of your switch based aspirations.
If you do decide to source them by yourself, the Ergodox can work with PCB or plate mount switches so just go with whatever's cheaper.
I ask because I'll be in the US until december 18 and was wondering if I could get it delivered before leaving.
We've had a lot of "please ship this in time for Christmas" requests so In addition to speeding up the overall process, we're talking to the manufacturers (case, PCB, etc) about the possibility of a small, extra rushed, production run for those people. We're working on the details but there will definitely be additional costs involved (cutting to the front of a production line, even for a small number of units, is pretty expensive during the holiday season) so if we can pull this off, we wont be able to offer the rushed units at the same cost as standard units.
If I commit on the kit drop and assembly becomes possible while the drop is still active, can switch my order to be assembled?
Do you have any information about the backlight version? -- Is design done? And then, when it will drop?
I'll be perfectly happy with black keys. ;-)
Cheers!
Don't be sad, Panda.
Alternately, it's supposed to be backwards compatible by getting a new PCB and either modifying an existing case or getting a new case. Do you think that it's likely that you'd have drops for the new PCB and a new case, for those that have already gotten in on the previous rounds but would like backlighting?
Am I supposed to wait for a separate drop with an assembly-option included ? Or can I get a kit now and get it assembled/delivered once assembly is available again? How would this work ? Also, how much would the assembly service cost approximately ?
Thanks.
Any news regarding the rushed units? Is it possible to get a unit of the drop ending today delivered to Boston before december 18?
I joined this drop with a brazilian shipping address. Could I update the shipping address by next week if rushed orders are deemed possible?
1) I'm missing a 1x key from my DSA-set, could @Will or @Mark help me get a new one?
2) As pocketdrummer mentioned, the bolts are too long for the current case. Luckily I had some spacers handy but this should be looked into for the next drop.
3) As for the Assembly instructions, they worked great until step 14. I could not get the auto-button to light up when just plugging the Teensy in. Instead I got it working by activating the Teensy, loading the .hex, then clicking auto and finally resetting the Teensy.
Even with gloves on, the case still got smudgy and dusty. Anyone know of a clever way of dealing with this?