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
Therefore, I spent the past weekend (Sat/Sun) adjusting all of the files and the stroke on every single glyph/symbol, in order to compensate for the thickness that's occurring during the print process. The lines were significantly adjusted and trimmed thinner.
From the prototypes received so far, I can see that the manufacturer seem to be able to achieve thin and delicate lines (bars, dots, accents, etc). It's a matter of adjustments and prototyping until we achieve the vision.
Massdrop agents are currently in China inspecting production and getting new prototypes, making sure we will have a great final product shipped to the warehouse.
Thank you all for the support and patience! I hope to share great news and photos with you soon.
Best option would be to 3d print, with color, a sample keycap that is 100% accurate with the render and let them worry about how they mangle your files in order to get their machines to print stuff according to the designs.
Surely this is a problem with the calibration of their equipment for the most part, and not your design files?
Regarding your question, I'm being as transparent as possible. I don't know the exact reason the lines came out thicker then designed but I adjusted them anyway, as soon as I received kits with word legends - as the kits' communicate with each other. Adjustments were made by compensation of strokes and adjustments to the glyphs, matching specifications, like I was told to do. I never been to the manufacturer plant myself, but Massdrop agents did and we work together. Had you bothered to read my latest update more carefully, you'd be able to see that I clearly stated that I suspect that it was a combination of issues while translating files between different softwares and machines, natural imprecision and possibly lack of communication. Some kits presented discrepancies that made no sense, things we didn't request showed up. Massdrop agents are in China and we are communicating everyday, and I feel that we improved in all of these areas.
If I could have handled the project a little better? Yes, there's always room for improvement. I recently migrated to a full three dimensional presentation of the designs. Another aspect is that despite me providing files and instructions on the fly, sadly prototyping takes a bit too long to get done and samples are flying across the world facing 3 different custom clearances - China, US and Brazil. Therefore, next time I'm hoping to fly directly to China, together with MD agents, so we can work things out more quickly, in person. This was the first time a fully custom XDA keycap set was done via Massdrop - and the biggest XDA project to the date. You can rest assured we are doing the best we can to deliver it, and we will deliver it. The upcoming ones we have lined up will unfold more smoothly.
I understand your frustration and I also hoped to have this project delivered more quickly. We are sorry about that. But we are getting there, the manufacturer is working day and night on our keycaps and I remain with my ears up, ready to assist them if needed. I'm also posting updates the soon as I'm informed about them. I'm not going to give you an "honest estimate on when these will ship", because I have absolutely no control over logistics. Massdrop handles the logistics and customer service, I handle the designs and to some extent, in this particular case, quality control.
Thank you for joining the drop, I appreciate your support and patience. I hope you have a blast and enjoy your weekend.
You don't know if he has an answer regardless of MD logistics. You act as though you own the guy and/or have the right to witch hunt just because he designed a set you bought - this is the equivalent of buying a ticket to see Drake live on the 26th which then gets pushed off and you call up his ghost writer like "yo bro, ok listen you really gotta fix this shit, I paid for my ticket on the 26th, how the fuck can you allow it to pushed off an entire month?", the guy then apologises and thoroughly explains the situation but "na that's not good enough".
Everyone's so quick to judge how fast someone should catch onto a problem, you seem fairly new to the whole mechanical keyboard thing so honestly, last thing I want to do is lose people/Massdrop sales but I think you should ponder another hobby; I think the last group buy for a custom set I purchased anywhere (including outside of MD) where the initial deadline was met was a year and a half ago. Shit happens and most if not every time that's got nothing to do with the designer.
Get a grip basically, is what I'm trying to say.
Everybody just needs to relax and let MiTo get the best possible version out to us! No sense in rushing it...this is custom art in the truest sense of the word and it will be worth the wait.
Wouldn't you rather have something that is a perfect representation of the mock up and late rather than unusable but on time? I'm also really happy that we even have this ability to purchase a low volume, high quality product with direct interaction from the artist. That alone is worth a wait. There's a lot of firsts in this drop - first with this manufacturer (I think), first with this type of keyset, certainly first of this design. It's a learning process - nothing is perfected yet. On top of all that, there's at least one language barrier. I feel that all of that was communicated clearly to us both from MiTo and MD in the beginning. Massrdrop provides an *estimated* ship date for a reason. It's an ideal - if everything goes to plan, I'm sure with a little leeway in case of any issues. There's been issues with the product, and they are being rectified. MiTo probably has a life outside of this keyset, and as much as I'm sure you would love him to dedicate more of his life to getting you your toy ASAP, that's a touch self-centered to say the least.
Perhaps you haven't heard of the rule of three. Things can be fast, good, or cheap. Pick two. We're getting good and (for all intents and purposes) cheap.
Please show some respect to the artist who is obviously working hard to get this to us. Especially when he has taken the time to write you a thoughtful and appropriate response.
This was the right choice to make. Thank you.