NP-41 Emulator (may be)

[Chris Chung]

(03-06-2016 11:52 AM)PANAMATIK Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 05:27 PM)Chris Chung Wrote:  Once a NP-41S becomes stable, we may want to evaluate again the feasibility of the 14-segment version. It will only be feasible if there are enough interest to trigger a LCD production batch (300 units min.) and me investing into better SMD equipments.

Great work! I want to have +1 too, so only 297 to go.

Bernhard

Thank you all for interested in and supporting this project. We do not need 300 NP41 units to make this feasible. 50 committed buyers would be enough. A batch of 300 LCDs will cost around US$500 (I hope my estimate is close, there are quite a bit of logistic cost here). With 50 kits, I can assume a $10 LCD unit cost.

My feeling is that I would probably get 50 committed takers but we all cannot make commitments when there is not even a price. I do not have a price yet as there are still some variables. Except that it will be reasonable (compare this w/ NP25), I would say it will be between US$50 and US$80. There will be a simple 3D printed back case only. I found out the keytops is not giving any functional and visual advantages except that it took me 3 hours to print one.

This is the revised case which is thinner than the last one as I am not attaching a keypad.

   

It is comfortable to hold and the PCB has all the key legends and I found it works and looks better than w/o the keypad.

   

Unfortunately because of the length, I still have not yet perfected the print and there is still wrapping on the far corner. I need to adjust my 3D printer and / or print parameters to improve this.

   

/EDIT, I know the K, L, M and O, P letter legends on the PCB are off. Have to fix them on next PCB batch.