RAMA x Machine M10-A Macropad

[livingspeedbump]

I was just shooting out ideas/thoughts. The fact that this is a personal thing, and a set in place design would be good to mention in the OP though, same with what you intend it to me or not to be. Otherwise we are going to throw out ideas, and thoughts, and suggestions. When that happens nobody, self included, is saying it is sub-par, just stating thoughts/opinions.

Ahh I know mate, and I do really appreciate it, apologies for getting so defensive. I will definitely take on board a lot of the comments/ideas for my next project for sure! Projects like these are really fun for me, and to have an actual avenue to release and produce products is really amazing, and to have a community which supports that is really so great.

Thanks again LSB

trust me, no harm no foul. being passionate about what you do/create is not something to apologize for ever.

[jacobolus]

Hey Rama. This project is not something I’m personally interested in, but looks really nice! All the best with it.

The design looks very uncomfortable to use. If you had it lying down on a flat surface and you had to access it by supporting your wrist on the desk, the angle looks very uncomfortable. You just kept pressing it with one finger, so it isn't as obvious, but I don't think that's the intended way of using it, or?

Pulled out the old M0120, and ended up with this:

Unfortunately very uncomfortable for any extended use, which also would limit the usefulness as a gaming pad as well in my opinion.

Please please please don’t rest your wrist or palm on a desk when using any type of keyboard. Just asking for RSI. I personally also advocate against using palmrests or chair armrests or resting arms or elbows on the table while typing, but these aren’t quite as damaging, as long as you keep your wrists straight.

If you are feeling like you need to rest your wrist on something while actively typing, your keyboard is probably too far from your body, and there’s a good chance it would also be more comfortable if you had a taller chair and/or lower desk. It’s entirely possible to type for extended periods of time with your wrists straight and “floating” in the air, and no armrests, palmrests, or other supports in sight.

[need]

Hey Rama. This project is not something I’m personally interested in, but looks really nice! All the best with it.

The design looks very uncomfortable to use. If you had it lying down on a flat surface and you had to access it by supporting your wrist on the desk, the angle looks very uncomfortable. You just kept pressing it with one finger, so it isn't as obvious, but I don't think that's the intended way of using it, or?

Pulled out the old M0120, and ended up with this:

Unfortunately very uncomfortable for any extended use, which also would limit the usefulness as a gaming pad as well in my opinion.

Please please please don’t rest your wrist or palm on a desk when using any type of keyboard. Just asking for RSI. I personally also advocate against using palmrests or chair armrests or resting arms or elbows on the table while typing, but these aren’t quite as damaging, as long as you keep your wrists straight.

If you are feeling like you need to rest your wrist on something while actively typing, your keyboard is probably too far from your body, and there’s a good chance it would also be more comfortable if you had a taller chair and/or lower desk. It’s entirely possible to type for extended periods of time with your wrists straight and “floating” in the air, and no armrests, palmrests, or other supports in sight.

Hanging my arm in mid air while having it bent seems like a kind of punishment.
My arm can either hang loose and straight, or have the weight of my forearm dispersed on a wrist rest.

[livingspeedbump]

Please please please don’t rest your wrist or palm on a desk when using any type of keyboard. Just asking for RSI. I personally also advocate against using palmrests or chair armrests or resting arms or elbows on the table while typing, but these aren’t quite as damaging, as long as you keep your wrists straight.

You must have bionic forearms. I have skinny little chicken-bone-arms that tire if I try to hold them straight out for too long.

[McPwned]

Please please please don’t rest your wrist or palm on a desk when using any type of keyboard. Just asking for RSI. I personally also advocate against using palmrests or chair armrests or resting arms or elbows on the table while typing, but these aren’t quite as damaging, as long as you keep your wrists straight.

You must have bionic forearms. I have skinny little chicken-bone-arms that tire if I try to hold them straight out for too long.

If this is an issue, you should be resting your forearms on your chair's arm rests at a height close to how your elbows would be if they were hanging naturally at your sides.

[jacobolus]

You must have bionic forearms. I have skinny little chicken-bone-arms that tire if I try to hold them straight out for too long.

If you need to hold your arms “straight out”, then you’re doing it wrong, in my opinion.

Try to see if you can adjust the horizontal distance between your desk and chair such that you can bring your keyboard close enough to your torso that when you sit up straight and put your fingers on the home row of the keyboard, your upper arms are hanging down loosely at your sides, with your shoulders relaxed and your elbows not sticking forward or outwards. Then tilt the top of the keyboard until it is parallel to your forearms. If your desk is relatively tall, this means flipping feet down at the far side of the keyboard, or maybe piling a book under that side. If your desk is very low or your chair is very high, or if you have an under-desk keyboard tray, this could mean propping something under the near side of the keyboard.

If your elbows aren’t being held forward or outward, then holding just your forearms up, close to your body, doesn’t really put much static load on your upper arms or shoulders. You should be able to hold such a position for hours with no problem, even with “skinny little chicken-bone arms”. The keyboard itself will support some of the weight of your forearms and hands, and when you aren’t actively typing you can set your hands in your lap or something.

Anyway, if you have office furniture which doesn’t support sitting up straight without slouching, a too-high desk and too-low chair, or you just have terrible posture from years of sitting with no core strength, etc., do whatever you think is best. Just try to take frequent enough breaks to stand up and stretch that you don’t end up with horrible lower back pain and neck pain starting in a few decades. If that means hunched up shoulders, armrests, palmrests, whatever, I can’t exactly reach through the internet to stop you. YMMV, and all that.

Rama, sorry to drag your thread off topic.

[Rama]

trust me, no harm no foul. being passionate about what you do/create is not something to apologize for ever.

Ahh, I know - thanks heaps dude

Hey Rama. This project is not something I’m personally interested in, but looks really nice! All the best with it.

Hey mate! Thanks for the kind words, understandable if it's not something you're into Just really happy to get something going

Rama, sorry to drag your thread off topic.

No worries at all Got something coming in tomorrow actually that will bring the thread back to topic Super excited to show it!!

[Rama]

Okay, so, here is a crappy phone image of the new prototype that came in Just a little sneak peak. It's beadblasted and space grey anodized

[Chyros]

Hahaha that looks pretty awesome actually xD . I like the case with it a lot!

[jacobolus]

Rama: you should try to get a picture of it next to a working Apple M0110.

[romevi]

Okay, so, here is a crappy phone image of the new prototype that came in Just a little sneak peak. It's beadblasted and space grey anodized

That's looking snazzy!

[mecano]

Rama: you should try to get a picture of it next to a working Apple M0110.

yes please, I, as well immediatly thought of the Apple keypad when seeing the pics.
Great work on the enclosure and this project.
I won't be interrested in buying this for numerous reasons but I had to stop and salute your job, pretty amazing.

[Rama]

Hahaha that looks pretty awesome actually xD . I like the case with it a lot!

Thankyou kindly Chyros! Glad you like it

Rama: you should try to get a picture of it next to a working Apple M0110.

Jacobolus, oh man I would LOVE to, I really want to get my hands on a good quality M0110 gahh! Would look awesome in a photo

That's looking snazzy!

Cheers Romevi!!

Rama: you should try to get a picture of it next to a working Apple M0110.

yes please, I, as well immediatly thought of the Apple keypad when seeing the pics.
Great work on the enclosure and this project.
I won't be interrested in buying this for numerous reasons but I had to stop and salute your job, pretty amazing.

Going to look around to see where I can purchase one for myself, would really like to get one that's in good shape

Thanks for the kind words regardless mate, I appreciate it! No worries on not buying one! Completely understandable for sure

Out of interest, I've been commissioned to make a larger 30% with the same aesthetic and design - but it will feature a window in the base (like a Swiss watch) to show off the silkscreen and symmetric routing on the PCB