Re: Community interest in a new 49G+ enclosure and keyboard Message #3 Posted by Hugh Evans on 24 June 2005, 2:26 a.m., in response to message #2 by .
Considering I've spent over a year now designing production processes to make complete calculators with a price point of $100, the enclosure and keys are not the expensive part. Injection molding for the labels is being sidestepped by laser etching and filling with colored resin. Resin will be degassed and after filling will be allowed to set under high pressure to eliminate bubbles.
As for the change in keyboard layout, it should be possible using a thin one or two layer PCB piggybacked to make contact with the original pads. Only a few keys will be moved, so only a few traces will be needed to make the change possible.
This is more of a fundraising effort than anything else. In order to finance all of the equipment we need to produce OpenRPN hardware will require ~$40,000.
-HDE
PS- if anyone has a spare 49G+ left over from warranty replacement, broken, non-functional, etc. that you are willing to donate it would be greatly appreciated. We will be more than happy to pay for all packing, shipping, and handling (and perhaps even a free kit if this idea pans out).
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