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You know, what I'd like to see is a simplified fob that I can carry around when I'd like to avoid the huge fob and a full set of keys. You could simply create a slimmed down housing that would hold the PCB and battery, which would trigger the proximity so I could unlock by grabbing the handle. Wouldn't need any buttons, as this would just be a minimalist fob. More or less, a more secured version of locking your keys in the truck. I could still lock my house keys in the truck, but avoid leaving the "key" to the truck in there. Design should be pretty simple. Cost would be minimal. Thoughts?
I would pay $100 to make the non push button start keys thinner/smaller. Every time I wear any sort of short or pants it looks/feels as though I have a golf ball in my pocket!
Hey all! Many of you have heard of us by way of the BuiltRight Industries Rear Seat Release and Bedside Racks and we're continuing to develop those product lines, but sometimes you need a little something to kick around on the side as a distraction from the grind.
I've always hated the shape/size of the key fob that came with my 2016 F-150. The newer Raptor ones are much better, and I suspect they can be made to work with our trucks, but it got me thinking - could I design a new one?
The parts are very small and intricate, which makes it a fun engineering challenge, so why the hell not try. I took my fob apart entirely and got a bit intimidated, but we'll push forward. I'd really like to make progress over the course of the new few weeks/months and get feedback from ya'll so that we hopefully end up with something a bunch of others can appreciate and benefit from. Of course, forum members will get a discount on their units!
What features would you look for in a replacement key fob?
Challenges:
These parts are SMALL - When you're used to working with larger parts, the super small and difficult to measure features on the existing FOB bodies are a bit of a challenge.
Materials - Billet or carbon would be awesome, but they both conduct relatively well. Can we combine materials without losing transmitter effectiveness? Can we somehow improve it? Will an injection molded composite of some sort be best?
Cost - Mainly expensive tooling, if we end up with carbon or injection molding as the materials and manufacturing processes. That's no fun, so we'll deal with that later, haha.
Buttons - The printed circuit board in the key had buttons built into it, but it has a silicone overmould that interfaces with the actual buttons on the outside of the fob. It would be nice to replaced these outer buttons, but may add too much complexity. Can we redesign the fob but maintain the buttons without them looking out of place?
Goals:
Increased durability
Decreased size - It's unlikely that the 'footprint' would change, but perhaps we can build a thinner shell. Do we need to keep the 'spare' key that's hidden in there?
Price - Not looking to make something that's too expensive to justify making (and more importantly, buying). Any input on this would be appreciated. Personally, I think I'd pay $30-40 for something that made my key more enjoyable to carry all the time.
Appearance - Could it maybe not look like a turd? Color options? Ideas? Let's hear it!
That's it, just putting this out here so that I'm accountable to you guys for considering your input and making progress on this.
What's next?
The next step will be to reverse engineer the existing key a bit so that I have some CAD data to work with in designing the key fob. These parts have a lot of very intricate features, so I'll need to decide what's critical and what's not.
If what you construct is anything close to the quality of the seat release I just purchased from you via amazon- I will be throwing cash at you again!
Interested in this as well. The intellikey shell feels large and the plastic feels cheap. Been tempted to order one of those cheap silicone cases, but a different case perks my interest!
BTW, I had a loaner when my truck was in for some work and they gave me a 2018 Fusion....I really liked the key that came with that car. Kinda disappointing, Ford's cheap car has a nicer key than the F-150 Platinum.
Wonder if this key could be programmed for my F-150? hmmm
Hey all! Many of you have heard of us by way of the BuiltRight Industries Rear Seat Release and Bedside Racks and we're continuing to develop those product lines, but sometimes you need a little something to kick around on the side as a distraction from the grind.
I've always hated the shape/size of the key fob that came with my 2016 F-150. The newer Raptor ones are much better, and I suspect they can be made to work with our trucks, but it got me thinking - could I design a new one?
The parts are very small and intricate, which makes it a fun engineering challenge, so why the hell not try. I took my fob apart entirely and got a bit intimidated, but we'll push forward. I'd really like to make progress over the course of the new few weeks/months and get feedback from ya'll so that we hopefully end up with something a bunch of others can appreciate and benefit from. Of course, forum members will get a discount on their units!
What features would you look for in a replacement key fob?
Challenges:
These parts are SMALL - When you're used to working with larger parts, the super small and difficult to measure features on the existing FOB bodies are a bit of a challenge.
Materials - Billet or carbon would be awesome, but they both conduct relatively well. Can we combine materials without losing transmitter effectiveness? Can we somehow improve it? Will an injection molded composite of some sort be best?
Cost - Mainly expensive tooling, if we end up with carbon or injection molding as the materials and manufacturing processes. That's no fun, so we'll deal with that later, haha.
Buttons - The printed circuit board in the key had buttons built into it, but it has a silicone overmould that interfaces with the actual buttons on the outside of the fob. It would be nice to replaced these outer buttons, but may add too much complexity. Can we redesign the fob but maintain the buttons without them looking out of place?
Goals:
Increased durability
Decreased size - It's unlikely that the 'footprint' would change, but perhaps we can build a thinner shell. Do we need to keep the 'spare' key that's hidden in there?
Price - Not looking to make something that's too expensive to justify making (and more importantly, buying). Any input on this would be appreciated. Personally, I think I'd pay $30-40 for something that made my key more enjoyable to carry all the time.
Appearance - Could it maybe not look like a turd? Color options? Ideas? Let's hear it!
That's it, just putting this out here so that I'm accountable to you guys for considering your input and making progress on this.
What's next?
The next step will be to reverse engineer the existing key a bit so that I have some CAD data to work with in designing the key fob. These parts have a lot of very intricate features, so I'll need to decide what's critical and what's not.
Another thought, slightly off topic, but since you are/can design plastic/carbon components, what about the steering wheel control buttons? I hate that the radio control buttons are on the right. I know you can change them in Forscan, but the buttons are then mislabeled. Just a thought...I'd love to be able to properly switch the controls.
Unless you come up with a retinal scanner to start the car, I don't see that big of a need. I mean, what would half these people say if they had to go out and spin the crank to start their vehicles? I, for one, like the stock keyfob on my '17.
JMHO
Last edited by TymeSlayer; 10-10-2018 at 03:27 PM.
While I am okay with the key for my 2018 Lariat, I too would like small, button-free option.
Perhaps even partner with an electrical engineer to get NFT working, so we only need to carry our phone and no key.
10-07-2018, 01:10 AM
