Looking for a minimalist KEY FOB? We may be in luck.

[GianBronco]

As an update, I ordered some more keys which had an extra button at the bottom. Those won't work with my design goals in keeping it minimalistic, new keys on the way! I am prototyping with PLA and planning on making the final casing out of PETG to be stronger with TPU buttons. Each key will be about $250 and I can bring down the cost with more orders if I can get a bulk deal on the chips themselves. I can have some more photos to update in the next few days

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[amccue90]

As an update, I ordered some more keys which had an extra button at the bottom. Those won't work with my design goals in keeping it minimalistic, new keys on the way! I am prototyping with PLA and planning on making the final casing out of PETG to be stronger with TPU buttons. Each key will be about $250 and I can bring down the cost with more orders if I can get a bulk deal on the chips themselves. I can have some more photos to update in the next few days

Oh..... So not just selling the 3d printed case?

Guess I have to put on my designer hat again

 

[GianBronco]

Oh..... So not just selling the 3d printed case?

Guess I have to put on my designer hat again

Sure, I can sell just the casing but that will most likely cause damage to the factory casing and potentially the membrane (which may be fine for most). My goal is to distribute a third key and the best thing about the Bronco is with two keys already paired to the vehicle, the owner can easily program another.

 

[amccue90]

Sure, I can sell just the casing but that will most likely cause damage to the factory casing and potentially the membrane (which may be fine for most). My goal is to distribute a third key and the best thing about the Bronco is with two keys already paired to the vehicle, the owner can easily program another.

Full respect my man. I wasn't trying to throw too much shade.

 

[FstFrd00]

do you have an etsy link?

 

[GianBronco]

do you have an etsy link?

I should have it up by this weekend and I will be sure to post it here as well with better pictures. Keep an eye out for it

 

[Doug Beck]

I would like to put my name in the hat as well for two. Can we choose the color.

 

[GianBronco]

I would like to put my name in the hat as well for two. Can we choose the color.

Absolutely, there will be a drop-down for the colors I have on hand. If there's a color you want I don't have, I can definitely get them.

 

[GianBronco]

I am happy with this final design shown below with the option to change the color of the faceplates- some examples with varying textures. The chip that I have and designed this for has been discontinued from the seller. Making some adjustments to a new key and ordered some three-button fobs for the manual drivers. Thank you all for the patience!​

 

[rubber_ducky]

Great work here.
This may have been asked already, but is the key ring loop reinforced at all?

 

[GianBronco]

Great work here.
This may have been asked already, but is the key ring loop reinforced at all?

I appreciate that. As shown it is not reinforced, but I do see the concern in comparison to the size of the original key. I've been using this for the last year or so printed in PLA and it is surprisingly strong because the loop is printed along with each layer line so it is less likely to fracture- granted I don't carry much on my keyring. The shipped keys will be printed in PETG which is inherently tougher and has excellent layer adhesion. I will update that loop to be a bit thicker to inspire some more confidence. Hope that answers your question without getting too deep into the mechanics of 3D printing and the design behind it.

.

 

[GianBronco]

Thanks for all the patience! I wanted to elevate the key a bit so I added a 5oz leather embossed face and increased the strength of the keyring loop. The leather adds about 2mm of thickness, but the overall footprint is still half the size of the factory key. I also ordered some three-button keys for the manual drivers, I'll just need to make a few adjustments to fit those chips. What do you think of this new version?

 

[C6ZZGT]

Thanks for all the patience! I wanted to elevate the key a bit so I added a 5oz leather embossed face and increased the strength of the keyring loop. The leather adds about 2mm of thickness, but the overall footprint is still half the size of the factory key. I also ordered some three-button keys for the manual drivers, I'll just need to make a few adjustments to fit those chips. What do you think of this new version?

Work with me on this......... How do you plan to enter the vehicle if you are away from home and the vehicle battery is dead ?

 

[HoosierMan]

Work with me on this......... How do you plan to enter the vehicle if you are away from home and the vehicle battery is dead ?

Seems to me you need to find a place to hide your key somewhere on the vehicle!

 

[GianBronco]

Work with me on this......... How do you plan to enter the vehicle if you are away from home and the vehicle battery is dead ?

That hasn't really been a concern for me because I can unlock the vehicle from my phone and even if the battery is dead, it can simply be placed into the center console and it will start up. Other drivers have optioned their Bronco with the keypad which will get them in the same way

Seems to me you need to find a place to hide your key somewhere on the vehicle!

Either that or I can include the blank and you will need to get it cut then add it to your keyring. Batteries do go bad, so that is a valid concern. I use the Ford app, as I am sure you may use as well, and it alerts you if remote features have been disabled to preserve battery. Most of the time this alert is a one-off if it's been sitting while on vacation or you've been eating up the battery camping in the car, etc... This usually goes away once the vehicle is started up and the alternator has a chance to do it's job. The other alert that is more of what you are talking about is usually about the health of the 12V battery. The system is actively monitoring the status of your battery, but I also keep my screen on the gauges usually to monitor boost and the battery level myself. Usually if the battery has enough juice to let you into the car, the real problem would be not enough juice to get it started. I write all of that to say it's not a concern of mine as the app has been pretty on point in alerting me beforehand.

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