Hi guys! Looking for some expertis regarding blue alps switches

[HaZe.eXe]

Hi members on Geekhack!

I'm from cold Sweden and I've seen some of your awesome work! I got into the mechanical "modding world" quiet recently and need help to build a TKL keyboard out of this AWESOME switches that I've got.

The switches is called "complicated" blue alps and is mounted on the Rabbit 286 keyboard. Here's a video of my keyboard:

Clearly I can't use the keyboard as it is because of the connector and the case is missing some of it's plastic.

Got so many question so I hope someone could help me, because these switches deserves to be used again I don't even know if there's a pcb that supports these switches.

This is the type case that I would like to get, but I'm open for suggestion!

Link: http://dangwang.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_0459.jpg

Thanks in advance!

//HaZe.eXe

[ComradeSniper]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Your best bet for a really solid TKL Alps board would be a Kingsaver. One sold on eBay a few months ago with an acrylic case similar to the one you linked, but that's the only acrylic cased Kingsaver I've ever seen.

Elton has some Kingsaver kits for sale here. These have an aluminum case. You would have to solder in the switches and find some keycaps. The ideal keycap donor board is a Wang 724.

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

AT connector, right?  What about an AT to PS/2 adaptor, plus a PS/2 to USB adaptor?  Works if you do it right, my old AT NEC keyboard works well on my Mac!

[HaZe.eXe]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Your best bet for a really solid TKL Alps board would be a Kingsaver. One sold on eBay a few months ago with an acrylic case similar to the one you linked, but that's the only acrylic cased Kingsaver I've ever seen.

Elton has some Kingsaver kits for sale here. These have an aluminum case. You would have to solder in the switches and find some keycaps. The ideal keycap donor board is a Wang 724.

Thank you!

So it's the Kingsaver my only option or  my best? Seemed kinda expensive, for what I'm understand they've been used? Love to have one n ALU though...So I dont have to buy anything else (like a Teensy board) just keycaps? Thank u so much for the help!

[HaZe.eXe]

Welcome to Geekhack!

AT connector, right?  What about an AT to PS/2 adaptor, plus a PS/2 to USB adaptor?  Works if you do it right, my old AT NEC keyboard works well on my Mac!

Thanks man,

Yes sir! 5-pin. I would probably have used that, if the case was intact. It's missing some of it's plastic so the plan right now is to solder the switches and put them into a new one.

Here's some (bad) picture of mine:

[ComradeSniper]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Your best bet for a really solid TKL Alps board would be a Kingsaver. One sold on eBay a few months ago with an acrylic case similar to the one you linked, but that's the only acrylic cased Kingsaver I've ever seen.

Elton has some Kingsaver kits for sale here. These have an aluminum case. You would have to solder in the switches and find some keycaps. The ideal keycap donor board is a Wang 724.

Thank you!

So it's the Kingsaver my only option or  my best? Seemed kinda expensive, for what I'm understand they've been used? Love to have one n ALU though...So I dont have to buy anything else (like a Teensy board) just keycaps? Thank u so much for the help!

Well, they're technically "factory seconds" so they have some small dents and scratches, but mine came from that batch and I can only find one miniscule scratch on it. It might as well be brand new. That kit comes with everything you'll need except for switches (which you already have, of course), keycaps, and a mini USB cable.

The Filco Zero isn't quite as fancy as the Kingsaver but it's a very good option if you don't want to pay the premium for a Kingsaver. The only problem is that it's no longer in production, so you'll likely have trouble finding one. They came stock with white alps clones, so you would again have to solder in your own switches.

The Ducky DK1087 is the only other option I can think of. I've heard that the build quality is pretty bad all around, and it's been out of stock everywhere for quite a while, so finding one may be difficult (though not as difficult as finding a Filco Zero).

[nubbinator]

Have you thought about seeing if you could commission someone to design a case in that design for you, then cut it locally?  It's a pretty simple case and I'd imagine it wouldn't be hard to design a case for that keyboard as long as you gave good measurements.

[ComradeSniper]

Have you thought about seeing if you could commission someone to design a case in that design for you, then cut it locally?  It's a pretty simple case and I'd imagine it wouldn't be hard to design a case for that keyboard as long as you gave good measurements.

I hadn't thought of that, that's certainly something to consider.

The only problem is that elton said he won't sell the PCB/plate seperately, so you would either have to find someone willing to sell just their plate and PCB or find someone who wants to buy the case.

[nubbinator]

Have you thought about seeing if you could commission someone to design a case in that design for you, then cut it locally?  It's a pretty simple case and I'd imagine it wouldn't be hard to design a case for that keyboard as long as you gave good measurements.

I hadn't thought of that, that's certainly something to consider.

The only problem is that elton said he won't sell the PCB/plate seperately, so you would either have to find someone willing to sell just their plate and PCB or find someone who wants to buy the case.

I was actually talking about the keyboard they have already.  Just use an AT converter and get a custom acrylic case for it.

[ComradeSniper]

Have you thought about seeing if you could commission someone to design a case in that design for you, then cut it locally?  It's a pretty simple case and I'd imagine it wouldn't be hard to design a case for that keyboard as long as you gave good measurements.

I hadn't thought of that, that's certainly something to consider.

The only problem is that elton said he won't sell the PCB/plate seperately, so you would either have to find someone willing to sell just their plate and PCB or find someone who wants to buy the case.

I was actually talking about the keyboard they have already.  Just use an AT converter and get a custom acrylic case for it.

Ohhhhh okay. This could work too.