buckling spring with cherry on top

[Matt3o]

This would be ALPHA-1, just dremel work + epoxy glue, but the result is promising. Next step would be 3d print. Final step would be production...

Enjoy.

[madhias]

Nice, i'm imaging right now Round 5 SA caps on a SSK. Yummy!

Do the caps fit regarding their dimensions in all? Not that the caps then touch/polish each other.

[SpAmRaY]

[Matt3o]

Nice, i'm imaging right now Round 5 SA caps on a SSK. Yummy!

Do the caps fit regarding their dimensions in all? Not that the caps then touch/polish each other.

I have to make 10 or so 3d printed prototypes and try them on a real model M. I sold my last one few months ago, I have to find a new one now. Also... I have to work on the stabilized keys.

[JPG]

OMG, so this would fit any cherry key (not the stabilized ones)? Even novelties aka bro caps and such?

[Matt3o]

current one supports only round stemmed caps (some novelty keys have square stem), but I could make a square hole and it would fit anything

[esoomenona]

.

[JPG]

I am curious to know how it would feel typing on such a key (if it would be very firm or wobble or have a height problem). That's why I asked for novelties since it would not be a problem unless you intend to type on your novelty cap on a regular basis lol!

[fohat.digs]

Great idea!

But how to accommodate all the various Cherry key heights on buckling spring stems?

[esoomenona]

.

[Matt3o]

Great idea!

But how to accommodate all the various Cherry key heights on buckling spring stems?

I need a buckling spring keyboard both ansi and iso. looking for them right now.

[inanis]

This is great! It makes me want to get back to fixing and/or finally replacing my broken Unicomp M.

[E TwentyNine]

Great idea!

But how to accommodate all the various Cherry key heights on buckling spring stems?

Flat profile keyset.

[FrostyToast]

This would be amazing. Would there be various angles of the stem to accommodate for the different heights and the curve of the plate?

[Melvang]

Absolutely epic here Matt3o.  I would be willing to donate an M for the cause.  I would just ask for a bit to cover shipping.

[yasuo]

(Attachment Link)

brutal )

[0100010]

Nice!  After installing a full board of these - I can see having to insert cardboard between the rows to align the keys.

If the center of the BS stem is drilled out to accept the MX stem - do you have a need to modify the bottom of the MX stem to center index and angle the spring - so that it buckles in the correct direction?

[Matt3o]

If the center of the BS stem is drilled out to accept the MX stem - do you have a need to modify the bottom of the MX stem to center index and angle the spring - so that it buckles in the correct direction?

yes we would need to tilt the stem inside the hole a little, but I have to test it on a real keyboard. At one point I had half a dozen model m (including ssk) around but I ended up selling all of them due to space constraints.

[SpAmRaY]

(Attachment Link)

brutal )

??

mind blown is a good thing!

[E TwentyNine]

yes we would need to tilt the stem inside the hole a little, but I have to test it on a real keyboard. At one point I had half a dozen model m (including ssk) around but I ended up selling all of them due to space constraints.

I seem to be misunderstanding this a bit.  You drilled the BS stem completely through, removing the mounting spot for the spring?

Can you post a picture of the stem from top/bottom?

[Matt3o]

no, not completely there's still some material inside. Enough to glue a cherry mx male stem. I'll take better pictures later... actually I could work on the 3d model so I'm ready for 3d print.

[pasph]

This is really something!

[Melvang]

Alright guys.  I am going to donate an M for science to help further this project.  Would anyone be willing to donate a few dollars to help with the international shipping costs for shipping this thing?

[Matt3o]

thanks Melvang! I'd gladly cover shipping

[Melvang]

Might be a few days but I will get a cost for that figured out.  Does it need to be 100% functional?

[Matt3o]

Might be a few days but I will get a cost for that figured out.  Does it need to be 100% functional?

Physically it must be functional (no missing barrels nor springs or hammers). I also need most of the keys (if it misses a couple of 1u, no problem, but I need all the others).

Apart from that it doesn't need to be actually working.

[dorkvader]

Great idea!

But how to accommodate all the various Cherry key heights on buckling spring stems?

I need a buckling spring keyboard both ansi and iso. looking for them right now.

you only need one as both ANSI and ISO have the same barrel frame. I can send you a spare to play with if melvang runs into trouble with his.

[Matt3o]

Great idea!

But how to accommodate all the various Cherry key heights on buckling spring stems?

I need a buckling spring keyboard both ansi and iso. looking for them right now.

you only need one as both ANSI and ISO have the same barrel frame. I can send you a spare to play with if melvang runs into trouble with his.

It's not only the frame. I also need the ISO enter and left shift

[vivalarevolución]

Wut.  Incredible.  All the Cherry will need to be the same profile to fit most buckling spring boards.  If somebody has not said that already.

[Melvang]

Wut.  Incredible.  All the Cherry will need to be the same profile to fit most buckling spring boards.  If somebody has not said that already.

Why wouldn't one be able to use dcs caps?  I believe that matt3o is attempting is to modify the bottom half of the BS caps to accept MX caps.  I don't see why profile would matter. 

Granted yes, IBM caps are a uniform profile but get the sculpted effect from the curved backplate.  I have been wanting to see SCS on something of the same curved plate for a while now.

[Matt3o]

It is likely that I'd need to make a different slider for each keycap family. SA Row 3 works very well because they are tall and I can push them very deep into the slider, but I'm really curious to see how a DSA would work (Granite should look pretty neat on it).

A fellow European volunteered his ANSI model M to the cause, so we can spare on shipping. If the frame for ISO is the same I just need the missing keycaps (most importantly ISO enter), but anyway ansi will keep me busy for while.

[dorkvader]

It's not only the frame. I also need the ISO enter and left shift

Hmm, I only have ISO enter from a model F, which won't fit right. I guess you "could" just cut up a different key and use it as a donor for the slider. Left shift is very easy: just use any 1.25x key, or slider from a 1x key. There is no stabilizer. I think I have a spare from a model F but I will have to check.

[rowdy]

Very interesting!

SA profile would probably look best, I seem to associated SA with olden terminals and Model M is a similar vintage.

Is the hole in the stop just a round hole drilled through, or is there a "+" for the keycap to slot in to?  I guess it's not necessary, a hole would suffice, as long we it was tight enough to hold the keycaps on.

[Matt3o]

Very interesting!

SA profile would probably look best, I seem to associated SA with olden terminals and Model M is a similar vintage.

Is the hole in the stop just a round hole drilled through, or is there a "+" for the keycap to slot in to?  I guess it's not necessary, a hole would suffice, as long we it was tight enough to hold the keycaps on.

inside the hole there's the cherry "+" (sorry I took the picture in the wrong angle). The hole needs to be pretty big to fit some novelty keys. Anyway in the coming days I will work on the 3D model and see what shapeways can do.

[fohat.digs]

Now I just remembered that I have an old typewriter in the basement with keycaps that fit Cherry stems, theoretically, but are wrong inside to actually work on a keyboard.

If those fit on some sort of buckling spring key stem, it would be amazing! They are super-thick, spherical doubleshots in a truly vintage color ......

[Matt3o]

Now I just remembered that I have an old typewriter in the basement with keycaps that fit Cherry stems, theoretically, but are wrong inside to actually work on a keyboard.

If those fit on some sort of buckling spring key stem, it would be amazing! They are super-thick, spherical doubleshots in a truly vintage color ......

PICTURES!

[dustinhxc]

sweet design man..

[fohat.digs]

PICTURES!

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59096.msg1353913#msg1353913

[dorkvader]

looks like it could be reed switch or slider &spring/dome over membrane. Spacebar might be marquardt or something else.

anyway sweet keycaps, but they might not fit with this design easily. You could harvest the sliders from the typewriter and glue them flattened BS stems.

[Vizir]

Looking forward to this!

[Matt3o]

I'm waiting for the Model M to reach my place... I'll keep you posted.

[Matt3o]

I wanted to thank madhias who volunteered his Model M to the cause. I received the keyboard few days ago and I'm ready to 3d print the beta 1 of the slider Crossing fingers, let me know if you spot any issue.

[JPG]

I wanted to thank madhias who volunteered his Model M to the cause. I received the keyboard few days ago and I'm ready to 3d print the beta 1 of the slider Crossing fingers, let me know if you spot any issue.

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The only issue that I see coming is a wallet problem. Else this looks awesome!

[Melvang]

I would assume these would work for F's and M's equally?

[JPG]

Hum, I just got a revelation:


Since some cherry keys have a profile in them (well most in fact) AND that we can now produce custom model F pcb's and controllers THEN we could make a flat barrel plate and flat everything and even reuse existing cherry keyboard cases if things are aligned correctly (or version close to one).


Is it possible or did I miss something? If everything get flat, then we could make some sort of sandwich (maybe like the minimal Swill case) and then it would be relatively easy to make a full custom model F as long as you have access to barrels/flippers/springs from an old model F.

[Vizir]

I wanted to thank madhias who volunteered his Model M to the cause. I received the keyboard few days ago and I'm ready to 3d print the beta 1 of the slider Crossing fingers, let me know if you spot any issue.

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looking amazing! i'm down with SA or DSA.


edit: or sphericals. too many choices...

[jacobolus]

Hum, I just got a revelation:


Since some cherry keys have a profile in them (well most in fact) AND that we can now produce custom model F pcb's and controllers THEN we could make a flat barrel plate and flat everything and even reuse existing cherry keyboard cases if things are aligned correctly (or version close to one).

Or you could just use the keycaps from a Model M2, no?

[JPG]

Hum, I just got a revelation:


Since some cherry keys have a profile in them (well most in fact) AND that we can now produce custom model F pcb's and controllers THEN we could make a flat barrel plate and flat everything and even reuse existing cherry keyboard cases if things are aligned correctly (or version close to one).

Or you could just use the keycaps from a Model M2, no?

They are profiled? At this point I don't know if it's easier to get a bent plate/case sandwich with regular BS keycap or this. Anyway, this thing is still very interesting in itself.

[jacobolus]

Yeah, pretty sure M2 barrel frame is flat, with profiled caps, though I can’t find any side-view pictures in an image search :/. Not totally sure how well a flat plate would work for Model F PCB / flippies / barrels though.

[dorkvader]

Yeah, pretty sure M2 barrel frame is flat, with profiled caps, though I can’t find any side-view pictures in an image search :/. Not totally sure how well a flat plate would work for Model F PCB / flippies / barrels though.

M15 has the same technology / construction as the M2, and has better pictures available. You can see it's flat/flat
http://webwit.nl/input/ibm_m15/m15-5.jpg

I was disappointed when I found out.