OK, apologies in advance for the length of this post. I believe I was told in no uncertain terms that poeople following this thread wanted pictures, so here you go...
I should really have taken the keycaps off before I did this:
Metal plate off, exposing matrix and membraneBackside of keyboard showing all the pivot/spring assemblies.NOTE: I used an unused plastic barrel plate, so it still had plastic flash in some of the tiny little spots. If you modify the barrel plate from a working keyboard, this won't be a problem, but if you use a new one, then
make sure you remove any flash. The pivot plates need to be able to move freely, or the switch won't close when the spring buckles. It is very obvious when there is a problem and when the pivot plate is moving freely.
Front side before any cutting happened.Unicomp PS/2 keyboard controller, making contact via pressing against the mylar matrix.All together; top-view.
I am going to have to replicate or re-use the plastic pressure plate somehow. And I can't test the switches until I figure this bit out.
Reduce, reuse, recycle! And don't lose any of the tiny bits.60% of the plastic barrel plate with pivot/springs installed.This is really hard to do well. I need a fixture that supports the barrel plate at least 1" above the work surface so the springs can dangle freely. A 2x6 piece of hardwood and a 1/2" drill may be deployed if I have to do this assembly again.
Membrane and matrix press-fit back in place. Carefully!Metal plate cut-down to be smaller than the plastic plate is now attached. Carefully.All together; top-view.And in the big case for now.Ok, once I figure out how to re-attach the Unicomp PS/2 controller, I will test the switches.
The journey continues...
- Ron | samwisekoi