Author Topic: Alps tactile/click leaf restoration tool?  (Read 3020 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline abrahamstechnology

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 210
  • Location: USA
Alps tactile/click leaf restoration tool?
« on: Mon, 24 September 2018, 09:40:27 »
Hello,
I think a very good idea would be some sort of 3D printed press tool to uniformly bend worn-out Alps leafsprings back to their original shape. I have lots of black Alps that I would like to restore, but I fear hand bending them will cause inconsistencies. I am not good at 3D design, though.

Offline JianYang

  • Posts: 114
Re: Alps tactile/click leaf restoration tool?
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 29 September 2018, 03:29:00 »
Bending springsteel back into shape relies on over-bending. The amount of the over-bending depends on the state of the spring. So the best way is bending them and inspecting until they are at the desired position. Perhaps you could make something to help with the inspection process? Or what did you have in mind?

Offline lazyfart

  • Posts: 80
  • Location: Philippines
Re: Alps tactile/click leaf restoration tool?
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 09 October 2018, 04:24:32 »
Ohh, I would be interested in this too. I have a lot of alps switches that need restoration.

Offline Leslieann

  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 4513
Re: Alps tactile/click leaf restoration tool?
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 12 October 2018, 00:26:28 »
This will not work.
Spring properties change when you over stress them, which is needed in order to change them. Since each spring has been work hardened and stressed differently, bending them all to match will NOT result in an even tension or feel.

Restoring several used springs to match is actually a quite technical process and not something you will accomplished by just bending them to look alike.
Novelkeys NK65AE w/62g Zilents/39g springs
More
62g Zilents/lubed/Novelkeys 39g springs, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps, Netdot Gen10 magnetic cable, pic
| Filco MJ2 L.E. Vortex Case, Jailhouse Blues, heavily customized
More
Vortex case squared up/blasted finish removed/custom feet/paint/winkey blockoff plate, HID Liberator, stainless steel universal plate, 3d printed adapters, Type C, Netdot Gen10 magnetic cable, foam sound dampened, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps (o-ringed), Cherry Jailhouse Blues w/lubed/clipped Cherry light springs, 40g actuation
| GMMK TKL
More
w/ Kailh Purple Pros/lubed/Novelkeys 39g springs, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps, Netdot Gen10 Magnetic cable
| PF65 3d printed 65% w/LCD and hot swap
More
Box Jades, Interchangeable trim, mini lcd, QMK, underglow, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps, O-rings, Netdot Gen10 magnetic cable, in progress link
| Magicforce 68
More
MF68 pcb, Outemu Blues, in progress
| YMDK75 Jail Housed Gateron Blues
More
J-spacers, YMDK Thick PBT, O-rings, SIP sockets
| KBT Race S L.E.
More
Ergo Clears, custom WASD caps
| Das Pro
More
Costar model with browns
| GH60
More
Cherry Blacks, custom 3d printed case
| Logitech Illumininated | IBM Model M (x2)
Definitive Omron Guide. | 3d printed Keyboard FAQ/Discussion

Offline Blitzschnitzel

  • Posts: 103
Re: Alps tactile/click leaf restoration tool?
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 12 October 2018, 17:21:08 »
I could imagine some apparatus powered with something like a torque wrench might work. You bend them to whatever radius is needed to produce a specific amount of torque.

Offline Leslieann

  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 4513
Re: Alps tactile/click leaf restoration tool?
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 12 October 2018, 19:45:36 »
I could imagine some apparatus powered with something like a torque wrench might work. You bend them to whatever radius is needed to produce a specific amount of torque.
It could, but while you can match one point in travel, you cannot make multiple springs match across their range of travel.

So let's use a Cherry red spring since it's easy to understand...
start = 30g
mid point = 45g
End = 55g

As they wear, the higher use ones will now read:
start = 25g
mid point = 35g
End = 45g

Now let's say you rebend the more heavily used to match the lesser used ones. While the lesser used are still normal, the tweaked ones now show:
start = 28g
mid point = 45g
End = 60g

Yes, you matched the mid point, but you cannot match start and end because the force curve has been changed. You can re-bend to match start or end, but you will mess up the mid point. You can NEVER match all 3 ever again, at least not without some serious equipment or melting them all down and remaking them again. Let's say you have that equipment though, you weakened the spring even more while bending it so it will fade even faster this time than it did last time and as it fades it will fade differently than it did before.
Novelkeys NK65AE w/62g Zilents/39g springs
More
62g Zilents/lubed/Novelkeys 39g springs, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps, Netdot Gen10 magnetic cable, pic
| Filco MJ2 L.E. Vortex Case, Jailhouse Blues, heavily customized
More
Vortex case squared up/blasted finish removed/custom feet/paint/winkey blockoff plate, HID Liberator, stainless steel universal plate, 3d printed adapters, Type C, Netdot Gen10 magnetic cable, foam sound dampened, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps (o-ringed), Cherry Jailhouse Blues w/lubed/clipped Cherry light springs, 40g actuation
| GMMK TKL
More
w/ Kailh Purple Pros/lubed/Novelkeys 39g springs, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps, Netdot Gen10 Magnetic cable
| PF65 3d printed 65% w/LCD and hot swap
More
Box Jades, Interchangeable trim, mini lcd, QMK, underglow, HK Gaming Thick PBT caps, O-rings, Netdot Gen10 magnetic cable, in progress link
| Magicforce 68
More
MF68 pcb, Outemu Blues, in progress
| YMDK75 Jail Housed Gateron Blues
More
J-spacers, YMDK Thick PBT, O-rings, SIP sockets
| KBT Race S L.E.
More
Ergo Clears, custom WASD caps
| Das Pro
More
Costar model with browns
| GH60
More
Cherry Blacks, custom 3d printed case
| Logitech Illumininated | IBM Model M (x2)
Definitive Omron Guide. | 3d printed Keyboard FAQ/Discussion