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geekhack Marketplace => Vendor Forums => CM Storm => Topic started by: Trystero on Sat, 04 June 2016, 03:06:09

Title: Spherical Keycaps for CM Storm Quickfire Rapid
Post by: Trystero on Sat, 04 June 2016, 03:06:09

Hey all,

I just ordered my first mechanical keyboard and am looking for spherical keycaps for the thing.

The Filco Double Shot keycaps look great, but it seems the stabilizers mean it's only compatible with Filco keyboards, is that true, or just marketing BS?

The Modern Selectric and DSA Dolch keycaps look fantastic, but a bit pricier I've noticed.

Any recommendations for basic coloured spherical keycaps would be fantastic :)

Thanks!

Title: Re: Spherical Keycaps for CM Storm Quickfire Rapid
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 04 June 2016, 23:41:47

Welcome to Geekhack!

I have a QFR and a QFS, and I've had all sorts of keycaps on there, including SA and DSA (both of which are spherical).

QFR has Costar stabilisers which includes little plastic clips inserted into the underneath of the larger modifier keys and then hooked over a short metal bar on the PCB.  This arrangement is very tolerant of slight irregularities in keycap manufactuer.

What switches have you got?

If they are lighter switches e.g. MX blue/red/brown, then I'd say SA profile keycaps would be too heavy.  There's a lot of plastic in those keycaps.

DSA, however, would be fine on any switch.

Title: Re: Spherical Keycaps for CM Storm Quickfire Rapid
Post by: Trystero on Sun, 05 June 2016, 06:31:14

Thanks!

I'm getting myself brown switches. The keyboard will mostly be used for a lot lot lot of typing and I'm really just a big fan of spherical keycaps.

So you reckon DSA would be the way to go?

Title: Re: Spherical Keycaps for CM Storm Quickfire Rapid
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 06 June 2016, 02:45:13

Some would say that SA keycaps would be too heavy on MX browns.

I've tried them on MX blues and they just feel way too heavy.

DSA is much lighter, as there's a lot less plastic.

Depends on whether you wanted sculpted keycaps or uniform profile.  DSA is only uniform profile, but you can get SA either uniform (usually R3) or sculpted.  Personally I prefer uniform SA, but of course that's subjective.

Title: Re: Spherical Keycaps for CM Storm Quickfire Rapid
Post by: Trystero on Mon, 06 June 2016, 03:32:59

I haven't heard the uniform vs sculpted term before, what does that refer to?

And from what you've said, DSA Dolch seems like a good way to go for what I'm looking for... Guess it's time to start saving haha

Thanks for your help!

Title: Re: Spherical Keycaps for CM Storm Quickfire Rapid
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 06 June 2016, 05:53:50

This post (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=78847.msg2029649#msg2029649) (sorry, just scroll past all the nested quotes to see the picture) shows DSA uniform profile (third row down) and SA sculpted (top row).

SA uniform profile is like DSA, but all the keycaps are the same as R3 (the middle row in the [picture).

Title: Re: Spherical Keycaps for CM Storm Quickfire Rapid
Post by: xtrafrood on Tue, 07 June 2016, 00:23:01

From what I understand, Costar (a Taiwan company) makes Filco keyboards. I'm not 100% certain of this but one should, in theory, be able to use those Filco doubleshot keycaps with Costar stabilized keyboards. For whatever reason Diatec or Costar decided it would be best to glue the costar stabilizer inserts into the Filco doubleshot keycap stems. Filco has that nice standard bottom row just like your QFR so I can't see any reason why those sphericals wouldn't fit on your QFR.

Some sources
https://deskthority.net/wiki/Filco_Majestouch (https://deskthority.net/wiki/Filco_Majestouch)
https://deskthority.net/wiki/Costar (https://deskthority.net/wiki/Costar)