Se-Jin SKM-1030?

[silverpanda94]

So I work for a small IT firm, and when we go do hardware upgrades for our clients, we often bring back their old equipment so it can be picked up for recycling.  This includes many keyboards, though they're pretty much all just plain 'ol dome boards.  Except for this one my boss brought back from a customer.  I asked him if I could take it home and he said sure.

So I know almost nothing about this board.  It's a Se-Jin SKM-1030.  I did a google search on it and could hardly find anything on it.  And when I searched on here, I found nothing at all for anything by Se-Jin at all (unless I'm just not using the search function right.  I'm still kind of a noob here).  Do you guys know anything about this? What I do know and can show in pics is that it has Futuba clicky switches, flip out feet with two height options, cable routing, and has an AT connector at the end of the coiled cable.  While I haven't been able to actually plug it in and try it out, I actually really like the key feel.  The keys appear to be double-shot PBT, but I'm not 100% sure.  The switches feel pretty smooth and kinda light.  Interestingly, the click is louder on the upstroke than the downstroke.

I'll post some pics below.  Do you guys know anything about this board? I'm curious to learn more about it.  Hopefully I'll be able to test it soon.

[balotz]

So I work for a small IT firm, and when we go do hardware upgrades for our clients, we often bring back their old equipment so it can be picked up for recycling.  This includes many keyboards, though they're pretty much all just plain 'ol dome boards.  Except for this one my boss brought back from a customer.  I asked him if I could take it home and he said sure.

So I know almost nothing about this board.  It's a Se-Jin SKM-1030.  I did a google search on it and could hardly find anything on it.  And when I searched on here, I found nothing at all for anything by Se-Jin at all (unless I'm just not using the search function right.  I'm still kind of a noob here).  Do you guys know anything about this? What I do know and can show in pics is that it has Futuba clicky switches, flip out feet with two height options, cable routing, and has an AT connector at the end of the coiled cable.  While I haven't been able to actually plug it in and try it out, I actually really like the key feel.  The keys appear to be double-shot PBT, but I'm not 100% sure.  The switches feel pretty smooth and kinda light.  Interestingly, the click is louder on the upstroke than the downstroke.

I'll post some pics below.  Do you guys know anything about this board? I'm curious to learn more about it.  Hopefully I'll be able to test it soon.

I have a couple of these boards. I haven't been able to figure out what material the keycaps are made from as they exhibit characteristics of both ABS and PBT.

Futaba's suffer from a problem where the click is lost over time - even in 'new' old stock boards. The reason for this is that the rubber dampening mat inside the switch becomes warped upwards, preventing the plate spring from reaching its full range of motion.

I've managed to fix this problem in my boards, permanently restoring the original tactility, by pressing down very hard on each slider with a cross screwdriver and holding for about 5 seconds. The switches in the SKM-1030 are mounted on a metal plate.

[silverpanda94]

So I work for a small IT firm, and when we go do hardware upgrades for our clients, we often bring back their old equipment so it can be picked up for recycling.  This includes many keyboards, though they're pretty much all just plain 'ol dome boards.  Except for this one my boss brought back from a customer.  I asked him if I could take it home and he said sure.

So I know almost nothing about this board.  It's a Se-Jin SKM-1030.  I did a google search on it and could hardly find anything on it.  And when I searched on here, I found nothing at all for anything by Se-Jin at all (unless I'm just not using the search function right.  I'm still kind of a noob here).  Do you guys know anything about this? What I do know and can show in pics is that it has Futuba clicky switches, flip out feet with two height options, cable routing, and has an AT connector at the end of the coiled cable.  While I haven't been able to actually plug it in and try it out, I actually really like the key feel.  The keys appear to be double-shot PBT, but I'm not 100% sure.  The switches feel pretty smooth and kinda light.  Interestingly, the click is louder on the upstroke than the downstroke.

I'll post some pics below.  Do you guys know anything about this board? I'm curious to learn more about it.  Hopefully I'll be able to test it soon.

I have a couple of these boards. I haven't been able to figure out what material the keycaps are made from as they exhibit characteristics of both ABS and PBT.

Futaba's suffer from a problem where the click is lost over time - even in 'new' old stock boards. The reason for this is that the rubber dampening mat inside the switch becomes warped upwards, preventing the plate spring from reaching its full range of motion.

I've managed to fix this problem in my boards, permanently restoring the original tactility, by pressing down very hard on each slider with a cross screwdriver and holding for about 5 seconds. The switches in the SKM-1030 are mounted on a metal plate.

Huh! Very interesting! I'll definitely try that then to see if it makes the switches feel more tactile.  This is my first time ever encountering Futuba switches.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

https://deskthority.net/wiki/Sejin_Electron

It's "Sejin" now, but it's also been "Se-Jin" clearly.

[svatech]

I can help you replace the connector on it

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[silverpanda94]

I can help you replace the connector on it

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

sounds good

[silverpanda94]

Well I can say now after letting svatech replace the AT connector on it with a PS/2 connector for me (thanks a ton btw) I can actually give some thoughts now that I've used it in regular day to day operation.

It's not a bad feel.  Keys are mostly pretty smooth.  The clicky sound is pretty loud and kinda pingy, but not as high pitched as MX Blues.  The tactility is kinda soft, but apparently this board loses its tactility over time due to the switches.  I might try balotz's suggestion on how to restore the tactility down the road.  All in all, I enjoy it. 

One thing I found kinda odd was the flip out feed on the back.  They are EXTREMELY angled.  They have two settings, and the lower of the two is already pretty steep.  The highest setting is so steep that I don't see how anyone could consider it comfortable to type on.  Kind of a strange design choice if you ask me.

[terrpn]

Well I can say now after letting svatech replace the AT connector on it with a PS/2 connector for me (thanks a ton btw) I can actually give some thoughts now that I've used it in regular day to day operation.

It's not a bad feel.  Keys are mostly pretty smooth.  The clicky sound is pretty loud and kinda pingy, but not as high pitched as MX Blues.  The tactility is kinda soft, but apparently this board loses its tactility over time due to the switches.  I might try balotz's suggestion on how to restore the tactility down the road.  All in all, I enjoy it. 

One thing I found kinda odd was the flip out feed on the back.  They are EXTREMELY angled.  They have two settings, and the lower of the two is already pretty steep.  The highest setting is so steep that I don't see how anyone could consider it comfortable to type on.  Kind of a strange design choice if you ask me.

I have a 1032 and a couple 1032's. My 1030 is actually not bad to type on, steel plate and the Futaba' linears are still clean. Caps are ABS DS imop.

[balotz]

I have a 1032 and a couple 1032's. My 1030 is actually not bad to type on, steel plate and the Futaba' linears are still clean. Caps are ABS DS imop.

Are you certain your 1030 has linear switches - i.e. no click at all?

[silverpanda94]

I have a 1032 and a couple 1032's. My 1030 is actually not bad to type on, steel plate and the Futaba' linears are still clean. Caps are ABS DS imop.

Are you certain your 1030 has linear switches - i.e. no click at all?

Idk if this would be the case with the 1030, but I read that with the 1040, some came with linear and some came with clicky.  So it's possible that there were clicky and linear versions of the 1030.  I know for a fact mine is definitely clicky.  it's just not as tactile as it should be.

[terrpn]

I have a 1032 and a couple 1032's. My 1030 is actually not bad to type on, steel plate and the Futaba' linears are still clean. Caps are ABS DS imop.

Are you certain your 1030 has linear switches - i.e. no click at all?

I would have to grab out of closet to check? Isn't the 1030 older than the 1032? I remember them being linear, so will need to check?

[balotz]

I have a 1032 and a couple 1032's. My 1030 is actually not bad to type on, steel plate and the Futaba' linears are still clean. Caps are ABS DS imop.

Are you certain your 1030 has linear switches - i.e. no click at all?

I would have to grab out of closet to check? Isn't the 1030 older than the 1032? I remember them being linear, so will need to check?

The SKR-1032 is a rubber dome board. The 1030 has an SKM prefix, indicating it's mechanical - I'm fairly sure there isn't a linear version of this futaba switch. Because of the almost uniform loss of tactility, some of them have a near-linear feel, but they came out of the factory clicky. This loss of tactility isn't due to use, but to age.

[terrpn]

I have a 1032 and a couple 1032's. My 1030 is actually not bad to type on, steel plate and the Futaba' linears are still clean. Caps are ABS DS imop.

Are you certain your 1030 has linear switches - i.e. no click at all?

I would have to grab out of closet to check? Isn't the 1030 older than the 1032? I remember them being linear, so will need to check?

The SKR-1032 is a rubber dome board. The 1030 has an SKM prefix, indicating it's mechanical - I'm fairly sure there isn't a linear version of this futaba switch. Because of the almost uniform loss of tactility, some of them have a near-linear feel, but they came out of the factory clicky. This loss of tactility isn't due to use, but to age.

I pulled my 1030 out and it was most definitely not clicky, nor ever was. If age has anything to do with the feel of the switches it possibly might have been tactile at one time- but most definitely linear at present where they all feel the same too me.

The 1032 are hybrid- part rubber dome for sure, but still not bad to type on.

My 1030 is branded with Magitronic and is really pleasant to type on

I think I have listed in some keyboards I own under.........MORE, below

Now that I think abt it I have a old Packard Bell that is clicky with either Futaba's or SMK?

[balotz]

I pulled my 1030 out and it was most definitely not clicky, nor ever was. If age has anything to do with the feel of the switches it possibly might have been tactile at one time- but most definitely linear at present where they all feel the same too me.

The 1032 are hybrid- part rubber dome for sure, but still not bad to type on.

My 1030 is branded with Magitronic and is really pleasant to type on

I think I have listed in some keyboards I own under.........MORE, below

Now that I think abt it I have a old Packard Bell that is clicky with either Futaba's or SMK?

Interesting - would you mind sharing a photo of one of the keyswitches? The Packard Bell is most likely Futabas as well.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

I pulled my 1030 out and it was most definitely not clicky, nor ever was. If age has anything to do with the feel of the switches it possibly might have been tactile at one time- but most definitely linear at present where they all feel the same too me.

So far as I know, this observation remains controversial. If the switches are only weakly tactile to begin with, and the tactility can fade over time, then how can you be 100% certain that the switches were linear from new?

My current interpretation of the specifications is that MA41 series is clicky and MA42 series is linear:

https://deskthority.net/wiki/Futaba_MA_series#Specifications

There must be a catalogue out there somewhere that makes this clear. In the meantime, I found this, from 1993:

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=jMKfH6i9OcYC&pg=PA433&lpg=PA433&dq=Sejin+keyboard+catalog&source=bl&ots=nd1M45BJBM&sig=4jE4Z5HdJkodRRPXw10ga_m1g9c&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2sr_q_JLUAhVBDsAKHf2PBQsQ6AEIUTAF#v=onepage&q=Sejin%20keyboard%20catalog&f=false

"Lifetime Guarantee on Keycap Legends"

[terrpn]

I pulled my 1030 out and it was most definitely not clicky, nor ever was. If age has anything to do with the feel of the switches it possibly might have been tactile at one time- but most definitely linear at present where they all feel the same too me.

So far as I know, this observation remains controversial. If the switches are only weakly tactile to begin with, and the tactility can fade over time, then how can you be 100% certain that the switches were linear from new?

My current interpretation of the specifications is that MA41 series is clicky and MA42 series is linear:

https://deskthority.net/wiki/Futaba_MA_series#Specifications

There must be a catalogue out there somewhere that makes this clear. In the meantime, I found this, from 1993:

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=jMKfH6i9OcYC&pg=PA433&lpg=PA433&dq=Sejin+keyboard+catalog&source=bl&ots=nd1M45BJBM&sig=4jE4Z5HdJkodRRPXw10ga_m1g9c&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2sr_q_JLUAhVBDsAKHf2PBQsQ6AEIUTAF#v=onepage&q=Sejin%20keyboard%20catalog&f=false

"Lifetime Guarantee on Keycap Legends"

Well I was assuming from an earlier post abt the switches being clicky and over time they weakened? My opinion is that they are linear and came linear from the factory- which i was trying to assert that they are all uniform in feel to me? Feel like mx reds as far as comparison......

The clicky ones in my Packard Bell could be Futaba, but feel more like the clicky SMK's in my vintage Laser?

[Daniel Beardsmore]

I don't know, you'll have to check them and find out.

The only way to be sure with Futaba is to open a switch, and they're sealed shut.