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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: VinnyCordeiro on Sat, 04 July 2015, 11:29:04

Title: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: VinnyCordeiro on Sat, 04 July 2015, 11:29:04
I'm starting to look for Cherry alternatives, ALPS switches being one that I want to try. Yes, I know that ALPS switches are discontinued and only third-party companies produces clones now (hello, Matias!), and that it is hard to find new keycaps for those switches, common practice being cannibalizing old keyboards for new ones.

That leaves also a question: what about ALPS stabilizers? From what I've researched, the keycaps made by SP that have ALPS inserts uses Cherry stabilizers. Is there anyone who still produces ALPS stabilizers or is it an extinct beast, leaving cannibalization as the only option?
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Sat, 04 July 2015, 11:39:14
Matias has been teasing new caps and stabilizers for alps for ages. Until they finally sell them, you either get to harvest old boards or try and get costar working.
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: Hak Foo on Sat, 04 July 2015, 14:17:45
They sell ABS sets already
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: jbondeson on Sat, 04 July 2015, 16:57:12
Matias produces rectangular stabilizer mounts (as seen on Dell AT101x keyboards).

Cherry (cruciform) mounts are also seen on alps boards like the Chicony 5181. These are obviously readily available.
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: VinnyCordeiro on Sat, 04 July 2015, 17:09:50
Quote from: jbondeson on Sat, 04 July 2015, 16:57:12
Matias produces rectangular stabilizer mounts (as seen on Dell AT101x keyboards).

Cherry (cruciform) mounts are also seen on alps boards like the Chicony 5181. These are obviously readily available.
Are those available for purchase separately?
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: jbondeson on Sat, 04 July 2015, 17:19:26
They have a "Stabilizer and Hook" set for $10 on their online store [1] but I don't know it the inserts come with the stabilizer set or the key caps.

If you're just looking for just inserts I'd suggest emailing them and then let us know if they'll sell individually!

[1] http://matias.ca/order/#keycaps
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: VinnyCordeiro on Sat, 04 July 2015, 17:20:36
Ok, looking at Matias site I've found that they sell keycaps and stabilizers, or at least it is possible to order them (http://matias.ca/order/#keycaps). $30 for international shipping to Brazil is a bit expensive, though. :(

EDIT: 200 Matias Quiet Click switches + Black ABS Keycap Set + Stabilizer & Hook Set + shipping to Brazil = USD 164.90 OUCH!
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: VinnyCordeiro on Sat, 04 July 2015, 17:21:37
Quote from: jbondeson on Sat, 04 July 2015, 17:19:26
They have a "Stabilizer and Hook" set for $10 on their online store [1] but I don't know it the inserts come with the stabilizer set or the key caps.

If you're just looking for just inserts I'd suggest emailing them and then let us know if they'll sell individually!

[1] http://matias.ca/order/#keycaps
We were looking at it at the same time, it seems. XD
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Sat, 04 July 2015, 17:39:10
Oh ****, I didnt realize the Matias stuff is finally for sale!!
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: zombimuncha on Thu, 09 July 2015, 14:04:14
but wait - the rabbithole goes deeper!

Matias keyboards use Costar stabs (with cruciform mounts on the underside of the keycap, same as cherry mx) on the spacebar and Alps stabs (with rectangular mounts) on all the other stabilized keys. Same deal with the new Alps boards from KBParadise.
I'm assuming the stabs listed on Matias' site will match this arrangement.

If you need parts for a Alps-style spacebar, or for any other key with Costar-style stabs (for example keycaps sold by SP), then the Matias set is probably not going to completely fit the bill.

It's not 100% clear to me what exactly is included in the stab set from Matias. Hopefully it includes all the plastic bits that you might need for any arrangement - you might need to talk to Matias if you need extra costar-style stabs because I guess the set would only include enough of those for a single spacebar. So if have some other non-Matias-standard stab arrangement, and you can get all the plastic bits from Matias, you can try to bend your own balance-bars for the other-sized keys if needed.
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: StormyMonday on Fri, 04 September 2015, 01:09:03
Quote from: VinnyCordeiro on Sat, 04 July 2015, 17:21:37
Quote from: jbondeson on Sat, 04 July 2015, 17:19:26
They have a "Stabilizer and Hook" set for $10 on their online store [1] but I don't know it the inserts come with the stabilizer set or the key caps.

If you're just looking for just inserts I'd suggest emailing them and then let us know if they'll sell individually!

[1] http://matias.ca/order/#keycaps
We were looking at it at the same time, it seems. XD

If you don't mind my asking, what did Matias include in their stabilizer kit?
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: VinnyCordeiro on Fri, 04 September 2015, 07:05:58
Quote from: StormyMonday on Fri, 04 September 2015, 01:09:03
If you don't mind my asking, what did Matias include in their stabilizer kit?

I didn't made the order, too expensive for me. :(
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: primered6 on Tue, 15 September 2015, 16:37:41
Hi there I too have been looking around but am unsuccessful in finding stand alone stabilizers, am even having difficulty with trying to find donor or
'victim' keyboard for salvage. I know they're not in production any more but at this rate being in the ALPS club is going to become as expensive as the
Topre cult, perhaps more so if indeed it's not already..

Btw, does anyone know what stabilizers the Tao Bao ALPS sets use? I've been abusing Massdrop again..
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: StormyMonday on Tue, 15 September 2015, 18:22:06
Quote from: primered6 on Tue, 15 September 2015, 16:37:41
Hi there I too have been looking around but am unsuccessful in finding stand alone stabilizers, am even having difficulty with trying to find donor or
'victim' keyboard for salvage. I know they're not in production any more but at this rate being in the ALPS club is going to become as expensive as the
Topre cult, perhaps more so if indeed it's not already..

Btw, does anyone know what stabilizers the Tao Bao ALPS sets use? I've been abusing Massdrop again..

I think that most folks are using Costar stabs and custom bending the wires to suit the application.

Matias is rumored to have stabs that look like the old Apple hardware, but apparently no one has ever seen them in the wild.
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: Badwrench on Tue, 15 September 2015, 18:45:41
Quote from: primered6 on Tue, 15 September 2015, 16:37:41
Hi there I too have been looking around but am unsuccessful in finding stand alone stabilizers, am even having difficulty with trying to find donor or
'victim' keyboard for salvage. I know they're not in production any more but at this rate being in the ALPS club is going to become as expensive as the
Topre cult, perhaps more so if indeed it's not already..

Btw, does anyone know what stabilizers the Tao Bao ALPS sets use? I've been abusing Massdrop again..

I am pretty sure that they are the same as the v60/v80 in that the spacebar is costar and the rest of the stabilized keys are alps inserts. 
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: jdcarpe on Tue, 15 September 2015, 19:17:24
Quote from: StormyMonday on Tue, 15 September 2015, 18:22:06
Quote from: primered6 on Tue, 15 September 2015, 16:37:41
Hi there I too have been looking around but am unsuccessful in finding stand alone stabilizers, am even having difficulty with trying to find donor or
'victim' keyboard for salvage. I know they're not in production any more but at this rate being in the ALPS club is going to become as expensive as the
Topre cult, perhaps more so if indeed it's not already..

Btw, does anyone know what stabilizers the Tao Bao ALPS sets use? I've been abusing Massdrop again..

I think that most folks are using Costar stabs and custom bending the wires to suit the application.

Matias is rumored to have stabs that look like the old Apple hardware, but apparently no one has ever seen them in the wild.
I will post pictures of the samples they sent me, if I can find them in my closet. :)

I knew I put them somewhere easy to find...

(http://i.imgur.com/1FpThZc.jpg)
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: primered6 on Wed, 16 September 2015, 08:36:23
Quote from: jdcarpe on Tue, 15 September 2015, 19:17:24
Quote from: StormyMonday on Tue, 15 September 2015, 18:22:06
Quote from: primered6 on Tue, 15 September 2015, 16:37:41
Hi there I too have been looking around but am unsuccessful in finding stand alone stabilizers, am even having difficulty with trying to find donor or
'victim' keyboard for salvage. I know they're not in production any more but at this rate being in the ALPS club is going to become as expensive as the
Topre cult, perhaps more so if indeed it's not already..

Btw, does anyone know what stabilizers the Tao Bao ALPS sets use? I've been abusing Massdrop again..

I think that most folks are using Costar stabs and custom bending the wires to suit the application.

Matias is rumored to have stabs that look like the old Apple hardware, but apparently no one has ever seen them in the wild.
I will post pictures of the samples they sent me, if I can find them in my closet. :)

I knew I put them somewhere easy to find...

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/1FpThZc.jpg)


Thanks for the info.. It would not be too impractical of me to use Costar but does anyone have a source for the rectangular ALPS inserts?
I should not think they would be too hard to make, I can imagine them being part of a similar niche as the ALPS to MX adapters on shapeways.
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: zombimuncha on Wed, 16 September 2015, 09:18:07
Quote from: primered6 on Wed, 16 September 2015, 08:36:23
Quote from: jdcarpe on Tue, 15 September 2015, 19:17:24
Quote from: StormyMonday on Tue, 15 September 2015, 18:22:06
Quote from: primered6 on Tue, 15 September 2015, 16:37:41
Hi there I too have been looking around but am unsuccessful in finding stand alone stabilizers, am even having difficulty with trying to find donor or
'victim' keyboard for salvage. I know they're not in production any more but at this rate being in the ALPS club is going to become as expensive as the
Topre cult, perhaps more so if indeed it's not already..

Btw, does anyone know what stabilizers the Tao Bao ALPS sets use? I've been abusing Massdrop again..

I think that most folks are using Costar stabs and custom bending the wires to suit the application.

Matias is rumored to have stabs that look like the old Apple hardware, but apparently no one has ever seen them in the wild.
I will post pictures of the samples they sent me, if I can find them in my closet. :)

I knew I put them somewhere easy to find...

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/1FpThZc.jpg)


Thanks for the info.. It would not be too impractical of me to use Costar but does anyone have a source for the rectangular ALPS inserts?
I should not think they would be too hard to make, I can imagine them being part of a similar niche as the ALPS to MX adapters on shapeways.

try emailing Matias directly. Or maybe try asking KeyboardCo if they have any.

BTW - nice avatar img! I'm halfway thru watching "Space Dandy" right now.
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: primered6 on Wed, 16 September 2015, 12:46:47
Quote from: zombimuncha on Wed, 16 September 2015, 09:18:07
try emailing Matias directly. Or maybe try asking KeyboardCo if they have any.

BTW - nice avatar img! I'm halfway thru watching "Space Dandy" right now.

Will do..I will send off an email to both and see if they have any, or where I could possibly find a supplier.
And YES!! I love Space Dandy, it's an awesome show (Meow is my definite favourite though).
Title: Re: ALPS stabilizers?
Post by: Joey Quinn on Wed, 16 September 2015, 14:41:36
Quote from: primered6 on Wed, 16 September 2015, 12:46:47
Quote from: zombimuncha on Wed, 16 September 2015, 09:18:07
try emailing Matias directly. Or maybe try asking KeyboardCo if they have any.

BTW - nice avatar img! I'm halfway thru watching "Space Dandy" right now.

Will do..I will send off an email to both and see if they have any, or where I could possibly find a supplier.
And YES!! I love Space Dandy, it's an awesome show (Meow is my definite favourite though).
Space Dandy is pretty fantastic, just started it a few weeks ago but I'm all caught up.