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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: ronno on Tue, 07 April 2020, 08:39:33

Title: BTC 5140 Spacebar stabilizer
Post by: ronno on Tue, 07 April 2020, 08:39:33

Hi,

Looking for a spacebar stabilizer for my BTC 5140 (E5XKBM10510), got it on ebay with with the stabilizer missing (correction - read: broken, see below) - and I'm not even sure what to look for.

If you have this keyboard even a photo of the proper stabilizer would help. according to Deskthority the stabilizers are not CherryMX compatible but could not find additional information.

Thanks,
Ron

Title: Re: BTC 5140 Spacebar stabilizer
Post by: envyy24 on Tue, 07 April 2020, 09:00:53

I no longer own my btc, but as I recall there are no stabilizers like the ones you see in cherry mx board. Instead the top part of the case has some holes and the long keycaps have extra cylindrical stem to fit in that holes. That is how btc board stabilize.

Edit: oh never mind me, please see the post below

Title: Re: BTC 5140 Spacebar stabilizer
Post by: Findecanor on Tue, 07 April 2020, 09:06:27

I've got a spare. 1.16mm thick wire. Just one bend at each end. 104.15mm horizontal, 17.05mm vertical.
The bar is snapped into two snaps in the case. Each vertical section goes into a notch in the space bar.
Mounting it is tricky...

Where are you located?

Title: Re: BTC 5140 Spacebar stabilizer
Post by: ronno on Tue, 07 April 2020, 10:06:24

Thanks Findecanor,

I have the wire, and it sounds like it's the original. But it wasn't mounted properly. Could you help me verify I have all the right parts? Attaching photos below.

The sockets you describe in the case have these protruding arms, one of them is broken and missing in my case but I don't think it should be very hard put something in it's place.
 

Title: Re: BTC 5140 Spacebar stabilizer
Post by: ronno on Thu, 09 April 2020, 05:00:13

Just a quick update, figured out how the stabilizer mounts but it appears my case is broken where the stabilizer wire attaches to the case. therefore stabilizer does nothing and and spacebar unusable.
See the two attachment sites at the bottom of `stabilizer3.jpg` above on both sides near the edges of where the spacebar goes.

The construction looks very prone to breaks there (you can see the right side has only one protruding arm and on the left side the bottom arm is present but is bent outwards so it does not hold the wire in place)

has anyone had any experience with this kind of breaks or have some suggestion for fixing or replacing these hinges?