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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: BucklingSpring on Tue, 15 March 2011, 18:48:08
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I found the original spec sheets of my NMB RT8256CW...
These mechanical switches were rated at 100 Million cycles!!!
Was there anything else even close to that?
Anyway... for historical purposes and to the underrated fame of these boards:
I don't think this document is still on the web. So you're looking at a GeekHack.org exclusivity :cheer2:
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=16145&stc=1&d=1300232626)
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=16146&stc=1&d=1300232626)
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Did you scan that in or what?
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Did you scan that in or what?
Kind of... Using image capture available in Acrobat. I wanted to display the "original" data without having to open the PDF also included.
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I think the split space bar didn't catch on because the hands are too close together on regular boards.
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Waow... I'm really surprised that this board doesn't generate any more attention or interest. The switches in it were probably amongst the best ever made.
The board is not even listed in the mechanical switch wiki.
I found the Thread 12861 (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=12861) with "nice" pics of one RT-8200… assuming they are made with NMB Space Invader switches.
Someone wrote they are comparable to MX Blue... Maybe after 30 million actuations and enough food to feed a hamster farm under the keycaps. New they don't feel like blue at all. I got mines new from NMB. The main reason I didn't use them much was the "sharp" edge spacebar. It's unpleasant to the thumbs when you type a lot.
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I think the split space bar didn't catch on because the hands are too close together on regular boards.
The NMB-RT8256CW I have are like the picture on the second page. They came with standard single spacebar.
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Actually the "Space Invaders" got used during the Black Widow Launch. They mistakenly used an image from the OCN Mechanical Keyboard Guide in their launch materials instead of a Cherry Blue MX. Jason at Razer marketing isn't exactly on top of this market.
Ripster you are an encyclopedia on legs :-)
Do you know if these NMB switches had a name?
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Ripster you are an encyclopedia on legs :-)
Do you know if these NMB switches had a name?
As far as I know, there was never an "official" name for these. I've heard Space Invaders and Hi-Tek thrown about a lot too. I have the same exact model, tactile and clicky.
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I found two RT8256CW+ at work today. Grabbed one for myself. The case is yellowed but everything else is quite clean. I'm no veteran of keyboards or anything but the feel is somewhat like a MX Blue but defnitely a bit more force required....maybe this thing needs some service maintenance..... the one I have does not have the split spacebar.
Would anyone be interested in one of these that needs a bit more to make complete again? THere's a second one I can get but has a couple keys missing, the case is yellow and keys are also in need of a proper cleaning.
_Ethan
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I found two RT8256CW+ at work today. Grabbed one for myself. The case is yellowed but everything else is quite clean. I'm no veteran of keyboards or anything but the feel is somewhat like a MX Blue but defnitely a bit more force required....maybe this thing needs some service maintenance..... the one I have does not have the split spacebar.
Would anyone be interested in one of these that needs a bit more to make complete again? THere's a second one I can get but has a couple keys missing, the case is yellow and keys are also in need of a proper cleaning.
_Ethan
Search the forums for NMB RT8*, there is a member who is really dying to get another one. He was even welling to do favors I can't spell here. Mines are not for sale and I already have a girl friend so he had no luck with me. But if you can find him, you might have a taker.
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I have 3 or 4 NMB space invader boards of different types. I like them, but like Cherry ML switches, opening them alone can be fatal to the switch. You've been warned. I plan on restoring at least one with all working switches at some point, but I need new soldering equipment first.
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Opening them alone can be fatal to the switch. You've been warned. I plan on restoring at least one with all working switches at some point, but I need new soldering equipment first.
Good luck with this.
It looks like the switches are outlasting everything else holding them together. It reminds us couples of basics... What's the point to build and spend too much on a switch that is going to last longer than whole keyboard? At least in this case, the switches were not the weak link.
I wonder how many of these keyboards were made.
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Wrong. It's the switches that die when opened. There's a little metal contact similar to ALPS, but the design allows them to get deformed very easily. Bending them back has never worked for me.
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Wrong. It's the switches that die when opened. There's a little metal contact similar to ALPS, but the design allows them to get deformed very easily. Bending them back has never worked for me.
I take your words for it. I've used one in good shape in the past. Liked it so much that I order two while they were still available. Then stored them after a while because I found the spacebar anoying. Never opened one myself. I saw few pictures where the pins on the keycaps were broken. That why I assumed the keycaps were fragile.
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As far as I know, there was never an "official" name for these. I've heard Space Invaders and Hi-Tek thrown about a lot too. I have the same exact model, tactile and clicky.
AFAIK, Hi Tek were a different switch of a similar design.
100 million key press life? My arse.
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100 million key press life? My arse.
Says the specs... I'm not aware of any class action of unhappy customers claiming dammages for false advertising.
The design seams to grab a lot junk over time. Which will probably contribute to early failure. Those tests are done in perfect conditions.
LoL
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Says the specs... I'm not aware of any class action of unhappy customers claiming dammages for false advertising.
The design seams to grab a lot junk over time. Which will probably contribute to early failure. Those tests are done in perfect conditions.
LoL
Far more elegant designs have far shorter lives. Based on this, you can tell when they've massaged the numbers, or in this case, just taken the piss.
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Far more elegant designs have far shorter lives. Based on this, you can tell when they've massaged the numbers, or in this case, just taken the piss.
Well... On my side of the world, we are innocent until proven guilty.
You can make all the allegations you want, I haven't seen proofs of either piss or fact.
So until proven guilty of pissing, I will give NMB the benefit of the doubt.
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(http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/00cool%20story%20bro.jpg)
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Sanded the spacebar on one of mine a while back until the leading edge was rounded. Much better.
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Sanded the spacebar on one of mine a while back until the leading edge was rounded. Much better.
Good one, did it affect the color?
I was wondering if there was enough plastic to do it without cracking it.
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Worked fine. This board was in like new condition aesthetically, so no noticeable change in color. I believe I used my random orbital followed by several increasing grits of sandpaper to make it feel nice enough not to be bothersome. I wouldn't just attack it with a coarse paper and expect it to feel acceptable when typing.