geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: spitfire6000 on Mon, 11 July 2011, 00:11:12
-
Anyone come across any inconsistent keys on their filcos? I just now realized this when testing each key individually, that all of my F keys feel and sound the same except for F7 which is not as smooth in its linear motion, and it sounds louder when you release it from bottomed out position.
The f7 key works just fine like all the others, but the feel and sound as you slowly push it down and release it is a little different than all the other f keys.
What could be causing this? The key cap is fully seated, it doesnt wiggle more than the others, so am I right to assume that it is the cherry mx black switch itself that is the problem here?
What do I do? Can I fix the difference in the way this key feels by just mashing it hard for a while to put some wear and tear movement into it?
Should I remove the keycap and see if some outside contaminant got in between the switch and keycap? (highly unlikely i think)
What does one do to fix a slightly different feeling cherry mx black switch?
Note: this extremely insignificant imperfection doesn't sway my belief that this is still the best keyboard under 170. 99% of people probably would never even notice this trivial difference, but somehow I always seem to be a perfectionist when it comes to the dumbest things =)
-
Doesn't sound like the issue I dealt with, so idunno. Mine had a small plastic burr that caused the stem to rub against it and "snap" past it, causing a slight clicky feeling. Needless to say, not fun. You can remove those using an exacto knife or razor blade though.
-
Simple answer...give it some time and see if it improves. These switches do sometimes need a little break-in period.
-
Couldn't hurt to remove the keycap and blow in some compressed air. You could try lubing it too if that doesn't work.
-
Doesn't sound like the issue I dealt with, so idunno. Mine had a small plastic burr that caused the stem to rub against it and "snap" past it, causing a slight clicky feeling. Needless to say, not fun. You can remove those using an exacto knife or razor blade though.
yea thats exactly how this F7 key feels too...
It feels clicky when you first puch it down at its very top. All the other keys go down smoothly, but this one has a silent clicky feeling when you first start moving it along its path.
Wow wait a sec...you got it man, THANKS! you called it 100% its the same exact issue that you have.
If I press the F6 key pulling back towards me from the front of the keycap, it goes down totally smooth like the others, but if i push it down in the middle or on the back end pushing out, it does the clicky.
Phew...what a huge relief...so happy it has nothing to do with the switch itself, cause that would've sucked.
Can you remind me how to fix it? I remember you mentioned something about it. Do I take off the keycap and cut the extra plastic off with an exacto knife and voila success?
-
Yeah, pop the keycap off and see which side it is, then depress the stem, and use an exacto knife to shave it off. Should be good to go
-
thanks a ton! ill give it a shot. Let me know if theres any other precautions I should take.
-
Just don't get over zealous with the knife. Think of it like shaving your face :) no gouging
-
Pull F6, F7 and F8 keys out, then take a close-up picture and put it here. Try to put F6 and F8 keycaps to F7 position and checks any difference.
-
yea i took off the f7 but cant see any burr (not really sure what a burr is neways), but ill definitely post a pic sometime either today or tomorrow to show you guys.
-
A burr is a tiny little piece of plastic, usually left over from the molding process. It sticks out where it shouldn't, and causes friction in normally smooth moving parts.
-
https://picasaweb.google.com/106005778858047827652/20110712KeyboardProblemF7?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKmA07fGwrf9ywE&feat=directlink (https://picasaweb.google.com/106005778858047827652/20110712KeyboardProblemF7?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKmA07fGwrf9ywE&feat=directlink)
NOOO MY SWITCH IS DEFORMED!!! Bah FML...
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FYrZKbnUfG8/ThynfPScNZI/AAAAAAAAALg/c6BuBrK7JeI/s800/keyboard%252520problem%252520F7%252520055.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GEO8-V09NZY/ThyniSwXuvI/AAAAAAAAAL0/yVzIaHarac4/s800/keyboard%252520problem%252520F7%252520060.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fsMqkUtokTg/Thyn5-FjeVI/AAAAAAAAAOg/fYgU7fLfUvo/s800/keyboard%252520problem%252520F7%252520103.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fsMqkUtokTg/Thyn5-FjeVI/AAAAAAAAAOg/fYgU7fLfUvo/s800/keyboard%252520problem%252520F7%252520103.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-20NxrHCEMGs/Thyn5dXvV7I/AAAAAAAAAOc/SiacOpM5gkg/s800/keyboard%252520problem%252520F7%252520102.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cN2G6O2Opl0/Thyn4sXuR-I/AAAAAAAAAOY/X-ZiXo7Yz80/s800/keyboard%252520problem%252520F7%252520101.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fsMqkUtokTg/Thyn5-FjeVI/AAAAAAAAAOg/fYgU7fLfUvo/s800/keyboard%252520problem%252520F7%252520103.jpg)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lN3ygwdNGXA/ThynqmpxsQI/AAAAAAAAAMs/cWl57pabSl8/s800/keyboard%252520problem%252520F7%252520074.jpg)
-
So yea to my dismay it is in fact a messed up switch.
It works fine, but as u can see the middle switch is F7...and pressing the + while pulling towards myself yields no problems, but pressing the switch normally or pushing forward gives a big click and NON linear travel. All kinds of bumps along the path of travel. Doesn't seem to be an issue of contaminants or burrs...
The little 1/8th circle that you see above the + is not normal on the F7 switch, as if part of it broke off somehow.
So what do I do now?
-
I wish I could take closer photos to show you guys, but these 3 switches are the f6 f7(bad) and f8 keys.
Notice the little hole where you can see the gold contacts inside the switch, the holes on the f6 and f8 are perfectly symmetrical, but the middle f7 one is lopsided and skewed to the right, as if broke off somehow and is now a bigger hole.
I don't know if I could possibly replace a switch on my own, since I don't have the equipment or knowledge on what I'm doing, so I guess ill be getting a replacement.
Dammit! such an awesome keyboard tarnished by just ONE broken cherry mx black switch. I am thinking of just keeping it anyways, but I know that this broken F7 will bother me for the next 5-8 years that ill be using this keyboard, so might as well get the exchange over with now.
Let me know if you guys have any input.
-
ripster i know man...this is way worse than a ping.
I wonder how a 50 million actuation tolerant cherry mx black switch is broken strait from the factory, on a filco board none the less.
Now, my only concern is...should I return this? because what if the next filco ninja has a messed up W or A or S or D key?? now THAT would really suck. A clicky bumpy F7 i dont care much about, other than it kind of tarnishes the grand picture of perfection that is this filco ninja, but if one of the main keys had a bad switch like this one...uhhh yea.. =)
-
Let me know if you guys have any input.
Throw the kitchen sink at it. Ok, not literally. But give it some good firm taps with your finger with the cap off, wiggle it a bit, blow in some compressed air, even some WD40 might help on general principle. Maybe you can get whatever piece is causing the click to move enough that it no longer happens.
-
If you're questioning weather or not to return it I think ultimately you will so just get it packed up and sent off. IMO you'll always find a little imperfection on anything. Across my filcos they've had creaky keys, wobbly stabilisers here and there. Also noticed a couple of the keys on my filco ninja brown have sort of slightly grindy springs after the tactile bump. I only noticed the one on my "A" key because in FPS games sometimes I slowly press.
I always go looking for imperfections though and on everything of course I find it, I really should stop :D. This sounds like more of a defect though, anything you'd actually notice while in game or during a typing flow isnt good.
-
Not to mention German cars...
-
If you're questioning weather or not to return it I think ultimately you will so just get it packed up and sent off. IMO you'll always find a little imperfection on anything. Across my filcos they've had creaky keys, wobbly stabilisers here and there. Also noticed a couple of the keys on my filco ninja brown have sort of slightly grindy springs after the tactile bump. I only noticed the one on my "A" key because in FPS games sometimes I slowly press.
I always go looking for imperfections though and on everything of course I find it, I really should stop :D. This sounds like more of a defect though, anything you'd actually notice while in game or during a typing flow isnt good.
I 100% understand you...im exactly the same way, always overanalyzing all the time.
But this is not an example of that..
My filco ninja also has squeaky keys, especially backspace, and truth be told...it had scratches along its sides from when they were putting it into it's box in the factory (just like the das keyboards did, but 99% unnoticable because of the different plastic). Mine also has wobbly stabilizers...but the cherry mx keys are supposed to be wobbly...thats how they work the way they do from any angle. You can hit it at a 15 degree angle pushing foward and it will work perfect. I don't care about any of these shortcomings because the keyboard looks great, and all the keys type amazing, except for the f7.
That is my problem here...that the f7 key is messed up so that i cant press it pushing a little forward and feel the same linear switch that i feel pressing that same f7 pulling backwards.
Try to take off the key caps and put your finger on the + now, try to wiggle it around. Youll see that they all have wiggle, and its on purpose.
I'm def going to replace this board...but amazon is being lame, and their return center on the site isnt letting me give a reason for the return...thus i cannot return the keyboard right now. But its cool, i have till july 27th.
-
Well then I'd defo replace it. I highly doubt you'll have this problem again.
-
huzzah! amazon gave me a shipping label usable till july 27th, and also i get free ups at home pickup, which is awesome.
They cannot replace this item, only give full refund, and have me order it again.
Amazon isn't that bad, their website is just all buggy when it comes to making transactions or returns.
And now behold GLORIOUS CHERRY MX BLACK!!!
Heres some higher res macro photos...keyboard prons drool
Behold...the GLORIOUS cherry mx black switch...so dense it absorbs all light into it like a black hole!
BTW: enjoy the ultra high res, I wanted to be able to see inside the switch for any burrs etc. but that didnt come out on my pics due to crappy light source. Oh well, it still looks really cool. ^_^
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20690[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20708[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20687[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20705[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20702[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20698[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20694[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20691[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20710[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20688[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20706[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20703[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20699[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20695[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20692[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20689[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20707[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20686[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20704[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20700[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20696[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20693[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20673[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20674[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20675[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20676[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20677[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20678[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20679[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20680[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20681[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20682[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20683[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20684[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]20685[/ATTACH]
-
The first image you posted shows a burr on the right side of that curved indent. That might be what's causing your issue.
-
The first image you posted shows a burr on the right side of that curved indent. That might be what's causing your issue.
(http://i.imgur.com/Hpqfo.jpg)