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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: megnin on Sun, 08 April 2012, 14:35:22

Title: Can you swap key cups in Topre boards?
Post by: megnin on Sun, 08 April 2012, 14:35:22: Are the rubber cups in Topre boards [easily] swapable? I'm finding that the Realforce keyboards are wonderful to type on. I have an all 45g version and a variable version and I like them both about equally well.

However, I'm trying to use my HHKB Pro 2's at work and I'm finding the key weighting to be on the high end of the tolerance. The HHKB's keys are supposed to be 45g +/- 15g and mine feel like they are about 60g although I haven't tested them. They are quite a bit stiffer than the Realforce keys and typing on them is a bit of a chore.

If it's not a major undertaking, I would like to swap out some or all of the rubber cups or whatever determines the weight and can be swapped, with lighter ones. If this seems like a good idea, I bet there is someone out there who wants to swap their 35g and/or 45g domes for my 55-60g domes.

I haven't taken the keyboards apart to look and see how easy they are to interchange.
Title: Can you swap key cups in Topre boards?
Post by: fossala on Sun, 08 April 2012, 15:08:16: You may need to do a little slicing work but it is doable. Ripster did it to make his variable all 45g on the home row.
Title: Can you swap key cups in Topre boards?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 08 April 2012, 15:18:26: Quote from: fossala;570766
You may need to do a little slicing work but it is doable. Ripster did it to make his variable all 45g on the home row.

just be careful why you use as glue, cuz things like rubber cement, might disolve some of the rubber. LOL
Title: Can you swap key cups in Topre boards?
Post by: megnin on Sun, 08 April 2012, 15:57:22: Currently all the keys feel like they are between 55-gram and 60-gram, well, way heavier than the Realforce's 45-gram weight anyway.

I would really like to make them something like this:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]47806[/ATTACH]
Title: Can you swap key cups in Topre boards?
Post by: megnin on Sun, 08 April 2012, 15:59:57: Currently all the keys feel like they are between 55-gram and 60-gram, well, way heavier than the Realforce's 45-gram weight anyway.

I would really like to make them something like this:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]47805[/ATTACH]
Title: Can you swap key cups in Topre boards?
Post by: fossala on Sun, 08 April 2012, 16:02:03: Is the heavier weight due do the rubber dome or the the housing?
Title: Can you swap key cups in Topre boards?
Post by: megnin on Sun, 08 April 2012, 16:39:12: I don't know. I assumed it was the rubber dome. Do the HHKB housings somehow contribute to the key weights?
Title: Can you swap key cups in Topre boards?
Post by: fossala on Sun, 08 April 2012, 16:42:53: I wouldn't of thought so but if topre are consistantly sending PFU non 45g domes. Someone would of said something over there, no?