geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: AKIMbO on Fri, 27 July 2012, 19:59:28

Title: Buckling Springs usage of overtime
Post by: AKIMbO on Fri, 27 July 2012, 19:59:28

I should preface my question with several facts:

-I own 3 capacitive buckling spring keyboards (2 F ATs & 1 F XT).
-1 of my F AT keyboards seems to have very stiff springs compared to the other F AT (and especially so compared to the XT)
-Visual inspection of the springs on the stiffer AT reveals that they are in the same shape as the springs on the other AT & the XT

My question is whether buckling springs become lighter with extended use....months, years, etc? I googled around but couldn't find a proper answer.  Any insight would be much appreciated.

Title: Re: Buckling Springs usage of overtime
Post by: mkawa on Fri, 27 July 2012, 22:37:57

i would expect that they would. over time, metal fatigue decreases spring rate of coil springs

Title: Re: Buckling Springs usage of overtime
Post by: 486 on Sat, 28 July 2012, 06:42:06

Quote from: mkawa on Fri, 27 July 2012, 22:37:57

i would expect that they would. over time, metal fatigue decreases spring rate of coil springs

+1
If you haven't changed where each spring was originally, this might work. Try the "E" key. This is the most used key on a keyboard. Then try the "Q" key on the same board. If you feel a difference then it is the spring.

Title: Re: Buckling Springs usage of overtime
Post by: AKIMbO on Sat, 28 July 2012, 06:47:56

Quote from: 486 on Sat, 28 July 2012, 06:42:06

If you haven't changed where each spring was originally, this might work. Try the "E" key. This is the most used key on a keyboard. Then try the "Q" key on the same board. If you feel a difference then it is the spring.

Damn, I did change the springs locations when I refurbished the board.  Ripped it apart to clean it and paint the barrel plate.  Perhaps the stiffer AT was never used as much as the other 2 keyboards.

Title: Re: Buckling Springs usage of overtime
Post by: 486 on Sat, 28 July 2012, 06:54:22

I did it before I took my F AT apart for cleaning and felt a difference, I RipOmetered to test it and it was about 3g less.

Title: Re: Buckling Springs usage of overtime
Post by: AKIMbO on Sat, 28 July 2012, 06:55:22

^Thanks...I appreciate the insight. 

Title: Re: Buckling Springs usage of overtime
Post by: fohat.digs on Sat, 28 July 2012, 10:03:04

On a few of my bolt mods I have segregated out, in thirds, what I guessed were the "most-used" then "least-used" springs and then the others.

I put them back opposite, more or less, ensuring that Enter, Spacebar, Delete, etc, got the freshest springs.

A couple of times, some mistake forced me to take the whole thing apart again and I lost the fruits of my efforts on the 2nd iteration.

All-in-all, I am not sure that I have felt much difference. I have a jar of spare springs, so I do visually inspect each one that I use and discard any that look "off" or have visual damage.