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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: GordonZed on Fri, 15 March 2013, 13:11:51

Title: Commodore 64 keycap adapters
Post by: GordonZed on Fri, 15 March 2013, 13:11:51
Maybe some of you have seen this if you lurk Deskthority, but a member there (tlt?) has a great project where after successfully using a Teensy to use his C64 as a keyboard, he decided to rebuild the keyboard in the C64 with Cherry MX switches. Anyway, he created these C64 switch (I forgot what they're called) to MX switch keycap adapters from Shapeways, and of course, I ordered a set.

[attach=1]

[attach=2]

It is by no means perfect, but it is by all accounts, awesome.
Title: Re: Commodore 64 keycap adapters
Post by: SmallFry on Fri, 15 March 2013, 13:12:40
NICE! Looks interesting, how is it for typing?
Title: Re: Commodore 64 keycap adapters
Post by: Dgsbllx on Fri, 15 March 2013, 13:12:59
Profiles are a touch off but real nice idea. Can we see pictures of the adapters?
Title: Re: Commodore 64 keycap adapters
Post by: mashby on Fri, 15 March 2013, 13:13:34
I saw those adapters, but didn't order any. Now I wish I did. VERY nice.
Title: Re: Commodore 64 keycap adapters
Post by: GordonZed on Fri, 15 March 2013, 15:58:29
Typing on them is doable, but definitely not as nice as stock Filco. Any combination involving modifiers is more difficult than it needs to be as the height of these keycaps is ridiculous. Either way, it's not inconvenient enough for me to not want to enjoy its awesomeness.

The adapters can be found here: http://www.shapeways.com/model/867216/cherry-to-commodore-print-v1-1.html?li=productBox-search

I still haven't decided how or if I'm going to mess with the modifiers. If anything, they would have to be in the wrong place but already some of these don't match, so it doesn't really matter.
Title: Re: Commodore 64 keycap adapters
Post by: jdcarpe on Fri, 15 March 2013, 16:12:50
You need to put some switches in a plate like this, and use direct wiring to connect to a keyboard  controller (Teensy)

(http://i.imgur.com/cQu0VhZ.png)
Title: Re: Commodore 64 keycap adapters
Post by: GordonZed on Fri, 15 March 2013, 17:05:15
The original thread is here: http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/mec64-keyboard-t4522.html

It's a far more impressive project than my little mismatch keyboard.
Title: Re: Commodore 64 keycap adapters
Post by: phinix on Mon, 18 March 2013, 06:26:41
HA! That is awesome:)
Cool thingy, only thing modifiers are left behind.
Good that we have that GB for retro DSA set!:)