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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Silit on Sun, 19 May 2013, 19:27:25

Title: Is this possible?
Post by: Silit on Sun, 19 May 2013, 19:27:25
Can I rig a topre board to have an MX red spacebar?
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: esoomenona on Sun, 19 May 2013, 19:56:06
You probably could, with much modification. If you could rig one button up to be a separate and solitary input device, then have the firmware register it as [Space], then it could work.
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: Photekq on Sun, 19 May 2013, 19:58:15
Could you not just rig it up as part of the matrix? Sure, you'd have to make a makeshift mount and use wires.. but would it not be possible? http://imgur.com/a/eI8Il#0
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: The_Beast on Sun, 19 May 2013, 19:59:28
Why?
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: Findecanor on Sun, 19 May 2013, 20:05:09
No, Topre keyboards have capacitative sensing, not made to detect mechanical key switches.
Support for multiple keyboard devices is in all major OS:es anyway.

If you want the space bar switch to be (more) linear, replace the cylindrical spring under the keycap with a heavier one and the rubber cup with one from a 30g key (if it can't be removed altogether). That would be much simpler, and the mod would be reversible.
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: daerid on Mon, 20 May 2013, 00:34:46
The PCB for a Topre board is a completely different animal than one made for MX switches. For one, there's no holes for pins. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: Silit on Mon, 20 May 2013, 06:34:04
Quote from: The_Beast on Sun, 19 May 2013, 19:59:28
Why?

When I rocket jump I don't like my space bar so stiff :D
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: Rule16 on Mon, 20 May 2013, 07:37:45
Quote from: Silit on Mon, 20 May 2013, 06:34:04
Quote from: The_Beast on Sun, 19 May 2013, 19:59:28
Why?

When I rocket jump I don't like my space bar so stiff :D
Just use mouse wheel down for that.
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: mich on Mon, 20 May 2013, 13:24:29
Everything's possible :)

1. Destroy PCB traces leading to the spacebar
2. Drill holes for a cherry switch
3. Mount the switch
4. Add PCB from some resistive keyboard and connect it to the switch
5. Stick a USB hub somewhere inside

Alternatively, a somehow cleaner (but harder) way is to build a controller capable of sensing both capacitive and resistive switches. AFAIK somebody at GH built a controller for capacitive IBM Model F keyboards; something like this could possibly be tweaked to work with Topres and extended with resistive scanning support.
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: Silit on Mon, 20 May 2013, 20:11:24
Quote from: Rule16 on Mon, 20 May 2013, 07:37:45
Quote from: Silit on Mon, 20 May 2013, 06:34:04
Quote from: The_Beast on Sun, 19 May 2013, 19:59:28
Why?

When I rocket jump I don't like my space bar so stiff :D
Just use mouse wheel down for that.

whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat dawg u crazy
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: Rule16 on Mon, 20 May 2013, 20:16:55
Quote from: Silit on Mon, 20 May 2013, 20:11:24
Quote from: Rule16 on Mon, 20 May 2013, 07:37:45
Quote from: Silit on Mon, 20 May 2013, 06:34:04
Quote from: The_Beast on Sun, 19 May 2013, 19:59:28
Why?

When I rocket jump I don't like my space bar so stiff :D
Just use mouse wheel down for that.

whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat dawg u crazy
Nah dawg trust me u lyke bettr if u try cuz lyke u can bhop wit it and shhhh. Ya herd?
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: Findecanor on Tue, 21 May 2013, 05:39:37
Quote from: Silit on Mon, 20 May 2013, 06:34:04
When I rocket jump I don't like my space bar so stiff :D
Have you tried just removing the cylindrical spring under the keycap?
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: Silit on Tue, 21 May 2013, 07:44:46
Quote from: Rule16 on Mon, 20 May 2013, 20:16:55
Quote from: Silit on Mon, 20 May 2013, 20:11:24
Quote from: Rule16 on Mon, 20 May 2013, 07:37:45
Quote from: Silit on Mon, 20 May 2013, 06:34:04
Quote from: The_Beast on Sun, 19 May 2013, 19:59:28
Why?

When I rocket jump I don't like my space bar so stiff :D
Just use mouse wheel down for that.

whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat dawg u crazy
Nah dawg trust me u lyke bettr if u try cuz lyke u can bhop wit it and shhhh. Ya herd?

cant bhop in tf2 dawgggggggg but I did just pick up QL and CPMA so...
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: daerid on Tue, 21 May 2013, 11:31:43
What the hell just happened to this thread?
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: mich on Wed, 22 May 2013, 04:05:35
Quote from: daerid on Tue, 21 May 2013, 11:31:43
What the hell just happened to this thread?
Appears that mechanical keyboards finally became mainstream.
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: Silit on Wed, 22 May 2013, 06:27:34
Quote from: mich on Wed, 22 May 2013, 04:05:35
Quote from: daerid on Tue, 21 May 2013, 11:31:43
What the hell just happened to this thread?
Appears that mechanical keyboards finally became mainstream.

I don't know what in this thread would indicate that. I also don't know why that would be a bad thing.

@Findecanor,

I definitely like the space bar better with no spring. Thanks, g.
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: Rule16 on Sun, 26 May 2013, 23:14:50
Quote from: mich on Wed, 22 May 2013, 04:05:35
Quote from: daerid on Tue, 21 May 2013, 11:31:43
What the hell just happened to this thread?
Appears that mechanical keyboards finally became mainstream.
Ye men leik evry1 who real got realforce now, sted of beats.
Title: Re: Is this possible?
Post by: elttaboi on Mon, 27 May 2013, 01:44:27
beets? they're pretty good