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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: nubbinator on Thu, 13 June 2013, 20:35:25

Title: "Ghetto" Topre?
Post by: nubbinator on Thu, 13 June 2013, 20:35:25
This is something I've been thinking about for a little bit.  It seems you can get a keyboard or POS system like the Wincor-Nixdorf (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wincor-Nixdorf-POS-Keyboard-1750022320-Card-Swipe-10-Key-Qwerty-/190817035138?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c6d94e382) for cheap.  Looking at some internals from some of them, it looks like they use a thicker rubber overlay (http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.117.LdYzcy&id=21933864713) over a PCB or membrane.  It seems like you could get some cheap conical springs, toss them under the domes, and get a "ghetto" Topre keyboard.

Of course, this could just be the ramblings of a mad man. 
Title: Re: "Ghetto" Topre?
Post by: jwaz on Thu, 13 June 2013, 20:38:43
The springs in Topre do not add to the feel of the switch they are only for the capacitince mechanism
Title: Re: "Ghetto" Topre?
Post by: kmiller8 on Thu, 13 June 2013, 20:40:11
Quote from: JesuswasaZombie on Thu, 13 June 2013, 20:38:43
The springs in Topre do not add to the feel of the switch they are only for the capacitince mechanism

they do add 5g according to one keyboard "expert"
Title: Re: "Ghetto" Topre?
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 13 June 2013, 21:03:01
the work involved, you might as well just buy a topre... :D
Title: Re: "Ghetto" Topre?
Post by: daerid on Thu, 13 June 2013, 23:25:38
A typical rubber dome board doesn't even have a PCB, and the switching mechanism in a Topre board is pretty unique. I'm pretty much positive that this wouldn't work at all.
Title: Re: "Ghetto" Topre?
Post by: Rule16 on Fri, 14 June 2013, 10:02:55
Quote from: tp4tissue on Thu, 13 June 2013, 21:03:01
the work involved, you might as well just buy a topre... :D
Whats this? tp4 telling someone to buy a topre?! Well this is going in my signature.
Title: Re: "Ghetto" Topre?
Post by: wetto on Fri, 14 June 2013, 12:06:40
Quote from: Rule16 on Fri, 14 June 2013, 10:02:55
Quote from: tp4tissue on Thu, 13 June 2013, 21:03:01
the work involved, you might as well just buy a topre... :D
Whats this? tp4 telling someone to buy a topre?! Well this is going in my signature.

Thought he'd say for sure:

Quote from: tp4issue
Screw that ****! Buy an ergodox and join the master race!

If you can mod a ****ty keyboard, why not create an awesome one instead?
Title: Re: "Ghetto" Topre?
Post by: fateswarm on Fri, 14 June 2013, 15:21:55
I'd rather properly lubricate MX browns and call it "ghetto topre". They are pretty good but the friction is immense (and I don't think it's only a problem when pressing them slowly, that's only the easiest way to consciously detect it). So any oiling that does remove the tactile event I think is an improvement.

I heard of issues of dust getting into them. It sounds easily fixable with blowing compressed air into them. It pushes out anything and it seems to not damage the mechanism.