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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: DrinkTea on Wed, 17 July 2013, 23:34:58

Title: Topre replacement spacebar?
Post by: DrinkTea on Wed, 17 July 2013, 23:34:58
Is it possible to get? I see I can buy cherry ones, but I can't find one for topre. Thanks.
Title: Re: Topre replacement spacebar?
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 17 July 2013, 23:47:43
Elite Keyboards sell them, but only as part of a complete set: http://www.elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,toprekeys

Apart from that, browse the list here: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45672.0

to see if anyone else we know about sells them.
Title: Re: Topre replacement spacebar?
Post by: esoomenona on Thu, 18 July 2013, 12:47:32
I think the real question we should start asking, seeing as there are no easy replacements and Topre is being a **** about making PBT ones, is has anyone done anything about a shiny one?

Maybe sanding or sandblasting?
Title: Re: Topre replacement spacebar?
Post by: oTurtlez on Thu, 18 July 2013, 13:01:07
I think the real question we should start asking, seeing as there are no easy replacements and Topre is being a **** about making PBT ones, is has anyone done anything about a shiny one?

Maybe sanding or sandblasting?

My 103's spacebar is shiny as all hell. Would sanding with a high grit take care of that?
Title: Re: Topre replacement spacebar?
Post by: Danule on Thu, 18 July 2013, 13:25:09
i dont think sanding it would be that good of an idea as it would wear away even more of the plastic till you have nothing left  then what will you do?
Title: Re: Topre replacement spacebar?
Post by: oTurtlez on Thu, 18 July 2013, 13:30:04
i dont think sanding it would be that good of an idea as it would wear away even more of the plastic till you have nothing left  then what will you do?

Exactly. I don't think there is any good and effective way to counteract shine :/ I contacted Brian at EK at one point ot see if he could just order a replacement spacebar from Topre themselves and he said they never made any kits for the 103/86 line so there was nothing he could do. Unfortunate. Try contacting brain, given you have a 104 / 87, and see if he can order just a spacebar. Might be pricey but it'd be worth it if he could do it.
Title: Re: Topre replacement spacebar?
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 18 July 2013, 16:58:10
I would like a set of custom keycaps (preferably yellow heh) for HHKB.
Title: Re: Topre replacement spacebar?
Post by: oTurtlez on Thu, 18 July 2013, 17:12:55
I would like a set of custom keycaps (preferably yellow heh) for HHKB.

I might pick myself up a set eventually, but no sets look really good on white boards! I love the white and grey setup they have stock but in the future, I don't know what colors would look decent on a white board :/
Title: Re: Topre replacement spacebar?
Post by: DrinkTea on Thu, 18 July 2013, 18:00:55
Why can't someone just make them? Does the patent holder for topre (PFU Fujitsu?) also have a patent on the shape of the keycap underside?
Title: Re: Topre replacement spacebar?
Post by: esoomenona on Thu, 18 July 2013, 18:03:39
It's hard. First, most people would want PBT spacebars. But nobody wants to make molds for those, or if they do, the prices are outrageous. Second, even if we accepted ABS, a mold would still need to be created. I'm sure we could get it done. Someone would need to start a GB, send SP a spacebar, have them make the mold (which won't be cheap in and of itself), and then get runs going for them.

That is, IF SP would do that. Has anyone ever checked?
Title: Re: Topre replacement spacebar?
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 18 July 2013, 20:04:16
I would like a set of custom keycaps (preferably yellow heh) for HHKB.

I might pick myself up a set eventually, but no sets look really good on white boards! I love the white and grey setup they have stock but in the future, I don't know what colors would look decent on a white board :/

Yellow!

(arrow keys:)

(http://i.imgur.com/viyHFUI.jpg)

It's hard. First, most people would want PBT spacebars. But nobody wants to make molds for those, or if they do, the prices are outrageous. Second, even if we accepted ABS, a mold would still need to be created. I'm sure we could get it done. Someone would need to start a GB, send SP a spacebar, have them make the mold (which won't be cheap in and of itself), and then get runs going for them.

That is, IF SP would do that. Has anyone ever checked?

Do SP even make any Topre keycaps?
Title: Re: Topre replacement spacebar?
Post by: esoomenona on Thu, 18 July 2013, 20:06:22
I don't believe they do, but why should they? They won't spend their own money on something that might not make any profit, as any reasonable business might do. Someone woul need to commission a new mold for them.