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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: wolfv on Fri, 16 August 2013, 09:40:51

Title: Small rectangular keycaps for F-keys?
Post by: wolfv on Fri, 16 August 2013, 09:40:51

Some keyboards have small rectangular key caps on the F-keys.
Is there a name for the small cap size?
Are there small rectangular keycaps that will fit Cherry MX switches or other mechanical switches? (preferably blank keycaps)

Picture is of a Cherry M82-24810 Series keyboard with small rectangular key caps on the F-keys.
This keyboard uses  rubber membrane technology.
(http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/keyboards/Office/images/M82_24810.jpg)

Thanks.

Title: Re: Small rectangular keycaps for F-keys?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 16 August 2013, 09:49:32

Ive never seen this on an MX switch board but the Siig Minitouch has smaller caps like this. Minitouch has Monterey Blues, and arent blank. They won't fit on any other board, MX or Alps

Title: Re: Small rectangular keycaps for F-keys?
Post by: BlueBär on Fri, 16 August 2013, 10:11:16

I don't think this rectangular shape works with MX because of how big the MX switch housing is.

Title: Re: Small rectangular keycaps for F-keys?
Post by: wolfv on Fri, 16 August 2013, 15:07:28

Quote from: BlueBär on Fri, 16 August 2013, 10:11:16

I don't think this rectangular shape works with MX because of how big the MX switch housing is.

Your right BlueBear, the MX housing is almost as big as a 1x keycap!
Cherry ML and ALPS housings aren't much smaller at the top.
Apparently the small F-keys on some keyboards are not mechanical switches.
Thank you for sharing your insight.

The Cherry Keymodule ML catalog lists a 1 x 0.84 cap, where the width is narrow (I need the opposite orientation):
http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/switches/pdf/ml_cat.pdf
The 1 x 0.84 cap can be seen in this picture, on the bottom rigth of the keyboard:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/20-CHERRY-G84-4137TAAIT-KEYBOARDS-/281064559680?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item4170c0d440

Title: Re: Small rectangular keycaps for F-keys?
Post by: BlueBär on Fri, 16 August 2013, 15:34:51

The function row of the Siig MiniTouch has such small keys which still use Alps switches, this is apparently done by using "shortened" keycaps, here's a good picture on which you can see that quite good (from the DT wiki):

(http://deskthority.net/w/images/4/4a/Minitouch_closeup.jpg)

Cannot confirm this though, they could just look shorter.

Title: Re: Small rectangular keycaps for F-keys?
Post by: wolfv on Fri, 16 August 2013, 19:20:32

Thanks BlueBär and  CPTBadAss.  Siig MiniTouch keyboards are still being sold online.  This could work :thumb:

Title: Re: Small rectangular keycaps for F-keys?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Sat, 17 August 2013, 02:18:49

Forgot to say Siig Minitouches can also be found more commonly with Clicky White Alps

Title: Re: Small rectangular keycaps for F-keys?
Post by: pasph on Sat, 17 August 2013, 10:25:39

Siig uses Alps compact switches
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_CM_compact