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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: PowerPC on Wed, 04 September 2013, 18:59:32
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I have this keyboard, out of production, which I like. Instead of harvesting keycaps in MechWarrior style, I would prefer to send a NOS unit to a company, to clone the keycaps. I would make a limited quantity, say, enough sets to last for a life.
I would like something that lasts for a long time, and not the decal original keys that get shiny in about one year of heavy use. What companies would do such a thing? Is Signature Plastics my only option?
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What type of switches does this keyboard have? Are you looking to replicate the font legends as well as the colors? Why try to do it on your own? There might be others interested in a set of keycaps like that, who could help you split the costs.
Oh, and Welcome to Geekhack!
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It's a laptop. There are several types of switches for it; any of them are great for a laptop.
My problem is that I think modern, thin, widescreen laptops are disgusting. I'm going to use this one for typing and internet access as long as possible. Then, in the future, I will fit some small hardware inside the case, which I'm going to keep using.
Parts for it are widely available now, including keyboards, and even single keys from several sites. If I mention the model people will point at me and laugh. It won't be the case in 10, or 20 years. I possibly could buy several keyboards, but you know the problem: the most used keys wear out faster, making the other perfectly usable keys useless. About four keys cost as much as a used keyboard, so buying backups of ETAOIN is useless. Not that this would be so bad; used keyboards are cheap, about 10-20 USD. But this laptop used at least five different switches; keycaps for one type only fit the proper switch type. I think there may also be problems 'pirating' the design, as in, Signature Plastics would refuse to make the keys.
There are also some small details that I'd like to change. Custom keycaps would be an easier solution.
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Okay, it is a ThinkPad T60 keyboard (also compatible with other models; I'm calling these x6x keyboards from now on). Please don't laugh. I intend also to reproduce the colors of the T4x keyboard.
After two days of research, I think I found a partial solution for the mod. I *think* this will work; it will depend on buying some keyboards for testing.
When IBM sold the personal computing division to Lenovo, a lot of things started to change. Modern ThinkPads have almost none of the characteristics of the older models. During the transition, it seems (again: I need to verify this) that one keyboard in the x6x line used the same switch type of one model in the previous T4x line. This means that the keycaps would fit directly. The codes (Field Replacement Unit, FRU as IBM calls it) are:
39T0581 for the T4x keyboard.
39T7178 for the T6x keyboard.
The top two rows, "Back" and "Forward" keycaps are the ones interesting: you would get those from a 39T0581 donor and use them in a 39T7178. This would make a x6x keyboard with the T4x colors. If Enter is slightly different in color, it might be replaceable too.
Another minor point I'd also like to have, is the Alt key with a green font, like in classic IBM keyboards. That is easy to achieve; the Japanese T6x keyboard has a green font. One with the same switch type of the T4x keyboard is the 39T7010. However, one of the Alt keys is narrower, so you need two Japanese keyboard donors to replace both Alt keys.
All of this is a hassle. The x6x keyboards are scarce; you need two Japanese keyboards to get the Alt keys. You need to be sure you are buying the exact part numbers and that the seller is not sending an equivalent; shipping will add to the cost; in the end new custom keycaps are probably less expensive.
I attached two files showing the switches in T4x and x6x keyboards. Images are from a site that sells individual keys.
T4x Switch Types
[attach=1]
x6x Switch Types
[attach=2]
As you can see, I2 from x6x and RM87USL from T4x are the same. My guess is Lenovo kept using this switch for a while after acquisition.
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I don't laugh at you for cherishing your T60. I have a T61 that I just bought last year, used, which I use on a weekly basis.
I think your best solution, honestly, is to simply buy a 60% form factor keyboard, such as a Poker or GH60, and use it with your T60. As good as the ThinkPad's keyboard is, it is inevitable that the keys will wear out.
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Mechanical Keyboard > Laptop keyboard