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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: naikon996 on Tue, 24 February 2009, 10:47:22

Title: Lexmark model M parts interchange.
Post by: naikon996 on Tue, 24 February 2009, 10:47:22

Hi there, I am thinking about purchasing a IBM 82G3292 keyboard(spanish layout).
I already own a 1988 1391401, 52G9658, and a customizer 101.

Would it be at all possible to swap the US layout from the Lexmark built 52G9658
I already have and transfer the keys to the spanish layout board?

I would imagine the frame of the older IBM built boards might be incompatible, but the
lexmark boards should be fairly interchangable...right?

Cheers:)

Title: Lexmark model M parts interchange.
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 24 February 2009, 10:51:12

That shouldn't be too much of a problem; all the parts should be interchangable.  The only thing I can think of would be keycap shape differences if one 'board is an ANSI layout and the other ISO.

Title: Lexmark model M parts interchange.
Post by: naikon996 on Tue, 24 February 2009, 10:58:13

Ah right, might be worth a shot then.
Shipping to Ireland is a pain though:(

If anyone is interested, here is the link: clicky (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IBM-model-M-Clicky-Keyboard-PS2-LA-Spanish-82G3292_W0QQitemZ140299310492QQcmdZ)

Title: Lexmark model M parts interchange.
Post by: lowpoly on Tue, 24 February 2009, 10:59:44

Quote from: itlnstln;22610

The only thing I can think of would be keycap shape differences if one 'board is an ANSI layout and the other ISO.

This.

Title: Lexmark model M parts interchange.
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 24 February 2009, 11:02:58

Right off the bat, you are going to have some issues with the Enter key and the left Shift (and non-existent caret key in the US model).  You can use the spring/hammer parts with no issues on these keys, you just won't be able to use the keycaps.

Title: Lexmark model M parts interchange.
Post by: naikon996 on Tue, 24 February 2009, 11:08:57

Quote from: itlnstln;22614

Right off the bat, you are going to have some issues with the Enter key and the left Shift (and non-existent caret key in the US model).  You can use the spring/hammer parts with no issues on these keys, you just won't be able to use the keycaps.

Oh well.

Thanks for the heads up. Better safe than sorry:o
Spanish layout should not be too much of a problem, but I like
the ISO 8859 layout too much.

Again. thanks:)

Title: Lexmark model M parts interchange.
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 24 February 2009, 11:26:49

The letters are certainly changable.  You would just need to leave the Enter and Left Shift/Carets.

Title: Lexmark model M parts interchange.
Post by: bhtooefr on Tue, 24 February 2009, 11:44:45

And the right backslash key functions the same, even though it's at a different place in the matrix - I'm not sure if they're wired identically, or seperately, but it's the same scancode.

Title: Lexmark model M parts interchange.
Post by: wumpyr on Tue, 24 February 2009, 13:49:08

If you'd rather UK keycaps to replace the spanish ones, Unicomp will sell you a set for $20.

Title: Lexmark model M parts interchange.
Post by: lowpoly on Wed, 25 February 2009, 05:22:16

Quote from: wumpyr;22630

If you'd rather UK keycaps to replace the spanish ones, Unicomp will sell you a set for $20.

Even with shipping it might be cheaper to get a german Model M from ebay.de and a keycap set from Unicomp than buying an original 1391406 on ebay.co.uk?

Title: Lexmark model M parts interchange.
Post by: Chloe on Wed, 25 February 2009, 05:41:07

Are Unicomp keycaps two part?

Title: Lexmark model M parts interchange.
Post by: cchan on Wed, 25 February 2009, 06:00:34

They can be. Unicomp sends two- or one-part caps on request.