geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: phoenix1234 on Sun, 02 March 2014, 00:12:42
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A few days ago, one of my friends asked me to fix for him a mechanical keyboard with 2 broken switches and replace Cherry MX Black with Cherry MX Blue. He is new to mechanical keyboard world so what he tried to find an old one to start with. This keyboard he picked from a local shop with 35$.
When I received the keyboard, the layout and keycap seem to be Deck TG3 BL82, it looks very dirty, 2 broken switches, a lot scratches in the surfaces. Plus there is a huge trackball with 3 reversed buttons.
At first, I thought this is a waste of money.
However, after I clean it, I find out some interesting information about this keyboard.
Actually, the top cover is hard anodized aluminum after I take off the 3M tape they used to cover the rivet. The quality of hard anodizing is very good. It was manufactured in 2001 but there is no significant scratch.
(http://i.imgur.com/Vyciovb.jpg)
***The original position of three buttons are not like in the picture, they were below the ball.
The trackball is huge and it turns out to be an industrial trackball from Evergreen System. It was implemented reversed on purpose. Perhaps it is what the customers want. However, my friend wants to reverse it back so I need to do some small soldering tasks.
(http://i.imgur.com/0FzqcsI.jpg)
The trackball build quality is amazing. The rolling mechanism was constructed from stainless steel and aluminum. It was greased carefully so the feeling is very smooth.
(http://i.imgur.com/VD5qeMI.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/64N8cOH.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/37juH1d.jpg)
The PCB is good, dual-layer PCB, Made in Taiwan with USB interface.
However, it has only 2KRO.
(http://i.imgur.com/mmWCwmC.jpg)
Cherry MX Black Springs (Ghetto Green) lubed with Victorinox oil
(http://i.imgur.com/JgLfTpC.jpg)
Switches assembled
(http://i.imgur.com/WYSmfPS.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/eQCkOGf.jpg)
Switches soldered back, this time I use Kester 63/37 solder, the quality is great, the joins are very shinny.
(http://i.imgur.com/L1TZZMc.jpg)
The TG3BL82 module assembled back.
(http://i.imgur.com/1F5rHHL.jpg)
Finished
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That trackball mechanism and wiring is amazing.
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whoa sweet :thumb:
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Nice. Looks solid.
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Man, I love great finds like this. Probably cost some industrial facility $500 to get made custom. Cool.
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Wow, excellent! I collect these mechanical trackballs as they are way better than the normal garbage you mostly see nowadays. I'd put the quality between ITAC and Penny&Giles. Now I have to grab an evergreen next time they're cheap on eBay.
Part of the reason it is so smooth is that the trackball uses ball bearings. The steel shafts it rolls on helps as well. By and large, these have been replaces with plastic bearings (CST uses greased POM bearings).
Anyway, great find! TG3 has made a lot of industrial keyboards beyond the data911 system board everyone is familiar with. They are less common but turn up every once in a while. TG3 has some of the best build quality for keyboards out of anyone.
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Wow, excellent! I collect these mechanical trackballs as they are way better than the normal garbage you mostly see nowadays. I'd put the quality between ITAC and Penny&Giles. Now I have to grab an evergreen next time they're cheap on eBay.
Part of the reason it is so smooth is that the trackball uses ball bearings. The steel shafts it rolls on helps as well. By and large, these have been replaces with plastic bearings (CST uses greased POM bearings).
Anyway, great find! TG3 has made a lot of industrial keyboards beyond the data911 system board everyone is familiar with. They are less common but turn up every once in a while. TG3 has some of the best build quality for keyboards out of anyone.
Speaking of which, I now have a dead TG3 with you that needs attention from your kind hands... so folks, while I personally LIKE TG3, don't imagine that they never die.
Good quality =/= immortality.
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whoa sweet :thumb:
That trackball mechanism and wiring is amazing.
Nice. Looks solid.
Man, I love great finds like this. Probably cost some industrial facility $500 to get made custom. Cool.
Thanks
Wow, excellent! I collect these mechanical trackballs as they are way better than the normal garbage you mostly see nowadays. I'd put the quality between ITAC and Penny&Giles. Now I have to grab an evergreen next time they're cheap on eBay.
Part of the reason it is so smooth is that the trackball uses ball bearings. The steel shafts it rolls on helps as well. By and large, these have been replaces with plastic bearings (CST uses greased POM bearings).
Anyway, great find! TG3 has made a lot of industrial keyboards beyond the data911 system board everyone is familiar with. They are less common but turn up every once in a while. TG3 has some of the best build quality for keyboards out of anyone.
You should find one, the trackball quality is great. :thumb: