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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: keypad_steve on Sun, 20 July 2014, 16:21:03

Title: What are these called?
Post by: keypad_steve on Sun, 20 July 2014, 16:21:03

On the back of some large keycaps they sometimes have a metal lever to ensure that it moves smoothly even when you push the key off centre. Do these have a name?

(http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff512/steve__1979/m1242-61_zps6fe5f527.jpg)

(http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff512/steve__1979/Mark_Llobrera_00006_zps2984c793.jpg)

Title: Re: What are these called?
Post by: katushkin on Sun, 20 July 2014, 16:22:12

It's part of the stabiliser. To ensure it moves up and down evenly on both sides.

Title: Re: What are these called?
Post by: Kmynis on Sun, 20 July 2014, 16:23:45

Stabilizer wire
Stabilizer insert

Title: Re: What are these called?
Post by: keypad_steve on Sun, 20 July 2014, 17:26:34

Thanks guys. :)

p.s.  Is it my imagination or does the guy in katushkin's avatar picture look like Bill Murray?  ;D

Title: Re: What are these called?
Post by: katushkin on Sun, 20 July 2014, 17:57:06

Quote from: keypad_steve on Sun, 20 July 2014, 17:26:34

Thanks guys. :)

p.s.  Is it my imagination or does the guy in katushkin's avatar picture look like Bill Murray?  ;D

It's meant to be ;) I've had JCVD, Leo Di Caprio, and now Bill Murray as my avatar. It's a series of current celebrities as gentlemen from the 18th/19th century

Title: Re: What are these called?
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Mon, 21 July 2014, 16:51:47

My favourite was Bowie.

Makes me wonder if we need another diagram on this page, but one that covers stabilisers and other gubbins:

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Key

The top pic bothers me though as I took more liberties with it than I'm happy with.

I don't imagine I will, but it's a nice thought.

Title: Re: What are these called?
Post by: jacobolus on Mon, 21 July 2014, 17:03:13

Quote from: Daniel Beardsmore on Mon, 21 July 2014, 16:51:47

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Key

Daniel: Damn, that diagram (http://deskthority.net/wiki/File:Keyswitch_illustration.svg) is amazing! How long did it take you to make?

Title: Re: What are these called?
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Mon, 21 July 2014, 17:15:21

Some number of hours -- I don't even remember now, it's been there a while. This one took quite a few hours, too:

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Rubber_dome_over_membrane

(The fully expanded version of the second diagram on that page.)

They're all done in isometric, which is just insane, but I don't have any CAD software or experience. That's why the MX switch is a funny shape — it's my isometric approximation. Also, being SVG (and not CAD) they are their own source files, for ease of re-use and editing by anyone (and they're public domain). I don't know that any CAD software can export to SVG.

Title: Re: What are these called?
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 21 July 2014, 17:36:47

That's a fantastic diagram!

Title: Re: What are these called?
Post by: taylordcraig on Mon, 21 July 2014, 21:54:45

REALLY love the iso.

Title: Re: What are these called?
Post by: Doyniish on Mon, 21 July 2014, 22:15:15

Digging the Apple Ergo board.