geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: shremaster007 on Tue, 02 June 2009, 10:57:28

Title: Make unicomp have lighter key press
Post by: shremaster007 on Tue, 02 June 2009, 10:57:28

Does anyone know a way to make a unicomp space saver have a lighter keypress? I make lots of errors on my filco because of the lack of tactility.  I like the lighter keypress though.  Is there some way to bastardize the unicomp?  Weaker springs?  Some hidden mod?

Title: Make unicomp have lighter key press
Post by: o2dazone on Tue, 02 June 2009, 11:05:49

I believe it was on this board where I read people lopping off dead coils on the springs, let me try to dig up a post


edit: heres one (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?t=5038&highlight=spring)

Title: Make unicomp have lighter key press
Post by: wellington1869 on Tue, 02 June 2009, 11:14:25

silicon grease on the plunger makes a difference. probably not as dramatic as lopped off springs, but it is a difference you can feel.

Title: Make unicomp have lighter key press
Post by: wellington1869 on Tue, 02 June 2009, 12:06:13

Quote from: ripster;93917

Made it quieter and mushier.  Don't think it made it much easier though.  I didn't like it.  YMMV.

well grease on the springs themselves definitely makes it quieter and mushier, but on the plastic stem (rather than on the spring), at least in my experience, it smoothed out the key and reduced friction a bit.

Title: Make unicomp have lighter key press
Post by: bigpook on Tue, 02 June 2009, 14:43:35

I remember greasing the posts on the white xm switches and it did help, but not enough.

Title: Make unicomp have lighter key press
Post by: Manyak on Wed, 03 June 2009, 05:09:22

Quote from: o2dazone;93908

I believe it was on this board where I read people lopping off dead coils on the springs, let me try to dig up a post


edit: heres one (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?t=5038&highlight=spring)

I don't think that would work well with a Model M because the springs need a certain amount of tension to buckle. If you shorten the spring you'll basically end up with a linear keypress and a switch that never actuates.

The only way I can think of to do it is to use springs that are identical in every way (length, number of coils, and diameter) except the thickness of the wire used. Or use a different, slightly more flexible metal (though I'd have no idea what, heh).

Title: Make unicomp have lighter key press
Post by: o2dazone on Wed, 03 June 2009, 09:07:16

Quote from: Manyak;94035

I don't think that would work well with a Model M because the springs need a certain amount of tension to buckle. If you shorten the spring you'll basically end up with a linear keypress and a switch that never actuates.

The only way I can think of to do it is to use springs that are identical in every way (length, number of coils, and diameter) except the thickness of the wire used. Or use a different, slightly more flexible metal (though I'd have no idea what, heh).

Sounds about right. The springs in a buckling spring switch plays a greater role than a "tension spring" does in ALPS/Cherry switches. You might want to try this on a bum key, but tempering a cool can alleviate some of the buoyancy it has in it (ie holding it over a fire). You probably want to do this in VERY small intervals and see if it makes a difference.