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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: wes1099 on Thu, 18 September 2014, 15:19:55

Title: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: wes1099 on Thu, 18 September 2014, 15:19:55
I was wondering if I could make my CMStorm Quickfire TK a little less noisy by filling the open space in the case with some sort of foam. I thought that it might make it sound a little less plasticy and high pitched. I was thinking I would try some sort of light open cell foam, but I have no idea. Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: HPE1000 on Thu, 18 September 2014, 15:21:39
People commonly put a layer or two of shelf liner in the case of their keyboard. I guess it works, I have it inside of 3 of my keyboards.
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: Puddsy on Thu, 18 September 2014, 15:34:33
Make sure it's not conductive. If you put some under the plate it should dampen a lot of the noise.
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Thu, 18 September 2014, 15:36:32
If your board has Blues, even with adding foam or drawer liner, it will still have that distinctive clicking noise. I've put drawer liner in a few of my boards, including some with Blues, and it doesn't eliminate/dampen that noise.
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: fohat.digs on Thu, 18 September 2014, 16:24:47
Felt makes a good dampener without changing anything. You can lay multiple flat sheets in the bottom.

Rather than just stuffing it into larger cavities at random, I cut strips and roll them into cylinders of the proper volume.

And, of course, there are always my EPDM mats!

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59308.0 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59308.0)
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: wes1099 on Thu, 18 September 2014, 19:22:16
Felt makes a good dampener without changing anything. You can lay multiple flat sheets in the bottom.

Rather than just stuffing it into larger cavities at random, I cut strips and roll them into cylinders of the proper volume.

And, of course, there are always my EPDM mats!

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59308.0 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59308.0)
Never even thought of felt. I will stuff some felt in there soon while I have the top half of my case off for painting.
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: Coreda on Thu, 18 September 2014, 19:30:49
Fill your ears with foam and eliminate all noises. It's the better solution OP.
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: spiceBar on Fri, 19 September 2014, 08:31:55
I was wondering if I could make my CMStorm Quickfire TK a little less noisy by filling the open space in the case with some sort of foam. I thought that it might make it sound a little less plasticy and high pitched. I was thinking I would try some sort of light open cell foam, but I have no idea. Any suggestions?

Yes it will reduce the noise. You need to fill all the cavities and make sure that the material you use is in contact and even presses a little bit against the back of the PCB. This will absorb the vibrations so less of them will transmit energy to the air in the form of sound waves.

Generally a keyboard filled with some kind of rubber foam or felt sounds less heavy and much more classy.
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 19 September 2014, 11:58:36
it would absorb some resonance.. but overall.. the keyboard won't be that much more quiet.
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 19 September 2014, 16:42:48
I liked how some epdm thick foam tape I had leftover from an AC install kit worked out. Should be able to find it at hardware store and it's not expensive.
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: terrpn on Fri, 19 September 2014, 17:18:37
I liked how some epdm thick foam tape I had leftover from an AC install kit worked out. Should be able to find it at hardware store and it's not expensive.

i use duct tape, layer here, layer there, tad a foam here and so on............, but yes blues will still be noisy :thumb:

landing pads would probably do a better job in what you are wanting
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 20 September 2014, 00:23:09
If you have MX blues or greens, they will always emit a high-pitched tick tick noise as you type - it is just the design of the switch.

You can dampen the resonance a bit though with some sort of padding.
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: godly_music on Sat, 20 September 2014, 00:27:16
Submerge the keyboard and yourself in mineral oil. It's the right thing to do.
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 20 September 2014, 00:36:37
Submerge the keyboard and yourself in mineral oil. It's the right thing to do.

:eek:
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: Owntrolf on Sat, 20 September 2014, 13:19:16
Submerge the keyboard and yourself in mineral oil. It's the right thing to do.

:eek:
Dont worry thats what we do with computers right?

Same principles
Title: Re: Would filling open space in my keyboard case with foam reduce noise?
Post by: dustinhxc on Sat, 20 September 2014, 16:20:06
I put shelf liner inside my cases. ;)