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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: notsonerd on Wed, 26 November 2014, 09:39:20

Title: My Keycaps Get Stuck--What to Do?
Post by: notsonerd on Wed, 26 November 2014, 09:39:20
I recently received a set of PBT keycaps and installed them only to find that my Left Shift and Capslock actuate at the same time when I press Left Shift. I've paired each with different keycaps with no problems--it only happens when I use these two keycaps from the same set. I was thinking maybe the base of the keycaps are just slightly "taller" in a sense that they get stuck together when I press Left Shift down? I'm not sure if taking a pair of pliers and squeezing them slightly would be a good idea. Anyone else have this problem?
Title: Re: My Keycaps Get Stuck--What to Do?
Post by: Puddsy on Wed, 26 November 2014, 12:07:12
What board?
Title: Re: My Keycaps Get Stuck--What to Do?
Post by: notsonerd on Wed, 26 November 2014, 12:08:38
KBP V60.
Title: Re: My Keycaps Get Stuck--What to Do?
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 26 November 2014, 15:07:51
Can you see or hear the base of the keycaps rubbing together?

It might be a switch that is out of alignment by a fraction of a millimetre, plus maybe a little bit of flash along the bottom edge of the keycap.

If they are rubbing, you could get a sharp blade and take a very little bit off the bottom edge of one of the keycaps.
Title: Re: My Keycaps Get Stuck--What to Do?
Post by: notsonerd on Wed, 26 November 2014, 16:01:18
Can you see or hear the base of the keycaps rubbing together?

It might be a switch that is out of alignment by a fraction of a millimetre, plus maybe a little bit of flash along the bottom edge of the keycap.

If they are rubbing, you could get a sharp blade and take a very little bit off the bottom edge of one of the keycaps.

I'm pretty sure they are rubbing together. There's almost no space in between the keycaps when looking at the board from above. I didn't consider that it might be a switch that's the problem.

Not sure how I feel about performing keycap surgery.
Title: Re: My Keycaps Get Stuck--What to Do?
Post by: berserkfan on Fri, 28 November 2014, 10:25:34
Can you see or hear the base of the keycaps rubbing together?

It might be a switch that is out of alignment by a fraction of a millimetre, plus maybe a little bit of flash along the bottom edge of the keycap.

If they are rubbing, you could get a sharp blade and take a very little bit off the bottom edge of one of the keycaps.

I'm pretty sure they are rubbing together. There's almost no space in between the keycaps when looking at the board from above. I didn't consider that it might be a switch that's the problem.

Not sure how I feel about performing keycap surgery.

It's harmless. I assure you that many people, including me, have done it. You only need to pare off or sand down a bit of keycap plastic. Nothing dangerous. If you want to be a geekhacker, that's the kind of thing you can't run away from!
Title: Re: My Keycaps Get Stuck--What to Do?
Post by: notsonerd on Mon, 01 December 2014, 02:43:33
Welp--I finally summoned up the balls to do it. Rather, I got off my lazy ass after the last straw with the issue and took thirty seconds to shave off some of the base of both keycaps and--lo and behold--they no longer get stuck. Very happy with this simple and easy fix and, however minimal the act was, I feel that much closer to being a Geekhacker. Pretty satisfying feeling. Maybe I'll ruin my next board by trying to solder LED's onto it.

Nah.
Title: Re: My Keycaps Get Stuck--What to Do?
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 01 December 2014, 15:17:23
Welp--I finally summoned up the balls to do it. Rather, I got off my lazy ass after the last straw with the issue and took thirty seconds to shave off some of the base of both keycaps and--lo and behold--they no longer get stuck. Very happy with this simple and easy fix and, however minimal the act was, I feel that much closer to being a Geekhacker. Pretty satisfying feeling. Maybe I'll ruin my next board by trying to solder LED's onto it.

Nah.

Congratulations on your first mod :)

Start small, work up to big.  With a little care and attention to detail, nearly everything is possible.
Title: Re: My Keycaps Get Stuck--What to Do?
Post by: berserkfan on Sun, 07 December 2014, 01:34:19
Just you wait, in 5 years notsonerd will be doing group production runs for Datahand III or some mouse controlled by blinking your eyes.
Title: Re: My Keycaps Get Stuck--What to Do?
Post by: notsonerd on Sun, 07 December 2014, 16:19:31
Just you wait, in 5 years notsonerd will be doing group production runs for Datahand III or some mouse controlled by blinking your eyes.

If only xD