geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: KeyCapsule on Fri, 06 February 2015, 20:43:39

Title: Pulling the trigger on silence mod (660c and 55g)
Post by: KeyCapsule on Fri, 06 February 2015, 20:43:39
Hey guys,

I've read SpiceBar's write up on the soft landing pads mod and decided that I'm going to pull the trigger on this project. I currently own a HHKB Type-S, Leopold 660c and 55g Realforce 87UB. I purchased the 55g because I heard good things about how robust and "punchy" the keys were. Though I absolutely love the 55g, I still find myself preferring the Type-S. The Leopold, on the other hand, just feels "hollow" compared to the other two.

So here are my questions for those who have performed the soft landing pad mod:


Sorry if this seems long winded. Input and advice is greatly appreciated. Below is a picture of my collection.[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Pulling the trigger on silence mod (660c and 55g)
Post by: spiceBar on Fri, 06 February 2015, 22:52:40
Quote from: KeyCapsule on Fri, 06 February 2015, 20:43:39
Hey guys,

I've read SpiceBar's write up on the soft landing pads mod and decided that I'm going to pull the trigger on this project. I currently own a HHKB Type-S, Leopold 660c and 55g Realforce 87UB. I purchased the 55g because I heard good things about how robust and "punchy" the keys were. Though I absolutely love the 55g, I still find myself preferring the Type-S. The Leopold, on the other hand, just feels "hollow" compared to the other two.

So here are my questions for those who have performed the soft landing pad mod:

  • How much actuation distance will I actually lose with this mod?
  • How thin can I iron the pads until their structural integrity is compromised?
  • How will the 55g with silencing mod compare to the Type S?
  • Is it even worth modding the 660C if I'm already in love with my HHKB?
  • How much will the resell value of the 660C decrease if I were to perform this mod?

Sorry if this seems long winded. Input and advice is greatly appreciated. Below is a picture of my collection. (Attachment Link)

Nice to hear that you are going to do the mod! :)

You will not lose any actuation distance if you iron the pads correctly. There is a little bit of play on top of the sliders inside the switch housing, and the pads are just going to fill this space. If you don't believe it, mod just a few keys are reassemble the keyboard. Beware that you will be influenced by the sound, so you could test the difference while wearing headphones playing loud music. Hey, there is no difference!

How thin? You must go as thin as you can. They end up being very thin, the thickness of strong paper. I have never been able to destroy any landing pad, maybe it's because my clothing iron could not go above their melting temperature. That's the limit actually: if the pad melts, the iron is too hot. Reduce the temperature just below the melting point. Press hard when you iron them. Iron them on a HARD SURFACE (wood board for example).

You must use a sheet of paper to avoid direct contact between your iron and the landing pads.

My opinion is that it is worth it to mod the FC660C. I love my silenced FC660C.

Its value will not decrease! It will increase! I have been asked several times to do the mod for someone else (and always politely declined), so I believe there is some demand for silenced FC660C. The Type-S version of it simply does not exist. If you want one, you must do it yourself. Or you have to purchase it at a premium from someone who has done it.

Looking forward to your impressions, once you have done the mod!
Title: Re: Pulling the trigger on silence mod (660c and 55g)
Post by: KeyCapsule on Mon, 09 February 2015, 16:20:06
Hey SpiceBar! :)

Thanks for your reply. I ended up deciding to sell off my Leopold 660C and acquire a Realforce Hi-Pro. Work requires that I have access to a numpad. I will probably be performing the mod on my 55G this weekend but I'm concerned whether the mod is possible for the Hi-Pro. Given the raised switches, do you think it's still possible to install the landing pads without messing it up?

Thanks for your input :)
Title: Re: Pulling the trigger on silence mod (660c and 55g)
Post by: spiceBar on Mon, 09 February 2015, 17:36:46
Quote from: KeyCapsule on Mon, 09 February 2015, 16:20:06
Hey SpiceBar! :)

Thanks for your reply. I ended up deciding to sell off my Leopold 660C and acquire a Realforce Hi-Pro. Work requires that I have access to a numpad. I will probably be performing the mod on my 55G this weekend but I'm concerned whether the mod is possible for the Hi-Pro. Given the raised switches, do you think it's still possible to install the landing pads without messing it up?

Thanks for your input :)

I don't have the HiPro, but I don't see any reason you could not do the mod. I don't think they have messed with the Topre switch design in the HiPro, and they would have to badly mess with the design to render the mod undoable.
Title: Re: Pulling the trigger on silence mod (660c and 55g)
Post by: Oobly on Tue, 10 February 2015, 04:34:41
Quote from: spiceBar on Mon, 09 February 2015, 17:36:46
Quote from: KeyCapsule on Mon, 09 February 2015, 16:20:06
Hey SpiceBar! :)

Thanks for your reply. I ended up deciding to sell off my Leopold 660C and acquire a Realforce Hi-Pro. Work requires that I have access to a numpad. I will probably be performing the mod on my 55G this weekend but I'm concerned whether the mod is possible for the Hi-Pro. Given the raised switches, do you think it's still possible to install the landing pads without messing it up?

Thanks for your input :)

I don't have the HiPro, but I don't see any reason you could not do the mod. I don't think they have messed with the Topre switch design in the HiPro, and they would have to badly mess with the design to render the mod undoable.

(http://www.elitekeyboards.com/proddata/images/th/hiprocompare1000b_th0x0.png)

Looks like it should work just the same unless the gap between the slider and top case is different.
Title: Re: Pulling the trigger on silence mod (660c and 55g)
Post by: spiceBar on Tue, 10 February 2015, 14:44:20
Quote from: Oobly on Tue, 10 February 2015, 04:34:41
Quote from: spiceBar on Mon, 09 February 2015, 17:36:46
Quote from: KeyCapsule on Mon, 09 February 2015, 16:20:06
Hey SpiceBar! :)

Thanks for your reply. I ended up deciding to sell off my Leopold 660C and acquire a Realforce Hi-Pro. Work requires that I have access to a numpad. I will probably be performing the mod on my 55G this weekend but I'm concerned whether the mod is possible for the Hi-Pro. Given the raised switches, do you think it's still possible to install the landing pads without messing it up?

Thanks for your input :)

I don't have the HiPro, but I don't see any reason you could not do the mod. I don't think they have messed with the Topre switch design in the HiPro, and they would have to badly mess with the design to render the mod undoable.

Show Image
(http://www.elitekeyboards.com/proddata/images/th/hiprocompare1000b_th0x0.png)


Looks like it should work just the same unless the gap between the slider and top case is different.

Yes. They have just redesigned the housing apparently, so it can better withstand lateral forces, but all the other parts of the switch remain unchanged.

The mod will work.
Title: Re: Pulling the trigger on silence mod (660c and 55g)
Post by: Keybatant on Wed, 11 February 2015, 08:19:18
Quote from: KeyCapsule on Fri, 06 February 2015, 20:43:39
Hey guys,

I've read SpiceBar's write up on the soft landing pads mod and decided that I'm going to pull the trigger on this project. I currently own a HHKB Type-S, Leopold 660c and 55g Realforce 87UB. I purchased the 55g because I heard good things about how robust and "punchy" the keys were. Though I absolutely love the 55g, I still find myself preferring the Type-S. The Leopold, on the other hand, just feels "hollow" compared to the other two.
You can also switch rubber domes from 87u 55 to HHKB type S and see how big fun this will be for you. Otherwise you can always switch back.
I did it few weeks ago and must say, this was a deal-breaker for me (even if I didn't initially like it for first few days).
Of course if your target is to have 87u 55 "type-s" like,  the instructions from spiceBar are only one "proper" way to go in my opinion (I used O-ring instead landing pads on my Fc660c and I hated it)
Title: Re: Pulling the trigger on silence mod (660c and 55g)
Post by: spiceBar on Wed, 11 February 2015, 10:52:13
Quote from: Keybatant on Wed, 11 February 2015, 08:19:18
Quote from: KeyCapsule on Fri, 06 February 2015, 20:43:39
Hey guys,

I've read SpiceBar's write up on the soft landing pads mod and decided that I'm going to pull the trigger on this project. I currently own a HHKB Type-S, Leopold 660c and 55g Realforce 87UB. I purchased the 55g because I heard good things about how robust and "punchy" the keys were. Though I absolutely love the 55g, I still find myself preferring the Type-S. The Leopold, on the other hand, just feels "hollow" compared to the other two.
You can also switch rubber domes from 87u 55 to HHKB type S and see how big fun this will be for you. Otherwise you can always switch back.
I did it few weeks ago and must say, this was a deal-breaker for me (even if I didn't initially like it for first few days).
Of course if your target is to have 87u 55 "type-s" like,  the instructions from spiceBar are only one "proper" way to go in my opinion (I used O-ring instead landing pads on my Fc660c and I hated it)

Yes, O-rings in the FC660C do not work. Too much travel reduction and they can even jam the keys.
Title: Re: Pulling the trigger on silence mod (660c and 55g)
Post by: KeyCapsule on Wed, 11 February 2015, 17:35:29
Haha,

I've definitely considered transferring the 55g domes into the HHKB. The thought of gutting the beautiful board for my HHKB seems a bit daunting. Maybe if the landing pad mod doesn't go as well as I had anticipated, I'd consider the transplant. Thanks for the suggestion :D