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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Ferna52 on Fri, 02 October 2015, 15:22:50

Title: Help with ISO and ANSI keycaps please!!
Post by: Ferna52 on Fri, 02 October 2015, 15:22:50
Hi, this is my first post here.

Im having some troubles about the ANSI and ISO layouts of the keyboards.
My question is if i can use ANSI keycaps in my ISO mechanical keyboard (CM Storm QuickFire XT Nordic layout with cherry mx browns) :/     And if is not possible, why not? x_x


Thanks for your time! :)
Title: Re: Help with ISO and ANSI keycaps please!!
Post by: ideus on Fri, 02 October 2015, 15:34:49
The Mx stems in you board will take any key cap with mounting cross; but legends will not match your language layout, nor some keys like left shift, ISO enter that ANSI and ISO layout do not share in terms of sizes. In your board could be 1u modifiers that the standard ANSI has in 1.25u standard. While most alphas could be used, you will have to choose a different setting for the keyboard layout configuration, because you will have legends that do not match your current configuration.

Welcome to GH by the way.

I suppose your keyboard is similar to this:
Title: Re: Help with ISO and ANSI keycaps please!!
Post by: seville57 on Fri, 02 October 2015, 15:44:38
Hi, this is my first post here.

Im having some troubles about the ANSI and ISO layouts of the keyboards.
My question is if i can use ANSI keycaps in my ISO mechanical keyboard (CM Storm QuickFire XT Nordic layout with cherry mx browns) :/     And if is not possible, why not? x_x


Thanks for your time! :)

I have 2 Ducky Grey/Blue keycaps sets, 1 set in ISO/Nordic layout and the second set in ANSI layout.

The picture shows the ISO/Nordic laser engraved layout set.
(http://i.imgur.com/QY7fUMT.jpg)



This picture shows the ANSI layout set. This set has  blank keycaps.
(http://i.imgur.com/sQLI8gN.jpg)
Title: Re: Help with ISO and ANSI keycaps please!!
Post by: Ferna52 on Fri, 02 October 2015, 16:00:40
Thanks for the answers, now i think i should buy ISO keycaps in WASD keyboards or something X_X
Title: Re: Help with ISO and ANSI keycaps please!!
Post by: seville57 on Fri, 02 October 2015, 16:10:21
Thanks for the answers, now i think i should buy ISO keycaps in WASD keyboards or something X_X

Maxfps in old sweden has some WASD keycaps sets.
http://www.maxfps.se/keycaps
Title: Re: Help with ISO and ANSI keycaps please!!
Post by: Oobly on Sun, 04 October 2015, 13:55:32
I have switched to using ANSI layout keyboards, simply because it allows me to use many more keycap sets. Some of the best keycap sets do not have an ISO version.

Some of the ISO layout keyboards can actually be converted to ANSI, depending on the plate, by resoldering a few switches, but I don't think the Quickfire XT is one of them.
Title: Re: Help with ISO and ANSI keycaps please!!
Post by: ideus on Sun, 04 October 2015, 14:01:33
I have switched to using ANSI layout keyboards, simply because it allows me to use many more keycap sets. Some of the best keycap sets do not have an ISO version.

Some of the ISO layout keyboards can actually be converted to ANSI, depending on the plate, by resoldering a few switches, but I don't think the Quickfire XT is one of them.

Do you need to re-solder switches to change a layout????? How come?
Title: Re: Help with ISO and ANSI keycaps please!!
Post by: suicidal_orange on Sun, 04 October 2015, 14:19:07
I have switched to using ANSI layout keyboards, simply because it allows me to use many more keycap sets. Some of the best keycap sets do not have an ISO version.

Some of the ISO layout keyboards can actually be converted to ANSI, depending on the plate, by resoldering a few switches, but I don't think the Quickfire XT is one of them.

Do you need to re-solder switches to change a layout????? How come?

The switch for the big ISO enter is in the middle of the cap vertically, between two ANSI switch positions, and you need to move the other one next to it, and add an extra switch by the left shift for a true conversion - compare the pics above :)
Title: Re: Help with ISO and ANSI keycaps please!!
Post by: ideus on Sun, 04 October 2015, 17:27:33
I have switched to using ANSI layout keyboards, simply because it allows me to use many more keycap sets. Some of the best keycap sets do not have an ISO version.

Some of the ISO layout keyboards can actually be converted to ANSI, depending on the plate, by resoldering a few switches, but I don't think the Quickfire XT is one of them.

Do you need to re-solder switches to change a layout? ??? ? How come?

The switch for the big ISO enter is in the middle of the cap vertically, between two ANSI switch positions, and you need to move the other one next to it, and add an extra switch by the left shift for a true conversion - compare the pics above :)

Ah, that, sure, but you also need an additional switch for the |\ keycap.
Title: Re: Help with ISO and ANSI keycaps please!!
Post by: Oobly on Mon, 05 October 2015, 02:14:47
I have switched to using ANSI layout keyboards, simply because it allows me to use many more keycap sets. Some of the best keycap sets do not have an ISO version.

Some of the ISO layout keyboards can actually be converted to ANSI, depending on the plate, by resoldering a few switches, but I don't think the Quickfire XT is one of them.

Do you need to re-solder switches to change a layout? ??? ? How come?

The switch for the big ISO enter is in the middle of the cap vertically, between two ANSI switch positions, and you need to move the other one next to it, and add an extra switch by the left shift for a true conversion - compare the pics above :)

Ah, that, sure, but you also need an additional switch for the |\ keycap.

Actually, when going from ISO to ANSI you end up with one extra switch. The switch next to Enter goes to "\|", Enter switch moves down, left Shift moves across and you remove the "<>" key. You also need to add stabilisers for the left Shift and change the orientation of those on the Enter key.