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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: GuilleAcoustic on Wed, 16 December 2015, 04:22:42

Title: Apple M0110 - Alps SKCC lock switch mod
Post by: GuilleAcoustic on Wed, 16 December 2015, 04:22:42

Hi folks, I'm a happy user of an Apple M0110 keyboard that I converted using Hasu's TMK converter.

(http://i.imgur.com/JLw2QSO.jpg)

While I love this keyboard, I really couldn't stand the physically locking Caps Lock (that I use as the Ctrl key). The switch used is the vintage Alps SKCC Lock, that has a physical locking mechanism: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_SKCC_Lock

Lowpoly observed that the SKCC Lock switch stem is shorter than the other switches stem and as a consequence the Caps Lock keycap as a longer mounting point to compensate: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=20898.0

(http://www.lowpoly.com/keyboard/m0110/m0110_220.jpg)
[Image courtesy of Lowpoly]

(http://www.lowpoly.com/keyboard/m0110/m0110_210.jpg)
[Image courtesy of Lowpoly]

If you want to use a standard SKCC in place of the SKCC Lock switch, you have to dremel the Caps Lock keycap ... I do not like the idea of damaging it  :eek:

(http://www.lowpoly.com/keyboard/m0110/m0110_200.jpg)
[Image courtesy of Lowpoly]

My idea is a very simple. This humble mod consists in opening the switch to remove the locking mechanism (the bended yellow wire and the small brown epoxy lug).

(http://deskthority.net/w/images/1/12/Alps_tee_lock_parts.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/meyzDsJ.jpg)


The "big" easily noticable tabs are for the plate mounting. To open the switch you have to slightly release the very small tabs on the other sides (be careful as they are fragile).

(http://i.imgur.com/Fzx3Rv3.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/k8hT8r0.jpg)

Note: I had to desolder the switch to open it. Maybe you can use the four small holes on the top panel to do so, thus not having to desolder the switch. But I had no luck with them (probably not using the right tool).

Then you just have to reassemble the switch. The real plus of this solution is that you can still reverse the mod and go back to the vanilla locking switch and the keycap remains untouched.

Enjoy ;D !

Title: Re: Apple M0110 - Alps SKCC lock switch mod
Post by: axtran on Wed, 16 December 2015, 09:32:45

Looks great! What did you have to physically do to get TMK working? Install something?

Title: Re: Apple M0110 - Alps SKCC lock switch mod
Post by: hasu on Wed, 16 December 2015, 22:42:38

Nice writeup!

I'd like to add an info.
You can source capslock keycap for normal stem SKCC from M0110A, but note that you need non-platinum color one with Mitsumi switches.

Mitsumi keycaps are compatible, Alps on left, Mitsumi on right.
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Mitsumi_standard_mechanical
(http://i.imgur.com/2lJ03x7l.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/TQoSdtql.jpg)

Title: Re: Apple M0110 - Alps SKCC lock switch mod
Post by: GuilleAcoustic on Thu, 17 December 2015, 08:46:26

Quote from: axtran on Wed, 16 December 2015, 09:32:45

Looks great! What did you have to physically do to get TMK working? Install something?

Thanks a lot. At the moment, I have a 4P4C cable hooked to a Teensy++ 2.0. I used avr-gcc to compile the M0110 version of the TMK firmware (https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard/tree/master/converter/m0110_usb) then uploaded it with the Teensy software.

Quote from: hasu on Wed, 16 December 2015, 22:42:38

Nice writeup!

Thanks a lot, very much appreciated.

Quote from: hasu on Wed, 16 December 2015, 22:42:38

I'd like to add an info.
You can source capslock keycap for normal stem SKCC from M0110A, but note that you need non-platinum color one with Mitsumi switches.

Mitsumi keycaps are compatible, Alps on left, Mitsumi on right.
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Mitsumi_standard_mechanical

Show Image

(http://i.imgur.com/2lJ03x7l.jpg)

Show Image

(http://i.imgur.com/TQoSdtql.jpg)

Great information ! That is a valuable thing to keep in mind.

Side question, how do the Matias switches compare to the Alps SKCC ?