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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Olumin on Mon, 11 January 2016, 10:50:59

Title: Where to buy Realforce HiPro Keycaps?
Post by: Olumin on Mon, 11 January 2016, 10:50:59
I just got to try out a Realforce with HiPro Keycaps, I love them! Are these Keycaps available separately somewhere, as a replacement for example like the normal sets for realforce and HHKB are?
Do they fit a HHKB Pro 2?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Where to buy Realforce HiPro Keycaps?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 11 January 2016, 10:52:08
They are not available separately.
Title: Re: Where to buy Realforce HiPro Keycaps?
Post by: FrostyToast on Mon, 11 January 2016, 10:53:15
They are not available separately and will not fit an hhkb; at least not very often will they fit an hhkb.
The only set of caps that will fit the hhkb is from a vintage topre board called the Nissho KB106DE.
Title: Re: Where to buy Realforce HiPro Keycaps?
Post by: mobbo on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:00:18
Unfortunately not!

They are not sold separately, and in fact the caps are a little different than normal. You won't be able to mount them on anything except the Hi-Pro switch housing.

As seen here:

(http://i.imgur.com/SS0Qckg.jpg)

They pop out quite a bit from the plate.
Title: Re: Where to buy Realforce HiPro Keycaps?
Post by: Olumin on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:03:20
Quote from: mobbo on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:00:18
Unfortunately not!

They are not sold separately, and in fact the caps are a little different than normal. You won't be able to mount them on anything except the Hi-Pro switch housing.

As seen here:

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/SS0Qckg.jpg)


They pop out quite a bit from the plate.

Thanks! Wouldn't it be possible to replace the switch-housings of the HHKB with the ones in the HiPro and then be able to use the caps? Its probably quite complicated but would it be possible?
Title: Re: Where to buy Realforce HiPro Keycaps?
Post by: jerue on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:05:29
Quote from: Olumin on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:03:20

Thanks! Wouldn't it be possible to replace the switch-housings of the HHKB with the ones in the HiPro and then be able to use the caps? Its probably quite complicated but would it be possible?

The HHKB has the slider housings built into the case

But I know of at least a couple of Hi-Pro HHKBs that have been put together. I bet it's possible. I think livingspeedbump had such a board for a little while.
Title: Re: Where to buy Realforce HiPro Keycaps?
Post by: Olumin on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:34:04
Quote from: jerue on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:05:29
Quote from: Olumin on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:03:20

Thanks! Wouldn't it be possible to replace the switch-housings of the HHKB with the ones in the HiPro and then be able to use the caps? Its probably quite complicated but would it be possible?

The HHKB has the slider housings built into the case

But I know of at least a couple of Hi-Pro HHKBs that have been put together. I bet it's possible. I think livingspeedbump had such a board for a little while.

Any information out there about how to do this mod?
Title: Re: Where to buy Realforce HiPro Keycaps?
Post by: cryptokey on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:37:27
Step 1: Buy Realforce HiPro board
Step 2: Harvest caps
Step 3: Debt. but the feels though
Title: Re: Where to buy Realforce HiPro Keycaps?
Post by: FrostyToast on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:38:46
Quote from: Olumin on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:34:04
Quote from: jerue on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:05:29
Quote from: Olumin on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:03:20

Thanks! Wouldn't it be possible to replace the switch-housings of the HHKB with the ones in the HiPro and then be able to use the caps? Its probably quite complicated but would it be possible?

The HHKB has the slider housings built into the case

But I know of at least a couple of Hi-Pro HHKBs that have been put together. I bet it's possible. I think livingspeedbump had such a board for a little while.

Any information out there about how to do this mod?

Only way to get hi pro caps on an hhkb was stated in my post.

This is what the result is: http://m.imgur.com/a/rhcQs (http://m.imgur.com/a/rhcQs)
No need to transfer sliders which would be near impossible anyway.
Title: Re: Where to buy Realforce HiPro Keycaps?
Post by: Olumin on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:48:17
Quote from: FrostyToast on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:38:46
Quote from: Olumin on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:34:04
Quote from: jerue on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:05:29
Quote from: Olumin on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:03:20

Thanks! Wouldn't it be possible to replace the switch-housings of the HHKB with the ones in the HiPro and then be able to use the caps? Its probably quite complicated but would it be possible?

The HHKB has the slider housings built into the case

But I know of at least a couple of Hi-Pro HHKBs that have been put together. I bet it's possible. I think livingspeedbump had such a board for a little while.

Any information out there about how to do this mod?

Only way to get hi pro caps on an hhkb was stated in my post.

This is what the result is: http://m.imgur.com/a/rhcQs (http://m.imgur.com/a/rhcQs)
No need to transfer sliders which would be near impossible anyway.

Aren't these the Keycaps from the Nissho KB106DE? It would be near impossible to get such board here in Germany, or Europe in general. Is it possible to do this with other keycaps as well?
Title: Re: Where to buy Realforce HiPro Keycaps?
Post by: keshley on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:48:54
Quote from: Olumin on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:34:04
Quote from: jerue on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:05:29
Quote from: Olumin on Mon, 11 January 2016, 11:03:20

Thanks! Wouldn't it be possible to replace the switch-housings of the HHKB with the ones in the HiPro and then be able to use the caps? Its probably quite complicated but would it be possible?

The HHKB has the slider housings built into the case

But I know of at least a couple of Hi-Pro HHKBs that have been put together. I bet it's possible. I think livingspeedbump had such a board for a little while.

Any information out there about how to do this mod?

Full disclosure: it'll work, but it's $$$$

You'll need a 104UG for the right sized Spacebar, and a 108UG for Shift/Fn split.

You CAN put the caps on a standard topre slider (I just did it on the HiPro I'm typing on right now to verify), but they might be more 'wobbly'. The HiPro sliders provide a guide for the caps to slide down on, hence the 4 gaps on each side. Escape is a different profile from the number row, so you'll have either a duplicate key, or a similar key on the number row.

Here's the keys that won't match up: Control (it'll be Caps Lock instead), Backspace (|\), |\ (something you choose), Esc, Alt (Windows).

So, while it would likely feel nice and be pretty unique, IMO there's too many gotchas.