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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: tiger on Fri, 22 July 2016, 14:12:48

Title: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: tiger on Fri, 22 July 2016, 14:12:48
What's available for low actuation force TKL keyboards?

Topre's are silly heavy.

The Cherry MX switches are too stiff as well.

Any options in the sub 20g actuation range?

I learned how to touch type on the TouchStream LP. It was hands down the best input device I've ever used. Miss it dearly. Looking for something modern that can be on par.
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: klennkellon on Fri, 22 July 2016, 14:38:43
There was a mod for a rubber dome awhile back that reduced the force to something like 10g.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=81368.0


The lightest actual key switch you could get would be 35g Topre
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: Waateva on Fri, 22 July 2016, 14:42:46
If you could get a board with Gateron Clears they are also 35g, but between that and Topre 35g I don't know of anything that comes lighter stock.  Maybe you could find some really light springs to mod, but I can't find anything online lighter than 35g.
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 22 July 2016, 14:48:56
As I noted in the thread you linked, you can remove the helical spring from Cherry MY switches and depend on the leaf springs alone for something like 15g.

I have not performed the mod myself but I have used a keyboard which had been modded in that way and it was very light.
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 22 July 2016, 14:53:36
Quote from: Waateva on Fri, 22 July 2016, 14:42:46
If you could get a board with Gateron yellows they are also 35g, but between that and Topre 35g I don't know of anything that comes lighter stock.  Maybe you could find some really light springs to mod, but I can't find anything online lighter than 35g.

I think you meant gateron clear as gateron yellow are between red and black which is heavier than 35g.
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: Waateva on Fri, 22 July 2016, 14:59:25
Quote from: SpAmRaY on Fri, 22 July 2016, 14:53:36
Quote from: Waateva on Fri, 22 July 2016, 14:42:46
If you could get a board with Gateron yellows they are also 35g, but between that and Topre 35g I don't know of anything that comes lighter stock.  Maybe you could find some really light springs to mod, but I can't find anything online lighter than 35g.

I think you meant gateron clear as gateron yellow are between red and black which is heavier than 35g.

Shoot you're right, I fixed it now! :D
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: davkol on Fri, 22 July 2016, 16:30:33
I have performed the Cherry MY spring-removal mod. The result is around 25 cN, and it's impossible to even touch keys without actuating them.

At this point, however, it's worth in looking into non-mechanical input devices, and I absolutely don't mean rubber domes, but rather stuff like the TouchStream, LigthIO, or, say, Dasher combined with a trackpad.
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: 1swt2gs on Fri, 22 July 2016, 16:53:18
You all have some light ass hands.

I set off mx reds by just lining up my fingers on home row
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: y11971alex on Fri, 22 July 2016, 18:24:22
(http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2015/12/fullsizerender-100633331-large.idge.jpg)
LIM (Activation force) → 0.
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: chyros on Fri, 22 July 2016, 19:41:19
Quote from: y11971alex on Fri, 22 July 2016, 18:24:22
Show Image
(http://images.techhive.com/images/article/2015/12/fullsizerender-100633331-large.idge.jpg)

LIM (Activation force) → 0.
You can activate it with no force at all, capsense can generally detect fingers before they even touch a screen :p .

The lowest-force stock unmodded switches I own are Fujitsu magnetic reed at 35 cn. I think the Matias linears have the same force.
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: tiger on Fri, 22 July 2016, 21:13:08
Thank you all for the great ideas.
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: SBJ on Sat, 23 July 2016, 06:12:01
Quote from: 1swt2gs on Fri, 22 July 2016, 16:53:18
You all have some light ass hands.

I set off mx reds by just lining up my fingers on home row
I'm using Greens at the moment and they are light for me. I'm wondering if there is anything out there that would satisfy my 'heavy hands' - I kinda have my eye out after a Realforce 87U 55g.
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: Sifo on Sat, 23 July 2016, 08:16:22
I remember trying one of Haata's modded boards, I believe it was MX. light as ****, and I've got a pretty soft touch normally.
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: chyros on Sat, 23 July 2016, 10:52:44
I think someone made an enormous board out of 10 cn microswitches btw. There was a film of it on YT IIRC.
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: Fictiouz on Sat, 23 July 2016, 21:11:49
You would probably looking at a board 35g topre (very uncommon) or gateron clears (linear) IIRC.
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: letsjigsrocks on Mon, 25 July 2016, 16:47:01
Or you could try boards that are less travel distance.
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: kingpilcrow on Mon, 25 July 2016, 17:59:50
Quote from: chyros on Sat, 23 July 2016, 10:52:44
I think someone made an enormous board out of 10 cn microswitches btw. There was a film of it on YT IIRC.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9yg3s77nAMQ

Lol
Title: Re: Keyboards with lowest actuation force?
Post by: chyros on Mon, 25 July 2016, 19:35:37
Quote from: kingpilcrow on Mon, 25 July 2016, 17:59:50
Quote from: chyros on Sat, 23 July 2016, 10:52:44
I think someone made an enormous board out of 10 cn microswitches btw. There was a film of it on YT IIRC.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9yg3s77nAMQ

Lol
Yeah that was it, recognise that instantly xD .