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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mrduul on Tue, 30 May 2017, 03:16:05

Title: My IBM 3278 / IBM 6580 Beam Spring Keyboards.
Post by: mrduul on Tue, 30 May 2017, 03:16:05
Here it is, My beauty. An amazing keyboa- oh..

Wait wait...

shhhhh she is sleeping....   ;D

Title: My IBM 3278 / IBM 6580 Beam Spring Keyboard.
Post by: mrduul on Tue, 30 May 2017, 10:22:07
Well she's awake this morning and will need a cleaning but here are some pictures.  :D

Enjoy, will take more photos when I start cleaning inside the board.  8-)

1
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d76b/vfy87c8w0mvbzi76g.jpg)
2
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/92d9/tk9xfkxa5588htz6g.jpg)
3
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fd29/8p19p7wjqdjp23q6g.jpg)
4
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5bc3/77kb3xt7h32ebh56g.jpg)
5
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f7a1/alf0d4uh4r8ssuh6g.jpg)
6
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9ce8/8liv3b721fqrn5u6g.jpg)
7
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/64f2/s0b837n43qa2jdz6g.jpg)
8
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e743/bjk75ucopzuci8i6g.jpg)
9
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/07f6/5nguj1dm8bm1be56g.jpg)
10
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0e5f/c97spe2b7btac296g.jpg)
11
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0003/dn57oo9x59vsvu16g.jpg)
12
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/376e/4ay2n9r2qivjjg06g.jpg)
13
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/80ad/9yrjgjxv9klupm46g.jpg)
14
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d965/65ybkq6j39ok47t6g.jpg)
15
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c7f1/0pgr7040x444l706g.jpg)
16
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f962/7l9sotefafium6l6g.jpg)
17
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/762f/wf8yxhyfxxycc3u6g.jpg)
18
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/a10e/kw8iw49arqisbqz6g.jpg)
19
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/49f1/5hywkbeuly8h4ny6g.jpg)
20
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/cacc/9e22ynlytqqekmi6g.jpg)
21
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/49f1/5hywkbeuly8h4ny6g.jpg)
22
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/940b/jx4fkb95ymta2jj6g.jpg)
23
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/6525/9877bmasg57dvsl6g.jpg)
24
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/6672/gw9lanich4925c36g.jpg)
Desk Setup
---


I took pictures of the full IBM 3278 Manual and compiled a PDF file.

PDF is uncompressed, 200MB.

Download IBM 3278 Manual by MrDuul: http://www.mediafire.com/file/uy22uys64lcgozk/IBM-3278-Manual.pdf

I didn't crop the photos because it looked not good.
Won't be scanning because I really don't want to risk pressing on the manual and potentially damaging it.

(The link keeps going down sometimes, not sure why)
Title: Re: My IBM 3278 Beam Spring Keyboard.
Post by: thad on Thu, 01 June 2017, 09:31:31
Nice. I just want to type on one once to see what it's like.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Title: Re: My IBM 3278 Beam Spring Keyboard.
Post by: K3lp_Boy on Thu, 01 June 2017, 09:58:55
I'm assuming there's no way to connect these beauties to modern computers?

They still make great display pieces, though.
Title: Re: My IBM 3278 Beam Spring Keyboard.
Post by: Pretendo on Thu, 01 June 2017, 10:13:48
I'm assuming there's no way to connect these beauties to modern computers?

They still make great display pieces, though.

You can, but it's by no means a simple plug and play.  I'm oversimplifying, but you essentially have to build your own controller.  It's been done by some of the more die-hard beam-spring aficionados out there.
Title: Re: My IBM 3278 Beam Spring Keyboard.
Post by: mrduul on Thu, 01 June 2017, 13:50:29
All beamsprings can be modified to be used over USB using a xwhatsit beamspring controller PCB. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58138.0

My displaywriter is USB modified.

Except the 3277 which is only PS/2 and then you can just use a PS/2 to USB adapter.

Here is a video of beamspring connected via usb. VERY CLICKY with solenoid turned on, loudest mechanical switch ever like a typewriter.

At 0:40 solenoid is turned on.

Title: Re: My IBM 3278 Beam Spring Keyboard.
Post by: Joey Quinn on Thu, 01 June 2017, 17:15:17
Reminds me of this when you turn the solenoid on.

Title: Re: My IBM 3278 Beam Spring Keyboard.
Post by: mrduul on Thu, 01 June 2017, 18:22:27
Yeah man that is gold.  ;D
Title: Re: My IBM 3278 Beam Spring Keyboard.
Post by: alienman82 on Thu, 01 June 2017, 18:46:48
removed.
Title: Re: My IBM 3278 Beam Spring Keyboard.
Post by: mrduul on Thu, 01 June 2017, 19:20:23
You can do the dental floss trick to get less of the "ping" on Model F.

https://deskthority.net/wiki/Dental_floss_mod
Title: Re: My IBM 3278 Beam Spring Keyboard.
Post by: invariance on Fri, 02 June 2017, 03:19:55
Reminds me of this when you turn the solenoid on.
More

All beamsprings can be modified to be used over USB using a xwhatsit beamspring controller PCB. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58138.0 (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58138.0)

My displaywriter is USB modified.

Except the 3277 which is only PS/2 and then you can just use a PS/2 to USB adapter.

Here is a video of beamspring connected via usb. VERY CLICKY with solenoid turned on, loudest mechanical switch ever like a typewriter.

At 0:40 solenoid is turned on.
More

[attachimg=1]

Wish I had one though.
Title: Re: My IBM 3278 Beam Spring Keyboard.
Post by: mrduul on Fri, 02 June 2017, 04:00:38
Well you got your model M mah brah  :p
Title: Re: My IBM 3278 Beam Spring Keyboard.
Post by: pr0ximity on Fri, 02 June 2017, 05:26:37
I'm assuming there's no way to connect these beauties to modern computers?

They still make great display pieces, though.

You can, but it's by no means a simple plug and play.  I'm oversimplifying, but you essentially have to build your own controller.  It's been done by some of the more die-hard beam-spring aficionados out there.

Not in the least bit true. Find an xwhatsit, unplug the old controller, plug the xwhatsit in it's place. Literally no soldering involved, the controller is attached via a socket.

USB, fully programmable, NKRO. It's pretty damn great, tbh.
Title: Re: My IBM 3278 / IBM 6580 Beam Spring Keyboards.
Post by: mrduul on Fri, 02 June 2017, 06:40:36
Exactly.

See here:

Title: Re: My IBM 3278 / IBM 6580 Beam Spring Keyboards.
Post by: Pretendo on Fri, 02 June 2017, 07:30:58
I'm assuming there's no way to connect these beauties to modern computers?

They still make great display pieces, though.

You can, but it's by no means a simple plug and play.  I'm oversimplifying, but you essentially have to build your own controller.  It's been done by some of the more die-hard beam-spring aficionados out there.

Not in the least bit true. Find an xwhatsit, unplug the old controller, plug the xwhatsit in it's place. Literally no soldering involved, the controller is attached via a socket.

USB, fully programmable, NKRO. It's pretty damn great, tbh.

Should have known that.  I knew you couldn't do it with a Soarer's Converter, but I'd seen demonstrations of them working on Youtube.

I'd love to try a beam spring.  As it stands, I just upgraded from an early 1391401 Model M to a 122 Model F last week, so I couldn't justify an expensive keyboard purchase any time soon.  The F still needs a full restoration (a couple of the keys are a bit gummy -- likely a rotting foam issue) so I have plenty to keep me busy over the next year or so.