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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mr_a500 on Fri, 30 April 2010, 11:36:17

Title: How do you open an Alps switch?
Post by: mr_a500 on Fri, 30 April 2010, 11:36:17

I may sound like a bit of a loser here, but how do you open an Alps switch... without destroying it? I've got an SGI granite keyboard that's always had a bit of a sticky key (looks like somebody spilled pop on it) and I want to clean out the gunk. It's obviously inside the switch.

(I did do a Google search of geekhack, but only found 3 entries with expired links.)

Title: How do you open an Alps switch?
Post by: mr_a500 on Fri, 30 April 2010, 12:06:22

Excellent. Thanks. That's actually how I thought it worked.

Good thing there was a link to the pictures. The other page had that damn embedded flash again. (which I can't see)

Title: How do you open an Alps switch?
Post by: NOMiS on Fri, 30 April 2010, 21:45:07

I just tilted my keyboard sideways to put the switch back together, without the spring falling out. Was with fukkas though not sure about other flavors.

Title: How do you open an Alps switch?
Post by: EverythingIBM on Fri, 30 April 2010, 22:09:49

Quote from: ripster;177554

Reminds of a discussion I was having with this guy named Steve...

Show Image

(http://www.theiphoneblog.com/images/stories/soup-nazi-jobs-no-flash.jpg)

That's pretty epic...

Although, FOR ONCE, I agree with Stevey. I think flash was way better when Macromedia owned it (Flash MX!) Adobe butchered it.
THE BUTCHER!
(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk27/gordonator008/blog/butcher.jpg)

Yeah... so what if I'm an oldie gamer. The old games had so much more character in their 2D glory.

Title: How do you open an Alps switch?
Post by: mr_a500 on Sat, 01 May 2010, 13:03:19

Quote from: NOMiS;177710

I just tilted my keyboard sideways to put the switch back together, without the spring falling out. Was with fukkas though not sure about other flavors.

Yes, exactly. That's how I did it.

Title: How do you open an Alps switch?
Post by: kishy on Sat, 01 May 2010, 13:06:40

When I've reassembled ALPS switches, even those inside of keyboards, I find it easier to do upside down (spring stays more upright if it's in the slider instead of on the peg in the bottom half, but metal leaf wants to fall out, so I start to reassemble it sort of sideways then tip upside down once it's at a point where the leaf thing can't fall out)

Title: How do you open an Alps switch?
Post by: mr_a500 on Sun, 02 May 2010, 05:59:37

I also figured out how to open my finger using an Alps switch.

I was cleaning an Apple Extended II when my finger slipped and the flap on the Alps switch jammed hard under my nail. Blood came gushing out. Man, that ****ing hurt. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that keyboard bit me.

Title: How do you open an Alps switch?
Post by: mr_a500 on Sun, 02 May 2010, 06:48:02

Quote from: webwit;178074

Is the Alps switch ok?

Yes, it's fine... but I nearly "hulked out" and smashed the damn thing. (would have been no loss really, Apple Extended II is crap)

Title: How do you open an Alps switch?
Post by: mr_a500 on Sun, 02 May 2010, 06:54:53

 :blank:

Title: How do you open an Alps switch?
Post by: kishy on Sun, 02 May 2010, 11:20:13

Quote from: mr_a500;178084

I was brought up with the philosophy that it's best to sacrifice yourself, rather than damage something. As my father told me when I was 10 while helping carry a fridge down a flight of stairs, "Hands can heal. Walls can't!"

Good thing you live here rather than the US (re: healthcare).

Title: How do you open an Alps switch?
Post by: ch_123 on Sun, 02 May 2010, 11:21:33

And for just about every other matter as far as I can see.

Title: How do you open an Alps switch?
Post by: ricercar on Sun, 02 May 2010, 16:18:24

Quote from: mr_a500;178081

I nearly "hulked out" and smashed the damn thing./QUOTE]

Wimp.

Been there, done that. Too often. Then I give away the keys and keycaps and make new friends.