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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Entropia on Sun, 11 November 2018, 13:11:17

Title: Leopold spacebars
Post by: Entropia on Sun, 11 November 2018, 13:11:17

Can you say for sure if the spacebars in Leopold keyboards (Cherry MX based) are made of PBT or ABS? I know their models with Topre use spacebars made of ABS, just like the rest of Topre keyboards available. However, I was almost sure their boards with Cherry switches have all keycaps made of PBT, including the spacebar. Can you confirm? I own a FC980M and my spacebar already has a little shine after some years of use, but nothing compared to an abs spacebar.

Edit: I've just made the test with water and my spacebar sinks to the bottom. Is this trustworthy to be sure it's made of pbt?

Title: Re: Leopold spacebars
Post by: Findecanor on Sun, 11 November 2018, 13:17:16

Acetone test: wet a q-tip with acetone and gently rub a spot on the inside of the keycap. If it smears, it is ABS. If it just evaporates without leaving a mark, it is PBT (or POM).

Title: Re: Leopold spacebars
Post by: hasu on Mon, 12 November 2018, 08:18:09

Both ABS and PBT sink into water in terms of specific gravity, iirc. I think you can use saturated salt water, PBT goes down there but ABS doesn't.

Title: Re: Leopold spacebars
Post by: toby on Thu, 15 November 2018, 08:41:04

the leopold comes with all-pbt materials for the keysets