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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Lanrefni on Fri, 15 March 2019, 16:46:49

Title: New to me AEK II
Post by: Lanrefni on Fri, 15 March 2019, 16:46:49: Thanks to a prior thread I I was perusing Ebay for an AEK II,found one for $40 including shipping,got it today and bodged together a QMK based ADBtoUSB adapter,typed this post on it.

(https://i.imgur.com/pjdlvoP.jpg?1)

Link to a small album with pics of my rather ugly but functional adapter- https://imgur.com/a/WiDjkdR

I have to say cream damped Alps feel very different from Outemu blues.
Title: Re: New to me AEK II
Post by: Sintpinty on Sun, 17 March 2019, 13:46:07: Sweet! You've got yourself an alps keyboard. These keyboards are loved by many due to their light, lubed and damp click. Sadly, they're very rare and require a high amount of maintenance.
Title: Re: New to me AEK II
Post by: Lanrefni on Sun, 17 March 2019, 14:48:50: Quote from: Sintpinty on Sun, 17 March 2019, 13:46:07
Sweet! You've got yourself an alps keyboard. These keyboards are loved by many due to their light, lubed and damp click. Sadly, they're very rare and require a high amount of maintenance.

I'm loving the switches and the keycaps,but carpal tunnel in both wrists make it very painful to use for more than a few minutes,leaning heavily towards getting custom plates cut and using the switches/keycaps in a handwired custom split build,was looking at making it 3 units in this layout (http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/##@@=Esc&_x:1%3B&=F1&=F2&=F3&=F4&=F5&_x:6.5%3B&=PrtSc&=Scroll%20Lock&=Pause%0ABreak&_x:2.5%3B&=F6&=F7&=F8&=F9&=F10&=F11&=F12%3B&@=~%0A%60&=!%0A1&=%2F@%0A2&=%23%0A3&=$%0A4&=%25%0A5&=%5E%0A6&_x:2.25%3B&=Num%20Lock&=%2F%2F&=*&=-&_x:0.25%3B&=Insert&=Home&=PgUp&_x:2.5%3B&=%2F&%0A7&=*%0A8&=(%0A9&=)%0A0&=%2F_%0A-&=+%0A%2F=&_w:2%3B&=Backspace%3B&@_w:1.5%3B&=Tab&=Q&=W&=E&=R&=T&_x:2.75%3B&=7%0AHome&=8%0A%E2%86%91&=9%0APgUp&_h:2%3B&=+&_x:0.25%3B&=Delete&=End&=PgDn&_x:2%3B&=Y&=U&=I&=O&=P&=%7B%0A%5B&=%7D%0A%5D&_w:1.5%3B&=%7C%0A%5C%3B&@_w:1.75%3B&=Caps%20Lock&=A&=S&=D&=F&=G&_x:2.5%3B&=4%0A%E2%86%90&=5&=6%0A%E2%86%92&_x:6.5%3B&=H&=J&=K&=L&=%2F:%0A%2F%3B&=%22%0A'&_w:2.25%3B&=Enter%3B&@_w:2.25%3B&=Shift&=Z&=X&=C&=V&=B&_x:2%3B&=1%0AEnd&=2%0A%E2%86%93&=3%0APgDn&_h:2%3B&=Enter&_x:1.25%3B&=%E2%86%91&_x:3.75%3B&=N&=M&=%3C%0A,&=%3E%0A.&=%3F%0A%2F%2F&_w:2.75%3B&=Shift%3B&@_w:1.5%3B&=Ctrl&_w:1.5%3B&=Win&_w:1.25%3B&=Alt&_x:0.25&a:7&w:2.75%3B&=&_x:2&a:4&w:2%3B&=0%0AIns&=.%0ADel&_x:1.25%3B&=%E2%86%90&=%E2%86%93&=%E2%86%92&_x:2.75&a:7&w:2.75%3B&=&_x:0.5&a:4&w:1.25%3B&=Alt&_w:1.5%3B&=Win&_w:1.5%3B&=Ctrl) would allow me to angle the left and right parts and have the numpad and nav cluster in the middle.
Title: Re: New to me AEK II
Post by: the_ambyguous on Sat, 30 March 2019, 01:53:56: Quote from: Lanrefni on Fri, 15 March 2019, 16:46:49
Thanks to a prior thread I I was perusing Ebay for an AEK II,found one for $40 including shipping,got it today and bodged together a QMK based ADBtoUSB adapter,typed this post on it.

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/pjdlvoP.jpg?1)

Link to a small album with pics of my rather ugly but functional adapter- https://imgur.com/a/WiDjkdR

I have to say cream damped Alps feel very different from Outemu blues.

Congrats on the board! It looks like you scored one with the thicker/darker dye subs, I am guessing it was made in 1995? Yeah the way alps are built make them a uniquely different key switch when compared cherry mx type switches, and that stands for all the other different alps switches as well. In keeping with the adage, "the good die young", so too did Alps Electronics keyboard division leave us too soon...

Quote from: Lanrefni on Sun, 17 March 2019, 14:48:50
Quote from: Sintpinty on Sun, 17 March 2019, 13:46:07
Sweet! You've got yourself an alps keyboard. These keyboards are loved by many due to their light, lubed and damp click. Sadly, they're very rare and require a high amount of maintenance.

I'm loving the switches and the keycaps,but carpal tunnel in both wrists make it very painful to use for more than a few minutes,leaning heavily towards getting custom plates cut and using the switches/keycaps in a handwired custom split build,was looking at making it 3 units in this layout (http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/##@@=Esc&_x:1%3B&=F1&=F2&=F3&=F4&=F5&_x:6.5%3B&=PrtSc&=Scroll%20Lock&=Pause%0ABreak&_x:2.5%3B&=F6&=F7&=F8&=F9&=F10&=F11&=F12%3B&@=~%0A%60&=!%0A1&=%2F@%0A2&=%23%0A3&=$%0A4&=%25%0A5&=%5E%0A6&_x:2.25%3B&=Num%20Lock&=%2F%2F&=*&=-&_x:0.25%3B&=Insert&=Home&=PgUp&_x:2.5%3B&=%2F&%0A7&=*%0A8&=(%0A9&=)%0A0&=%2F_%0A-&=+%0A%2F=&_w:2%3B&=Backspace%3B&@_w:1.5%3B&=Tab&=Q&=W&=E&=R&=T&_x:2.75%3B&=7%0AHome&=8%0A%E2%86%91&=9%0APgUp&_h:2%3B&=+&_x:0.25%3B&=Delete&=End&=PgDn&_x:2%3B&=Y&=U&=I&=O&=P&=%7B%0A%5B&=%7D%0A%5D&_w:1.5%3B&=%7C%0A%5C%3B&@_w:1.75%3B&=Caps%20Lock&=A&=S&=D&=F&=G&_x:2.5%3B&=4%0A%E2%86%90&=5&=6%0A%E2%86%92&_x:6.5%3B&=H&=J&=K&=L&=%2F:%0A%2F%3B&=%22%0A'&_w:2.25%3B&=Enter%3B&@_w:2.25%3B&=Shift&=Z&=X&=C&=V&=B&_x:2%3B&=1%0AEnd&=2%0A%E2%86%93&=3%0APgDn&_h:2%3B&=Enter&_x:1.25%3B&=%E2%86%91&_x:3.75%3B&=N&=M&=%3C%0A,&=%3E%0A.&=%3F%0A%2F%2F&_w:2.75%3B&=Shift%3B&@_w:1.5%3B&=Ctrl&_w:1.5%3B&=Win&_w:1.25%3B&=Alt&_x:0.25&a:7&w:2.75%3B&=&_x:2&a:4&w:2%3B&=0%0AIns&=.%0ADel&_x:1.25%3B&=%E2%86%90&=%E2%86%93&=%E2%86%92&_x:2.75&a:7&w:2.75%3B&=&_x:0.5&a:4&w:1.25%3B&=Alt&_w:1.5%3B&=Win&_w:1.5%3B&=Ctrl) would allow me to angle the left and right parts and have the numpad and nav cluster in the middle.

Have you considered the PCB options available at keeb.io? They have several split keyboard layouts, with respective plates and cases, and they all support both mx and alps switches. might save you a lot of time and work
Title: Re: New to me AEK II
Post by: Lanrefni on Sat, 30 March 2019, 05:54:44: I have a BFO-9000,Levinson,and a Laplace,I'm very familiar with Keeb.io. :thumb:

My problem is I want to use the Function row keys and their switches are rotated 90 degrees,I'm leaning towards using a another set of BFO-9000 pcbs and custom plate with an extended bottom lip that overlays the bottom row and then running wires from the Function row switches to the bottom row,thus allowing me to rotate the switches properly. I'd also need to get some 1u alps blanks for the modifiers.
Title: Re: New to me AEK II
Post by: Sup on Sat, 30 March 2019, 06:06:27: Quote from: Sintpinty on Sun, 17 March 2019, 13:46:07
Sweet! You've got yourself an alps keyboard. These keyboards are loved by many due to their light, lubed and damp click. Sadly, they're very rare and require a high amount of maintenance.
'
What do you mean rare these can be bought for 40 dollars shipped. And no they don't need high amount of maintenance you only need to have a clean desk or put a cover on top if you want to keep them clean.
Title: Re: New to me AEK II
Post by: the_ambyguous on Fri, 05 April 2019, 13:17:00: Quote from: Sintpinty on Sun, 17 March 2019, 13:46:07
Sweet! You've got yourself an alps keyboard. These keyboards are loved by many due to their light, lubed and damp click. Sadly, they're very rare and require a high amount of maintenance.

Quote from: Sup on Sat, 30 March 2019, 06:06:27
Quote from: Sintpinty on Sun, 17 March 2019, 13:46:07
Sweet! You've got yourself an alps keyboard. These keyboards are loved by many due to their light, lubed and damp click. Sadly, they're very rare and require a high amount of maintenance.
'
What do you mean rare these can be bought for 40 dollars shipped. And no they don't need high amount of maintenance you only need to have a clean desk or put a cover on top if you want to keep them clean.

the mystery and enigma of the Alps switch continues to be muddled in confusion to this day.

You can't buy alps switches new (save for some of the later models, and clones), hence the "rarity", in order to experience genuine alps switches youd have to buy a vintage board. To those that have just entered the mech community, the idea of buying a used board may seem farfetched. I'm assuming this is what was meant by "rare" although, like OP just stated, he got this for $40 bucks shipped. Cream damped alps are very common. Amber alps on the other hand, were only ever available on one keyboard.

As far as "high maintenance", yes, technically, if you like to open your keyboards up and shovel sand into them, alps switches can deteriorate and feel very ****ty, and its arguable whether or not extreme methods such as ultrasonic cleaning can restore a worn alps switch to that of one brand new. but if you keep your keyboard on your desk, use canned air every now and then, then this switch is no more high maintenance than other switches. a new alps board and a new cherry board have similar lifetime expectancies, roughly 20 million keystrokes. Although newer cherry switches are rated at 50 million. You'd be hard pressed to ever wear one out.
Title: Re: New to me AEK II
Post by: Sup on Wed, 10 April 2019, 05:02:15: Quote from: the_ambyguous on Fri, 05 April 2019, 13:17:00
Quote from: Sintpinty on Sun, 17 March 2019, 13:46:07
Sweet! You've got yourself an alps keyboard. These keyboards are loved by many due to their light, lubed and damp click. Sadly, they're very rare and require a high amount of maintenance.

Quote from: Sup on Sat, 30 March 2019, 06:06:27
Quote from: Sintpinty on Sun, 17 March 2019, 13:46:07
Sweet! You've got yourself an alps keyboard. These keyboards are loved by many due to their light, lubed and damp click. Sadly, they're very rare and require a high amount of maintenance.
'
What do you mean rare these can be bought for 40 dollars shipped. And no they don't need high amount of maintenance you only need to have a clean desk or put a cover on top if you want to keep them clean.

the mystery and enigma of the Alps switch continues to be muddled in confusion to this day.

You can't buy alps switches new (save for some of the later models, and clones), hence the "rarity", in order to experience genuine alps switches youd have to buy a vintage board. To those that have just entered the mech community, the idea of buying a used board may seem farfetched. I'm assuming this is what was meant by "rare" although, like OP just stated, he got this for $40 bucks shipped. Cream damped alps are very common. Amber alps on the other hand, were only ever available on one keyboard.

As far as "high maintenance", yes, technically, if you like to open your keyboards up and shovel sand into them, alps switches can deteriorate and feel very ****ty, and its arguable whether or not extreme methods such as ultrasonic cleaning can restore a worn alps switch to that of one brand new. but if you keep your keyboard on your desk, use canned air every now and then, then this switch is no more high maintenance than other switches. a new alps board and a new cherry board have similar lifetime expectancies, roughly 20 million keystrokes. Although newer cherry switches are rated at 50 million. You'd be hard pressed to ever wear one out.
Funny thing is you can buy some Alps variant NOS from Taobao. I bought 200 SKCL yellow switches :).