Why Cherry, Why???

[hvontres]

[Rant]

As I start to go deeper down the keyboard rabbit hole, I find myself wishing that Cherry had made one very important design decision years ago. Instead of the stupid 2U stabilizer, why didn't they just use two switches under the 2U keycap and only wire up one? That would make it so much simpler to have flexible layouts under the numpad for instance. That is pretty much what IBM did with the Model M barrel plate and it seems like a much better way to get the medium length keys stabilized. And then we could have all sorts of fun trying to figure out which linear switch makes the best stabilizer.....

[/Rant]

[fohat.digs]

what IBM did with the Model F and M barrel plate

IBM got pretty much everything right back in the day, notable exceptions were the brittle plastic in the F cases and melted rivets in M assembly.

[Findecanor]

I'm not sure Cherry MX switches are stable enough for using a dummy switch though. Most designs that use a dummy switch under a key have it bind on some key presses.

I think the best way is to do like Ericsson switches: with a real and a dummy switch and a stabilising rod between them. https://deskthority.net/wiki/File:Ericsson_RMD_973_series_stabilizers.jpg
I think some older Model Ms actually did have a stabilising wire as well, but that it got removed after IBM had noticed that it worked remarkably well without one.

[mcmaxmcmc]

Imagine bolt/screw-modding an M122 because you want to add an extra key on the numpad or whatever...

You gotta put that flipper in somehow.

Imagine having to cut plastic to add compatibility for keys sized between integer units.

I'd rather just desolder, thank you.

The Cherry stabilizers also allow for more equal stabilization because the switch and stabs are centered, so they got that going for them.

Putting in a dummy switch is what Signature Plastics did for some of their POS caps, so it's not like it hadn't bern done before.  I believe the very early custom numpads also require these POS-2u keycaps (or, you know, 2x 1u's).  Cherry BAEs also use this type of stabilization, and it works okay... not great though.

[fohat.digs]

bolt/screw-modding an M122 because

I have immediately dismantled every 122-key IBM terminal that I have ever gotten in order to put it into ANSI layout.

It is not even anything that I think about, it is just a given.

Cutting 2 metal half-circles to make room for Alt keys on an F AT, now that is a bit more advanced. But it goes to show, yet again, how forward-thinking IBM used to be.
 

[treeleaf64]

2u stabilizer good

What's the problem with it. It looks good and it works good too. More layouts are supported and it's easier to change them out

[Lanrefni]

I use 2u POS keycaps on my BFO-9000,clipped the pins and cut the springs in half on 4 MX blacks and now they make a great dummy switch.

[lakeboredom]

You'd have to use half-weight springs in each switch for them to feel right, and then certain tactiles wouldn't even function hah.

[Leslieann]

why didn't they just use two switches under the 2U keycap and only wire up one? That would make it so much simpler to have flexible layouts under the numpad for instance. /quote]
Nothing stopping it from being done, however I do agree with Findecanor in that they may not really be strong enough.

IBM got pretty much everything right back in the day, notable exceptions were the brittle plastic in the F cases and melted rivets in M assembly.

Considering how long so many have lasted I'd still say they got it right.