Anyone here have a silenced Realforce (english layout) keyboard?

[Trev]

I've been searching everywhere for a photo of something like a Realforce 87U (silent model) with the spacebar removed.

If anyone has a shot showing what's underneath their RF silenced spacebar, could you please post it?

I have a Realforce 87U that looks like it has two circular areas for rubber landing feet to silence the spacebar landing on hard presses. I'd like to determine if mine are missing, or it was never supposed to have them.

Thanks in advance 

[khaangaaroo]

The silencing for the silent version is on the upstroke. There's a foam landing pad within the switch that you can't see from the outside. There's nothing missing from your board.

[Trev]

Thanks for the info. I'm aware that the other keys are only dampened on the up-stroke, but the HHKB (Type-S) has rubber landing pads in that same location for the spacebar landing.

The Realforce has two circular metal areas there(without rubber), so I was starting to wonder. A similar rubber setup on the RF spacebar might not be a bad idea.

Does your silenced model have those metal discs under the spacebar (on the plate)?

[limmy]

I have a 87U silent version. It does NOT have the same rubber dampening seen in HHKB. There is brass part that holds screws, but it is flush with the plate. I think silent version of 87U is same as regular version.

I have modded my silent RF 87U as follows:


I am using two pieces of neoprene rubber sheet and some thick tapes (for height adjustments). I did a similar mod to my HHKB because I find soft rubber material works better than the original rubber pads.

[Trev]

Strange that the HHKB has those rubber landing pads for the same spacebar, but the RF model does not

Great info Limmy, thanks.

[limmy]

Strange that the HHKB has those rubber landing pads for the same spacebar, but the RF model does not

Great info Limmy, thanks.

You are welcome.

Maybe Topre found it cumbersome to correctly place rubber pad on their RF steel plates. Whereas it is relatively easy to make a place for rubber pads on HHKB's plastic plate/case. HHKB is well made keyboard with neat details. I think the attention to details is one of the reasons why many people love them.