Author Topic: DIY Variable Weighted Cherry Clear Board  (Read 1777 times)

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Offline himynameisbunny

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DIY Variable Weighted Cherry Clear Board
« on: Tue, 21 June 2011, 01:38:28 »
Was bored at work and saw http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:16351 by mtl about modding his Filco to Cherry Clears.

He mentioned at one stage that the black springs were actually lighter than the clears:

Quote
It may not seem obvious that black springs are weaker than clear springs, after all, black switches require higher activation force than clears (60 cN vs. 55 cN). I think this can be explained by looking at the tail end of the force graphs. The black spring actually bottoms out at about 80 cN, whereas the clear spring bottoms out close to 100 cN. It helps to look at the force graphs overlaid:

Show Image


By combining the black spring with the clear stem, the result is a key switch that's easier to press than a Cherry clear, and more tactile than a Cherry brown. It finds a really nice sweet spot in between, and is my new favorite key switch! Since it's a cross between clears and browns, I think the name "ergo clear" fits well.


I was under the impression that Ergo Clears were Brown spring, Clear stem.

Regardless, it got me thinking. What would a Cherry board feel like if you made one like this?



The entire board being Clear stems, but the white areas being with Black springs and the green areas being with Blue/Brown/Red springs.

Has anybody tried something like this? I'd like to know the result as I've got two Deck BL83s (Blacks) and one Cherry MX8100 (Clears) on the way, and already have a KBC Poker (Browns) in my possession ready for a bit of tweaking. I'm too cheap to get a HHKB or the like - I'll end up selling most, if not all of the leftover gear.
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Offline keyboardlover

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DIY Variable Weighted Cherry Clear Board
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 22 June 2011, 19:11:56 »
Neat idea. I'd try it if I had any black springs.

Offline himynameisbunny

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DIY Variable Weighted Cherry Clear Board
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 22 June 2011, 19:22:29 »
My only problem with it is that the TactoBlacks (Clear stem, Black spring) has an actuation force of 60g. Bit too high for me.

If Sixty ever ends up finding a spring company that's interested in helping him out with making aftermarket springs a set of 35g springs (if used with browns/clears) could be made and could make a variable weighted tactile board really, really neat IMO...
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Offline keyboardlover

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DIY Variable Weighted Cherry Clear Board
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 22 June 2011, 20:16:55 »
TactoBlacks??

I call them Panda Clears.


Offline himynameisbunny

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DIY Variable Weighted Cherry Clear Board
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 22 June 2011, 21:15:39 »
Why would you call them Panda Clears? That's essentially calling them Black and Clear Clears. Cherry MX Panda is a much more fitting name.

But Ripster named them and put 'em in the Wiki so I'm not going to argue.
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Offline keyboardlover

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DIY Variable Weighted Cherry Clear Board
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 23 June 2011, 08:07:34 »
Quote from: himynameisbunny;365729
Why would you call them Panda Clears?

Because pandas are AWESOME.



Fortunately, ANYONE can edit the wikis here!

Offline The Solutor

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DIY Variable Weighted Cherry Clear Board
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 23 June 2011, 08:41:54 »
Quote from: himynameisbunny;364565

He mentioned at one stage that the black springs were actually lighter than the clears:

 
After some tests I can't confirm, clear springs are looking very different from blacks ones but act very very colse, if not identhical.

Quote
Has anybody tried something like this?


http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=628
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Offline himynameisbunny

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DIY Variable Weighted Cherry Clear Board
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 23 June 2011, 08:56:37 »
Quote from: The Solutor;366041
http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=628

Aah yes, I did read this. I like the way he did it but Clears just sound way too stiff for my liking.

I have used a Model M before and as much as I liked it, it was just too heavy and loud.
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Offline himynameisbunny

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DIY Variable Weighted Cherry Clear Board
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 23 June 2011, 23:48:04 »
Lol it was too loud for my boss' liking. We have a very open office. Therefore I can't have it at the office where I would most likely use it.

Even the Browns in my Poker are a bit too loud for him so I've got some firm Foam Landing Pads on the way.

Plus, I would find that my hands would feel tired after a day at work, whereas Blues (yeah, I tried my Blackwidow in the office...didn't go down too well) felt fine.
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