I recently bought a Leopold FC660C, which has 45-gram Topre switches. However, the spacebar has an auxiliary compression spring that fits around the outside stem of the switch. According to EK, this spring adds about 5 cN to the actuation pressure of the switch and also aids in the rebound of the spacebar. This spring can easily be removed and placed on other keys if desired. I like the slightly heavier feel of the spacebar, and I thought it could be a good idea to make all of the keys slightly heavier.
Therefore, would it be possible to do an "auxiliary spring mod" on a Topre board by acquiring a set of these 5 cN springs and installing them on each switch? The object would be an easy conversion of, say, a 45-gram Topre board to a 50-gram Topre board without resorting to the much more difficult method of swapping out the rubber domes. Furthermore, if one had 10 cN springs, the conversion should result in changing a 45-gram board to a 55-gram board.
My motivation for trying this is that it would provide an easily reversible way to change the actuation/rebound forces on a Topre board. For example, at present EK has some 45-gram RF 87u boards in stock, but the 55-gram boards are out of stock until November. I would prefer not to wait, and I am also not sure if I would prefer a 55-gram over a 45-gram board.
However, this method of modifying a Topre switch must be too easy to be true, and I suppose the characteristics of an auxiliary spring modded board would not be the same as actually changing the rubber domes.
Nevertheless, if this seems like an idea worth trying, does anyone know where I could find 5-10 cN springs that would fit Topre stems? If such springs are not readily available, where could I have some made in small lots for a reasonable price? I would only need enough for one to a few keyboards.
Thanks for any insights and suggestions you might have.
