Thanks everyone for the responses. I picked up an old Model M and Model F off of ebay and broke them down to see and touch them for myself. It doesn't matter how well someone describes something, until your actually start fiddling around with the guts of it, you're education is lacking. And of course what I've learned is just what you are all telling me.
- The individual barrels on the F will make it much easier to build a custom keyboard layout.
- After making a quick holder to secure the barrel, cap, and spring units in, I was able to see just how the BS action works and the amount of force the hammers generate. My primitive tests indicate that they only register about 10g. of force. I think that may severely limit the switch choices.
- I'm afraid to try to mess with the capacitive system because I think it's too complicated for me.
- The Model M flippers work mechanically in the F barrels. They are smaller and have a bump to activate the membrane contacts unlike the F flipper which is a larger flatter contact.
- I'm wondering if it would make sense to use the F barrel with the M flipper and a membrane switch similar to the M.
- I was impressed with the elegant simplicity of the Model M's 3 layer membrane switch. Has anyone tried to home make them?
- I know now what all the BS affection is about. Every strike has an air of authority in it. I'm sure anything I write using BS switches will be far more important than anything I've ever written in the past!
wcass– Thanks for the advice. Have you documented any of your mods on GH? I'd like to see what you've done.
Oobly– I get the impression that capacitive switching is out of my league but I'd like to learn more about it. Any articles you might suggest?
My Buckling Spring switch holder. It allowed me to see how they work and whether the M flipper would work in the F barrel.
