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Author Topic: Using a keyboard without a case?  (Read 5821 times)

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Offline snarfarlarkus

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Using a keyboard without a case?
« on: Wed, 15 February 2017, 01:13:52 »
So I'm using my GH60 and decided to take off the plastic case to see how much of an effect it would make. And to my surprise the keyboard without the plastic case feels so much better. When I bottom out now, it doesn't make that thunky hollow plasticy sound it now just sounds like the keycaps hitting the metal plate.
Now I do want to try an aluminum or wood case such as the lambo 60% to see if it would make my keystrokes feel better but I'm enjoying no case far too much.

I just wanted to ask, is it safe to use a keyboard in the long run without a case? The bottom of the pcb is exposed and I don't know too much about pcbs so I don't want to damage it in any way. So if anyone could confirm with me if it does damage the pcb or not that would be much appreciated thank you!
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Offline happylacquer

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 15 February 2017, 01:18:03 »
At least use a piece of foam from a motherboard?!
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Offline merlin64

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 15 February 2017, 01:33:35 »
Wow, isn't that a little bit shaky?

I've seen some people use rubber feet where the standoffs of the case go in. That might be a better solution
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Offline snarfarlarkus

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 15 February 2017, 01:38:59 »
Quote from: happylacquer on Wed, 15 February 2017, 01:18:03
At least use a piece of foam from a motherboard?!

What do you mean by piece of foam from a motherboard? My motherboard has no foam? Sorry I may be missing something here haha.

Quote from: merlin64 on Wed, 15 February 2017, 01:33:35
Wow, isn't that a little bit shaky?

I've seen some people use rubber feet where the standoffs of the case go in. That might be a better solution

Yes, the only downside to this is the shakyness. Its not very stable but man it feels and sounds so much nicer than in that plastic case haha.

And sorry but where are the standoffs? I don't see any on my GH60 pcb?

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Offline merlin64

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 15 February 2017, 03:21:33 »
You are correct. If you look at the case, you'll see that there are holes where the screws go in. I'm talking about those. Maybe standoffs is the wrong term

But I've seen some people put rubber feet where the screws go in, and instead of screwing into the case, they screw into a rubber foot. I hope that's descriptive enough.
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Offline snarfarlarkus

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 15 February 2017, 03:32:09 »
I get what you're saying but I still don't see any holes on my PCB There doesn't seem to be any holes at all that I can screw them into. I would love a solution to stop this shakyness of the board, I even prefer the look without a case to be complely honest haha. I just cringe when I move the board across my desk mat because I can hear and feel all those soldering points rubbing against my mat and it doesn't feel or sound nice at all haha.
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Offline happylacquer

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 15 February 2017, 03:32:29 »
Quote from: snarfarlarkus on Wed, 15 February 2017, 01:38:59
Quote from: happylacquer on Wed, 15 February 2017, 01:18:03
At least use a piece of foam from a motherboard?!

What do you mean by piece of foam from a motherboard? My motherboard has no foam? Sorry I may be missing something here haha.

Quote from: merlin64 on Wed, 15 February 2017, 01:33:35
Wow, isn't that a little bit shaky?

I've seen some people use rubber feet where the standoffs of the case go in. That might be a better solution

Yes, the only downside to this is the shakyness. Its not very stable but man it feels and sounds so much nicer than in that plastic case haha.

And sorry but where are the standoffs? I don't see any on my GH60 pcb?

It is just anti static foam. Would prevent anything on bottom from being damaged. something like this always comes under mobos when you buy a new one, so if you built a machine ever you might have one

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Offline stoic-lemon

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 15 February 2017, 04:21:54 »
Surely your PCB must have holes or you wouldn't have been able to use it with a case.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 15 February 2017, 07:08:18 »
IBM Model F 122-key terminal without the top case shell. The bottom pan is integral.
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
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Offline TalkingTree

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #9 on: Wed, 15 February 2017, 07:12:56 »
If I were you, I would get a piece of plain polycarbonate, drills holes for standoffs and secure the PCB on it.
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Offline Sneaky Potato

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 15 February 2017, 08:27:27 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Wed, 15 February 2017, 07:08:18
IBM Model F 122-key terminal without the top case shell. The bottom pan is integral.


This is actually pretty cool.
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Offline rmendis

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #11 on: Wed, 15 February 2017, 08:32:50 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Wed, 15 February 2017, 07:08:18
IBM Model F 122-key terminal without the top case shell. The bottom pan is integral.

This looks sick!
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Offline snarfarlarkus

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #12 on: Wed, 15 February 2017, 17:46:23 »
THanks guys. I think what I will do i
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Offline snarfarlarkus

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #13 on: Wed, 15 February 2017, 17:49:24 »
Thanks guys. I now know what holes you are talking about! Stupid of me, I thought I couldn't drill into them because they're part of the PCB but now I realised they were used for the acrylic case.

Any recommendations on some foot metal feet? I've seen the cone shaped ones that just ended on massdrop?
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Offline snarfarlarkus

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #14 on: Thu, 16 February 2017, 17:09:26 »
Also anyone know of a good case? Want something that'll make the keystrokes feel better?
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #15 on: Thu, 16 February 2017, 17:25:44 »
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #16 on: Thu, 16 February 2017, 17:35:13 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Thu, 16 February 2017, 17:25:44
Quote from: snarfarlarkus on Thu, 16 February 2017, 17:09:26

Want something that'll make the keystrokes feel better?

There are always my mats:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59308.msg1359377#msg1359377
I use these on both my home and work daily drivers. :thumb:
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Offline snarfarlarkus

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #17 on: Thu, 16 February 2017, 17:40:01 »
DId they add to the feel of the keyboard at all? Or just sound dampening?
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Offline Andy_Nixeus

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #18 on: Fri, 17 February 2017, 13:38:13 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Wed, 15 February 2017, 07:08:18
IBM Model F 122-key terminal without the top case shell. The bottom pan is integral.

Looks very cool and technological haha
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Offline Puddsy

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #19 on: Fri, 17 February 2017, 15:26:04 »
it's possible, but i think it's too minimalist even for my tastes

i would say get a clear acryl case made because they look cool and mitigate a lot of the issues that come with not using a case
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Offline y11971alex

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Re: Using a keyboard without a case?
« Reply #20 on: Sat, 18 February 2017, 13:47:02 »
Possible.

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