ALPS style stabilizers?

[epicfacethe3rd]

I'm looking into making a 75% keyboard for mattias switches and might end up getting keycaps made from SP for me and some interested freinds. is there anything i should kind of go by in terms of standards? what's the most common stabilizer type for the alps sets that do exist (that aren't the ones by Mattias)
additionaly, are there any really good controller units suitable for handwiring with usb-c? or is that something that's not really seen often with keyboard builds

[nevin]

SP alps caps are cherry stabilizers
Matias has real alps style stabilizers as well as caps & switches
most vintage alps boards are alps/matias style plate mount stabilizers, but check your caps before you buy stabs.

usb-c controller....
- elite c
- QMK Proton C

but also consider the teensy ++2.0 (mini-b), these have a lot more I/O pins and are typically used with larger (than 60%) boards (unless you get creative with your key matrix). the ++2.0 is also fully supported in QMK/TMK even though is uses a different processor than the typical 32u4.

hand wire guides
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=87689.0
https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5761&start=
https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6050&start=

other useful tools
keyboard layout editor   http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/
swill plate builder   http://builder.swillkb.com/
web based firmware builder (slightly older version of QMK)   https://kbfirmware.com/

75% and alps is not a popular combination, but TX keyboards did have the TX75 that was both 75% and alps compatible (would probably have to find one second hand, believe the group buy ran over 2 years ago)

there is also the kprepublic XD75AM (75 key alps compatible ortholinear)

[heavyheaded]

Matias has real alps style stabilizers as well as caps & switches

These don't work on classic ALPS boards such as AEK and AEKII or the Hasu Alps64 PCB (spacebar wire is too short in the bent end part).

[nevin]

Matias has real alps style stabilizers as well as caps & switches

These don't work on classic ALPS boards such as AEK and AEKII or the Hasu Alps64 PCB (spacebar wire is too short in the bent end part).

good to know. making a new spacebar wire shouldn't be hard. but at least they have the small clips & tabs.

[epicfacethe3rd]

SP alps caps are cherry stabilizers
Matias has real alps style stabilizers as well as caps & switches
most vintage alps boards are alps/matias style plate mount stabilizers, but check your caps before you buy stabs.

so in other words, if i'm going to build a set of keycaps, there's not really any way for it to be compatible with other ones stabilizer wise? (as rare as they are)

usb-c controller....
- elite c
- QMK Proton C

but also consider the teensy ++2.0 (mini-b), these have a lot more I/O pins and are typically used with larger (than 60%) boards (unless you get creative with your key matrix). the ++2.0 is also fully supported in QMK/TMK even though is uses a different processor than the typical 32u4.

gotcha, thanks for the fyi on the lack of controllers that can support larger than 60%, had no idea. after a bit of digging i might look into seeing if adafruit's feather ble unit might work as it's the same atmel chip as the teensys, and bluetooth would be a nice feature to have

75% and alps is not a popular combination, but TX keyboards did have the TX75 that was both 75% and alps compatible (would probably have to find one second hand, believe the group buy ran over 2 years ago)

there is also the kprepublic XD75AM (75 key alps compatible ortholinear)

i'm not really looking for a pcb build, though thanks for finding the only photo I've managed to see of granite alps keycaps that proves that keyset even exists, lol. looks like i'm going to either be going with blank keycaps or hunt down about 10-20 people interested in buying a set

[nevin]

caps... if your starting from scratch (no vintage parts), you'll have to decide if you want to go with SP or matias or even tai-hao (they have alps caps too). this will dictate what stabilizers you will need. unless you're really against vintage, i'd suggest getting one of the classics as a starting point. would provide you with a full set of usually decent/good caps, stabilizers for those caps, and a set of switches (even if they are not your preferred switch tactile/clicky/linear)
- tai-hao caps are thin ABS double shot
- apple alps caps are thicker dye subbed PBT (but some have different sized keys than a standard 104 layout, and some are rotated 90deg. ...AEK II F-row, etc.)

controller... just depends on the layout you want (how many rows + columns), how many I/O pins on the controller and how creative you want to get with the key matrix.
- do some digging on the feather ble, i believe there has been some limited success, but BLE is still very "new" in the DIY realm.

[epicfacethe3rd]

caps... if your starting from scratch (no vintage parts), you'll have to decide if you want to go with SP or matias or even tai-hao (they have alps caps too). this will dictate what stabilizers you will need. unless you're really against vintage, i'd suggest getting one of the classics as a starting point. would provide you with a full set of usually decent/good caps, stabilizers for those caps, and a set of switches (even if they are not your preferred switch tactile/clicky/linear)
- tai-hao caps are thin ABS double shot
- apple alps caps are thicker dye subbed PBT (but some have different sized keys than a standard 104 layout, and some are rotated 90deg. ...AEK II F-row, etc.)

i'm not *really* against going vintage but the bigger thing is i feel kind of against doing what i feel is effectively destroying an old keyboard for parts, plus 1.75u shift isn't a thing from what i know for retro alps keyboards
i guess SA/tai hao it is

[Findecanor]

so in other words, if i'm going to build a set of keycaps, there's not really any way for it to be compatible with other ones stabilizer wise? (as rare as they are)

Check out this mod for using keycaps made for Alps-style stabilisers with plate made for Costar-style stabilisers. You will need both types of stabilisers.