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Author Topic: How to reduce actuation force on blacks?  (Read 5144 times)

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Offline Kaldius

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How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« on: Thu, 29 December 2011, 09:44:37 »
I bought the Thermaltake Meka G1 with Cherry MX Black switches and I really like how they don't have any tactile response but I think what I was looking for was something a little easier to press like Cherry Red but they don't sell those here.

So my question is what can I do to reduce the actuation force on my blacks to make it more light like reds? I'm pretty sure the actuation force lies in the spring is there anyway to cut the spring to shorten it or buy new springs? How would I know how much to cut them or which springs to buy and where?
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Offline turbocharged

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How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 29 December 2011, 09:46:52 »
Buy some springs off someone on the forum....springs from blues or browns will do it.
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Offline Human

  • Posts: 596
How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 29 December 2011, 09:53:08 »
Buy 2nd hand brown/blue switch/keyboard and disassemble them for the spring. Then, desolder the black switches on your TT and swap the stem in and lastly resolder them on.

If you feel there is really too much works to be done, go grab a instant Rosewill/Leopold instead.
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Offline Kaldius

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How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 29 December 2011, 10:26:38 »
I didn't know there was any soldering involved I don't have those kind of tools, I saw a video on youtube where they simply popped the switch off with a metal tool can't I just do this if I purchase the springs from the link above?
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Offline piken

  • Posts: 85
How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 29 December 2011, 10:36:17 »
Quote from: Kaldius;479584
I didn't know there was any soldering involved I don't have those kind of tools, I saw a video on youtube where they simply popped the switch off with a metal tool can't I just do this if I purchase the springs from the link above?



You can only do that with PCB mounted switches. Most new boards are Plate mounted which require them to be unsoldered.
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Offline Kaldius

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How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 29 December 2011, 10:40:40 »
Oh I see I think the reviews I've read for my keyboard say its plate mounted but I'm not sure how can I check?
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Offline Human

  • Posts: 596
How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 29 December 2011, 12:19:39 »
Quote from: Kaldius;479591
Oh I see I think the reviews I've read for my keyboard say its plate mounted but I'm not sure how can I check?


In other words, most non-cherry keyboards(except Poker X, KBT Race, Noppoo Cho Mini) are plate mounted.
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Offline Kaldius

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How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 29 December 2011, 13:27:37 »
I guess its not worth it to order a spring set plus buy the soldering equipment, I might as well return the keyboard then and buy a better one in a higher price range but budget was sorta my thing I got my meka g1 for $99 so I guess ill just used to the blacks there definitely not bad but I could see how a bit less force would make them just perfect.
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Offline False_Dmitry_II

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How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 29 December 2011, 13:36:27 »
You can get a rosewill with reds for around there i think
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Offline hoggy

  • * Ergonomics Moderator
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  • Location: Isle of Man
How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 29 December 2011, 15:03:08 »
This seems like a perfect opportunity to link to Tim Tyler.
http://www.mykeyboard.co.uk/
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GH Ergonomic Guide (in progress)
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=54680.0

Offline mechanisch

  • Posts: 38
How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 29 December 2011, 19:41:57 »
Quote from: dante;479711
Noppoo Choc Mini are plate mounted.

Are they all plate mounted?  I was under the impression that only some of the switches are plate mounted on the mini, some are not.  Maybe we can get a confirmation on this.
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Offline RiGS

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How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 29 December 2011, 19:55:23 »
All of the switches are plate mounted.
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Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline Human

  • Posts: 596
How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 30 December 2011, 02:03:17 »
Oh wai, noppoo cho mini do is Plate Mounted.
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Offline flaming_june

  • Posts: 224
How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #13 on: Fri, 30 December 2011, 02:11:53 »
Quote from: ripster;479573
Bump Sixty's Spring Group Buy.

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?13312-MO-Geekhack-Spring-50g-ORDERS-ONLY

But I always thought the goal of "smoother springs" was a dead end.  Just make a 70g spring.  See Hooke's Law - one of my TILs.

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?22025-TIL-%28Today-I-Learned%29-Ripster-Trivia-Of-The-Day&p=451816&viewfull=1#post451816


Good ideas and all but some of us are totally stupid with tools so duno I'd be brave enough to do this on my blacks board.
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Offline Human

  • Posts: 596
How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #14 on: Fri, 30 December 2011, 02:15:09 »
Quote from: flaming_june;480074
Good ideas and all but some of us are totally stupid with tools so duno I'd be brave enough to do this on my blacks board.


Stupid with tools?

Go and learn from wiki.
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Offline Kaldius

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How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #15 on: Fri, 30 December 2011, 03:58:38 »
I know how to solder but what I'm worried about is the small delicate parts I would be dealing with I'm good at breaking small things.
That professional guy from the guide even said he broke a bunch of connectors so I wonder how big of a chance do I have of breaking my board trying to unsolder and re-solder every single switch?
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Offline tukkez

  • Posts: 52
How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #16 on: Fri, 30 December 2011, 04:14:24 »
leopold tkl with reds for 89$ @elitekeyboards
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Offline Kaldius

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How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #17 on: Fri, 30 December 2011, 05:45:23 »
Quote from: tukkez;480095
leopold tkl with reds for 89$ @elitekeyboards


Damn wish I knew about that site before those keyboards look awesome, too bad I think I lost my receipt for the keyboard so I might be stuck with it.  If I do decide to solder them off to change the springs can I just somehow cut down the current springs to make them lighter or would that screw them up?
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Offline Human

  • Posts: 596
How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #18 on: Fri, 30 December 2011, 06:08:10 »
Quote from: Kaldius;480106
Damn wish I knew about that site before those keyboards look awesome, too bad I think I lost my receipt for the keyboard so I might be stuck with it.  If I do decide to solder them off to change the springs can I just somehow cut down the current springs to make them lighter or would that screw them up?

Not very pratical as the spring for cherry black already shorter than other. You need to cut them off consistently for all 104 switch and then extend/pull them consistently to a longer length for all 104 springs. Look at the structure of the spring and you will know clearer why you should not do so.


I don't believe you can make it.

In short, don't ever try it. Better use the time to earn more money and buy new springs/switches/boards.
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Offline flaming_june

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How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #19 on: Fri, 30 December 2011, 06:42:32 »
Quote from: Human;480076
Stupid with tools?
Show Image

Go and learn from wiki.

reading something is totally different than having the hand skills learned from practice.
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Offline Kaldius

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How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #20 on: Fri, 30 December 2011, 07:12:14 »
Well at least I've learned something about keyboards now and I know where to order the good ones from when I buy a new one in about 10 years I'll get it from elitekeyboards.  So there is really nothing I can do at all that you guys can think of to make them a bit lighter to press?
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Offline Human

  • Posts: 596
How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #21 on: Fri, 30 December 2011, 07:22:17 »
Quote from: flaming_june;480117
reading something is totally different than having the hand skills learned from practice.


Have knowledge no skills > no knowledge no skills

True story
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Offline Human

  • Posts: 596
How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #22 on: Fri, 30 December 2011, 07:23:14 »
Quote from: Kaldius;480126
Well at least I've learned something about keyboards now and I know where to order the good ones from when I buy a new one in about 10 years I'll get it from elitekeyboards.  So there is really nothing I can do at all that you guys can think of to make them a bit lighter to press?


Buying metal keycaps or make your own concrete keycaps which weight far more than the original plastic.
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Offline Kaldius

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How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #23 on: Fri, 30 December 2011, 08:28:32 »
One more question if I were to decide to use the solder method where can I buy lighter springs for under $20 or so? The person in the link posted before doesn't appear to be selling those anymore.
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Offline TheProfosist

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How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #24 on: Sat, 31 December 2011, 05:28:43 »
I could do the mod for you if you were able to get the springs. I was just thinking of starfting up a service to do this.
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Offline Kaldius

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How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #25 on: Sat, 31 December 2011, 09:51:51 »
I think I'm going to sell the keyboard on Craigslist at a loss and order a Leopold keyboard.  Is there a special place I can sell my keyboard where people will appreciate it more being like new and paying close to the retail?
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Offline Human

  • Posts: 596
How to reduce actuation force on blacks?
« Reply #26 on: Sat, 31 December 2011, 10:08:37 »
Quote from: Kaldius;480951
I think I'm going to sell the keyboard on Craigslist at a loss and order a Leopold keyboard.  Is there a special place I can sell my keyboard where people will appreciate it more being like new and paying close to the retail?

Definitely not in GH. In GH, FILCO first, others meh, especially "gaming" keyboard.

BTW, the cheapest new TT Meka i can found is around 90$. You can try from 70$ then. If nobody offer over 50$, i suggest you better keep it for future use/mod. It is normal to have lots(more than 1) keyboards(in GH).
« Last Edit: Sat, 31 December 2011, 10:10:49 by Human »
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