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Author Topic: Buckling Springs usage of overtime  (Read 1822 times)

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Offline AKIMbO

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Buckling Springs usage of overtime
« on: Fri, 27 July 2012, 19:59:28 »
I should preface my question with several facts:

-I own 3 capacitive buckling spring keyboards (2 F ATs & 1 F XT).
-1 of my F AT keyboards seems to have very stiff springs compared to the other F AT (and especially so compared to the XT)
-Visual inspection of the springs on the stiffer AT reveals that they are in the same shape as the springs on the other AT & the XT

My question is whether buckling springs become lighter with extended use....months, years, etc? I googled around but couldn't find a proper answer.  Any insight would be much appreciated.



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Offline mkawa

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Re: Buckling Springs usage of overtime
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 27 July 2012, 22:37:57 »
i would expect that they would. over time, metal fatigue decreases spring rate of coil springs
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Offline 486

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Re: Buckling Springs usage of overtime
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 28 July 2012, 06:42:06 »
Quote from: mkawa on Fri, 27 July 2012, 22:37:57
i would expect that they would. over time, metal fatigue decreases spring rate of coil springs
+1
If you haven't changed where each spring was originally, this might work. Try the "E" key. This is the most used key on a keyboard. Then try the "Q" key on the same board. If you feel a difference then it is the spring.
« Last Edit: Sat, 28 July 2012, 06:44:17 by 486 »
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Offline AKIMbO

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Re: Buckling Springs usage of overtime
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 28 July 2012, 06:47:56 »
Quote from: 486 on Sat, 28 July 2012, 06:42:06
If you haven't changed where each spring was originally, this might work. Try the "E" key. This is the most used key on a keyboard. Then try the "Q" key on the same board. If you feel a difference then it is the spring.

Damn, I did change the springs locations when I refurbished the board.  Ripped it apart to clean it and paint the barrel plate.  Perhaps the stiffer AT was never used as much as the other 2 keyboards.
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Offline 486

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Re: Buckling Springs usage of overtime
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 28 July 2012, 06:54:22 »
I did it before I took my F AT apart for cleaning and felt a difference, I RipOmetered to test it and it was about 3g less.
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Offline AKIMbO

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Re: Buckling Springs usage of overtime
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 28 July 2012, 06:55:22 »
^Thanks...I appreciate the insight. 
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Buckling Springs usage of overtime
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 28 July 2012, 10:03:04 »
On a few of my bolt mods I have segregated out, in thirds, what I guessed were the "most-used" then "least-used" springs and then the others.

I put them back opposite, more or less, ensuring that Enter, Spacebar, Delete, etc, got the freshest springs.

A couple of times, some mistake forced me to take the whole thing apart again and I lost the fruits of my efforts on the 2nd iteration.

All-in-all, I am not sure that I have felt much difference. I have a jar of spare springs, so I do visually inspect each one that I use and discard any that look "off" or have visual damage.
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