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Author Topic: Futaba Switch Question - I cry when I need to refer to a wiki  (Read 6690 times)

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Offline fohat.digs

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Futaba Switch Question - I cry when I need to refer to a wiki
« on: Mon, 10 September 2012, 20:38:45 »
I got a keyboard at a junk store today for $2

It is a "PC Partners by Leading Technology, Inc" bigass Enter/long backspace layout, large DIN plug, with cool beige/gray doubleshots with purple legends!

The switches are Cherry-like and the caps are compatible, but the stems have a white cylinder around the (white) "+" part. They seem to have a nice click and I hope to try them out, but one key "L" looks like the switch was ripped halfway off the PCB. Too bad.

I would love to refer to the wiki to see if it is worth getting out the tools and soldering iron, and wasting an hour, or just harvesting the keys and tossing the board.

« Last Edit: Tue, 11 September 2012, 11:43:25 by fohat.digs »
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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 f/64

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Re: I cry when I need to refer to a wiki
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 10 September 2012, 21:09:19 »
Definitely cool caps, but it looks like a spring and membrane combination switch to me.

Edit:
Pretty much completely sure it's a Cherry cap compatible rubber dome. Caps might be worth something though; can't remember the last time I saw purple legends.
« Last Edit: Mon, 10 September 2012, 21:30:29 by f/64 »
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: I cry when I need to refer to a wiki
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 11 September 2012, 06:40:36 »
This is a clicky tactile mechanical keyboard.

It must be some sort of Cherry or variant. Each switch has its own body and they are soldered to the PCB. I am sure that R.I.P.ster probably noted them in one of his lost wikis. Deskthority's are pathetic in comparison, and the non-Cherry, non-Alps sections are all but non-existent.

The stabilizer wires fit into clips that have the same "+" socket that fit the stems - makes for a lot of parts and I may have trouble putting it back together. Glad I have a Moogle kit but it certainly won't match the purple legends if I use them somewhere else.

« Last Edit: Tue, 11 September 2012, 09:18:02 by fohat.digs »
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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 Icarium

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Re: I cry when I need to refer to a wiki
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 11 September 2012, 10:49:38 »
Looks like Futabas or whatever to me. I'm pretty sure they where in the switch try bag.

Edit: Yep,
feature=player_embedded#t=225s

Edit2: Actually on closer inspection they look a bit different. :D
« Last Edit: Tue, 11 September 2012, 10:52:41 by Icarium »
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: I cry when I need to refer to a wiki
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 11 September 2012, 11:42:11 »
Thank you very much. The bodies of mine to look larger than his, but perhaps he has large hands.

I have not had these switches before, I think that I could move enough around make it a useable board.

The dead keys are: I,  numpad 3, numpad 9, [{, =+, and Print Screen

Is it worth the time and effort?

PS - does anybody out there have any spare switches?
PPS - if I decide against the job, does anybody want to buy the board cheap for donor switches?
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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 f/64

  • Posts: 103
Re: Futaba Switch Question - I cry when I need to refer to a wiki
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 11 September 2012, 11:57:19 »
I thought Futabas were inverted Cherry stems basically?

Edit:
I still maintain it looks like
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34840.0
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Offline Magna224

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Re: Futaba Switch Question - I cry when I need to refer to a wiki
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 11 September 2012, 13:25:20 »
There are different forms of Futabas, Inverted and different colors and things.
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If you live in AZ you can try my keyboards. I usually keep plenty of different ALPS and MX and buckling springs.

Offline sth

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Re: Futaba Switch Question - I cry when I need to refer to a wiki
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 11 September 2012, 13:47:37 »
don't suppose you have any interest in letting go of those keycaps huh? :)
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Futaba Switch Question - I cry when I need to refer to a wiki
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 11 September 2012, 14:23:53 »
Quote from: sth on Tue, 11 September 2012, 13:47:37
don't suppose you have any interest in letting go of those keycaps huh? :)

They are REALLY nice caps.

Purple is so "special" ......

At this point I have about decided to transplant some switches around and try to get the board running.
My curiosity is great, and these are just the kind of switches I usually like.

However, if somebody made me an offer I couldn't refuse, I wouldn't refuse it.

And I would certainly be open to trading a set for a set, but it would have to be something good. (I like beige and have a white/gray Moogle kit from Hashbaz's group buy.)
« Last Edit: Tue, 11 September 2012, 17:51:06 by fohat.digs »
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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 Daniel Beardsmore

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Re: Futaba Switch Question - I cry when I need to refer to a wiki
« Reply #9 on: Wed, 12 September 2012, 17:42:05 »
Those two photos you used are from Ripster's Imgur stream – not sure how you found them, but he demonstrates that they're SMK.

The switch housing is virtually identical to the Monterey, which to me suggests that SMK did make they Monterey switch as originally speculated, but of course it's possible that the Monterey is an ALPS clone by some other manufacturer that simply rips off the SMK housing.
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Offline voightkampffme

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Re: Futaba Switch Question - I cry when I need to refer to a wiki
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 14 September 2012, 15:42:17 »
I might be interested in the keys.  What shape are they in?
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Offline 486

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Re: Futaba Switch Question - I cry when I need to refer to a wiki
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 14 September 2012, 17:14:05 »
I love Futaba switches. They have that unique feel. I have always wanted a Futaba board but you are in the US so postage is a pain.
I have been getting lucky with my gambles on vintage keyboards, most of them have been mechanical or doubleshot and that satisfies me. I hope I get a Futaba board soon.
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