Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[Pacifist]

ducky quality is defintly way better than keycool. But keycool is dirt cheap

[Vitaly]

Usually thick PBT is considered better.

Where I can buy thick keycaps? Tried to find but out of stock.

[Puddsy]

You wanna try and find IMSTO keycaps for thick PBT. Or anything cherry profile.

[Vitaly]

Thanks, sent message to IMSTO, maybe he have blank pbt in stock

[FrostyToast]

Where can I get some screws, nuts, and washers for a Model M bolt mod?

[jdcarpe]

Where can I get some screws, nuts, and washers for a Model M bolt mod?

McMaster-Carr or Fastenal. Here is the wiki article.

[CPTBadAss]

Where can I get some screws, nuts, and washers for a Model M bolt mod?

McMaster-Carr or Fastenal. Let me get you some part numbers...

For McMaster-Carr, check out this link.

Edit: Jinx on jdcarpe's ninja-edit!

[jdcarpe]

Where can I get some screws, nuts, and washers for a Model M bolt mod?

McMaster-Carr or Fastenal. Let me get you some part numbers...

For McMaster-Carr, check out this link.

Edit: Jinx on jdcarpe's ninja-edit!

Dat ninja edit...

[FrostyToast]

I ordered from McMaster a while back, however they said that they couldn't deliver to people unless they were a company or something along those lines.

[jdcarpe]

I ordered from McMaster a while back, however they said that they couldn't deliver to people unless they were a company or something along those lines.

I order from them all the time. You just use a credit card, and where it says Company on the shipping address, put your full name.

[Pacifist]

Is it possible to handmake traces in clear acrylic or other see through materials as a PCB?

[CPTBadAss]

Is it possible to handmake traces in clear acrylic or other see through materials as a PCB?

I don't see why not. It would be harder though since it's not conductive so your traces would have to be solid. You'd get this translucent PCB with little copper/metal traces in it. Could always do a simple test by taking one of those conductive pens, drawing on some plastic, then seeing if the multimeter would pick up a connection.

That being said, my forte is *not* in electronics or electrical engineering so YMMV.

[Smasher816]

Is it possible to handmake traces in clear acrylic or other see through materials as a PCB?

[minho]

Does anyone know if the KUL ES-87 PCB is backlighting compatible? Has anyone added backlighting to it before?

[Puddsy]

Does anyone know if the KUL ES-87 PCB is backlighting compatible? Has anyone added backlighting to it before?

IIRC it's not but I'll have to look again

[jdcarpe]

Does anyone know if the KUL ES-87 PCB is backlighting compatible? Has anyone added backlighting to it before?

IIRC it's not but I'll have to look again

Nope, it's not. But backlighting is for plebes anyway.

[Pacifist]

Can somebody identify the caps here?



Base is DE
Top row starts at 13-24, don't know from where
Numpad has blue legends, also don't know what
Looks like GMK for the RGB and the enter

[phoenix1234]

Can somebody identify the caps here?
Base is DE
Top row starts at 13-24, don't know from where
Numpad has blue legends, also don't know what
Looks like GMK for the RGB and the enter

Top row starts at 13-24, don't know from where => It should be from Cherry MX 2550 HPD
Numpad has blue legends, also don't know what => It should be from Olivertti German layout the same Cherry MX 2550 HPD, DE layout - Cherry Double Shot

[Eszett]

What acutally is the HID Liberation Device? Is it a product of some company? An industry standard? I don’t get it.

[Sifo]

What is an HID Liberation Device? A product from a company? A industry standard? I don’t get it.

It's a custom fully programmable controller designed by bpiphany for TKL Filcos.

[do_Og@n]

What acutally is the HID Liberation Device? Is it a product of some company? An industry standard? I don’t get it.

To answer your question further. http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40501.msg1244354;topicseen#msg1244354

[Eszett]

Ah, that answers my question, thanks!

[cphead]

What's the best way to fix a busted trace on a pcb? As far as I can tell there's just a tiny exposed piece of copper, but the LEDs it connects to don't light up.

[Sifo]

What's the best way to fix a busted trace on a pcb? As far as I can tell there's just a tiny exposed piece of copper, but the LEDs it connects to don't light up.

Personally I would just grab a small wire and follow the trace to another spot and light up the led that way. Or you could try a conductive writing pen.

[cphead]

What's the best way to fix a busted trace on a pcb? As far as I can tell there's just a tiny exposed piece of copper, but the LEDs it connects to don't light up.

Personally I would just grab a small wire and follow the trace to another spot and light up the led that way. Or you could try a conductive writing pen.

Will try the pen. Thanks for advice, based legit-baller.

[Pacifist]

Is this paracord good for making cables? I need to replace my broken one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/550-Paracord-Mil-Spec-Type-III-7-strand-parachute-cord-25ft-50ft-100-ft-/380718097522?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item58a4912472

[swill]

Is this paracord good for making cables? I need to replace my broken one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/550-Paracord-Mil-Spec-Type-III-7-strand-parachute-cord-25ft-50ft-100-ft-/380718097522?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item58a4912472

It may depend on the size of the cable.  I am using 28/24 cables (24 gauge power and 28 gauge data) and I don't think paracord will fit over it.  I know that paracord is often very tight.

I have been using this and I am very pleased with the results.  It is plastic though, not paracord...

[nubbinator]

It may depend on the size of the cable.  I am using 28/24 cables (24 gauge power and 28 gauge data) and I don't think paracord will fit over it.  I know that paracord is often very tight.

I have been using this and I am very pleased with the results.  It is plastic though, not paracord...

 That stuff isn't bad, but it's worth spending a little more on some Bitspower, Kobra HD, or MDPC.

[swill]

It may depend on the size of the cable.  I am using 28/24 cables (24 gauge power and 28 gauge data) and I don't think paracord will fit over it.  I know that paracord is often very tight.

I have been using this and I am very pleased with the results.  It is plastic though, not paracord...

 That stuff isn't bad, but it's worth spending a little more on some Bitspower, Kobra HD, or MDPC.

I found MDPC to be substantially more expensive. I am sure it is nicer. The stuff I linked is closer to the price point of paracord, but is a nice middle ground between the two. I will look into the others you linked (not that I need it, I have more of that stuff than I can use).

Thanks for the additional details.   

[Jalberstone]

Would the function keys on a realforce tkl board have any use on a mac?

[CPTBadAss]

Would the function keys on a realforce tkl board have any use on a mac?

Do you personally use function keys on your Mac? Hard to make blanket statements when we don't know what you're using when you're on your Mac.

For example, I have to have a numberpad and function keys for my work keyboard so I have to have a full size or 1800 layout. This is due to the software I use at work.

[Jalberstone]

On my mac I just use what is there, like the brightness and volume controls. Will those work on the Realforce? Otherwise what would the function keys do or is there a way to program them to do something?

[MJ45]

On my mac I just use what is there, like the brightness and volume controls. Will those work on the Realforce? Otherwise what would the function keys do or is there a way to program them to do something?

With KeyRemap4MacBook you could make the function keys do anything you want. In the system preferences you can set function keys also.

[Pacifist]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bare-Conductive-Electric-Paint-Pen-10ml-PCB-Repair-Electrical-Circuits-/111388550151?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ef466407

is this good for making traces on a clear surface?

[CPTBadAss]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bare-Conductive-Electric-Paint-Pen-10ml-PCB-Repair-Electrical-Circuits-/111388550151?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ef466407

is this good for making traces on a clear surface?

That's what I suggested using in the earlier post. However, the video that Smasher816 found was using copper wire. Buy both and see what happens?

On my mac I just use what is there, like the brightness and volume controls. Will those work on the Realforce? Otherwise what would the function keys do or is there a way to program them to do something?

Don't see why it wouldn't but I'm not a Mac or Topre user. But MJ45 seems to have a good point.

[swill]

On my mac I just use what is there, like the brightness and volume controls. Will those work on the Realforce? Otherwise what would the function keys do or is there a way to program them to do something?

With KeyRemap4MacBook you could make the function keys do anything you want. In the system preferences you can set function keys also.

This is what I do. I use my F keys as volume, brightness, etc.

[swill]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bare-Conductive-Electric-Paint-Pen-10ml-PCB-Repair-Electrical-Circuits-/111388550151?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ef466407

is this good for making traces on a clear surface?

I am getting a 500 error with that link on my phone. Is the -/ correct? That does not look like a correct url.

[CPTBadAss]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bare-Conductive-Electric-Paint-Pen-10ml-PCB-Repair-Electrical-Circuits-/111388550151?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ef466407

is this good for making traces on a clear surface?

I am getting a 500 error with that link on my phone. Is the -/ correct? That does not look like a correct url.

URL Is working fine for me.

[swill]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bare-Conductive-Electric-Paint-Pen-10ml-PCB-Repair-Electrical-Circuits-/111388550151?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ef466407

is this good for making traces on a clear surface?

I am getting a 500 error with that link on my phone. Is the -/ correct? That does not look like a correct url.

URL Is working fine for me.

Sorry, my bad.  It works fine on the computer...  Wasn't working on my phone for some reason.

[Melvang]

If I remember correct mkawa (someone at least) tried using them for tweaking traces on a Model M membrane and found the resistance of it to be to high to use for more than just fixing cracked/broken traces.

[intelli78]

Sorry, my bad.  It works fine on the computer...  Wasn't working on my phone for some reason.

Do you have an ad-blocking hosts file on your phone? I sometimes have problems with Tapatalk and other links, and i suspect that is the cause.

[swill]

Sorry, my bad.  It works fine on the computer...  Wasn't working on my phone for some reason.

Do you have an ad-blocking hosts file on your phone? I sometimes have problems with Tapatalk and other links, and i suspect that is the cause.

no, i think it has something to do with where the url wrapped and I think only part of the url was followed.  not entirely sure, but thats my hunch...

[nukec]

Still looking for KBC or Ducky Blank Black PBT keycaps, anyone sees anything in stock anywhere?

60% alu plate anywhere in stock?

[BlueBär]

Still looking for KBC or Ducky Blank Black PBT keycaps, anyone sees anything in stock anywhere?

60% alu plate anywhere in stock?

Ducky Nordic on Deskthority has some blank black sets in stock.

Imsto seems to be out of stock for plates but GON still has some: http://www.gonskeyboardworks.com/accessaries/17-universal-frameplate-for-60.html

[CPTBadAss]

60% alu plate anywhere in stock?

Does it have to be aluminum? I think Imsto has some stainless steel plates as well. But I'm not sure I've seen many aluminum 60% plates.

Edit: I can't read. See BlueBar's post above about Imsto's stock

[infiniti]

60% alu plate anywhere in stock?

Does it have to be aluminum? I think Imsto has some stainless steel plates as well. But I'm not sure I've seen many aluminum 60% plates.

GON sells a Universal Frame/Plate for 60%:
http://www.gonskeyboardworks.com/accessaries/17-universal-frameplate-for-60.html

[Kblavkalash]

I just received my new white PBT keycaps, but space key is bent as you can see in the pic. For using it works perfectly, but still would be nice to have it straight, I wonder is it possible to straighten it somehow or not really?

[Sifo]

I just received my new white PBT keycaps, but space key is bent as you can see in the pic. For using it works perfectly, but still would be nice to have it straight, I wonder is it possible to straighten it somehow or not really?

Show Image

Get a hair dryer and warm it up a bit, then put something heavy on top of it (make sure to distribute weight evenly). PBT warps easily

[Puddsy]

you can ensure even weight distribution with a flat object, like a few books

[Kblavkalash]

Thanks guys!