Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[frosty]

can cherry pcb mounts and a ansi 125 plate fit this pcb?

[BlueBär]

can cherry pcb mounts and a ansi 125 plate fit this pcb?

Show Image

You will have to cut off the extra support legs PCB mount switches have:



As for the plate it should fit but you should ask the seller or GB organizer (idk where you will get it from) if it does just to be sure.

[frosty]

can cherry pcb mounts and a ansi 125 plate fit this pcb?

Show Image

You will have to cut off the extra support legs PCB mount switches have:

Show Image

As for the plate it should fit but you should ask the seller or GB organizer (idk where you will get it from) if it does just to be sure.

there's an ic of phantom plate r2 going on, probably hoping onto it. my bad, i meant will Cherry STABS pcb mount fit on this?

[SpAmRaY]

can cherry pcb mounts and a ansi 125 plate fit this pcb?

Show Image

You will have to cut off the extra support legs PCB mount switches have:

Show Image

As for the plate it should fit but you should ask the seller or GB organizer (idk where you will get it from) if it does just to be sure.

there's an ic of phantom plate r2 going on, probably hoping onto it. my bad, i meant will Cherry STABS pcb mount fit on this?

No the phantom does not support PCB mount stabilizers, only plate mount.

[HipsterPunks]

Since leopold makes both the fc660c and mx keypads, does anyone think there is a chance they will make a topre keypad? One can dream...

[CPTBadAss]

Since leopold makes both the fc660c and mx keypads, does anyone think there is a chance they will make a topre keypad? One can dream...

I haven't heard anything like that but you never know.

[ajx]

i love this thread since there are billion of similar questions posted every day on main section 
I have question for TKL/60 users, what format do you prefer?
I would switch 60 to TKL but want to ear each opinion
PROS and CONS for each format

[BlueBär]

i love this thread since there are billion of similar questions posted every day on main section 
I have question for TKL/60 users, what format do you prefer?
I would switch 60 to TKL but want to ear each opinion
PROS and CONS for each format

TKL is better if you use the arrow keys and navigation keys often. 60% is better for portability and more desk space. If you don't like FN layers go TKL.

[whentheclouds]

don't forget you're also sacrificing the function row if you go 60%. personally i find 75% keyboards the best of both worlds, but if i had to choose between the two i'd opt for TKL because i assign many program shortcuts to the arrow and navigation keys

[BlueBär]

don't forget you're also sacrificing the function row if you go 60%. personally i find 75% keyboards the best of both worlds, but if i had to choose between the two i'd opt for TKL because i assign many program shortcuts to the arrow and navigation keys

75% have the issue that it's usually hard to find replacement keycaps for them.

[ajx]

No issue for me, i always use stock keycaps lol

[BlueBär]

No issue for me, i always use stock keycaps lol

You're missing out.

[Dubsgalore]

No issue for me, i always use stock keycaps lol

You're missing out.

remember the best 'stock keycaps' are from cherry boards

[swill]

don't forget you're also sacrificing the function row if you go 60%. personally i find 75% keyboards the best of both worlds, but if i had to choose between the two i'd opt for TKL because i assign many program shortcuts to the arrow and navigation keys

I tried the pure (short right shift) layout and I cant handle not having dedicated arrow keys (im a full-time developer). I am building a 75% now and I expect that to be perfect for me.

I use a FC660C at work and it is an awesome board. That 60% layout I can get behind.

[swill]

don't forget you're also sacrificing the function row if you go 60%. personally i find 75% keyboards the best of both worlds, but if i had to choose between the two i'd opt for TKL because i assign many program shortcuts to the arrow and navigation keys

75% have the issue that it's usually hard to find replacement keycaps for them.

Luckily most of the recent SA profile sets can be made to work well with the 75% layout.

[sakai4eva]

TKL user here. For most of my typing, I can live with a 60% keyboard. Problem starts when I wanna do intensive work in Excel, because I'd miss F2 and the nav cluster (Ins-PgDn as well as the arrow keys). When I game, I've assigned quite a lot of buttons to function keys also, so there's that as well.

[hwood34]

Any idea what this is?(from a chicony)

[nubbinator]

(Attachment Link)
Any idea what this is?(from a chicony)

Mitsumi switch

[hwood34]

(Attachment Link)
Any idea what this is?(from a chicony)

Mitsumi switch

aha

[Tanker1]

What's a good keyboard to start  into mechanical keybpard?
My requirements are:
- German layout
- Black / Red Switches
- TKL
- Standard keycaps that can be changed
Thanks

[BlueBär]

What's a good keyboard to start  into mechanical keybpard?
My requirements are:
- German layout
- Black / Red Switches
- TKL
- Standard keycaps that can be changed
Thanks

A good keyboard to start with that isn't too expensive is the CM Storm Quickfire Rapid. You can get it with blacks on Caseking.de or Amazon.de.
Quality wise the QFR is decent but if you want to mod it later on or if you want a backlit keyboard you should go for a Ducky which you can get on Caseking.de or Getdigital.de.

[heedpantsnow]

Which is currently the best (quality, detail) Iron Man keycap?  Classifieds?  Keypop?  Ebay?

[CPTBadAss]

Which is currently the best (quality, detail) Iron Man keycap?  Classifieds?  Keypop?  Ebay?

Are you asking where to get the "best" Iron Man keycap or which one I prefer? I'm partial to the GirlDC Iron Man keycap. Keypop's isn't bad though. I think the ones from Keypop are made by cinn.

[BlueBär]

Which is currently the best (quality, detail) Iron Man keycap?  Classifieds?  Keypop?  Ebay?

It's aways hard to compare novelty/artisan keycaps like this. They're all slightly different, so I would just pick the one that I would think looks best. Apart from that, GirlDC made some and I think you can't go wrong with that.

[heedpantsnow]

thanks, that's what i wanted to know

[Razor Lotus]

I'm having a bit of problems with my pure.

I'm using MX red and a pure with DSA right now and recently, I think as of last week or 2 weeks ago, I realise that sometimes when I type, certain letters appear twice even though I've only pressed them once. Also, I'm fairly confident this isn't an issue with me cause this only popped up 1-2 weeks ago even though I'm pretty sure nothing has changed with my typing.

Can anyone have any advice on what's happening? I'll give you a sample of what it looks like:

The qquick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
The quick browwn fox juumps over the lazy dog
The quick brown fox jumps over thhe lazy dog

As far as I know it's sorta random, like it doesn't happen to specific keys only and neither is there a pattern where I can guess which key will have it next.

[hwood34]

What's the general consensus on the feel of black alps?

[fohat.digs]

What's the general consensus on the feel of black alps?

The general consensus is that they are bad, but they can be very nice, very close to salmon/pink/orange in feel.

For whatever reasons, an unusually large number of them have aged badly, and since there are millions of 1990s vintage old Dell AT101(W)s in circulation, many people have experienced them in an unfortunate setting.

[CPTBadAss]

What's the general consensus on the feel of black alps?

If you can find a good set of Black Alps, they feel very very tactile. Almost crunchy. Fairly heavy as well. I have two AT101Ws which have switches in good condition and I like how they feel.

I'm having a bit of problems with my pure.

Can anyone have any advice on what's happening? I'll give you a sample of what it looks like:

The qquick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
The quick browwn fox juumps over the lazy dog
The quick brown fox jumps over thhe lazy dog

As far as I know it's sorta random, like it doesn't happen to specific keys only and neither is there a pattern where I can guess which key will have it next.

It's chattering. Try adding a piece of drawer liner or foam between your PCB and case. Mine did the same thing and it was solved after I did this.

[hwood34]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALPS-CL-18802-BELGIAN-KEYBOARD-AEI-001-5080-/350441091456?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item5197eab180
Any idea what's in there?

[awong]

• Where is a template for making my own keycap/keyboard layouts? (This gets asked in the IRC probably weekly)

Matt30 made this Color Generator application that allows you to pick color combos. For a blank layout of a keyboard, to color in, you can check out Kaporkle's thread. Next, ne0phyte has a layout generator here and here. Finally, ijprest has this wonderful Keyboard Layout Generator with the proper SP and GMK color chip callouts. The SP ABS Color Codes can be found in Krogenar's thread.
 

• What caps are better? PBT? ABS? Thick? Thin? Up to FAQ

which is better? thick pbt or abs gmk?

That's like asking which is better, Ferrari or Lamborghini?
 
They're both awesome.

It’s all personal preference. Answer also works for “What is the best switch”?

What does GMK stand for?

Mod Edit: Please don't quote the entire OP.   )

[hwood34]

What does GMK stand for?

Not sure what exactly it stands for, but this is the company: http://www.gmk-electronic-design.de/

[Photekq]

Did you need to quote the entire OP? )

Answer to your question can be found here : http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=50532.0

[rowdy]

What does GMK stand for?

Not sure what exactly it stands for, but this is the company: http://www.gmk-electronic-design.de/

The founders are Manfred Güntner and Wolfgang Kredler, might have something to do with their initials?

[nubbinator]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALPS-CL-18802-BELGIAN-KEYBOARD-AEI-001-5080-/350441091456?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item5197eab180
Any idea what's in there?

I believe it's Alps compatible caps over rubber dome or Alps rubber dome, but don't quote me on that.  When in doubt, hope and pray they're willing to pop a cap.

[ajx]

I would buy a TKL with white Leds but which one seems to be fit to my needs (simple design, solid build, great finishing touch...)

Code keyboard, MX-Clear

Ducky Shine 3, MX-Red

anything else than those keyboards?

[Melvang]

If you can desolder/solder stuff, I would just get the board with the switches you want and swap out the LED's.  If you find one with the LEDs but different switches you will spend much more getting the switches you want than the LED's on top of doing double the soldering, as the LED's have to be removed before you can remove the switch to swap out internals.

[JaccoW]

I would buy a TKL with white Leds but which one seems to be fit to my needs (simple design, solid build, great finishing touch...)

Code keyboard, MX-Clear

Ducky Shine 3, MX-Red

anything else than those keyboards?

Déck Francium?
Probably the highest quality caps (doubleshot pbt) but you have to get used to the font. It actually gives it it's unique charm.

[Sifo]

• Where is a template for making my own keycap/keyboard layouts? (This gets asked in the IRC probably weekly)

Matt30 made this Color Generator application that allows you to pick color combos. For a blank layout of a keyboard, to color in, you can check out Kaporkle's thread. Next, ne0phyte has a layout generator here and here. Finally, ijprest has this wonderful Keyboard Layout Generator with the proper SP and GMK color chip callouts. The SP ABS Color Codes can be found in Krogenar's thread.
 

• What caps are better? PBT? ABS? Thick? Thin? Up to FAQ

which is better? thick pbt or abs gmk?

That's like asking which is better, Ferrari or Lamborghini?
 
They're both awesome.

It’s all personal preference. Answer also works for “What is the best switch”?

What does GMK stand for?

Mod Edit: Please don't quote the entire OP.   )

But dudes his name is awong... and he just quoted A. Wong...

[jdcarpe]

• Where is a template for making my own keycap/keyboard layouts? (This gets asked in the IRC probably weekly)

Matt30 made this Color Generator application that allows you to pick color combos. For a blank layout of a keyboard, to color in, you can check out Kaporkle's thread. Next, ne0phyte has a layout generator here and here. Finally, ijprest has this wonderful Keyboard Layout Generator with the proper SP and GMK color chip callouts. The SP ABS Color Codes can be found in Krogenar's thread.
 

• What caps are better? PBT? ABS? Thick? Thin? Up to FAQ

which is better? thick pbt or abs gmk?

That's like asking which is better, Ferrari or Lamborghini?
 
They're both awesome.

It’s all personal preference. Answer also works for “What is the best switch”?

What does GMK stand for?

Mod Edit: Please don't quote the entire OP.   )

But dudes his name is awong... and he just quoted A. Wong...

But luckily he didn't quote West Coast A. Wong.

[Vitaly]

Why people buy several spacebars with sets? They eat them or custom keycaps fragile? (I had cheap keyboards at home and work and they  not broken  down on small parts after several years)

[jdcarpe]

Why people buy several spacebars with sets? They eat them or custom keycaps fragile? (I had cheap keyboards at home and work and they  not broken  down on small parts after several years)

Ooh, ooh, I know this one.

Because the spacebar gets shiny first.

[Puddsy]

Why people buy several spacebars with sets? They eat them or custom keycaps fragile? (I had cheap keyboards at home and work and they  not broken  down on small parts after several years)

do you mean like several sizes?

and yeah the spacebar gets shiny first

[ComradeSniper]

What LED do I need for use in a yellow/green alps switch?

[CPTBadAss]

What LED do I need for use in a yellow/green alps switch?

Hm, it needs to be square for sure but I'm not 100% sure on the measurement. Like a 2x3x4 or whatever.

I did measure the opening though. It's .290 inches or .7366 cm wide. The depth from the top of the switch casing to the bottom of the LED slot is .255 inches or .6477 cm.

Edit: Upon further testing, it does seem like a 2x3x4 LED switch does fit into the slot.

[ComradeSniper]

What LED do I need for use in a yellow/green alps switch?

Hm, it needs to be square for sure but I'm not 100% sure on the measurement. Like a 2x3x4 or whatever.

I did measure the opening though. It's .290 inches or .7366 cm wide. The depth from the top of the switch casing to the bottom of the LED slot is .255 inches or .6477 cm.

Edit: Upon further testing, it does seem like a 2x3x4 LED switch does fit into the slot.

Great, thanks.

[sakai4eva]

Which teensy 2.0 (or 2.0++) compatible custom keyboard firmware is LED-compatible? Looking for (at least) pulse mode and variable brightness.

[noisyturtle]

Artisan cap makers: would it be possible to make a liquid-filled cap?

[nubbinator]

Artisan cap makers: would it be possible to make a liquid-filled cap?

No.  Resins either react catastrophically to water (see this thread) or won't react properly if water is present.  It would be too dangerous to try with any hot casting methods for metal and can cause problems with plastic.  The only feasible way I see of doing it would be filling a bath oil bead capsule with a liquid.

That said, why would you want liquid in a cap?

[noisyturtle]

Artisan cap makers: would it be possible to make a liquid-filled cap?

No.  Resins either react catastrophically to water (see this thread) or won't react properly if water is present.  It would be too dangerous to try with any hot casting methods for metal and can cause problems with plastic.  The only feasible way I see of doing it would be filling a bath oil bead capsule with a liquid.

That said, why would you want liquid in a cap?

Like a special GID liquid or mercury or just to watch it slosh around when I press it and make pretty light ripples through LEDs