Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[CPTBadAss]

I got 3 Topre switch testers and the keycaps confused me. The keycap from Type Heaven is supposedly ABS and the other two from Realforce are PBT. The Type Heaven keycap has a nice texture and feels dry(not slippery). It feels very similar to my Vortex PBT caps. On the other hand, the Realforce caps are quite slippery, even more slippery than my ABS caps. Why is this?

Different plastic?
No I mean different factory? Cause they must have a different finishing?

I don't have other Topre caps, but the two I have are different (one white one black). I thought PBT in general has a dry texture that is somewhat resilient to sweat, but these two does not feel that way. Is my impression on PBT wrong?

Different method leads to different feeling. BSP have smooth texture and ducky caps have a dry texture. Topre caps all have a smooth texture but the black caps have a rougher texture

In addition to this, remember that ABS and PBT still encompasses a lot of formulations which can affect how the plastics feel. As well as the finishes such as a coating or UV printing.

So I put one of my customs together again today (had to take it apart because I'm a klutz and wired the Teensy in backwards). One of the keys doesn't register when pressed down normally, but when I put the keyboard on the table upside down it spams the key. Swapping out the spring + stem hasn't helped and the solder connections seem fine. Shorting the switch by putting a wire across both legs doesn't help either, so I'm thinking I'll have to swap out the whole leaf or switch. Am I missing something obvious?

I think you should just swap out the switch like you suggested.

[apolotary]

Scratched a PCB, I think I damaged a few tracks. What are the usual symptoms of a scratched track? So far my problem is a couple of chattering keys and a couple of other keys are not working at all. Wondering how I can fix that...

[Blaise170]

Scratched a PCB, I think I damaged a few tracks. What are the usual symptoms of a scratched track? So far my problem is a couple of chattering keys and a couple of other keys are not working at all. Wondering how I can fix that...

Hard wiring is the best way but you might be able to use silver ink depending on the damage.

[Steezus]

Scratched a PCB, I think I damaged a few tracks. What are the usual symptoms of a scratched track? So far my problem is a couple of chattering keys and a couple of other keys are not working at all. Wondering how I can fix that...

The broken trace would not cause chattering issues, that is another problem. The switches not working howevet could be cause by it. If it's just a tiny scratch you could see if you can add a little solder to reconnect the trace or wire it.

[apolotary]

Scratched a PCB, I think I damaged a few tracks. What are the usual symptoms of a scratched track? So far my problem is a couple of chattering keys and a couple of other keys are not working at all. Wondering how I can fix that...

The broken trace would not cause chattering issues, that is another problem. The switches not working howevet could be cause by it. If it's just a tiny scratch you could see if you can add a little solder to reconnect the trace or wire it.

Scratched a PCB, I think I damaged a few tracks. What are the usual symptoms of a scratched track? So far my problem is a couple of chattering keys and a couple of other keys are not working at all. Wondering how I can fix that...

Hard wiring is the best way but you might be able to use silver ink depending on the damage.

Turns out I broke a diode off the Enter key and rewiring it to a key nearby was a stupid idea that caused chattering. Will put the diode back when I get a replacement and see how it goes!

[thatllbeme]

So I put one of my customs together again today (had to take it apart because I'm a klutz and wired the Teensy in backwards). One of the keys doesn't register when pressed down normally, but when I put the keyboard on the table upside down it spams the key. Swapping out the spring + stem hasn't helped and the solder connections seem fine. Shorting the switch by putting a wire across both legs doesn't help either, so I'm thinking I'll have to swap out the whole leaf or switch. Am I missing something obvious?

I think you should just swap out the switch like you suggested.
[/quote]

Thanks for the suggestion! I swapped it out for two different switches, and it hasn't helped. Now I'm thinking it might be a short somewhere, so I'm going to go over my wiring and insulate everything.

[Zedd]

hello,
is there any physical difference between cherry mx red and black stems? i was wondering since they are both linear switches, using the same spring weights on a red and black stem would be exactly the same switches.

[CPTBadAss]

hello,
is there any physical difference between cherry mx red and black stems? i was wondering since they are both linear switches, using the same spring weights on a red and black stem would be exactly the same switches.

The stems are the same.

[piemancoder]

hello,
is there any physical difference between cherry mx red and black stems? i was wondering since they are both linear switches, using the same spring weights on a red and black stem would be exactly the same switches.

Just different colors.

[pr0ximity]

How difficult is it to pull firmware off of an existing custom? I'm hoping to be able to extract the current firmware from my 356 Mini and reload it in the event that I brick it trying to load new firmware on it. Is that a reasonable goal?

EDIT: I think I've figured out how to download the firmware with AVRDude and an AVR ISP, so I'll have to get one of those. The ISP hookups on the PCB do not have pins soldered in, is there a good way to securely hookup an AVR ISP to it without soldering them on? These look cool, but they're discontinued: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/retired/10527

[hasu]

EDIT: I think I've figured out how to download the firmware with AVRDude and an AVR ISP, so I'll have to get one of those. The ISP hookups on the PCB do not have pins soldered in, is there a good way to securely hookup an AVR ISP to it without soldering them on? These look cool, but they're discontinued: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/retired/10527

I would just push normal headers on a slant with hand to make contact while downloading. In fact I did that with 2x3 header some ago.

[Bucake]

anyone know if material similar to the silencing rings found in the type-s versions of Topre keyboards is available anywhere?
i'm hoping to obtain a few sheets of something like that material, so i can freely cut and apply it myself.
important is that it's thin

[hasu]

a kind of PORON, maybe. I think hypersphere uses it at least.

[Bucake]

thanks for the reply hasu, i'll check it out.

[Quackles]

Is there a big difference between Krytox thick lube from Techkeys and Mech Lube 2 from Elitekeyboards?

This is for my Realforce.

[SpAmRaY]

Is there a big difference between Krytox thick lube from Techkeys and Mech Lube 2 from Elitekeyboards?

This is for my Realforce.

Simple answer is get the krytox.

[Quackles]

Is there a big difference between Krytox thick lube from Techkeys and Mech Lube 2 from Elitekeyboards?

This is for my Realforce.

Simple answer is get the krytox.

Damn it! Means I have to be patient for my Krytox to arrive from xondat. But I guess it will be worth it in the end.

Thank you.

[infiniti]

What keycaps are those on the KMAC?

Gateron pbt? I see that bro use this on his dge too IIRC
Or imsto

The gats come in 4 shades right? I want the shade that's lighter than this but I might be wrong.

Yep, from left to right: Dark Gray, Light Gray, Beige, White.  There's also "Ghost White" that is not in the photo.

[xondat]

What's the minimum amount I need for a WKL PCB? Also how long from order to shipping for it?

[ideus]

What's the minimum amount I need for a WKL PCB? Also how long from order to shipping for it?

Check current prices and availability at winkeyless, gon and mechanicalkeyboards. There is a cheap phantom under $40, now.

[xondat]

What's the minimum amount I need for a WKL PCB? Also how long from order to shipping for it?

Check current prices and availability at winkeyless, gon and mechanicalkeyboards. There is a cheap phantom under $40, now.

Sorry, I meant what options do I need to have a working PCB from WKL.

[swimmingbird]

What's the minimum amount I need for a WKL PCB? Also how long from order to shipping for it?

Check current prices and availability at winkeyless, gon and mechanicalkeyboards. There is a cheap phantom under $40, now.

Sorry, I meant what options do I need to have a working PCB from WKL.

pcb's come with the controller components presoldered leaving you to solder diodes and resistors if you plan to use any lighting on the board

[xondat]

What's the minimum amount I need for a WKL PCB? Also how long from order to shipping for it?

Check current prices and availability at winkeyless, gon and mechanicalkeyboards. There is a cheap phantom under $40, now.

Sorry, I meant what options do I need to have a working PCB from WKL.

pcb's come with the controller components presoldered leaving you to solder diodes and resistors if you plan to use any lighting on the board

So with these options all I need to do is solder the switches in?

Also how long does order placed to shipping take? It says 7-10 days but want to check.

[swimmingbird]

What's the minimum amount I need for a WKL PCB? Also how long from order to shipping for it?

Check current prices and availability at winkeyless, gon and mechanicalkeyboards. There is a cheap phantom under $40, now.

Sorry, I meant what options do I need to have a working PCB from WKL.

pcb's come with the controller components presoldered leaving you to solder diodes and resistors if you plan to use any lighting on the board

Show Image

So with these options all I need to do is solder the switches in?

Also how long does order placed to shipping take? It says 7-10 days but want to check.

Yep

Wkl are pretty quick on shipping so that 7-10 day estimate is probably pretty close

[ctm]

I have seen some post about the plate of Massdrop Infinity being too thick for Alps to clip properly and tend to break Alps switches. Has this problem been fixed in later rounds? I am thinking about getting one with flat plate.

[E3E]

I have seen some post about the plate of Massdrop Infinity being too thick for Alps to clip properly and tend to break Alps switches. Has this problem been fixed in later rounds? I am thinking about getting one with flat plate.

I have the Gen 1 Infinity with the bent case and I've never had problems with the switches. They are not clipped in tight though, this is true. I've had none break though and they are quite solid when soldered in place.

Don't look at me though, I use my Infinity solderless with Alps switches and it works just fine.

[bbrotha]

Hi guys, I have a Sprit pcb and have a problem with the enter key. It seems it is mapped to ESC, DEL, WIN and Enter on the same press. I already tried to flash it like 100 times and map it differently but the problem persist. Any thoughs?

[CPTBadAss]

Hi guys, I have a Sprit pcb and have a problem with the enter key. It seems it is mapped to ESC, DEL, WIN and Enter on the same press. I already tried to flash it like 100 times and map it differently but the problem persist. Any thoughs?

You sure everything is soldered properly and there's no grounding issues?

[tofgerl]

That doesn't sound like a matrix soldering error. They're more likely to be of the type 6yhb or 1234567890. Unless the PCB has those buttons in a line, it sounds more like a software error.

Has the software been changed?

[bbrotha]

That doesn't sound like a matrix soldering error. They're more likely to be of the type 6yhb or 1234567890. Unless the PCB has those buttons in a line, it sounds more like a software error.

Has the software been changed?

I did use the software on the guide posted by sprit, and use those .hex files for flashing. but still no change. Also I can't open the flashing software with win 10, so I had to installed on a old pc with XP for it to work. Could it be that I'm using an incorrect software to flash it?

[tofgerl]

If you get the same error with both the original and your own software it's not likely. If you've just used your own software you should try to scrounge up a copy of the original software and try that.

[Photoelectric]

I'd like to get this Dolch board working with my computer, and I'm guessing I need to either mod the existing cable or make a converter, or just see about unplugging the existing cable and replacing it with an R45 to PS2 one (is that right?)

Can anyone give a recommendation on how to open this case?  Are there screws under those rubber pads in the legs?  Any tabs in the holes on the sides?  Don't want to break anything as I investigate it.

[alienman82]

removed.

[alienman82]

removed.

[Photoelectric]

I'd like to get this Dolch board working with my computer, and I'm guessing I need to either mod the existing cable or make a converter, or just see about unplugging the existing cable and replacing it with an R45 to PS2 one (is that right?)

Can anyone give a recommendation on how to open this case?  Are there screws under those rubber pads in the legs?  Any tabs in the holes on the sides?  Don't want to break anything as I investigate it.

Hi!  You need to remove the rare logo and all the feet to get it apart.  Use heat on the logo and don't force it as it is metal and can bend.  Internally, just solder on a new PS2 cable.  Let me know if you need more help.  i've done this twice now

Thanks.  Do you mean the "rear" logo?  As in on the back side of the keyboard? 

[alienman82]

removed.

[Photoelectric]

Thanks, opened it up just now.  One of the screws had some very strong glue in the part where you're supposed to place the screwdriver tip.  Took a while to carve it out with a skinny flat head screwdriver before I could remove it.  Other screws were clean, beside the rubber foot glue residue.  It looks like inside the cable's just plugged in with another RJ10 end.  Typo about RJ45 earlier.  I'll look for ready-made RJ11 to PS2 cables or make one myself.

[Quackles]

Probably not simple. But I'm hoping someone looked into it.

Does anyone know the sizes of the two screws used in a Realforce 87? The black and silver ones on the PCB.

[Fyodor]

Hi, i've been looking for a CoolerMaster CMStorm Quick Fire Rapid with cherry mx blue.

Here in Spain is hard to find keyboards with blue cherry, on amazon.com i can find it for 70$ + 40$ shipping. Right now there is one on ebay for sale but is already at 31$ (+40$ shipping +11$ import charges).

Is there any keyboard with similar costs that is better than the quick fire ?

 

[CPTBadAss]

Hi, i've been looking for a CoolerMaster CMStorm Quick Fire Rapid with cherry mx blue.

Here in Spain is hard to find keyboards with blue cherry, on amazon.com i can find it for 70$ + 40$ shipping. Right now there is one on ebay for sale but is already at 31$ (+40$ shipping +11$ import charges).

Is there any keyboard with similar costs that is better than the quick fire ?

 

I think for that $81 price that's actually a great pickup. If you're willing to pay more, I really like suggesting Ducky boards. But there's a lot of other competitors out now in your price range that I unfortunately don't know a lot about. Hopefully someone can help you out further on budget boards.

Edit: Found the thread I was trying to reference in my post. This thread seems pretty helpful.

[Fyodor]

Hi, i've been looking for a CoolerMaster CMStorm Quick Fire Rapid with cherry mx blue.

Here in Spain is hard to find keyboards with blue cherry, on amazon.com i can find it for 70$ + 40$ shipping. Right now there is one on ebay for sale but is already at 31$ (+40$ shipping +11$ import charges).

Is there any keyboard with similar costs that is better than the quick fire ?

 

I think for that $81 price that's actually a great pickup. If you're willing to pay more, I really like suggesting Ducky boards. But there's a lot of other competitors out now in your price range that I unfortunately don't know a lot about. Hopefully someone can help you out further on budget boards.

I'll follow the auction on ebay but definitely the price is going up, at least 20-30$
Should I look for a specific Ducky model keyboard? They don't seem easy to get in Spain.

EDIT: just saw your edit Thank you!
EDIT2: I've been really close to get a Ozone strike battle last week, we have a supplier here in Spain, but unfortunately they don't have blue cherry, just brown or red. I should look for another supplier

EDIT3: Ok nevermind, I won the auction for the QFR, 45$ + shipment on ebay 

[Bucake]

are there active geekhackers that make custom wooden wrist rests?

[CPTBadAss]

are there active geekhackers that make custom wooden wrist rests?

Yes, check out inanis' shop

[Bucake]

thank you CPT!

[klennkellon]

If I can get an IBM Model M2 for a lot cheaper than a Model M just to try out buckling springs, is it worth it?

[Blaise170]

The M2 is nice but it isn't quite the same as an F or M.

[CPTBadAss]

If I can get an IBM Model M2 for a lot cheaper than a Model M just to try out buckling springs, is it worth it?

I think they're worth it. M2's aren't bad other than the capacitor issue.

[fohat.digs]

M2's aren't bad other than the capacitor issue.

I have never taken one apart, but aren't the stabilizers easy to break and difficult to replace?

[CPTBadAss]

M2's aren't bad other than the capacitor issue.

I have never taken one apart, but aren't the stabilizers easy to break and difficult to replace?

Dunno, I've not taken one apart either. It's my understanding it's hard to get parts for the M2 in general.

[Blaise170]

Yeah the M2 is absolutely awful to take apart. I'd never wish it on anyone.