Author Topic: Ergodox stabilizers  (Read 7228 times)

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Offline balthamos

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Ergodox stabilizers
« on: Wed, 26 March 2014, 22:48:59 »
I recently got an Ergodox and have been mostly happy with it. The split design takes getting some getting used to, as do the MX clears with DSA caps (coming from a Das with blues).

One of the things that bothers me is the 2x keys not going down smoothly when pressed on an edge. I was pleasantly surprised to find stabilizer mounting holes in the case, so I borrowed a stabilizer off the Das to see if that would fix my issue.

Problem is, the stabilizer mount holes are too big. The mounts fit, but not snugly, so whenever the stabilizer bar is supposed to do its stabilizing, the whole assembly just comes up with the key. The slot is also pretty deep, and with no edges for the bar mount to clip onto.

I was wondering if anyone has solved this problem, or have any suggestions.

Jamming some paper into the hole would make it fit tighter, but I don't know how long that would hold up. Glue is another option, though if that clip ever broke, I'd be SOL.

Offline daerid

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 26 March 2014, 23:01:41 »
I am interested as well. I know tp4tissue swears by stabs on his ErgoDox.

Offline tbc

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 27 March 2014, 01:06:26 »
do people recommend costars or cherrys?  do we have an option or does only one work?
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Offline daerid

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 27 March 2014, 01:18:33 »
Not sure, I don't think I've ever heard of somebody putting Cherry stabs in a ErgoDox

Offline dorkvader

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 27 March 2014, 01:30:08 »
I put cherry stabs on my 0.5 ergodox and it works perfectly. Keep in mind I have the updated PCB design and no case. I think TP4 glued his, and glue should work well. I haven't ever seen a stab wire break.

Offline tbc

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 27 March 2014, 01:54:32 »
i hope cherrys work on mine.

i have 5 cherry 2x stabs from a fullsize board that i can use.  i really don't want to get stuck waiting for costars.
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Offline handystack

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 27 March 2014, 09:41:53 »
I picked up some stabilizers from WASD to install during my first ErgoDox build this weekend. I'll report back and let you know how it goes and what I learn.

Offline daerid

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 27 March 2014, 11:16:23 »
Yeah, I got a set of 4 stabs from WASD last year. I'll probably end up going the hot glue route on my blues, since the clears really don't need the stabilizers (at least not for me).

Offline balthamos

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 27 March 2014, 19:18:27 »
@dorkvader, I'm not worried about the wire breaking, I'm worried about the little plastic clip that holds the wire to the mount breaking. The moment I glue that mount in there, I just know I'm just going to snap it.

Also, if your Dox isn't in a case, I'm guessing you are using PCB mounted stabs (unless your board rev has slots for plate mounts). I should note that I'm trying to use plate mounted stabs (like these http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/keyboard-parts/cherry-mx-plate-mounted-stabilizer-clips-2pcs.html)

I'll try experimenting with paper to see how well that works.

Offline yicaoyimu

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 27 March 2014, 19:23:13 »
I asked in the ergodox thread before and I was told Massdrop kit only works with costar stab with a tweak.
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Offline balthamos

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 27 March 2014, 22:01:04 »
So using paper does work, but it is sort of hard to do. I don't know how long this will last before one of the mounts lifts out.

I found 2 techniques that work. The pictures are for the first technique. The second technique is similar to the first, except you use less paper, going only around the middle (the ends aren't covered). This wedges the mount by the sides only, but seems to be enough to keep it in place. I found this easier than the technique in the pictures, but I didn't figure it out until the last key :rolleyes:.

Here is the plate mount stabilizer bracket. The notch on the upper left is where you clip the bar onto, and that is what I am worried will snap eventually. The wedge thing on the bottom left is where this bracket would clip into the plate. The Ergodox doesn't have anything for this guy to latch into, which is the heart of the problem.


The full assembly for the MX Cherry stabilizer. Consists of 2 brackets and one stabilizer bar.


And for completeness, here is the 2x key with the bar inserts. One side is slightly longer than the other (in the pic, the right side), and it does matter which way you put it on. Otherwise, the key won't go down properly. It is also kind of hard to put on, especially when the mounts aren't terribly secure.


The case designer had the right idea, but the wells are smooth all the way down to the PCB, so there isn't anything to latch onto or clip into.


But take a few strips of paper and lay them over the slots.


Push the assembly through


Rip off the excess


And now you have something that should keep the brackets in place. It may take a few tries to get something that actually holds, especially if too much paper gets ripped off when you are removing the extra.

Also, I've found that a sheet of paper folded once was enough to keep things tight. Unfolded, the sheet was too loose, and folded twice, it was too difficult to fit into the slot.

Anyway, there is my shoddy solution to this problem.

Offline tbc

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 27 March 2014, 22:45:00 »
thanks alot.

the second technique is just wrapping paper around the horizontal part of the 'u'?
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Offline balthamos

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 28 March 2014, 06:57:25 »
Yes, so if you were to place the strip of paper in the first picture and fold it up (like you are preparing to put it in the slot), looking left to right, you would see plastic, air, paper, air, plastic. The width of the strip should be around half the width of the bracket (~0.5cm).

The reason this technique works better is because you can see what you are doing. You put the paper in place, then place in either the top or bottom edge. This helps align everything.

From there, just get a screwdriver (be careful on that case!) and push in on the other, unplaced side. You push on the inner 'u' portion, hence the need for a screwdriver.

Offline handystack

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #13 on: Fri, 28 March 2014, 11:08:44 »
Thanks for the great pictures, balthamos!  I just built mine without installing stabilizers.  I find that I am not really noticing their absence.  This paper solution looks easy enough that I may try it out this weekend though.

Offline Findecanor

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #14 on: Fri, 28 March 2014, 12:22:46 »
Not sure, I don't think I've ever heard of somebody putting Cherry stabs in a ErgoDox
I did, but I got my own custom plates made. Cherry stabilisers will not fit in Litster's layered design which Massdrop uses.

I did make a big mistake though: I had made the stabiliser holes so that each stabiliser wire was on the same side its' switch's diode. Luckily, I could replace them with diodes inside the switches. Still, major facepalm moment.
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Offline jacobolus

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Re: Ergodox stabilizers
« Reply #15 on: Sat, 29 March 2014, 00:28:16 »
I highly recommend adding stabilizers (only costar-style stabilizers work AFAIK).

The acrylic plate is much too thick for the plastic clips to actually properly clip in. I used hot glue to keep them held in place. Works great.

* * *

Beyond that though, I personally think the Ergodox would dramatically benefit from a substantial redesign of its thumb sections. In particular, the little triangular gap between the two primary thumb keys and the finger section is stupid (that gap is a very natural position for another thumb key, assuming we want a flat keyboard half), the 2x1 keys are unnecessarily tall (1.5x1 or even 1.25x1 would work better), and most of the 1x1 keys are too far to reach naturally.
« Last Edit: Sat, 29 March 2014, 00:33:04 by jacobolus »