Discrete Buckling Spring Keyswitches?

[krfkeith]

Did any company ever make anything like this? Conversely, is this something, through the magic of 3D printing or whatever, an individual could make themselves?

[nubbinator]

Did any company ever make anything like this? Conversely, is this something, through the magic of 3D printing or whatever, an individual could make themselves?

Do you mean like an individual switch?  No company I know of does this currently.  Buckling spring generally relies on an underlying membrane, so discrete switches are not made.

[tbc]

kinda sounds like he just wants a keycap holder like all those topre and mx keychains...hell, i might get one.

[krfkeith]

Do you mean like an individual switch?  No company I know of does this currently.  Buckling spring generally relies on an underlying membrane, so discrete switches are not made.

Yeah, exactly, individual switches. Hmm, I'd have to read up on the exact mechanics of the BS, but could the switches use individual membranes? Alternatively, could the Model F style capacitive types be done in individual switches?

[Oobly]

You could probably cut one out of a full keyboard minus the membrane and make your own case and single membrane for it, but it would be a fair bit of work, IMHO.

[False_Dmitry_II]

THERE IS such a thing as Alps Buckling Springs, but they are extremely rare, and very expensive.

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_buckling_spring

[Findecanor]

The Model F's switches and the Brother switch have individual barrels, but they rely on capacitative sensing and membrane respectively.
Sure, I think that you could 3D-print plate-mounted barrel modules with a good 3D printer. I think that the shaft would need to be very smooth and precise for the switch to feel any good and that might be tricky to achieve with a regular home 3D printer .. but challenges are there to be overcome.

Edit:

THERE IS such a thing as Alps Buckling Springs, but they are extremely rare, and very expensive.

I don't think the switches are discrete, but all of them are sharing the same barrel plate like on regular Model M and most rubber domes.

[wcass]

This was the idea behind my XTant project; harvest the discrete components of an IBM XT keyboard (barrels, springs, flippies, case) and replace the top metal plate and cap sense PCB to match a re-arranged key layout. Custom membranes are expensive (about $100 for a 60% layout) and custom capacitive PCB has not been done successfully yet (but progress is being made).

http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/bringing-the-ibm-pc-xt-into-the-21st-century-t3047.html
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=51767
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40111

[RabRhee]

There have been a couple of keychain versions as I recall, someone on Deskthority had a key testing set that included a buckling spring tester. Plus there is this one of mine...



It has a piece of the membrane cloth, and the base of the switch is made from a piece of the baseplate, primarily to try keep the sound authentic. I guess if one piece of membrane was cut out (3 thicknesses) then it could perhaps be a functional switch. For now its just for reasonably accurate sound and feel.

edit: Basically, cropping a discrete switch out of a Model M is possible, but yes it was a bit of messing around. I reckon it could be possible to make the switch functional, again with more messing. I wouldn't like to make a stack of them to build into a new board though.

[krfkeith]

This was the idea behind my XTant project; harvest the discrete components of an IBM XT keyboard (barrels, springs, flippies, case) and replace the top metal plate and cap sense PCB to match a re-arranged key layout. Custom membranes are expensive (about $100 for a 60% layout) and custom capacitive PCB has not been done successfully yet (but progress is being made).

http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/bringing-the-ibm-pc-xt-into-the-21st-century-t3047.html
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=51767
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40111

Fascinating! I've been skimming those threads. How did you manage/how were planning to fabricate the metal plate?

[wcass]

Fascinating! I've been skimming those threads. How did you manage/how were planning to fabricate the metal plate?

CAD software to design; laser service to cut. A local HVAC shop ran it through a slip roll (for free!) to get the curve just right. That middle link has the most detail on that part.

[fohat.digs]

So is the project alive?

I will start scavenging for junk XTs if need be, and/or it would be great if AT/122 barrels could be accommodated, too.

[wcass]

So is the project alive?

I will start scavenging for junk XTs if need be, and/or it would be great if AT/122 barrels could be accommodated, too.

Yes, it is still alive, but is mostly in need of a controller. I'm hoping that the DPH will do the trick. I have measured a AT/122 barrel, so easy enough to cut a whole that would fit either post or notch type barrel. But AT and 122 are such nice boards, it would be a shame to use those.

[fohat.digs]

But AT and 122 are such nice boards, it would be a shame to use those.

No argument there, but personally I have an XT and a 122 that were hopelessly trashed, so I have spare parts of both types. However, I have been selling them off in dribs and drabs, and at this point I would be lucky to have enough between them to do one board!

[0100010]

I've thought a few times about picking up a couple XTs to harvest the barrels.  Would need a custom designed plate, membrane and controller to make the potential layout I want though.

[dorkvader]

I've thought a few times about picking up a couple XTs to harvest the barrels.  Would need a custom designed plate, membrane and controller to make the potential layout I want though.

and you'll need two XTs to make it.

It may be possible to make a capacitive version of it with the new DPH controller or xwhatsit's controller. That's the dream anyway.