NovaTouch silenced (problem, noisy keys)

[hammelgammler]

Hey guys,

i recently modded my NovaTouch to get it silent like the HHKB Type-S.
Therefore i ordered some lube and soft landing pads from EliteKeyboards, done my homework with the guide from SpiceBar (nice guide btw) and took the NovaTouch apart.

Now there's one problem: 2-3 keys do not want to get silent like every other key. The keys "I", "Z" (DE layout) and "F".
I can reproduce the problem, when not tighten every screw that combines PCB and plate together, then most of the keys are very noisy on the upstroke and downstroke, kind of like a MX-Blue noise.

I tried EVERYTHING to make them silent:
1. Switched the sliders with keys that are perfectly fine a couple of times.
2. Switched the springs of the domes with keys that are fine.
3. Tightened every screw as hard as i can.
4. Tightened them from the middle first and then tighten them like a circle pattern to the edges.
5. Switched the stem (the black plastic things where the sliders go in) with keys that are fine.

Nothing helped, and the noise was exactly the same after all.

In conclusion i think it has to do with the screws. Like if there is too much room between PCB and plate...

I thought of putting some more screws with nuts, kind of like a bolt-mod between PCB and plate to make it work, but therefore i need to drill through the PCB...

Here a picture where i thought of drilling through the PCB: Click

Would be nice if someone could help me with this.

Best regards,
David

[spiceBar]

Don't drill holes in that PCB!!!

The switch housings are probably a little bit loose in the metal plate.

- Remove the switch housing from the metal plate
- Apply some thick grease on the plate, where the switch housing is going to come in contact with the plate
- Put the switch housing back

Here is a picture to help you (see the grease applied on the plate on the location of the big stabilized key):




Test and please report if it makes a difference.

[hammelgammler]

Thanks SpiceBar, you're my hero. 
Worked perfectly fine, and now every key is dead silent, more silent then a standard membrane.

[spiceBar]

Thanks SpiceBar, you're my hero. 
Worked perfectly fine, and now every key is dead silent, more silent then a standard membrane.

Great!