KBParadise/Filco Zero Alps owners; can you help send a message to Matias?

[dante]

KBParadise has discovered that the larger stabilized keycaps from Matias upcoming PBT set will be incompatible with their boards [this will also include the Filco Zero as well].  They have sent off many messages to Matias but from what I've heard they are not concerned about this.

For those who love these boards; can you please reach out to Matias and see what he can do?  KBP was really interested in giving Matias some business but they can't order what they can't use.

If anyone can post info on Rededit [I don't have an account] about this it would also be appreciated. 

[njbair]

Incompatible how?

[dante]

Incompatible how?

Incompatible in none of the stabilized keys will work.  The hole of the stabilizer will be different from the V60MTS/V80MTS/Zero/TaoHao.

[njbair]

Incompatible how?

Incompatible in none of the stabilized keys will work.  The hole of the stabilizer will be different from the V60MTS/V80MTS/Zero/TaoHao.

Are they using cherry-style outboard mounts just like SP Alps caps use? Because that's really not a dealbreaker. You just have to bend some custom wires and you're done.

[dante]

Incompatible how?

Incompatible in none of the stabilized keys will work.  The hole of the stabilizer will be different from the V60MTS/V80MTS/Zero/TaoHao.

Are they using cherry-style outboard mounts just like SP Alps caps use? Because that's really not a dealbreaker. You just have to bend some custom wires and you're done.

I'll see if I can get a photo.

[dante]

[njbair]

(Attachment Link)

That's really not that big a deal. The wires are just a little bit different height. Also, AFAIK nobody is making OG Alps-style stab clips anymore, whereas the cherry/costar stab clips can be purchased from several vendors for dirt-cheap. I'd say this is a smart move.

[dante]

I've asked KBP to post their challenges involved with this.  I wish Alps wasn't as forked as Linux.

[njbair]

Their issue will be the fact that the new Matias keycaps will not be drop-in replacements for the stock caps. The Tai Hao Alps caps that Massdrop has been selling will work fine on a KBP Alps board because they use stock stabilizers.

There is really only one relevant difference between Alps and Cherry stabilizers, and that's the height of the stab wires. This photo from jdcarpe illustrates the differences:



Basically, both the plate clips and the cap clips are positioned differently for Cherry & Alps, which means you may have any one of four different "heights" that your stab wires would need to be.

[ctm]

I think KBP V60 uses ALPS style stabilizers on all long keys except space bar.

[ctm]

Any update on this?

[dante]

KBP engineers looking into this.