HHKB Switches on the left side of the keyboard feel heavier than the right side.

[willbarrow]

OK, so I've experienced this really weird thing about my new HHKB. I received it just yesterday, and have been using it, like, non-stop. I'm thinking that this thing I'm experiencing will go away, and is just due to the keyboard needing to be broken in to, so I'm not that worried about it. But I just thought I'd mention it.

Basically, when I push, say, 'a', 's', 'd', or 'f', the switches feel slightly heavier, and need more force than, say, 'j', 'k', 'l', or ';'. I'm not sure what's happening, but this did happen to another Topre keyboard I had a while ago, so I'm thinking it's just something to do with the keyboard needing to be used for a bit.

Does anyone have any thoughts or reasons why this is happening?

[Shikarikato]

OK, so I've experienced this really weird thing about my new HHKB. I received it just yesterday, and have been using it, like, non-stop. I'm thinking that this thing I'm experiencing will go away, and is just due to the keyboard needing to be broken in to, so I'm not that worried about it. But I just thought I'd mention it.

Basically, when I push, say, 'a', 's', 'd', or 'f', the switches feel slightly heavier, and need more force than, say, 'j', 'k', 'l', or ';'. I'm not sure what's happening, but this did happen to another Topre keyboard I had a while ago, so I'm thinking it's just something to do with the keyboard needing to be used for a bit.

Does anyone have any thoughts or reasons why this is happening?

the rubber on the right is scared of your mighty prowess that your right hand possesses over your left hand so in an effort to protect itself it loosens

jokes aside it might be coincidental that the variance in weighting just happens to have slightly heavier switches on the left side
but both of my HHKBs feel evenly weighted so?

[SpAmRaY]

If you've experienced this before maybe it's you and not the keyboard.

[rowdy]

Are you right-handed?

Maybe your right hand/arm is stronger making the switches feel lighter.

Can you do a weight test (e.g. stack of coins) to see what the weights actually are?

[czarek]

Remember Topre has tolerance for variations up to 15g between each key, as unfortunately it's very difficult if not impossible to get all domes in a rubber sheet exactly the same.

[Hypersphere]

I agree with Rowdy. It is best to do some quantitative measurements of actuation force. Then you can determine if your perception of weight differences is correct.

[thatsmrdoctortoyou]

Are you right-handed?

Maybe your right hand/arm is stronger making the switches feel lighter.

Can you do a weight test (e.g. stack of coins) to see what the weights actually are?

Haha reminds me of a certain character on a certain show...

In all seriousness though, this is quite an interesting topic. OP, I agree with others that you should attempt a weight test using coins. Let us know what you find out, good luck!

[sushi]

Or try typing with the kb roated 180 and see if it still feels the same.

[willbarrow]

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. I tested the keys with coins, like you said, and I found that all of the keys on the left side of the keyboard were at about 50g or above, whereas the keys on the right were about 44g. I understand that keys can differ by 15g, but when they are separated right down the middle, it's obvious something isn't right. I sent an email to the seller to see what they say about it. I was wondering, if it is down to the domes, is there any place I can buy replacement HHKB rubber dome sheets, or am I going to have to try to get a replacement? I don't really know what to do at the moment. I can't use the keyboard because of the feeling. It's a real shame. Thanks again, everyone!

[hasu]

Anomaly of key weight in Topre are rather large. Many including me don't care or can't feel the difference but some with sensibility won't be able to bear with it.

I think this deviation is normal for Topre boards unfrotunately and Topre doesn't seems to qualified as a your keyboard. I'd recommend Cherry switch, whose weight deviation is super fine(+-1g) in my coin stack test.

I measured key weight on some keyboards including Topre years ago and this is the result.

Weights(to register) of home row:
keybord & switch        A  S  D  F  G  H  J  K  L  ;  '  Ent
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
G80-3600 Cherry Red     38 37 38 39 38 38 38 39 39 39 39 37     38(±1)
PokerX Cherry Red       41 42 42 42 42 41 40 42 41 40 41 40     41(±1)
PokerX Cherry Brown     49 48 49 47 48 49 48 48 48 48 48 49     48(±1)
X68000 ALPS Green       52 50 47 50 49 47 51 53 48 51 49 47     50(±3)
HHKB pro2(2007)         56 56 58 56 54 53 55 56 57 56 57 43     43-58
HHKB pro2(2010)         54 58 63 62 61 54 56 60 59 59 45 49     45-63
Realforce 106S          34 35 38 38 41 39 41 40 42 42 43 43     34-43
(2012/03)

And these display weight deviation of my HHKB pro2's. As you can see the deviation is pretty big, but I can use them without any problem.

Weights to register(actuate) 2012/03/26
HHKB pro2(PD-KB400W 2007-10) I bought this used HHKB for spare and I myself hardly use it.
,-----------------------------------------------------------.
|48 |51 |52 |51 |49 |50 |56 |57 |57 |58 |56 |54 |52 |56 |51 |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|50   |55 |54 |54 |55 |54 |57 |57 |60 |60 |58 |51 |53 |52   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|48    |56 |56 |58 |56 |54 |53 |55 |56 |57 |56 |57 |43      |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|50      |57 |59 |58 |56 |58 |54 |57 |55 |53 |55 |50    |53 |
`-----------------------------------------------------------'
      |47 |55   |        58/47 *1       |47   |47 |
      `-------------------------------------------'
*1 with/without spring under space bar
 
 
Weights to register(actuate) 2012/03/26
HHKB pro2(PD-KB400W 2010-08) I bought this used HHKB for spare and I myself hardly use it.
,-----------------------------------------------------------.
|39 |46 |49 |53 |57 |54 |54 |53 |54 |54 |53 |49 |47 |47 |45 |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|46   |50 |58 |58 |61 |61 |59 |56 |61 |59 |58 |47 |49 |46   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|48    |54 |58 |63 |62 |61 |54 |56 |60 |59 |59 |45 |49      |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|42      |56 |57 |55 |56 |56 |56 |56 |57 |62 |60 |49    |46 |
`-----------------------------------------------------------'
      |44 |42   |        53/44 *1       |47   |45 |
      `-------------------------------------------'
*1 with/without spring under space bar