I recently acquired a Novatouch & Realforce 87U beige (thanks Apolotary) and after a lot of back n forth, I personally prefer the 45G, but I like the RF more feel more overall. I'd love to get something more heavy than 45g, but can't handle 55g.
So I'm going to try to undergo a project, and hopefully I'll see some support. I've already done some of the legwork so we'll see how to go forward.
The Goal
The goal is to produce a spring that, when placed between the housing and the keycap of a 45g topre board, will mimic the feel of a 55g board. (ghetto domeswap)
My Focus
My focus is on quality, and that's why I'm working to make the first batch in USA first, then making it in China.
Why do this?
cheap heavier switches. aka the ghetto dome swap
heavier than 55g switches for those of you with fingers that
flexreplace lost spacebar springs
Here's what I have.
1) Topre Spacebar uses approximately 40g to compress (nickel test)
2) Approximate weight of the spring should be 10g or so to get a ghetto 55g actuation force.
Here's a nice chart made by ek.com for reference.
3) I found some local spring factories in SoCal that I will be working with on top of my Mechanical Engineer friend to work on this design of the spring. After we finalize the design and produce the initial batch here in Los Angeles, we will be moving forwarding with a production with a spring factory in Hong Kong.
What's the next step?
Well I've done some research, but even with that, nothing has been pushed on my end
I will be going to the SoCal factory this week and measuring the NT & RF. I'll be measuring force curve & the compression of the springs with keycaps on and off.
A likely asked question
Why don't I just buy the ones off taobao from Topre clones?
AFAIK, those don't fit properly in Topre boards, but you can correct me if I'm wrong.