Odd dye sublimation on NMB

Engicoder · 16 Nov 2015, 17:20

I found a beige tactile NMB/Hi-Tek board with dye sublimated legends that are a bit strange. The font and layout is the same as other similar boards that I have, but there is a green "halo" around the black legends, but not the green or brown legends. The black legends are also a bit thick, which makes it seem as if this is an error. May to much heat or pressure or applied for too long.

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andrewjoy · 16 Nov 2015, 17:24

Looks like a bad batch of caps. Looks as if the dye has run.

Engicoder · 16 Nov 2015, 17:32

andrewjoy wrote: ↑Looks like a bad batch of caps. Looks as if the dye has run.

Yes it does. I'm surprised something like this pass QA

andrewjoy · 16 Nov 2015, 17:37

Possibly the sold it as binned stock at a low price ?

Engicoder · 16 Nov 2015, 17:41

andrewjoy wrote: ↑Possibly the sold it as binned stock at a low price ?

Along with the "slightly irregular" sweaters and underwear.

Chyros · 16 Nov 2015, 17:49

A similar but much less extreme thing happened on my Hi-Tek 725, although that was actually black. I think it might have actually run out over time rather than that it was like that from the start, though.

andrewjoy · 16 Nov 2015, 18:39

That is an interesting theory, it could be possible that the plastic ages over time and then this happens , but it would be interesting to see how far this permeates into the cap. It is very uniform so i don't see it being something like the oils is the skin reacting but there is no way to know without testing. The brown legends are fine so it has something to do with the black dye. The reason its not a black smudge is quite a few black dyes are not actually back but just a very dark colour.

Chyros · 16 Nov 2015, 19:11

Yeah, and that's exactly why I think it's a permeation issue; the black (green) dye they used simply has different permeation properties than the other dyes.

Nice board, btw. That's the original RT-101, isn't it?

Engicoder · 16 Nov 2015, 19:26

Chyros wrote: ↑Yeah, and that's exactly why I think it's a permeation issue; the black (green) dye they used simply has different permeation properties than the other dyes.

Nice board, btw. That's the original RT-101, isn't it?

Thanks!

Yes, but I think we need to better define the NMB/Hi-Tek models. The RT-101 name can be associated with many different boards. NMB went through 5 case styles:

Key layout and case style:
1 - XT layout. Case looks like Keytronic.
2 - AT layout. Case mimics IBM AT
3 - Model M layout. Case mimics Model M.
4 - Model M layout. Case is flatter and resembles a G80-1000.
5 - Model M layout. Case is smaller. Mimics IBM M2.

Model labeling:
Type 1 & 2 aren't labelled with a model #, just part #.
RT-101 usually refers to type 3, but I have some type 4's that are labelled RT-101.
Type 4 is usually RT-8XXX
Type 5 is always RT-8XXX

This example is #3.

terrycherry · 16 Nov 2015, 19:42

Nice layout research. I associated with the FCCID which was the early 84keys AT layout or Model series including different FCCID.(e.g. MODEL RT-101+ series)
Could you took out the label let me see the PN and the switch of space bar, Num lock, Caps Lock and Scroll Lock respectively? If the specific dye-sub could make the different variant of switch color, great to see....but I don't think so.

Engicoder · 16 Nov 2015, 19:59

It's FCCID: AQ659ZRT-101A, PN: 115039-002. The same as this example: http://kbd.rzw.jp/nmb/aq659zrt-101a/, except mine does not have the pink lock key switches. All switches are tactile beige, one eye except spacebar which neon green, one eye.
So it seems that PN does not guarantee switch type, at least when it comes to lock keys.

terrycherry · 16 Nov 2015, 20:28

Yes, Your're right! To determine the FCCID and PN together. It just have 95% confirm the switch variant and color.
Thanks to your help. It's an important news found to me.
Did you found the PN on the front of PCB and A/W number back of PCB are same to rzw owns?
http://kbd.rzw.jp/nmb/aq659zrt-101a_2/a ... 101a_03-2/
http://kbd.rzw.jp/nmb/aq659zrt-101a_2/a ... 101a_11-2/

Engicoder · 16 Nov 2015, 20:35

terrycherry wrote: ↑Yes, Your're right! To determine the FCCID and PN together. It just have 95% confirm the switch variant and color.
Thanks to your help. It's an important news found to me.
Did you found the PN on the front of PCB and A/W number back of PCB are same to rzw owns?
http://kbd.rzw.jp/nmb/aq659zrt-101a_2/a ... 101a_03-2/
http://kbd.rzw.jp/nmb/aq659zrt-101a_2/a ... 101a_11-2/

No. They are 115499 & 115498. As always. Front is one different than back.
Edit: mine has a higher serial number as well.

Scottex · 16 Nov 2015, 23:07

Looks pretty cool and gives the keyboard a unique look

terrycherry · 17 Nov 2015, 14:09

Engicoder wrote: ↑
terrycherry wrote: ↑Yes, Your're right! To determine the FCCID and PN together. It just have 95% confirm the switch variant and color.
Thanks to your help. It's an important news found to me.
Did you found the PN on the front of PCB and A/W number back of PCB are same to rzw owns?
http://kbd.rzw.jp/nmb/aq659zrt-101a_2/a ... 101a_03-2/
http://kbd.rzw.jp/nmb/aq659zrt-101a_2/a ... 101a_11-2/
No. They are 115499 & 115498. As always. Front is one different than back.
Edit: mine has a higher serial number as well.

Great. Higher number always told that's the later made keyboard.
As I see two of yours with the same FCCID and PN on label; and the another two keyboard with different FCCID and PN on label to compare yours but they have the both FCCID and PN. And the later one's PN numer on PCB always including the Beige on lock keys and their space bar is different.

P.S: I have been seen two groups of same FCCID and PN label on Beige variant RT-101+ keyboards which have some different variants switch on them.
Another same with FCCID and PN but not "Beige switch" keyboard did not find that situation.