Beam Spring 104+SSK Reproduction Project! First Batch In Stock, Shipping early next year after New Model F Project

[turbosquid]

This is the colour I picked when ordering mine, I can safely say these photos further validate my choice I can’t wait to have mine, I think I’ll be typing with it all week long!

[Ellipse]

Yes confirmed; these are one of the two available options of production sets. The sets all completed production a while back and they are great quality.

[jmaynard]

I'm waiting with bated breath to see an actual 122-key version of this, completed...

[thefarside]

Ellipse, I thought there was a version of the beam spring case that had a dip in it and that could be used as a pen holder. Is there a version of that case planned or is the one shown the only one available. It doesn’t matter to me if it has it or not but was curious.

[genericusername57]

Ellipse, I thought there was a version of the beam spring case that had a dip in it and that could be used as a pen holder. Is there a version of that case planned or is the one shown the only one available. It doesn’t matter to me if it has it or not but was curious.

Fairly certain it was a proposed design of the R2 keyboards that was rejected by the community and hence this new design is what he went for (and imo this one looks much better than the one with the curve so I'm all for it).

[Ellipse]

As an update, the beam springs themselves can now be ordered separately here:
https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product ... ng-extras/

They are IBM spec and some folks have used them to repair original rusty or damaged IBM beam springs.

Yes confirmed; that original proposal was not selected for production.

[genericusername57]

Just checking, are there any B62 without any kinds of split shift etc? Seems both of the ones on the product page has some kind of splitting going on. Thinking about getting a 60% as well while I don't have to pay double shipping for it.

[Ellipse]

Nope, only the listed models (plus the custom ones mentioned on that page) are available.

[genericusername57]

Nope, only the listed models (plus the custom ones mentioned on that page) are available.

Fair enough. Looks like the supplied keycaps will cover the layouts though?

[Ellipse]

Not necessarily - as noted on the product pages you would want to check the production keycap photos to see if they cover your desired key arrangement. From what I can see, the sets include the 1U | \, 1U Fn, 1.75U Right Shift, but not a 1.5 backspace, 1.75 Ctrl, or 1.25 caps lock. As noted earlier, the factories cannot make extra keys as it would require additional molds due to the double shot injection molding process.

[jmaynard]

I've been doing work on Hercules with a real 3279 and its keyboard. It's been a revelation compared to my M122. The touch is much lighter, with a longer travel past the actuation point. I'm really, really hoping that the beam spring Ellipse is making feels just like it. I don't care about the sound, just the touch.

[genericusername57]

I've been doing work on Hercules with a real 3279 and its keyboard. It's been a revelation compared to my M122. The touch is much lighter, with a longer travel past the actuation point. I'm really, really hoping that the beam spring Ellipse is making feels just like it. I don't care about the sound, just the touch.

Same for me, even though I haven't ever typed on an actual beamspring by the description it sounds as if it's exactly what I'm looking for. I'm not sure I've ever seen a review that comments on the switch feel compared to an original one though but on the other hand I haven't heard someone say it's vastly different either. Chyrosran said something like "different" in his teardown but didn't elaborate.

[dodddummy]

I've been doing work on Hercules with a real 3279 and its keyboard. It's been a revelation compared to my M122. The touch is much lighter, with a longer travel past the actuation point. I'm really, really hoping that the beam spring Ellipse is making feels just like it. I don't care about the sound, just the touch.

Had a similar experience but with an F122. Hoping the B122 is another step up.

[dodddummy]

I haven't seen an update in a while. Is there one?

Is this the best place to monitor for updates?

[genericusername57]

I haven't seen an update in a while. Is there one?

Is this the best place to monitor for updates?

Keep an eye on the F-models thread too since updates seem to leak into there as well, but otherwise yes.

[thefarside]

I haven't seen an update in a while. Is there one?

Is this the best place to monitor for updates?

You can subscribe to the newsletter on the website: https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/

[Ellipse]

Beam Spring project update:

I received the B104 Round 2 sample by air mail last week and sent the factory some feedback. The new PCB was slightly misaligned so some keys were not working correctly and there were some small other issues so the factory will be working on remaking this sample and making the other keyboard model samples for approval. While we wait for that, the factory has also been working on producing and assembling all of the beam modules so that they will be ready to install on the other parts.

The beam project has taken longer than expected and should be going out to everyone later this year, several months after the Round 2 Model F keyboards. This may be the only production run of new beam spring keyboards, so I want to make them as nice as possible, even if it takes extra time. As always if you prefer not to wait you can switch your order to the Round 1 beam spring option by emailing me, since there is still some stock remaining of the Round 1 boards.