deskthority

Anakey wrote: i would say just message them and confirm what plate to get, they probably will do the alps plate just not enough demand for it to be in their store

I've tried asking and all they have said is that they don't carry/make anything of the sort. :c

I (not so recently) purchased a PCB off of Aliexpress, as it supported ALPS and had a 40% layout that I wanted to try out for mobile typing. I got my switches, (Alps SKCM Cream Dampened), and have some keycaps. But I have since hit a brick wall. I need to get a case for this thing, and although I ...

This is actually a project I've had for awhile too, for a few years in fact. I have some plates from the TI-99/4A which would work but I don't have any cases and haven't gotten around to designing my own. I do have some really cool red and black Cyrillic keycaps though.
It's definitely tricky ...

Okay, so courtesy of Macboarder I ended up getting my hands on an NOS SKCC green PCB and plate combo, but I need help adapting it to usb. I know, I am a complete newbie to adapting projects like this, but I felt that it was a thousand times better than desoldering these switches from their steel ...

Would you happen to have any more information? I'm quite interested in adding a solenoid to one of my boards but I haven't been able to find any information about anyone adding a solenoid that wasn't from an IBM board.

I've seen a few on alliexpress, my trouble is finding one that i could ...

when asking for help about a pcb, it is extremely helpful to post detailed photos of the pcb itself that has the problem, both sides so then we can help with what could be the issue, usually it is fairly simple things however without a photo there is little help that we can give.

The problem with ...

So, after finally finding time to myself I decided that I finally wanted too through with a build. This would be sort of a primer to the one I discussed waaaay far back about SKCC Alps, as I want to familiarize myself with soldering after a long while of not practicing.

Anywho, as I was testing my ...

Last one for today to try and satisfy my curiosity

Anybody have an idea what this is?

https://i.imgur.com/LViNLUU.jpg

macboarder wrote: If you're still looking for switches and/or caps, check your inbox

!!!

Would you happen to have any more information? I'm quite interested in adding a solenoid to one of my boards but I haven't been able to find any information about anyone adding a solenoid that wasn't from an IBM board.

I've seen a few on alliexpress, my trouble is finding one that i could ...

So, I'm working on a compilation of data and was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction! For one of my projects at school, I've taken it upon myself to try and make things interesting and make my project about keyboards. The gist is: does actuation force increase/decrease over ...

Solenoids are pretty standard components, and all they do is jackhammer against the case. Technically you could use other solenoids as well.

Would you happen to have any more information? I'm quite interested in adding a solenoid to one of my boards but I haven't been able to find any information ...

Chyros wrote: It's not cheap, but certainly not extortionate. For NOS vintage switches that aren't otherwise easy to get hold of I'd say it's pretty decent.

Is there a similar way of buying solenoids?

It was on eBay for a while, I think they're on Taobao now. I don't have a link myself, but I'm sure someone here does :) .
Thanks a million!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ALPS-Vintage-Keyboard-Switch-SKCCAF002A-New-Original-Macintosh-Cream-New-100-pc/182551024398

Same seller has other auctions for ...

Chyros wrote: I've had four Futaba boards. None of them were pristine, but all of them were nightmarishly scratchy.

Maybe they are really, really, really sensitive to dirt. Like Alps but more sensitive by an order of magnitude!

Or they could just be naturally awful like leaf springs.

Chyros wrote: Looks like Futaba linears. Extremely horrible in my experience xD .

They feel really scratchy, I dunno if its from how dirty the thing is or if it's just the switches

Chyros wrote: You can buy SKCC NOS, there's an enormous stock of them left.

Really? From where?

The name does kinda make you think the board isnt as great as it is

Exactly! The name is not worthy of such a great keyboard. Of course it does "ping" like many vintage KB's. :roll:

I might very well just use the switches from the TRS-80, they seemed to be in pretty fair condition anyhow, the ...

I have no idea. He has not been around DT for a while now. :roll:
I was about to say the same but I checked his account and it said he was active today. He just lurks lately.

Oh, but there's no reason for him to lurk. :roll: But it's a free world, or should I say a free internet.
Not for long ...

Well, this thing is not a keyboard, its a calculator. I know what it is, its a Victor 1665, but the switches are whats weird to me. Any ideas? Sorry the pictures are awful, its basically cross mount black switches. Definitely not MX, for sure.

https://imgur.com/gallery/lE7qo

Sorry can't tell you ...

Well, this thing is not a keyboard, its a calculator. I know what it is, its a Victor 1665, but the switches are whats weird to me. Any ideas? Sorry the pictures are awful, its basically cross mount black switches. Definitely not MX, for sure.

https://imgur.com/gallery/lE7qo

I also own the IBM "Pingmaster" (hate that name) but I could never sacrifice any part of it for anything else but I like the idea of your project!

https://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/ibm-part-no-6112884-t11815.html?hilit=IBM%205954339%20Part%20No.%206112884
The name does kinda make you think the ...

Right, I'm not saying either are "easy" to deal with. There are people who can do that much better than others.
Aw I'm just joking around. I'm not willing to test my luck with disassembly though. The TRS 80 didn't look too dirty when I got it, though. Just a bit stiff overall, but I think that ...

They can be disassembled like SKCM.

Nope, not in the same way. Much more tedious to open them. Close to impossible for many like myself. You and consideringquiet may be able to do so with "ease" on the other hand. ;)

I actually might end up taking out some SKCC Greens from an IBM Pingmaster ...

They can be disassembled like SKCM.

Nope, not in the same way. Much more tedious to open them. Close to impossible for many like myself. You and consideringquiet may be able to do so with "ease" on the other hand. ;)
Nope, not me! I had to take apart an Orange Alps switch because of a broken off ...

Also used SKCC switches can feel really shitty and cannot be cleaned like SKCM. S

Why can they not be cleaned? They can be disassembled like SKCM.
I think he means that they cant be disassembled while still soldered in. Or that they are incredibly difficult to put back together.

I don't have ...

I'm curious to know what you think about plate springs, I have tried out one of the IBM laptops with plate springs and thought it was too odd feeling to use. It has the same issue that all plate springs seem to have which is the up stroke is louder and snappier then the down stroke.

It reminds me ...

Chyros wrote: Please note that SKCC caps use a different mount from MX caps, so sourcing nonstandard ones will be tricky .

Oh I'm just gonna use the cross mount caps from the TRS-80

Also used SKCC switches can feel really shitty and cannot be cleaned like SKCM. So you better find new ones or be sure they are clean which might not be easy. Sounds like a cool project, good luck!
I actually might end up taking out some SKCC Greens from an IBM Pingmaster that I have, new old ...