deskthority

The cheapo plastic case might actually give you the best acoustics. CNC aluminum looks nice and it gives heft to the board that many people like, but I think metal cases are overrated. I value acoustics over mere poundage (although I am typing this on my new F62, which has a cast zinc-alloy case tha...

@Ellipse: Yes, I think that it would be good to go with QMK. However, I have not been back to the QMK beta GUI; for my second F62 setup, I simply flashed the chip with my previously configured hex file. In addition, I have not tested QMK with solenoids, buzzers, and Lock LEDs -- I do not have any of...

@darkcruix: Thank you again. @Ellipse: Another vote for QMK. For my second F62 setup, I went straight to QMK beta and flashed the chip with my previously configured hex file. No fiddling with current thresholds; everything was immediately ready to go. I've also experienced no spurious keypresses or ...

@Ellipse: Thanks for the explanation. I like the font on my original IBM XT keys. The custom font reminds me of the font on the IBM P70. The keyboard on this luggable used SKCP Alps switches and the keycaps were very thin. The font had a bolded look compared to that on the IBM XT keyboard. It appear...

Thanks, @darkcruix! Your photos confirm what my poor eyesight was telling me.

However, the thick font on the new key doesn't look like dye bleed to me. It seems too consistent. It's as if they were using bold face or some heavier variant of Helvetica.

Yep, the legends are too close to the top, and horizontal placement is inconsistent. The weighting of the typeface also seems too heavy. I am looking at the legends on my IBM XT keys, and they appear to be thinner.

@funkmon: Even the F62 has two superfluous keys, but the F107 is beyond the pale (although at least it stopped before going all the way to 122). I do, however, like the look of widescreen-format keyboards (and I have to admit that I have an F107 in my collection, waiting to be restored and converted...

Feet : Here is a pic of the self-adhesive feet that I attached to my F62: feet2a.jpg The front corners have small hemispherical bumpers. The rear corners have conical bumpers. I like the cone-shaped feet, because you can get the desired height with a smaller base than would be the case with hemisph...

SneakyRobb wrote: ↑

27 Jul 2020, 01:14

zrrion wrote: ↑

26 Jul 2020, 03:19

The benefit of starting a new thread is you can actually update the OP with the progress of the project, can't do that in someone else's thread

fair point

I would be okay either way. The important thing is that the project gets continued.

My current keyboard has a usb-b mount and I usually detach it at least once a day, so I guess I'm gonna have to install a panel mount as well. Thanks for the guide! You are very welcome! Although the guide describes installation of a USB-C connector, the general procedure could be adapted for other...

Does the classic case not have a detachable cable? The store page said the cable was replaceable via a USB-C port, but is that on the inside of the case? If so then I'll probably have to do the same mod once mine arrives. No, the classic case does not have a cable that is detachable from outside th...

@rgleas: You've summed up quite nicely why the HHKB form factor and layout is so highly praised... The F62 in the HHKB configuration has what I regard as the ideal form factor and layout served up in a heavy-duty package with arguably the best-ever clicky switches. For those who have transitioned f...

USB-C Panel-Mount Connector Installed in my newest Ellipse F62 Keyboard: For those who might be interested in installing a panel-mount USB-C connector in your standard-case F62 or F77 keyboards, I have posted an easy method with some pics in a new thread in the Workshop Section of DT: https://deskt...

This weekend, I set up my second new Ellipse F62 keyboard and installed a USB-C panel-mount connector. I promised to show some pics, so here they are: cutout1a.jpg The cutout involved drilling two holes for the mounting screws and using small hand files to enlarge the rectangular opening that was al...

gianni wrote: ↑

26 Jul 2020, 17:16

Obviously, hypersphere you agree because that's what you wrote some time ago I found it by chance. I just made the quote more clear

Va bene!

@gianni: I definitely agree with your qualitative assessment of the sound and feel of Model F vs. Model M switches: "The F feels more precise with a sharp metallic click; the M feels raspy with more of a plastic on plastic sound." This is exactly how I would sum up my impressions of the two switch t...

Here are the closest quantitative comparisons I could find between Model M and Model F switches with respect to peak actuation force and total energy (area under the force-displacement curve). These were each measured by HaaTa: IBM_M.png IBM_FAT.png According to these measurements, the peak actuatio...

kmnov2017 wrote: ↑

25 Jul 2020, 22:24

I don't seen a reason why we don't continue the topic here. It's still very much relevant to the original intent of the project. If lot_lizard isn't coming back, we might as well try keep this project going...

I agree!

Floss Mod: Mint or Regular? This is not meant to be a facetious question! While searching the net for Oral-B Superfloss, the only kind I could find was mint-flavored. This might be a bit of a stretch, but given that imparting a mint flavor would have to involve a chemical treatment of the floss, it ...

@Admiral: The white stabilizer insert should be flush with the top of the barrel. I had difficulty pushing it in all the way until I put a thin coating of SuperLube synthetic oil on the insert -- after that, a firm push and it was properly seated. However, I recall seeing a post wherein someone said...

@BucklingSprings: I share your enthusiasm for the Ellipse Model F reproductions. However, whereas Cherry mx (and clones) are my least favorite type of switches (although in my estimation silent linears are the best among these), I think there are keyboards employing mx-type switches that have excell...

@newtype: If you are building a custom Alps TKL, are you also building the case, or do you have sources in mind for TKL cases? I agree with your assessment of acoustics. I have a 60% with Matias Click switches that I transplanted from the original plastic case into a TEX aluminum case, and the switc...

Could the xwhatsit solenoid toggle command be implemented in QMK?

How about doubleshot PBT to get white legends on black keys? Possibly this could be done with the top piece of two-piece keys, but even so, tooling up for it would no doubt be cost-prohibitive.

@rgleas: Have you found a way to toggle the solenoid by issuing a keyboard command?

The solenoid should also serve as a stimulus for others within earshot -- although you might not appreciate the response to the stimulus!

Sounds good! Nevertheless, I think I'll do without the solenoid.

I'm in awe of anyone who can type 110+ wpm with high accuracy!

Going to see if I can get a heavier feel in my F62 by installing some of these:

Model M = membrane buckling spring. Model F = capacitive buckling spring. Although both Model M and Model F switches use a buckling spring, the model F switching mechanism is based on capacitance sensing. The switch does not close a circuit like the mechanism in, say, a Cherry mx switch. There is a ...

@Roger789: The problem might be the silicone grease. Did you use this to lubricate each of the switches? Grease can literally "gum up the works" on this type of keyboard switch. Another possibility is that cleaning the PCB disrupted some of the traces.

Has anyone here done a "sound and feel" comparison between new XT-quality keys and original keys from an IBM XT on their new F62 and/or F77?