deskthority

Hi Dick, Again big thanks. I have a bunch of questions but I'll space them out. I have been using a 3d printer with a conductive filament to print beamspring capacitive elements. I have also tried copper tape and a conductive paint for model f capacitive elements that I printed in photo resin. The m...

Welcome! I have plenty of questions, so I'll start with just a few: - Most beamspring keyboards have latching keys (for Caps Lock or Shift Lock), whereas buckling spring keyboards never have. Had they been fully phased out by the time the buckling springs have come about? If they hadn't been so, we...

Welcome, Dick! I have a few questions if that's alright! :) 1. How does it feel that your switch designs have continued to have such an impact and following decades after you designed them? 2. In 1972, you created this switch design ( patent no US3693059A ) that as far as people know, was never imp...

Best two clicky switches of all time. Thank him from all of us on the big blue side of Deskthority! I'd love to know about the history of beamspring's genesis: how did IBM get from the Selectric to the beamspring, and why? What happened along the way? Got any tales of whole other designs which coul...

Hi Dick! It is an honour to be able to communicate with you in some form. Many communities might not be as interested in an inventor of keyboards and switches, but here, it is an honor. I wanted to let you know that I think you have designed some of the greatest keyboard switches to have existed, a...

Hi everyone. This thread will be for questions for Dick Harris inventor of numerous keyboards and their switches including beam and buckling springs. Dick is open to answering questions and interacting with everyone on the forum and has created an account. It was an absolute pleasure speaking with ...

Hi everyone. This thread will be for questions for Dick Harris inventor of numerous keyboards and their switches including beam and buckling springs. Dick is open to answering questions and interacting with everyone on the forum and has created an account. It was an absolute pleasure speaking with y...

Hi, Random thoughts about possible categories. Rebuilds/restoration -Restored items shown with images of restoration Custom builds -Custom builds with their associated guides, maybe the more unique/creative the better. Not related to rarity. For instance I saw a Pro-world MX build from VintKeys was ...

Enjoyed this review thanks

As well if I try to align those pivot points, other areas are not aligned!

Hi, Here is my preliminary comparison from my previous CAD model to the 3d laser scan of the XT flipper. You can see how the pivot points in particular didn't align. This is a great tool to use to compare!! As well the ears on my model are actually a bit further back. My model worked functionally, b...

Hi Robb, Thanks for your work ! I already told you on discord that I used your alps models for checking fit in a custom case, that was incredibly helpful. I also got a resin a week ago, and here's the first replacement part printed for a vintage keyboard. I'm converting a Rohde & Schwarz PCA-Z1 key...

HI, Here is 3D laser scan file. It cost a few many dollars to have made, but I am here to share. It's a bit bumpy! This provides a good comparison point to further refine the previously shared model f model. Or maybe for you to make your own file for production. Using calipers and visual is only so ...

Hi, I was thinking of how to exactly model and test model f flipper. Even if I model it, it's hard to really test with resin. I decided to get a 3D laser scan. While not perfect, it will be a useful mesh file to perfect my existing Cad file. I will get this STL up tomorrow for everyone. In addition ...

Hi,

Here is Gerber as made by Volvo.

Robb

Hi, I had a IBM P70 board that I couldn't get to work. I thought it might be cool to make an ALPS SKCP Plate spring macro pad. User kelvinhall05 aka "Volvo" made the pcb for me. I 3d printed a plastic backing part but it isn't the best. Will need to rework it. Regardless was fun. I used the P70 whic...

darkcruix wrote: ↑

20 Mar 2021, 20:23

Can't wait to hear / see any updates

Hi, this is a good reminder. Sometimes I need to remind myself to do projects. So I do actually appreciate this. Will try to get something out to share soon.

XMIT wrote: ↑

15 Mar 2021, 04:29

elecplus has a bunch of them, we can work on getting one to you.

Hi,

Thanks that would be great. Let me know.

Robb

Very nicely done! Great job

Hi, I want to buy a IBM Model M2 in order to disassemble and model the stabs etc. If anyone has one they are willing to let go I would like to purchase. I want to model the stabilizers and release 3D models for free use. I am also interested in the flippers and general construction as I think it is ...

Regardless of purchaser I've enjoyed my time here and general interactions with all users. I think webwit and Matt3o have made this a great enjoyable community and I've been glad to share the love of keyboard with all of you. Thanks. -Robb

I will try to glue this foil piece now.

I will also remake the switch plate plastic frame so its easier to disassemble.

I also wonder why the insulator piece is asymmetrical. Why is this? There must be a reason. I will think on this.

They look good. I mean the cat hairs :p j/k the do look nice. Hey, thank lel. I measured 0.001" for the foil on the original. I will try 0.003" foil for this big one. I soldering seems annoying. I think I will just try glue at first to attach the foil. I will use siccor to cut the foil and try. Als...

Hi,

So these arrived. Neat.

Will need to figure how to attach brass sheet best. Maybe solder, maybe glue.

I think it might be mirrored... Shouldn't matter! Also cat hair on mouse pad.

Hi, minor update-ish. Didn't want to risk going to my parent house where my CNC is due to pandemic. To make switchplate parts. Want to finish this project though. Decided to just drop cash, broke the bank and ordered some brass full size parts for switch plate. Used shapeways, which is extreme expen...

I've been working on fixing up an old TEC terminal that had a few broken/missing keys and sliders. Managed to get some pretty nice results after a couple test prints. I printed the parts once and measured how far off the critical dimensions were from the actual model (it was consistently oversized ...

This is images of the previous beamcap model to above. Getting better at the scallop indent.

White is a bit hard to make out though.

Additional files.

Newer beamcap row 5. Also SKCM brown tactile blank thing

https://grabcad.com/library/beamspring- ... totype-2-1
https://grabcad.com/library/skcm-brown- ... er-block-2

Hi, Transparent resin is okay but too much UV makes it turn a weird colour. Functionally it's fine. I will get gray next time. Functionally the caps work. The orientation of print made some distort of the top, but I think it's pretty good. I will change the orientation later. The skcm plate is good ...

This was the thought process for this key. I think the indent will be adjusted but I am happy with shape to a degree otherwise. I notice the original one has a more cross pattern and a shallower indent, but I will try this first regardless. I have reduced the filet here and made it more square vs th...