Keycaps for ALPS & Topre?

[Jimi]

It probably doesn't exist keycaps to fit both ALPS and Topre (as far as I could look for it), but the question is: It's possible?

[amospalla]

Caps designed to fit both? That does not exist AFAIK.

[Jimi]

Thanks, I've figured it out, but that's not what I'm asking. Sorry, I think I didn't explain myself very clearly.
I want to know if it's possible in theory. Like if it the measures would allow them both.

[seebart]

NMB dome with slider keycaps fit Topre although that was not your question. There are no keycaps that I know of that fit both ALPS and Topre.

keyboards-f2/hhkb-custom-keycaps-t9782. ... hkb%20caps

wiki/NMB_dome_with_slider

[Jimi]

I have wonderful paint brush skills, so I made this draw to ilustrate my doubt.
The black lines are the switch itself (housing?). The red lines are the keycap mounts.

So the thing is: The keycap mount from Topre can have the whole ALPS housing inside of it?
In other words, a keycap that suits both will have the whole standard Topre circle mount or this wouldn't allow to fit in the ALPS housing? Case 1 or 2?

Or maybe, for some reason i didn't see, it's impossible?

A simple test would suffice. Just need a Topre keycap and the ALPS switch.
I do have a Matias Mini Quiet Pro here but I don't have a Topre KB (i still plan to buy a Leopold 660 at the end of the year) so I can't make this test.

Edit:
FYI, I found this pdf on Signature Plastics showing the mount styles, but it doesn't have a specific Topre mount.
http://www.keycapsdirect.com/pdfs/MountStyles.pdf

[fohat]

At the bottom of the stroke, the underside of the Alps cap is very close to flat up against the switch body.
Whatever you did with the Topre stem, the Alps portion would have to be at the very "mouth" of the opening.

[Chyros]

NMB dome with slider keycaps fit Topre

Wait, what? Oo

[seebart]

NMB dome with slider keycaps fit Topre

Wait, what? Oo

What you did not know that?

[emdude]

I have wonderful paint brush skills, so I made this draw to ilustrate my doubt.
The black lines are the switch itself (housing?). The red lines are the keycap mounts.

So the thing is: The keycap mount from Topre can have the whole ALPS housing inside of it?
In other words, a keycap that suits both will have the whole standard Topre circle mount or this wouldn't allow to fit in the ALPS housing? Case 1 or 2?

I cannot confirm this myself either, but I find it highly unlikely that you can have both. I'd imagine you can only have a slider support one or the other, like MX-mount Novatouch sliders.

Your diagram of the slider looks a lot like the Alps Integrated Dome, so you could probably have Alps-mount Topre sliders designed in a similar vein.

[seebart]

This is one idea that may theoretically be possible to design, actually building or having it built to where both types of keycaps mount properly is a whole task in itself.

[Jimi]

At the bottom of the stroke, the underside of the Alps cap is very close to flat up against the switch body.
Whatever you did with the Topre stem, the Alps portion would have to be at the very "mouth" of the opening.

It's a little hard to visualize what you've said.
But it's a matter of height if I've understood correctly.
I confess that I didn't thought about it.

Well, what whould be the result of this?
The keycap would be higher on Alps switch?

Any image to help me understand?
Thank you, anyway.

I cannot confirm this myself either, but I find it highly unlikely that you can have both. I'd imagine you can only have a slider support one or the other, like MX-mount Novatouch sliders.

Your diagram of the slider looks a lot like the Alps Integrated Dome, so you could probably have Alps-mount Topre sliders designed in a similar vein.

I was thinking more about the keycaps instead of the switch (slider?). Easier, if possible.
Besides, the slider in the case 2 would be fine, but what if the size is more like the case 1?
That would mean that the topre keycaps would have to be different as well. It's against the purpose.

[Chyros]

NMB dome with slider keycaps fit Topre

Wait, what? Oo

No, not a clue oO . Fully compatible, right way up, everything?

[fohat]

It's a little hard to visualize what you've said.
But it's a matter of height if I've understood correctly.
I confess that I didn't thought about it.

Take your Matias switch and press it down, closed.
See how little space there is to work with?
Where will the bulk of the key stem and cap be when the switch is down?

[seebart]

NMB dome with slider keycaps fit Topre

Wait, what? Oo

No, not a clue oO . Fully compatible, right way up, everything?

They fit but don't mount firmly enough so there's quite a bit of wobble. It's not really optimal.

[Chyros]

They fit but don't mount firmly enough so there's quite a bit of wobble. It's not really optimal.

Cool, you learn something new every day I guess .

[seebart]

They fit but don't mount firmly enough so there's quite a bit of wobble. It's not really optimal.

Cool, you learn something new every day I guess .

Oh someone else found out a long time before me, NMB dome with slider keycaps should be way cheaper than Topre caps but due to the lously mount it's not really an option. The Topre switches sound rattly and feel wobbly with the NMB caps.