49-Key Model M

[just_add_coffee]

So I got this from Orihalcon.

Here are some pics of IBM Part #1393915. For science!

Model M's capacitive membrane, flippers, and case; Model F's barrel plate and barrels.

IMG_20170427_101828.jpg

[orihalcon]

Looking good! I never really took one of them completely apart, but at least the foam looks decent.

In theory, you could make a Model F PCB and add F flippers, install an xwhatsit and you'd have a true model F! If I had more beyond those, I'd consider doing it, but I don't know if the increase in cost would still leave many people interested.

[rsbseb]

F barrels over membrane, interesting. What's your plan for this board?

[Chyros]

The M's membrane isn't capacitive .

[orihalcon]

True, model M membranes are not capacitative. Was saying you could make a Model F PCB to go under the barrels instead of the membrane, add Xwhatsit controller, and you've got yourself a 50 key Model F.

The template already exists for these PCBs as these are identical internally other than the membrane instead of PCB to a 4704 Model F 50 key. It even has the nubs that hold the F PCB in place. Pretty clear that they re-used all model F tooling for the main board for these M50's and just stuck membranes inside instead.

Just need to reproduce this PCB:

6019273_0007-1024x586.jpg (183.5 KiB) Viewed 1600 times

[just_add_coffee]

What's your plan for this board?

Oh, something like this ...

[just_add_coffee]

I never really took one of them completely apart, but at least the foam looks decent.

That's amazing really! There was a little it of dust and a bit of corrosion on the barrel plate, but between the plates and the membrane itself were very clean. I thought for sure you had gotten in there and cleaned a little bit.