Beam Spring 104+SSK Reproduction Project! First Batch In Stock, Shipping early next year after New Model F Project

[turbosquid]

This is the colour I picked when ordering mine, I can safely say these photos further validate my choice I can’t wait to have mine, I think I’ll be typing with it all week long!

[Ellipse]

Yes confirmed; these are one of the two available options of production sets. The sets all completed production a while back and they are great quality.

[jmaynard]

I'm waiting with bated breath to see an actual 122-key version of this, completed...

[thefarside]

Ellipse, I thought there was a version of the beam spring case that had a dip in it and that could be used as a pen holder. Is there a version of that case planned or is the one shown the only one available. It doesn’t matter to me if it has it or not but was curious.

[genericusername57]

Ellipse, I thought there was a version of the beam spring case that had a dip in it and that could be used as a pen holder. Is there a version of that case planned or is the one shown the only one available. It doesn’t matter to me if it has it or not but was curious.

Fairly certain it was a proposed design of the R2 keyboards that was rejected by the community and hence this new design is what he went for (and imo this one looks much better than the one with the curve so I'm all for it).

[Ellipse]

As an update, the beam springs themselves can now be ordered separately here:
https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product ... ng-extras/

They are IBM spec and some folks have used them to repair original rusty or damaged IBM beam springs.

Yes confirmed; that original proposal was not selected for production.

[genericusername57]

Just checking, are there any B62 without any kinds of split shift etc? Seems both of the ones on the product page has some kind of splitting going on. Thinking about getting a 60% as well while I don't have to pay double shipping for it.

[Ellipse]

Nope, only the listed models (plus the custom ones mentioned on that page) are available.

[genericusername57]

Nope, only the listed models (plus the custom ones mentioned on that page) are available.

Fair enough. Looks like the supplied keycaps will cover the layouts though?

[Ellipse]

Not necessarily - as noted on the product pages you would want to check the production keycap photos to see if they cover your desired key arrangement. From what I can see, the sets include the 1U | \, 1U Fn, 1.75U Right Shift, but not a 1.5 backspace, 1.75 Ctrl, or 1.25 caps lock. As noted earlier, the factories cannot make extra keys as it would require additional molds due to the double shot injection molding process.

[jmaynard]

I've been doing work on Hercules with a real 3279 and its keyboard. It's been a revelation compared to my M122. The touch is much lighter, with a longer travel past the actuation point. I'm really, really hoping that the beam spring Ellipse is making feels just like it. I don't care about the sound, just the touch.

[genericusername57]

I've been doing work on Hercules with a real 3279 and its keyboard. It's been a revelation compared to my M122. The touch is much lighter, with a longer travel past the actuation point. I'm really, really hoping that the beam spring Ellipse is making feels just like it. I don't care about the sound, just the touch.

Same for me, even though I haven't ever typed on an actual beamspring by the description it sounds as if it's exactly what I'm looking for. I'm not sure I've ever seen a review that comments on the switch feel compared to an original one though but on the other hand I haven't heard someone say it's vastly different either. Chyrosran said something like "different" in his teardown but didn't elaborate.

[dodddummy]

I've been doing work on Hercules with a real 3279 and its keyboard. It's been a revelation compared to my M122. The touch is much lighter, with a longer travel past the actuation point. I'm really, really hoping that the beam spring Ellipse is making feels just like it. I don't care about the sound, just the touch.

Had a similar experience but with an F122. Hoping the B122 is another step up.

[dodddummy]

I haven't seen an update in a while. Is there one?

Is this the best place to monitor for updates?

[genericusername57]

I haven't seen an update in a while. Is there one?

Is this the best place to monitor for updates?

Keep an eye on the F-models thread too since updates seem to leak into there as well, but otherwise yes.

[thefarside]

I haven't seen an update in a while. Is there one?

Is this the best place to monitor for updates?

You can subscribe to the newsletter on the website: https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/

[Ellipse]

Beam Spring project update:

I received the B104 Round 2 sample by air mail last week and sent the factory some feedback. The new PCB was slightly misaligned so some keys were not working correctly and there were some small other issues so the factory will be working on remaking this sample and making the other keyboard model samples for approval. While we wait for that, the factory has also been working on producing and assembling all of the beam modules so that they will be ready to install on the other parts.

The beam project has taken longer than expected and should be going out to everyone later this year, several months after the Round 2 Model F keyboards. This may be the only production run of new beam spring keyboards, so I want to make them as nice as possible, even if it takes extra time. As always if you prefer not to wait you can switch your order to the Round 1 beam spring option by emailing me, since there is still some stock remaining of the Round 1 boards.

[Eeyore]

Hopefully the factory has got some new samples to you. Looking forward to getting my order!

[Meme_Screen]

Is a beam spring F50 macro pad likely?

I would be down for this, but an ergo version is also an option. It's kind of hard to go back to ergo keyboards without keywells though. If it had one I would jump on it in a heartbeat


Also want to add that I also think USB-B is the better connector for a big heavy keyboard than USB-C. I wouldn't mind paying extra for a board to swap the USB-C one out with it. No idea how many people would be interested in something like this, but I'm sure Wendell from Level1Techs would be interested in it.

[jmaynard]

Which USB-B? The original square, the mini that nobody uses any more, or the micro that's still hanging on?

Me, I prefer USB-C, anyway. Easier to deal with.

And I know Wendell (and have done a video with him)...might ask his opinion on the subject.

[genericusername57]

And I know Wendell (and have done a video with him)...might ask his opinion on the subject.

He has an entire video on the subject of USB C vs USB B on keyboards. It's the one about the beam spring R1 keyboard, but rest assured that the keyboard is only mentioned briefly in passing. The core of the video is about why you should use USB B instead of C.

[Ellipse]

As an update the factory sent some photos of the non-powdercoated production parts. They expect to powdercoat them and finish everything up in the next week or so. There were some errors with the top inner assemblies so they need to be adjusted to center the keys relative to the case edges (they are about 1mm too close to the top left or top right of the case for the moment). This week the PCB factory is wrapping up production and assembly of the first order of new controllers and large capacitive beam spring PCBs. Producing these samples has taken far longer than expected but I want the factory to get everything right and make these new beam spring keyboards the best that they can be.

My post from May still holds correct as of now: The beam project has taken longer than expected and should be going out to everyone later this year, several months after the Round 2 Model F keyboards. This may be the only production run of new beam spring keyboards, so I want to make them as nice as possible, even if it takes extra time. As always if you prefer not to wait you can switch your order to the Round 1 beam spring option by emailing me, since there is still some stock remaining of the Round 1 boards.

[dodddummy]

Thanks for the update. I have a b122 on order and am curious if the plan is for those to go out at about the same time as other layouts or will they come later?

[Ellipse]

Same time for all the beam spring Round 2 models

[Nikki2981]

The sample photos from a little while ago look awesome! Am curious if there will be enough room around back for me to mod a detachable cable into it like there just barely is in the F77, since I've had an idea that would be particularly bold if I end up with the room needed to pull it off...

[Ellipse]

Yes most likely; there is a lot of extra room in the beam spring Round 2 cases.

[dodddummy]

As we approach the last 3rd of the year, is there an update?

[Ellipse]

Production update:

The factory has had to make several samples this year as the previous samples had some errors and needed to be remade. They expect to finish up the set of samples in the next two weeks. The last thing to fix compared to the previous sample was just a few mm adjustment of the case opening, nothing too difficult, so these will be the final samples for my review. I am not taking any chances: the samples have to be acceptable before we proceed. As I mentioned last month, this may be the only production run of new beam spring keyboards, so I want to make them as nice as possible, even if it takes extra time. As always if you prefer not to wait you can switch your order to the Round 1 beam spring option by emailing me, since there is still some stock remaining of the Round 1 boards.

The beam spring modules themselves were approved months ago so we are just waiting on the case and inner assembly plates to be approved before production and assembly can proceed.

[ngnx]

Does this mean we will get our keyboards this year?

[Ellipse]

Not sure, could be end of this year or early next year.