Let's create the FSSK/FEXT = DONE !!!!
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- i$
- Location: Germany (Frankfurt area)
- Main keyboard: IBM F or M
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
alh84001 has proposed to check if we could create a PCB for the 73X38xx, 09F4230 boards here -> post300979.html#p300979
I think that it is worth reviewing it and check if the effort would pay off.
Does anyone knows where can one find pictures of the internals of one of these ?
Or even better, where to get one at a decent price ?
I think that it is worth reviewing it and check if the effort would pay off.
Does anyone knows where can one find pictures of the internals of one of these ?
Or even better, where to get one at a decent price ?
- alh84001
- v.001
- Location: EU-HR-ZG
- Main keyboard: unsaver
- Main mouse: logitech m305 / apple trackpad
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
Quoting wcass here
1. curved plates
2. top plastic plate
3. back metal plate
I've never seen one live, let alone handled it, so I don't know the feel of these plates, their thickness and so on, so I will let someone else chime in on this.
Now, I realize that FSSK only requires PCB and controller (and as I'm in the middle of getting stuff for the XTant, I sometimes get these two kind of mixed up in my head), but still, just as a thought experiment, would it be possible to convert non-F unsavers to F a-la XTant? Would anything else be needed except top plate and PCB? Could a M122 top plate be adapted for use here?
True. They were not even built by IBM. However, and forgive me if I'm talking out of my a$$ here, but they seem to share the same broad build-style:wcass wrote: ↑IIRC, the non-F unsavers are NOT Model M unsavers.
Trying to convert it to an F would be like trying to convert a Logitech to an F.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=7377.0
1. curved plates
2. top plastic plate
3. back metal plate
I've never seen one live, let alone handled it, so I don't know the feel of these plates, their thickness and so on, so I will let someone else chime in on this.
Now, I realize that FSSK only requires PCB and controller (and as I'm in the middle of getting stuff for the XTant, I sometimes get these two kind of mixed up in my head), but still, just as a thought experiment, would it be possible to convert non-F unsavers to F a-la XTant? Would anything else be needed except top plate and PCB? Could a M122 top plate be adapted for use here?
- alh84001
- v.001
- Location: EU-HR-ZG
- Main keyboard: unsaver
- Main mouse: logitech m305 / apple trackpad
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-73X3832-Key ... OSwhcJWQ58~Scarpia wrote: ↑There's one on recycledgoods for around $60 if I remember correctly.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-09F4230-TYP ... SwAuNW5ukt
Quite expensive.
- Redmaus
- Gotta start somewhere
- Location: Near Dallas, Texas
- Main keyboard: Unsaver
- Main mouse: Zowie ZA12
- Favorite switch: Capacitative Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: -
I have one. Whatever measurements you need I can provide.
I got it so I might be able to use it as an extra case for the unsaver, but I think it's too small.
I still think I am gonna cut my OG case, but if I find an alternative I will use that instead.
I got it so I might be able to use it as an extra case for the unsaver, but I think it's too small.
I still think I am gonna cut my OG case, but if I find an alternative I will use that instead.
- fohat
- Elder Messenger
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Main keyboard: Model F 122-key terminal
- Main mouse: Microsoft Optical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Model F Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0158
I have a Model F "Unsaver" but the sticker on the back says "Model M" and it is dated 1996.
My guess is that it was serviced or refurbished at that time, stickered with a "for-IBM-by-Lexmark" sticker, and resold or sent back to its regular owner.
My guess is that it was serviced or refurbished at that time, stickered with a "for-IBM-by-Lexmark" sticker, and resold or sent back to its regular owner.
- Attachments
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- F-unsaver-2016-label (Medium).JPG (119.64 KiB) Viewed 1849 times
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- F-unsaver-2016-rear (Medium).JPG (143.22 KiB) Viewed 1849 times
- Redmaus
- Gotta start somewhere
- Location: Near Dallas, Texas
- Main keyboard: Unsaver
- Main mouse: Zowie ZA12
- Favorite switch: Capacitative Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: -
You have an Unsaver Fohat???? 
Wow nice! You have the regular version with cable, I think mine is the CAD one. I have the CAD Unsaver and the rubberdome one discussed above.
Have you converted it yet?

Wow nice! You have the regular version with cable, I think mine is the CAD one. I have the CAD Unsaver and the rubberdome one discussed above.
Have you converted it yet?
- fohat
- Elder Messenger
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Main keyboard: Model F 122-key terminal
- Main mouse: Microsoft Optical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Model F Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0158
Redmaus wrote: ↑
Have you converted it yet?
I did the ANSI mod and added 3 bolts to firm up the action but I left the original controller and cable in place.
After installing a few internal Teensies, I usually just plug them into an outboard converter these days.
- wcass
- Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Main keyboard: ibm model m
- Main mouse: kensington expert mouse
- Favorite switch: buckeling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0185
These 3 would help:Redmaus wrote: ↑I have one. Whatever measurements you need I can provide.
I got it so I might be able to use it as an extra case for the unsaver, but I think it's too small.
I still think I am gonna cut my OG case, but if I find an alternative I will use that instead.
Thickness of the plate assembly (bottom plate - top plate inclusive)
height of switch + cap (bottom plate - top of cap inclusive)
front "lip" of switch (distance from front edge of spacebar cap to front edge of top plate)
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- i$
- Location: Germany (Frankfurt area)
- Main keyboard: IBM F or M
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
And any information about the hole for the switchwcass wrote: ↑These 3 would help:Redmaus wrote: ↑I have one. Whatever measurements you need I can provide.
I got it so I might be able to use it as an extra case for the unsaver, but I think it's too small.
I still think I am gonna cut my OG case, but if I find an alternative I will use that instead.
Thickness of the plate assembly (bottom plate - top plate inclusive)
height of switch + cap (bottom plate - top of cap inclusive)
front "lip" of switch (distance from front edge of spacebar cap to front edge of top plate)
We could try to take all the switches away and replace them with barrels ....

- wcass
- Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Main keyboard: ibm model m
- Main mouse: kensington expert mouse
- Favorite switch: buckeling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0185
Yeah, that would be best. If you don't already have one, consider getting a cheap one (under $5). We don't need high accuracy.Redmaus wrote: ↑Should I be using calipers or something to measure?
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- i$
- Location: Germany (Frankfurt area)
- Main keyboard: IBM F or M
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
I have decided to open the FSSK v1.00 users manual: FSSK v1.00 - Installation & Users Manual 

- Hypersphere
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Silenced & Lubed HHKB (Black)
- Main mouse: Logitech G403
- Favorite switch: Topre 45/55g Silenced; Various Alps; IBM Model F
- DT Pro Member: 0038
Thanks for posting the FSSK v 1.00 User's Manual! This is greatly appreciated! Nice work.
For now, a couple of things occurred to me:
1. It seems like there ought to be a way to get a rubber mat to work in the FSSK, but I have not tried this yet.
2. Is it necessary to heat-bend the PCB, or could it be installed onto the curved plate without pre-bending?
For now, a couple of things occurred to me:
1. It seems like there ought to be a way to get a rubber mat to work in the FSSK, but I have not tried this yet.
2. Is it necessary to heat-bend the PCB, or could it be installed onto the curved plate without pre-bending?
- need
- Location: United Kingdom
- DT Pro Member: -
from my memory someone did it without bending the PCBHypersphere wrote: ↑Thanks for posting the FSSK v 1.00 User's Manual! This is greatly appreciated! Nice work.
For now, a couple of things occurred to me:
1. It seems like there ought to be a way to get a rubber mat to work in the FSSK, but I have not tried this yet.
2. Is it necessary to heat-bend the PCB, or could it be installed onto the curved plate without pre-bending?
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- i$
- Location: Germany (Frankfurt area)
- Main keyboard: IBM F or M
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
My experience is that with the rubber mat between the flippers and the PCB one will get problems in registering the keys.Hypersphere wrote: ↑Thanks for posting the FSSK v 1.00 User's Manual! This is greatly appreciated! Nice work.
For now, a couple of things occurred to me:
1. It seems like there ought to be a way to get a rubber mat to work in the FSSK, but I have not tried this yet.
This is due to the uneven distribution of pressure across the board
I have not tried to mount an FSSK without bending the PCB.
2. Is it necessary to heat-bend the PCB, or could it be installed onto the curved plate without pre-bending?
The force that the PCB would do, would be to high for the plastic barrel plate. I would not recommend to test the FSSK if the PCB is not curved first.
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- i$
- Location: Germany (Frankfurt area)
- Main keyboard: IBM F or M
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
I have a working FEXT prototype without any problem !!!
As it should be, I am typing this post with the first of the FEXT, based on the PCB v1.00b with the XMIT keys (which I have not tested as I do not feel like breaking the case that I have)
I will post this in various threads where the PCB is discussed.
As it should be, I am typing this post with the first of the FEXT, based on the PCB v1.00b with the XMIT keys (which I have not tested as I do not feel like breaking the case that I have)
I will post this in various threads where the PCB is discussed.
Last edited by idollar on 21 May 2016, 21:47, edited 1 time in total.
- Halvar
- Location: Baden, DE
- Main keyboard: IBM Model M SSK / Filco MT 2
- Favorite switch: Beam & buckling spring, Monterey, MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: 0051
That's brilliant news! I'm in the middle of building mine, but can't do any more today. I was confident that you would have no errors in the design, but with the capacitive sensing, you never know what happens. So it's good to know you built it with success.
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- i$
- Location: Germany (Frankfurt area)
- Main keyboard: IBM F or M
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
Thank you Halvar, It is very kind of you. This PCB was redesign to accommodate what I call the XMIT Keys. These are between the ALT and the Control Keys. To use them, one has to cut the case and somehow insert a barrel in the middle.Halvar wrote: ↑That's brilliant news! I'm in the middle of building mine, but can't do any more today. I was confident that you would have no errors in the design, but with the capacitive sensing, you never know what happens. So it's good to know you built it with success.
I think I will not do it. My boards are too good to break them

I am typing with it. Still adjusting the threshold. The autocalibration reports 132. I am using 130 without problems.
- tentator
- Location: ZH, CH
- Main keyboard: MX blue tentboard
- Main mouse: Pointing Stick
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX Blue and Model F BS
- DT Pro Member: -
as said i$ in the other thread, i will then first start converting my unicomp to model f with your pcb for FEXT. If you already have one I could happily test for you the xmit keys since the unicomp already has the barrels for those keys there
I can receive post in germany so to reduce shipping and time, just let me know.
I think I'll do this first and then at a later point think after learning this process how to do, if at all, something like an FUNSAVER (nice name eh?
) starting from an M122 and chopping the numpad (Actually what could be done is to reuse the case from a rubber dome unsaver and cut only the barrel plate of the m122, the pcb should then be already of correct size).. yes still dreaming, but let's do it one step at a time 
tent:wq

I can receive post in germany so to reduce shipping and time, just let me know.
I think I'll do this first and then at a later point think after learning this process how to do, if at all, something like an FUNSAVER (nice name eh?


tent:wq
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- Location: China
- Favorite switch: F8
- Contact:
It feels so cool, I look forward to your continuous update.
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- Location: 'Murica (New York)
- Main keyboard: Model M, 59G7980
- Main mouse: Dell MS111
- Favorite switch: Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: -
...where is the zip?idollar wrote: ↑16 Jan 2016, 09:45Here are the very final files that I have sent to "pcbway".
I just hope that they used this version that I submitted via email after the order was made, I added some instructions in the bottom silk layer to clarify that the pads were only in the connector.
The zip contains the deltacad, diptrace and final gerber files.