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Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 27 Aug 2021, 01:47
by SK-8K
I am working on this idea I had, I got a Dell Quietkey SK-8000 and I am trying to convert it into a mechanical keyboard.
I modified the case with a dremel tool and now I am working on a PCB to replace the original membrane circuits:
- dqk.png (4.88 MiB) Viewed 12855 times
- sk-800 pcb.PNG (32.61 KiB) Viewed 12855 times
The PCB will bolt to the original backplate of the keyboard with M2 fasteners. There will be a sheet of kapton to insulate it from the PCB.
It is a slow process to probe the contacts of the membrane.
Any tips and tricks are appreciated.
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 27 Aug 2021, 12:57
by Findecanor
If you had measured the spacing between key groups, and they had been 1/2 and 1/4 keys, then you could have used a PCB and plate for a Filco Majestouch or similar, because that is quite common.
It looks like vertical spacing between the alphanumeric section and function key row is 1/2u anyway.
BTW, are you going to use quiet switches in your QuietKey ?
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 28 Aug 2021, 00:12
by SK-8K
If this PCB design works, I will have 5 from JLCPCB. The first prototype I will use these cheap MX Blue knockoffs, so it will be a LOUD key! I do want to build some more with better switches including quiet switches like the new silent T1s.
So if anyone has junk SK-8000s, hang on to them so I can mod them in the future!
I can't use an existing PCB there is a 7.05 mm island between the key groups which isn't standard.
An ALPS version is possible in the future but it would require special plate design and more modifications to the top case. I used an ALPS/Cherry hybrid footprint on this PCB
In the future I want to do similar projects with the Dell Oval and IBM/Lenovo Preferred Pro keyboards.
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 05 Sep 2021, 02:19
by SK-8K
PCB is now in production, hopefully I did everything right.
- Capture.PNG (56.57 KiB) Viewed 12668 times
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 05 Sep 2021, 02:21
by SK-8K
I decided to do Cherry only for now to save on drill costs. In the future I may just make my own controller board because tracing out the matrix was very stressful to do. Maybe I will use this controller:
https://www.sprintek.com/en/products/ke ... K5126.aspx
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 10 Sep 2021, 01:55
by SK-8K
PCB test:
- DSC04564.jpg (1.07 MiB) Viewed 12518 times
- DSC04563.jpg (1.35 MiB) Viewed 12518 times
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 18 Sep 2021, 07:20
by SK-8K
- DSC04569.png (3.91 MiB) Viewed 12464 times
- DSC04577.png (3.18 MiB) Viewed 12464 times
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 18 Sep 2021, 13:41
by Rayndalf
I reccomend just using a pro micro and QMK.
But that might work as well.
Do you have any extra PCBs?
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 18 Sep 2021, 18:27
by SK-8K
I have 3 extras which I will use. I am making a Revision 2 PCB which I will release to the public. It will correct some misallignment issues and hole placement and will have support for ALPS and I-Rocks switches.
On Ebay I have found some 0.6mm plastic pieces that I will use instead of the backplate.This prototype just has foam there.
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 26 Sep 2021, 03:45
by SK-8K
2nd build started,the Dremel cuts are much cleaner this time. Switches: YOK trash pandas switches.
- DSC04581.png (3.61 MiB) Viewed 12196 times
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 29 Sep 2021, 02:00
by SK-8K
Without any lubrication, foam, etc. these switches have quite a deep sound in the QuietKey chassis! It may sound better when I install the plastic sheets I got to support the PCB.
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 03 Oct 2021, 03:15
by SK-8K
This one will be my new daily driver. Too bad the Geekhack scumbag moderators won't see it.
- DSC04597.JPG (1.61 MiB) Viewed 11903 times
4:3 gang!
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 08 Oct 2021, 04:44
by Rayndalf
SK-8K wrote: ↑03 Oct 2021, 03:15
This one will be my new daily driver. Too bad the Geekhack scumbag moderators won't see it.
DSC04597.JPG
4:3 gang!
Really looks solid. Does the PCB support winkeyless as well (winkeyless Quietkeys exists but they might have a different controller/matrix)?
What happened with the GH mods? They can be a bit up tight but I haven't had any bad experiences myself.
At least GH actually has mods
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 08 Oct 2021, 11:33
by Muirium
Rayndalf wrote: ↑08 Oct 2021, 04:44
At least GH actually has mods
Indeed!
I've long been on the record as one in favour of more moderation here: kicking shit-stirrers and politics trolls. (Keyboard trolling is fine.) Better and for worse, Webwit was always against intervention. I wasn't around for the Ripster Incident. I imagine it must have involved
noodles.
Hopefully Someone's still deleting spam these days…
GH, meanwhile, has a longstanding reputation for dodgy moderation in its marketplace. Fingers on the scales and such.
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 08 Oct 2021, 14:49
by fohat
Rayndalf wrote: ↑08 Oct 2021, 04:44
What happened with the GH mods?
It was over a string of anti-vax related posts.
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 08 Oct 2021, 15:44
by Muirium
Because a keyboard forum is definitely the place to go for your data on epidemiology.
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 09 Oct 2021, 01:06
by SK-8K
It was an off-topic thread and I just casually floated some experiences and opinions on the subject because I was bored.
They shadowbanned and eventually fully-banned me when a simple "I disagree, and here's why..." would have sufficed.
Why not let fellow keyboard nerds be adults and respectfully chat, even if our opinions on a subject are radically different?
But I've moved on from all that, Deskthority and Nexthority are my home bases now to continue making cool keyboards.
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 09 Oct 2021, 01:13
by Rayndalf
Geekhack has countless subforums. I haven't been in most of them.
They seem like weird little caves.
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 20 Sep 2022, 21:14
by ifohancroft
Do you happen to have any progress on the project?
Re: Dell rubber dome conversion to Mechanical (Quietkey SK-8000)
Posted: 22 Sep 2022, 16:54
by SK-8K