Sharp CE-750KU, Serial No 33, SKCL Cream Alps

[Mattr567]

Got this one from XMIT

This is the first example of this keyboard existing, I haven't found any information on it, only that the FCC ID was filed in 1986. The serial number on this Sharp is #33 Which seems absurdly low for such a mass produced product.

The switches are SKCL Cream, which are quite an exception in the Alps world since those are normally spacebar switches to SKCL Green. But like the Bondwell, there are exceptions. That's come to be expected with Alps

Made by Alps Electric, much in the same vain as the DC-2014. Same looking PCB in fact. AT layout, but doesn't work unfortunately AE DS caps. Those stickers were added on by someone else

Anyway pics:








By far the most interesting thing about this keyboard is the giant slab of steel they put over the IC's and stuck to the PCB with huge globs of solder It's separate from the shield on the back of the PCB. Unable to date it since this is blocking my view of the IC's.


Its thicc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FGwrhbcQBQ

[seebart]

Another rare one. Those Sharp, Epson and Canon KB's are usually nice. For an industrial setting with that steel plate?

[Daniel Beardsmore]

"Made by Alps Electric, much in the same vain as the DC-2014. Same looking PCB in fact" — curious, because the DC-2014 was made in Korea. Your PCB doesn't suggest Korea, and cream Alps would be brown in Korea so far as I know.

The Alps logo on the PCB is very clear — that if scanned would be nice basis for drawing the Alps logo in SVG. It's basically like what I drew, except with chunkier writing.

[XMIT]

Mattr567 PM'd me to say the board was not working. That's a bummer, though to be fair, I didn't test it at all before sending it over. I'll try to do a better job of this, but in general, if having the board tested is important to you, please tell me before I send it over!

Looking at the PCB this one supports NKRO since there are diodes for each key position. Also there is a giant capacitor there that likely failed. If I wanted to get this one working, the first thing I'd do is to replace that capacitor. The second thing I'd do is reverse engineer the matrix, desolder the original IC, and wire in a replacement controller.

Also do you know for certain that it doesn't simply require the RESET line to be wired up? Or perhaps it even uses a non-standard protocol?

With a board like this, even if it "doesn't work" when you plug it in with a Soarer's Converter the first time, the case, PCB, plates, switches, key caps, and cable have substantial value. At this point I sort of expect that any recycler find is going to be a project.

[Mattr567]

"Made by Alps Electric, much in the same vain as the DC-2014. Same looking PCB in fact" — curious, because the DC-2014 was made in Korea. Your PCB doesn't suggest Korea, and cream Alps would be brown in Korea so far as I know.

The Alps logo on the PCB is very clear — that if scanned would be nice basis for drawing the Alps logo in SVG. It's basically like what I drew, except with chunkier writing.

Yeah it doesnt look to be Korean. The PCB deftinely has the same design as the 2014 though, visually.

Mattr567 PM'd me to say the board was not working. That's a bummer, though to be fair, I didn't test it at all before sending it over. I'll try to do a better job of this, but in general, if having the board tested is important to you, please tell me before I send it over!

Looking at the PCB this one supports NKRO since there are diodes for each key position. Also there is a giant capacitor there that likely failed. If I wanted to get this one working, the first thing I'd do is to replace that capacitor. The second thing I'd do is reverse engineer the matrix, desolder the original IC, and wire in a replacement controller.

Also do you know for certain that it doesn't simply require the RESET line to be wired up? Or perhaps it even uses a non-standard protocol?

With a board like this, even if it "doesn't work" when you plug it in with a Soarer's Converter the first time, the case, PCB, plates, switches, key caps, and cable have substantial value. At this point I sort of expect that any recycler find is going to be a project.

It does appear to support NKRO.

Thats entirely possible, I havent gotten a peak under that massive steel sheild. It does look to be AT, being a exact clone of the F AT layout. Can't be sure however.

My plan is to use the switches to build a backlit custom TKL. V80 base, NEC 8801 and tai hao olivetti caps, blue LED backlight and a blue tex case. Since the V80 software doesnt support backlighting even though it has the hardware for it im gonna wire it up manually with a SKCL Lock

Im not gonna trash the Sharp though, will keep its guts around for a future project perhaps, its just too cool.

[ohaimark]

It looks... Sharp.

I'll leave now. My work here is done.

[seebart]

It looks... Sharp.

I'll leave now. My work here is done.

Spoiler:

images.duckduckgo.com.jpg (43.53 KiB) Viewed 3267 times

[Mattr567]

Anyone interested in the Sharp? I desoldered it and want to use its chassis for another project but I just dont have time. Excellent build quality Includes caps, no yellowing.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

I guess if someone wants to add old switches (i.e. not Matias or Tai-Hao or what not) they should affix a label to the PCB saying "switches replaced", lest someone later mistake this for having some other kind of switch.

[teebor]

I'd be interested. What were you thinking?