Who is the beam spring meister?

[Wingklip]

I am looking for a man/woman of greatness.

One who possesses the mighty IBM beam spring. (And several spare preferably they can sell to me)

I'm willing to study any board donated or sold to me - I am a part time conspirator with lot_lizard's MF project, and I good sir, wish to construct a replica beam spring in a cherry profile.

I need your help comrades. Whether it be consulting or being open to discussion, design characteristics and dimensions, even aesthetics.

If you believe that you are the one pls post below or PM if you want

xd

[rsbseb]

Muir...

[Wingklip]

Muir...

Who's that?

[micrex22]

I'm personally not for beam springs, but they appear on ebay regularly enough that with queuing searches you're sure to find one.

The beam spring switch is too tall to reduce into a cherry keyboard. If you are serious about it, you'll need CAD software, a factory to produce everything, and expensive equipment to do prototyping on redesigning the switch to fit in low profiles.

If it's simply creating new beam spring keycaps in a cherry profile, you'll still need someone to build injection molds and undergo a lot of prototyping. If you don't have the serious money to do it, it's a hopeless endeavour (not to burn down any bridges).

[seebart]

Many own Beamspring keyboards here at DT. So you are looking to buy one? You don't really need "the beam spring meister" for that. Regarding a replica beam spring in a cherry profile project I agree with micrex22, the biggest challenge will be to redesign the switch and retain the properties of feel and sound. I doubt that will be easy if possible.

[codemonkeymike]

The cost of buying a beamspring board will be <1% of the total cost of redesigning the beamspring keyswitch. Ignoring all the other issues with making major changes to a design and getting the same feel and sound.

[fohat]

If you were in the US I would suggest that you contact Orihalcon.

[XMIT]

lot_lizard has a bunch of these. I'm curious to know why he can't lend you one if you are working with him?

[orihalcon]

Have a few, but no extras at the moment unfortunately. There have been a few times I remember over the last year where a single sellers that would list 3 to 5 at the same time. Just takes patience:)

[rsbseb]

Muir...

Who's that?

Muirium, He is a Beam Spring enthusiast. Doubt he has one for sale though. He may be resource for answers or feedback if he has the time.

[Wingklip]

Nice dude! Thanks

[GeoStreber]

Hey guys, I'd also be interested in a beam spring Keyboard, however they're hard to find here in germany. I wonder if there's a market for building new ones with the same old switches but a set of modern goodies, such as a standard layout, USB, maybe even backlighting or something.

[codemonkeymike]

Hey guys, I'd also be interested in a beam spring Keyboard, however they're hard to find here in germany. I wonder if there's a market for building new ones with the same old switches but a set of modern goodies, such as a standard layout, USB, maybe even backlighting or something.

The idea has come up a few times, the issue is that those keyboards were being sold for $1000's back in the early 80's, as in they were expensive to buy and expensive to make. Someone would need to shell out high 5 to 6 figures to get that type of project started. Now if you mean using NOS switches to make a new keyboard, that is heresy in by books, it can be done but good luck finding a place to bend those switch-plates for a reasonable cost.

Edit: You should look at all the work Ellipse had to go through to recreate the Model F switches, group-buys-f50/brand-new-f62-kishsaver- ... 11046.html

[GeoStreber]

Well I think a small amount of people would actually be willing to pay those prices. If the quality of the keyboards and all their expectations would be met. It wouldn't have to be an exact replica to the old IBM machines, maybe a more practical design, like a tankeyless layout and a modified switch with cherry compatibility when it comes to keycaps. This thing could probably be sold as a barebone, not assembled and without keycaps and cable.

[DustGod]

Well I think a small amount of people would actually be willing to pay those prices. If the quality of the keyboards and all their expectations would be met. It wouldn't have to be an exact replica to the old IBM machines, maybe a more practical design, like a tankeyless layout and a modified switch with cherry compatibility when it comes to keycaps. This thing could probably be sold as a barebone, not assembled and without keycaps and cable.

There are hardcore fans of beam springs out there - I'm one of them. The problem is that almost all the beam spring owners look and hold on to beamers mainly for the historical significance.
So the problem is that this new beam spring switch should be both low profile and way better than the alternatives (like Blue Alps which, even if quite rare, would be overall cheaper to get than these new beam springs). Otherwise, the switch simply would not have any market.

Of course, another possibility is to engineer it so that its production costs are at most on par with Topre... Yeah, good luck with that.

[webwit]

I'm still undecided about selling my Displaywriter. I like it as a collectors item, but I think it's the fugly beamspring.

[codemonkeymike]

I'm still undecided about selling my Displaywriter. I like it as a collectors item, but I think it's the fugly beamspring.

Not sure how prepped you are but its probably the best device to kill a zombie with.

[__red__]

I'm still undecided about selling my Displaywriter. I like it as a collectors item, but I think it's the fugly beamspring.

You could always re-arrange the switch modules into a format that you prefer.