A while ago I got a Compaq Portable I, however the keyboard they used is a (quite horrible) keytronic-made Foam-and-Foil keyboard. Unfortunately, after 28 years, a good amount of the foam has rotted to either not being tall enough to make contact or don't decompress after a keystroke.
I'm curious to know if anyone is familiar with this type of key switch, as I'm not sure what the foil is used on the foam, I've heard mylar but I haven't found anything to prove for sure. I'm also interested in knowing if there's anywhere to get replacement disks, as I assume Keytronic also made other boards using the same switch, it would be odd for a large company to make a one-time setup.
And for the final question, has anyone ever used double sided foam tape and foil disks as a replacement for this type of switch? As odd as the idea sounds, double sided foam tape is a lot easier to find than disks or a tool to punch my own disks.
Foam and Foil Disks for a Keytronic-made Keyboard
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Findecanor
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
- DT Pro Member: 0011
I think that I could have Key Tronic foam and foil sliders, where the foam still has not deteriorated.
However, the parts are packed away, it is quite a bit past midnight over here and I really have to go to bed and I will be busy in the morning. I will post pictures of what I have, but you will have to wait a day.
However, the parts are packed away, it is quite a bit past midnight over here and I really have to go to bed and I will be busy in the morning. I will post pictures of what I have, but you will have to wait a day.
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Findecanor
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
- DT Pro Member: 0011
Does this seem like the same kind of switch? Mine have rubber sleeves, but I know that there are also Key Tronic foam-and-foil switches with coiled springs.
If yes, then let me know how many you need and I'll send you a quote for postage.
- ktfoamandfoil.jpg (61.58 KiB) Viewed 3593 times
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Findecanor
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
- DT Pro Member: 0011
Hmm.. I just noticed something I had not seen before: the foam pads are not glued on, they have a sheet of plastic on the opposite of the mylar, that are snapped in place on the sliders. 11 mm in diameter, 4.5 mm thick.
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ne0phyte
- Toast.
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: HHKB Pro 2
- Main mouse: Mionix Avior 7000
- Favorite switch: Topre 45g, MX Blue
- DT Pro Member: 0003
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Compgeke
- Location: Fairfield, California, USA
- Main keyboard: IBM Model M 1391401
- Main mouse: Coolermaster Recon
- Favorite switch: IBM Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0040
That actually looks to be the same now that I take one of the switches apart, only mine's using a spring rather than a rubber dome.
- KeytronicFoam-FoilSwitch.jpg (154.13 KiB) Viewed 3562 times
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Findecanor
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
- DT Pro Member: 0011
BTW, I don't know how my sliders have acquired a blue tint. I think they must have done that while sitting in the zip-lock bag that I have stored them in.
I don't think that I have 101 sliders. I am sure that I must have lost a few.
Just be prepared that international postage from Sweden can be a bit costly, though.
I don't think that I have 101 sliders. I am sure that I must have lost a few.
Heh, those cost $73 + postage and here I am about to give mine away for free ...ne0phyte wrote:http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 1041111410
Just be prepared that international postage from Sweden can be a bit costly, though.
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soldier
- DT Pro Member: -
Hello all,
if you are looking for the foam pads you can find it here:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... _987wt_900
soldier
if you are looking for the foam pads you can find it here:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... _987wt_900
soldier