Mechanical Keyboards

This post was originally posted on r/mk in 2020. I’m manually moving my content here before probably nuking my reddit account. Fuck that little pigboy u/spez.

This post was originally posted on r/mk in 2020. I'm manually moving my content here before probably nuking my reddit account. Fuck that little pigboy u/spez.

A fey days ago, I showed you the very first keyboard I (my parents) ever had. It's an IBM model M2 from 1989, that came with the family's first computer an IBM PS/1.

I bought a PS/2 adapter and plugged it in my computer. Obviously, it had the dreaded "two LEDs on and nothing works" issue.

Fortunately, thanks to u/zorberema_'s great guide, I knew what happened. The capacitors were dead and I needed to replace them.

Well... Crap. Notice the Apple keyboard that... er... at least works.

Opening it was actually easy-ish. I didn't remove all the keycaps, only the ones necessary to get to the plastic clips, so a few springs went flying around, it was messy, lesson learned. I even managed to only break a single clip. Also, mark the spaces where springs are not supposed to go. You'll thank me later. I spent an hour looking for a missing spring until I realized that I put one in an empty well.

New capacitors in

Notice how bad my soldering skills are. Pro-tip : If your friendly electronics sales-person gives you a surface mount cap to replace another surface mount cap, don't. These are not made to be soldered by unskilled humans. This 2.2uF was hell. Higher voltage is fine.

All the springs are back on

This part was long and stressful. I dropped the board once because I used crappy carboard boxes to prop the plate up, springs were flying around, it was terrifying. I don't know how I managed not to lose them all. Lear from my mistake, use phone boxes as a prop.

(photo missing, sorry, I was both excited and scared) The trick to close a Model M2 keyboard is to keep said springs form flying around. The best way was is to peel the grey felt-ish mat from the membrane and to position it (upside down, obviously) over the springs, carefully aligning the clip and screw holes. From now on you can carefully snap the lower case back on the plate and screw it back in.

Here it is, in all its springy glory!

Form the sparse guides I found over the web, people seemed to say that this was the absolute worst part in restoring this type of keyboard. It went actually pretty smooth. YMMV.

Putting caps back on and testing everything

You can now put all your keycaps back on, testing them one at a time. I was fortunate enough to get a fully working keyboard, the membrane was intact. If the keys do not click or if you have to mash the key to get it to register, remove the cap and position it again.

So here I am, ready to output a massive amount of decibels while working from home during lockdown.

Stay safe my friends, keep clacking and don't let the virus get you. ___

I typically don't like using closed source software when I can avoid it. To my knowledge, QMK is open source, but VIA is not (as convenient as it is to use). It also requires your browser to use the WebHID API, which is problematic computer-security wise IMO.

Because of this, I was considering trying an open source version of VIA called vial. Does anyone have any experience with using it? How does it compare to VIA?

I think I could also try using QMK configurator to remap my keyboard/create new firmware, and to use QMK Toolbox to flash the firmware onto the keyboard. However, I was reading this keychron blog post: https://www.keychron.com/blogs/archived/how-to-factory-reset-or-flash-your-qmk-via-enabled-keychron-v6-keyboard. It says that "If everything works fine with your keyboard. Please don’t flash the firmware. There is a chance it can damage your keyboard". I am aware that if I unplugged during a firmware update it could brick it, but otherwise it would work out fine, right? Would the reset button underneath the spacebar save me in that situation? It is hard to tell whether this is just keychron trying to go the safest route to avoid tech support calls or if this is actually a valid recommendation.

Overall, what software should I use to remap keys and program macros on my keychron v6 (encoder version)?

Picture of them on my Keychron Q3 as well

My sister wanted the Owlab Spring so bad, she got me to enter on the raffle so she has more chances of being picked. We ended up with both our names drawn. I decided to buy it anyway with the plan of re-selling rather than reneging on the deal.

The wife, however, saw it and fell in love with the pink color... so it became a present instead. She bought KBM Love Detective to go with it, but idk what happened to that set and why it's taking more than a year.

Anyway, specs:

• Switches: Gazzew Boba LT

• Stabs: Owlstabs V2

• Keycaps: Some knockoffs called "Strawberry Bear"

• Artisan: ACKeys Bunny Cat Snow

Has anybody got experience of the Kiwi switches? They seem ideal for me EXCEPT that they are incredibly green and it sounds like they probably disrupt RGB backlighting from what little I have been able to find out. I don't know how bad the effect is, though.

I was going to go for a set of Gateron Kangaroos but I read that the Kiwis had less post wiggle. Why do they have to be so hulked out??

cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/665762

My Lily 58 I built last year. Love this thing to pieces and it's my daily driver ever since

Built with: -POM plate -KTT Roses (lubed) -PE Foam Mod & Plate Foam -GMK Laser

This board was built for my wife. She had used a couple of the boards I had built previously and asked if I build her one with parts she chose.

TK.C Monsgeek M2 Kailh Box Whites Drop MT3 Elvish Training base kit + Evenstar mods

I'd like to have a penguin key or anything non Microsoft/Apple. The keys are "OSA Profile Double-shot PBT Keycaps", "Carbon Black A" and shine through.

A lovely board from Beekeeb, cannot recommend them enough. By far the best service I've had. Leo is incredible. The original right now uses TRRS. He is working on this version right now too.

I needed something for work so I decided to build a keyboard. I wanted it to be quiet and also wanted a number pad, so I went with the wireless Keychron K4 with Kailh Deep Sea Silent Pro Box switches. The keycaps are a set I got on Amazon that are "XVX" profile they are a mix between XDA and Cherry profile for a short wide key with an ergonomic bend to them and I know of love them.

So hot I thought about marking it NSFW

And I’m quite excited, that is all!

modern model M's do they live up to the hype?

I'm going to be adding foam to my keyboard for the first time, and ordered some 3mm foam. From what I've read, that shouldnt be too thick for the back of a Keychron Q6..

Anyone have first hand experience?

Also, I'm going to be adding a PC plate as well. Both the plate and the foam should make some significant changes to the sound, but not the feel, is that right? Going for deep thock

Meridian by PrimeKB and ai03
TTC Wild Switches
GMK Arch

My daily. GMMK Pro + Holy Pandas + Cheap Amazon Keycaps.

Spends hours tweaking switches applying tape mods and getting shit just perfect.

Doesn’t notice the “o” key is backwards for an entire week. “mY sEnsITivE FiNgeRS nEed pERfeCtiON.”

My daily is the kb below. Keychron C1, Fekker Panda switches, foam mod, o-rings, GSA keycaps.

Nothing special, but a very pleasant typing experience.

The above kb is a Moergo Glove80. I'm still getting used to it, so it's not my daily.

Been using this for over 6 months now and have not really been tempted to try anything different. Using ink black linear switches in a self-printed gasket mount case.

Not a new board (made it in Jan?) but boy howdy was this a bad decision purely of my own making.

I was like, "yeah, let's go lopro for real!" At the same time, I decided to go with pinks, with the smallest amount of force required to clickity clack. Turns out that was a bad idea. My fingers are apparently small hammers and even the gentlest breeze will type on the board. It looks friggin beautiful, but oh my god is it hard to type on.

That said, I was on a 36 key split before this and looooved it, so adding the extra columns at the ends threw me for a big loop as well.

At least I have another pretty board to add to my display!