Alps Appreciation

[ohaimark]

Absolutely. One kind is matte and the other is shiny.

Count the coils. Measure their diameter. And, if you have the equipment, measure their weight. Otherwise we can't say for sure -- your springs may be different from ours.

[Lynx_Carpathica]

Ye, sure. I have $ Billions for measuring equipment

[codemonkeymike]

You can get a scale that measures to .0001 gram +/- .0001 grams for about $2k (USD). Also a pair of calipers can be <$100 depending on accuracy. Not that expensive if you actually need it, but in reality not many people need that precision/accuracy. I almost won a gas mass spectrometer for about $1k, but was outbid by $10 in the last seconds of bidding

[Ratfink]

Right on, Mike; no need to spend billions. Heck, follow in my footsteps and get your scale for $0 from the trash at your local university.

[Nuum]

Has anyone tried these?
https://mekanisk.co/collections/keyboar ... -keyboards
I'm really enjoying the quiet click life right now, but am thinking about trying some heavier springs in hopes of a snappier upstroke. Sharper MX Clears without that obnoxious ping is what I'm aiming for I haven't heard anything about these though

I've used the 60g variant in the brown Alps of my IBM 5140 keyboard here: post357579.html#p357579
So far they feel fine!

[Hypersphere]

Has anyone tried these?
https://mekanisk.co/collections/keyboar ... -keyboards
I'm really enjoying the quiet click life right now, but am thinking about trying some heavier springs in hopes of a snappier upstroke. Sharper MX Clears without that obnoxious ping is what I'm aiming for I haven't heard anything about these though

They are cheaper on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cherry-ALPS-24K ... Sw2xRYkxFX

You have to scroll down the page to find the Alps switches. They are 13 USD per 100 and there are a number of different weights listed.

[XMIT]

Right on, Mike; no need to spend billions. Heck, follow in my footsteps and get your scale for $0 from the trash at your local university.

FWIW, the quality of items in the trash was a factor in my university choice many years ago. I did manage to find an Itanium and an UltraSparc and many printers in the trash, but no super interesting keyboards, alas. Toward the end everyone started having mobile devices with e-mail (no iPhone, yet) and things got way more competitive.

[Hypersphere]

For those of us looking for a replacement badge for our Zenith keyboards, here is an iron-on patch available from Etsy:

zombie_patch.jpg (8.38 KiB) Viewed 5883 times

And although it seems that no one has as yet discovered the identity of the mystery lube that we think was used on blue and perhaps other types of Alps switches, here is a source of lube for your Zenith Alps-switch boards:

zenith_lube.jpg (37.5 KiB) Viewed 5883 times

Enjoy!

[alh84001]

I've used the 60g variant in the brown Alps of my IBM 5140 keyboard here: post357579.html#p357579
So far they feel fine!

Isn't the stock spring much lighter?

[Zombimuncha]

Has anyone tried these?
https://mekanisk.co/collections/keyboar ... -keyboards
I'm really enjoying the quiet click life right now, but am thinking about trying some heavier springs in hopes of a snappier upstroke. Sharper MX Clears without that obnoxious ping is what I'm aiming for I haven't heard anything about these though

I have the 65 cN's in my MatiasClick V80. Slightly heavier than stock, and feels a little more solid and stable. I feel like the heavier weight is a better match for the strong tactility in these switches. It's definitely an improvement but doesn't do anything about that "hollow" feeling Matias switches seem to have.

[Hypersphere]

I've used the 60g variant in the brown Alps of my IBM 5140 keyboard here: post357579.html#p357579
So far they feel fine!

Isn't the stock spring much lighter?

Yes, I think the stock spring in SKCM brown Alps switches is quite light, but I don't have any measurements on the spring itself. As you probably know, most of the resistance in the brown Alps switch is due to the tactile plate assembly.

I've found that the brown Alps switches feel much lighter in the IBM 5140 keyboard than they do in my Alps64 with a stainless steel plate. The IBM 5140 has much more flexibility.

[andrewjoy]

Is there any ALPS 60% kits that are avilable to just buy ? i need somthing to put my modded linier dampend white alps in .

I also have a full set off SGI caps to put on them

[Menuhin]

Is there any ALPS 60% kits that are avilable to just buy ? i need somthing to put my modded linier dampend white alps in .

I also have a full set off SGI caps to put on them

I think it is relatively convenient to PM Hasu (at GH, or here?) for Alps64 PCB and then order a steel plate from Lasergist when you are in Europe.
Other 60% PCB / kit can only be found in the Marketplace I believe.

[andrewjoy]

Its the PCB i need , as long as it supports winkeless layout and the larger space bar that goes with it.

I can always re use the SGI plate.

May give him a PM , thanks

[duynguyenle]

Hasu's Alps 64 PCB fully supports the winkeyless SGI layout. I have had some plates cut in the past with this layout in mind (with the appropriate stabiliser cutout for the 7u spacebar and capslock placement). I can share the files if you want to get your own plates cut at a local sheet metal fab. Of course cutting down an original SGI plates is always an option.

I have been on the lookout for SGI keyboards with ISO-UK layout but so far have not come across one yet. They seem to be much rarer than their ANSI counterparts.

[Hypersphere]

QUESTION about Alps replacement springs: How to determine which weight to get? What is the correspondence between the weight rating of the spring and the actuation or bottom-out force of Alps switches?

(Please forgive my cross-posting. I also posted this info and inquiry in a necropost on Alps springs; I was not sure anyone would read it, so I am also posting here).

"Spirit" is selling replacement Alps springs through at least two outlets:

1. eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/222396774240?ul_noapp=true

(Scroll down to find the listings for Alps springs).

2. Mekanisk:

https://mekanisk.co/collections/keyboar ... -keyboards

I'd like to order some, but I don't know how to determine which weight I would need. What about doing the "nickel test" by using linear Alps switches as a spring tester to avoid the contribution of the tactile/click leaf to the switch weight?

[sneaux]

QUESTION about Alps replacement springs: How to determine which weight to get? What is the correspondence between the weight rating of the spring and the actuation or bottom-out force of Alps switches?

(Please forgive my cross-posting. I also posted this info and inquiry in a necropost on Alps springs; I was not sure anyone would read it, so I am also posting here).

"Spirit" is selling replacement Alps springs through at least two outlets:

1. eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/222396774240?ul_noapp=true

(Scroll down to find the listings for Alps springs).

2. Mekanisk:

https://mekanisk.co/collections/keyboar ... -keyboards

I'd like to order some, but I don't know how to determine which weight I would need. What about doing the "nickel test" by using linear Alps switches as a spring tester to avoid the contribution of the tactile/click leaf to the switch weight?

Thanks for the ebay seller link btw. I didn't know the leaf added to the weight. That's kind of cool. But I guess with that information, I want to know mostly the same things that have been mentioned. What are the standard spring weights for typical ALPS switches (just the spring), so we could have a point of reference? And how does spring weight combine with weight from the leaf at different positions of the force curve?

[Zombimuncha]

QUESTION about Alps replacement springs: How to determine which weight to get? What is the correspondence between the weight rating of the spring and the actuation or bottom-out force of Alps switches?

(Please forgive my cross-posting. I also posted this info and inquiry in a necropost on Alps springs; I was not sure anyone would read it, so I am also posting here).

"Spirit" is selling replacement Alps springs through at least two outlets:

1. eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/222396774240?ul_noapp=true

(Scroll down to find the listings for Alps springs).

2. Mekanisk:

https://mekanisk.co/collections/keyboar ... -keyboards

I'd like to order some, but I don't know how to determine which weight I would need. What about doing the "nickel test" by using linear Alps switches as a spring tester to avoid the contribution of the tactile/click leaf to the switch weight?

I asked Sprit. Told him I wanted slightly heavier springs for Matias Click. He suggested the 65 or 70 cN. Seems like he knows what he's talking about.

[Hypersphere]

@Zombimuncha: Thanks. I've sent Spirit a message via eBay, but he has not yet replied. I will also try reaching him through GH to get his advice.

[zslane]

So the LightCycle DSA keycap set is back. Group buy is going on now until the 17th of March. Now is the time to pick up some really cool keycaps for your Alps boards! Help the Alps version reach MOQ!

lightcycle_dsa_poker_03.png (279.78 KiB) Viewed 6118 times

[Menuhin]

Looks good, even in DSA profile.

When I look at it again, its color theme kind of looks like Sky Dolch to me.

[Scarpia]

Link to the DSA LightCycle GB?

[duynguyenle]

Quick PSA if you plan on getting Lightcycle DSA: All of SP's Alps stabilised caps uses Cherry MX stabilisers, make sure when you draft a plate file to send to the laser cutting shop, take this into account.

Also worth nothing that SP's Alps caps has a tendency to fit on too tightly and the stem could break off when you try and remove them. This was confirmed from the Alpine Winter GB, and it is highly recommended that you take a stanley knife or something similar and trim off the sprues on the stem before mounting these on your Alps switches, lest you end up with broken caps

[zslane]

LightCycle DSA can be ordered here: https://thevankeyboards.com/products/li ... keycap-set

[zslane]

Looks good, even in DSA profile.

When I look at it again, its color theme kind of looks like Sky Dolch to me.

Yeah, it does.

However, there is only one true Dolch and it has white legends. All others are aberrant spin-offs only a servant of Morgoth could love.

[Lynx_Carpathica]

hello ögen!
What's causing the bad feeling in my Ivory alps? If feels like the slider catches on the spring, and it's quite unpleasant. It has popping sound.

[Mattr567]

hello ögen!
What's causing the bad feeling in my Ivory alps? If feels like the slider catches on the spring, and it's quite unpleasant. It has popping sound.

Sounds like it might be binding.

Clean them. I've found that dampened Alps tend to be worse with dust since it sticks to the rubber dampener.

[Lynx_Carpathica]

hello ögen!
What's causing the bad feeling in my Ivory alps? If feels like the slider catches on the spring, and it's quite unpleasant. It has popping sound.

Sounds like it might be binding.

Clean them. I've found that dampened Alps tend to be worse with dust since it sticks to the rubber dampener.

It's when I've bottomed out, I've forgot to mention it.

[andrewjoy]

Still sounds like contamination on the slider.

If you have a friend with and ultrasonic cleaner get them to run all plastic parts through a few cycles

[Lynx_Carpathica]

Still sounds like contamination on the slider.

If you have a friend with and ultrasonic cleaner get them to run all plastic parts through a few cycles

Thanks, I'll check it.