deskthority

Today the (long overdue) blog update has been posted. This gathers together the many updates posted on the forum project threads.

Brand New Model F June 2025 Update: user reviews and photos, F122 and beam spring production, new design plans (Split Ortho, Planck, Preonic, F20, Kinesis, etc ...

New as of June 2025: Mac Icons+Text 6 key set

By popular request - a set combining the Mac Icons and Mac Text key sets. This is a special order set that will arrive later this year, so you'd need to wait for delivery if combining shipping with a current order, or order separate shipping.

Feel ...

Update on beam spring inner foam:

Everyone can now order an extra beam spring inner foam set at the below link, which has been updated today to add this item. Same as with the Round 1 beam spring first aid kit, extra inner foam was not a part of the kit as it was with Model F First Aid Kits, so it ...

Yes, as noted from the beginning of the project, all stepped keys are from Unicomp, including ISO enter and caps lock. Their color is slightly different from the original Model F key colors.

As a recap, the factory failed to produce these extra keys to my specifications and they did not function ...

Posting (with permission) a nice F77 setup. The photo was just sent to me today and was taken after a year of usage by a writer who is working on a novel!

This F77 has one of the most popular add-ons, the solenoid, which is installed inside the case.

Production update:

The factory has completed the lasering and bending of the B104 top and bottom inner assembly plates (shown below); the next step is the coatings to finish these parts.

After they are coated they expect to start assembly, as early as the next week or so. During the time of ...

The stems for the new relegendables were sourced from Unicomp, which did not separate their stock by color. I did request all one color like the early Model M's but they were already mixed together.

Of course the relegendables are intended to work with the paper templates that will cover all ...

Posting (with permission) another great F122 setup.

This one is special as it has an old hi-fi Pioneer badge (for a cool retro styling) and Unicomp Esc and APL keys.

Thanks for the feedback; I have noted to try to keep tighter case margins for the forthcoming Model F designs. Since the cases may be 3d printed or laser cut, this may be easier to achieve.

It seems like most folks like the case margins to go about 1mm just over the bottom of the unpressed keys ...

Great news from Rico - split communication is now working on the Leyden Jar controllers!

Please see Rico's update post here and head over to the github pages linked below:

https://www.keebtalk.com/t/the-leyden-jar-a-tentative-pcb-replacement-for-the-brand-new-model-f-keyboards/17489/45
https ...

Check the leyden diganostic tool signal level monitor - maybe a key is being registered as pressed down.

Maybe the solenoid L bar itself needs adjustment as it's getting stuck. Does the cylinder move freely by hand and not get stuck? Are you seeing 6 to 9 volts where the solenoid is plugged in ...

The solenoid should work by default without any configuration or keypress combinations. I recommend erasing the eeprom in the leyden jar tool and reflashing the firmware. Since the solenoid is able to fire, it may be an issue with your USB port (not enough power, USB hub, etc.). I recommend trying ...

With permission I am sharing the first photo of the Hebrew English key set on the new F122!

There are a couple dozen available key sets and it is nice to see photos of some of the rarer key sets.

Hebrew English.jpg

thrillscience kindly see my replies below:

1. The issue is "the horizontal gap ...

Additional transparent relegendable template:

With permission I am reposting a transparent relegendable template:

credit to geekhack member Cyber_engineer – Twitter @Mates_ENGINEER

Very nice template!

Leyden Jar update and request for help:

So far over 130 F122's and their Leyden Jar controllers have shipped. After some firmware updates the reports are good so far!

Here are some plans for the Leyden Jar controller:

Need help - Split communication between halves, with one half powering the ...

Round 2 is expected to all be delivered together, including the cut out mod boards.

Thanks; please keep the custom notes coming!


Project milestone - this week the 6,500th keyboard shipped, for the new Model F and Beam Spring keyboard projects! Who would have known that we would reach that when the project started and I was getting quotes to make 50 F62 and 50 F77 keyboards!

Thanks for sharing photos of your modded F122 Ordinary Witch!

I like the terminal-style customizations that remind me of the F122 originals.

Can folks please share what they do with the custom keys in Vial? To give people ideas on the possibilities. Are they macros? Key combinations? Do they open ...

The above keyboard with an IBM logo is mine.

I just wanted to provide a quick review.

I have been using PCs since the early 90s, got started on old IBM AT/XT stuff I found cheap at garage sales and such, loved systems from the 80s. 20 years in IT doing everything from programming to networks to ...

Posting (with permission) another nice F122 setup, customized with keys from various key groups on the Extra Keys store page.

This one features one of those third party IBM new production badges (I believe from eBay) that I do not offer. The spot on the keyboard is designed to fit the IBM F122 ...

Thanks PeterQuines!

I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you asking if the F77 layout will be made for the beamsprings? Any layout is possible but the tooling costs would have to be covered. Since the BSSK is quite close to the F77, especially with the 3x5 cut out mod, I was not thinking ...

The Leyden Jar firmware has just been updated (same link as my earlier post). Please let me know if there are any issues!

New updates from Rico:
The NKRO option works once more (click Fn+Space+N to enable as it is disabled by default for compatibility reasons)
2nd and 3rd layer shortcuts and ...

Yes, just order the keys not included in the US ANSI key set from the Extra Keys page and order the $39 layout customization if you want me to take care of it. Note ISO Enter, 2.25U left shift.

tinydarkness the keys are available in pearl/pebble, Dark Gray, and Blue.

Iggy yes, with the layout customization check mark - you can note you want a shorter spacebar, regular spacebar, short left shift, full size left shift, ISO Enter, etc. Also don't forget to order the additional needed keys ...

Important F122 Leyden Jar firmware update to fix phantom key press issue for some keyboards, and other replies:

Nice customization tinydarkness! I like the use of Industrial SSK and terminal keys.

Confirmed, tracking emails are sent as soon as I have the tracking information.

Wow that is fast ...

Here is an interesting solenoid mod, along with a description. I do not know the long-term effects of this, so I cannot recommend it, but it is something to think about! This new F122 user wanted a much lower impact for the solenoid, even beyond the sound from the minimum throw length.

"I also ...

And here is another one! This one is a dark gray F122. Posting with permission as per usual.

With permission I am sharing the second user image of the new F122 keyboards! This one includes some interesting keys from Unicomp, with legends I have not seen before.

F 122 - Copy.jpeg

Regarding the powdercoating, since folks from various years have noted their keyboards were perfect after ...

With permission I am sharing the first user image of the new F122 keyboards! This one has the F13-F24, transparent relegendables, and blue cursor keys. The low serials are going out first (as always, orders can still be upgraded to skip the line through the low serial product page).

F122 - Copy ...

Very nice photos Arkku! I'm hoping to see more custom layouts like yours for Model F keyboards. The gray and blue are a nice combination.

I was reading about key rollover on your github project page linked below - a great read on the subject. I am aware that there are different ways to implement ...