smaudio Posted January 28, 2008 Report Posted January 28, 2008 Hi there guys,I'm a newbie here- have bought all the internal components for the MBSEQ which are waiting patiently in a box and trying to find some good vintage caps/knobs for the frontpanel before I start putting everything together.I have found my dream key caps on the p3 sequencer site, the square ones with the clear caps that you can see on these pages:http://www.sequentix.com/build/cnst-switches.htmhttp://www.sequentix.com/build/old/p3-build.htmWould anyone know of a the manufacturer/ product code or know where to find these caps at all? ???I've looked everywhere but find it impossible to find anything that looks anything like them..Many Thanks,Mike Quote
stryd_one Posted February 11, 2008 Report Posted February 11, 2008 You mean, the ones that are clearly labelled as being the maplin keyswitches? ;D Quote
xarolium Posted March 3, 2008 Report Posted March 3, 2008 if you are looking for key switch you can buy a old keyboard computer on ebay and take the switch to make your sequencerthat is what i made javascript:void(0);Insert Imagei bought a old apple keyboard for 2€ to make my sequencerit s very cheap and design i findthis is this keyboard Quote
Sasha Posted March 3, 2008 Report Posted March 3, 2008 if you are looking for key switch you can buy a old keyboard computer on ebay and take the switch to make your sequencerthat is what i madeNote that not all old keyboards have individual switches that can be reused!I bought more than few of those old keyboard on flea market. At first I thought the clickery ones have individual buttons because one I already disassembled sounded and felt the same as the one I found later and it wasn`t usefull. So, I find no rule. Some old keyboards have one piece that holds attenuators, springs and contacts as seen on C64 keyboard. Quote
TheAncientOne Posted March 6, 2008 Report Posted March 6, 2008 Maplin don't do those switches any more - they died with ROHS, I think. I was using them in the early 90's, and I can say that they were not the best I've ever used... very 'soggy' feeling, and quite fat pins - you'd have to drill out perfboard for them.On my P3 I used the Cherry switches as reccommended, but bought the 'Point of Sale' style legendable key caps from RS. Note that both the switch and the cap have a hole for a 3mm LED. With a bit of fiddling you can get a 3 colour one to fit - just a bit tight on the PCB.The RS ref for the caps is:Cherry POS key capsI've taken a couple of snaps to show them.Not as cheap as tacts - button and cap come to about £2, though it's a quality, long life switch. I'm going to trawl the flea markets for the higher quality Cherry keyboards, salvage the switches, and buy the new caps. This is how I plan to do a Midibox sequencer with 64 button key/lamp matrix. I can print nice symbol labels for the caps with transport control symbols and other custom labels. Printed on film, with a colour inkjet, and white LED's, you could get quite fancy, a bit of baking paper or tissue can act as a diffuser for the LED. Quote
smaudio Posted March 31, 2008 Author Report Posted March 31, 2008 Hi again and thanks for the replies so far!You mean, the ones that are clearly labelled as being the maplin keyswitches? ;DYeah, I realised that myself after a while (!) but asked just in case there was a different supplier. Sadly it seems that nobody does them any more :(Thanks xarolium, I think Ill definitely consider keys from old keyboards and especially the macs as I like their looks, but Ill probably have to put legend stickers on them or something.Ive found this link for printable legend stickers so I think Ill print on these as they look pretty easy to use and professional:http://www.hooleon.com/menu-cust-ov.htmThanks for the advice Prof, these caps look cool - but I was kind of looking for the old 808 tap and start-stop looks.. The only ones that I've been able to find that are any remotely similar are the SQUARE SWITCH CAP CLEAR RC here: http://www.rapidonline.com/productinfo.aspx?kw=781724&tier1=Electronic+Components&tier2=Switches&tier3=Tactile+Switches&tier4=Caps+for+LED+switches&moduleno=80572As for the cherry switches, I was just thinking of buying the XK-A-246 cherry switches from XKeys:http://www.piengineering.com/access.php#switchesThey sound like a good deal $9.95 for 10. Anyone knows if they're any decent?? Quote
stryd_one Posted April 4, 2008 Report Posted April 4, 2008 I was just thinking of buying the XK-A-246 cherry switches from XKeys:http://www.piengineering.com/access.php#switchesThey sound like a good deal $9.95 for 10. Anyone knows if they're any decent??I don't see them? Is that the right number? Quote
smaudio Posted April 13, 2008 Author Report Posted April 13, 2008 Oops, sorry, number is XK-A-176 Quote
Jidis Posted April 13, 2008 Report Posted April 13, 2008 Note that not all old keyboards have individual switches that can be reused! I bought more than few of those old keyboard on flea market.Sasha- I think you're safe on the type Xarolium pointed to, or any of the Apple brand Mac keyboards from the old ADB generation (Mac Classics,IIxx's, maybe into beige G3). It's the old PC stuff (AT) that ends up being hit & miss. I've got a box using some from the "Extended" (M0115 maybe). They feel great and you could probably mod or paint the caps to whatever you like. I was looking at the board just now, and it's got the ALPS logo etched in the copper above Apple's. ;Dhttp://lowendmac.com/thomas/06/1013.htmlIf you check out these:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_KeyboardI think you're safe, at least from the Apple Keyboard (M0116) to the Apple Extended Keyboard II, but there's probably a bunch more in there. I've got a few of that compact one (Apple Keyboard II) as well. I can check the switches in those too if anybody needs to know for sure.All that stuff is worthless now (a few dollars if not given away free around here). I wish there were some DIY circuits to convert ADB signals to PS2. I like the keys a lot, but I also have three of my favorite Kensington Expert Mouse in beige ADB here that I'll probably never be able to use. Take Care,GeorgePS @Xarolium- Did you notice some of those switches (like the top row numerics) are mounted sideways? Screwed me up on the box I made. Had to mod the board afterward. >:( ** In addition to that, keep in mind there are a couple different angles to the caps in different areas of the board. If you plan to keep & use the labels and caps they had on there, make sure they all "tilt" the right way. Quote
stryd_one Posted April 14, 2008 Report Posted April 14, 2008 Oops, sorry, number is XK-A-176 Not a bad deal - watch out though, that doesn't include the caps, which cost $5 each.The cherry mx switches are very nice as keyboard switches, but they are fairly firm to push, and have a long-ish throw. Quote
Kyo Posted April 14, 2008 Report Posted April 14, 2008 Hi,I have ordered a pack of those switches + caps. I'll let you know what they "feel" like ASAP ;). (this could take a little time however as they have to travel to france :) ) Quote
smaudio Posted April 21, 2008 Author Report Posted April 21, 2008 Xarolium and Jidis, do you know what the cut-out dimensions normally are for those old apple keys so that I can compare them to the cherry mx cap ones? :) sm Quote
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