square clear cover keycaps

[smaudio]

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.htm

http://www.sequentix.com/build/old/p3-build.htm

Would 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

[stryd_one]

You mean, the ones that are clearly labelled as being the maplin keyswitches? ;D

[xarolium]

if you are looking for key switch you can buy a old keyboard computer on ebay and take the switch to make your sequencer

that is what i made javascript:void(0);

Insert Image

i bought a old apple keyboard for 2€ to make my sequencer

it s very cheap and design i find

this is this keyboard

[Sasha]

if you are looking for key switch you can buy a old keyboard computer on ebay and take the switch to make your sequencer

that is what i made

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. 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.

[TheAncientOne]

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 caps

I'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.

[smaudio]

Hi again and thanks for the replies so far!

You mean, the ones that are clearly labelled as being the maplin keyswitches? ;D

Yeah, 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.htm

Thanks 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=80572

As for the cherry switches, I was just thinking of buying the XK-A-246 cherry switches from XKeys:

http://www.piengineering.com/access.php#switches

They sound like a good deal $9.95 for 10. Anyone knows if they're any decent??

[stryd_one]

I was just thinking of buying the XK-A-246 cherry switches from XKeys:

http://www.piengineering.com/access.php#switches

They 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?

[smaudio]

Oops, sorry, number is XK-A-176

[Jidis]

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. ;D

http://lowendmac.com/thomas/06/1013.html

If you check out these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Keyboard

I 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,

George

PS @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.

[stryd_one]

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.

[Kyo]

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 :) )

[smaudio]

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