Cherry to Topre converter stem

[cookie]

Hello everybody,

I had this Idea of using Cherry MX caps on topre boards and wanted to share this with you guys.
It is basically a topre switch with a MX stem in the center of it.

Here a really cheezy illustration of what I mean:



I think this is quite easy to do by sacreficing a cherry and topre stem to create a casting mould.
Out of this it should be quite easy to reproduce those converter with a pretty solid quality.

With such a converter you have the best of both worlds!
Superior Topre switches with the wide range of keycap

I think this is viable... my main problem is that I don't have a Topre stem to sacrifice yet

[Muirium]

Stem adapters are quite a hot topic here lately. I'm not sure about the specific dimensions for this combination but one obvious issue comes to mind: Cherry MX caps are tall! The cross shaped slider mounting MX caps have inside is pretty long, and its entire height must be added to the equation for any adapter.

Still, I love the look of HiPro caps. Wonder how big an SA set would be on top of Topre switches with adapters! Even DSA will be raised.

[tlt]

Was also thinking about this a while ago. Can't you fit a cherry mount inside a Topre mount? Have to check that

[cookie]

I compared the topre cap with some cherry type caps and yes there is a difference but this is something you have to live with. As long as you can type on it without restrictions you are good to go.

I had a Doubleshot ESC key near my desk and I was thinking about how to fit this thing on my HHKB, so this is where the Idea came from. The cap fitted pretty nice in the whole of the topre stem, I think with a little bit of adjustment you can have verry nice results! The spacebar is much more of a problem in my opinion :/

Was also thinking about this a while ago. Can't you fit a cherry mount inside a Topre mount? Have to check that

Yes they fit.
I have testet different types of cherry caps and all of them fittet in the hole.
But when constructing the positive for the mould, you could leave a bit of space to avoid problems with larger cherry mounts.

[Muirium]

Ah, now that is promising! Having the mounts share the same space (inserted into the adapter) is great from a geometry perspective.

Now for finding the right material. Some detailed technical drawings of both mounts would really help figure out the exact volume and thickness in play.

[Jmneuv]

You could use some putty to fix a mx cap into the topre stem, that way you could see whether the clearance inside the cap will be enough for the topre switch casing on the way down. If you sink the stem in you should be able to achieve the same cap height.

[Daniel]

Just some time ago (< 2 months), someone posted some pictures of upcoming keyboards from China with exactly those Cherry-MX compatible Topre-sliders.

If could just find it again...

Found it: http://deskthority.net/news-reviews-f4/ ... t6762.html

[Jmneuv]

omg

[Muirium]

2014: Year of Topre with MX caps? Make it happen!

[matt3o]

please note this is a mod done 10 minutes, really rough and unpolished, but it totally works. Now can we go to production?

All we need to do is to produce the modded topre sliders and replace the original ones. voilà. topre porn.

[cookie]

Nice MOD matt3o!
I was a bit to lazy and afraight of sacrificing a stem for this

[Muirium]

Good proof of concept.

So, who has a whole bag of spare MX stems to sacrifice, and how long does it take for bumbling amateurs like the rest of us to glue up a whole keyboard with these guys!

The bit I'd worry about is how much of a mess I could make of a nice Realforce when armed with epoxy. A slide in adapter is the one we're all after.

[matt3o]

3D print

just saying

[wobbles]

woops, was a bit stupid and posted old information, sorry.

[Muirium]

And here. Then nothing. Product, please!

[wobbles]

oopsies, didn't notice. Sorry, i sometimes am too eager to post stuff.

Also, matt3o, that's one fine modification! Does the switch work and feel smooth as normal?

[matt3o]

oopsies, didn't notice. Sorry, i sometimes am too eager to post stuff.

Also, matt3o, that's one fine modification! Does the switch work and feel smooth as normal?

I feel no difference whatsoever

[Muirium]

Now what about stabs?

[Jmneuv]

A slide in adapter is the one we're all after.

Was thinking that too. Is there enough space between the mx-cap stem and the topre "tube" for a tube like insert?

[matt3o]

Is there enough space between the mx-cap stem and the topre "tube" for a tube like insert?

nope

[Jmneuv]

toprmx.png (1.04 KiB) Viewed 10785 times

would the orange space be enough for a proper "plug" to seat the adapter with very little or no glue? there's notches too, right? that would prevent rotation

[matt3o]

Yes, there's enough space but the inside of a topre slider is not smooth, it has two dents that need to be removed to fit a standard MX keycap.

[Jmneuv]

..and the dents are too large to be matched with some grooves in the adapter?

[matt3o]

..and the dents are too large to be matched with some grooves in the adapter?

the adapter will fit, the keycap will not... unless you want the keycap to stick out something like 0.5mm... or you want to file some of the MX keycap stem.

[Jmneuv]

okay, i understand.. so a full hammer replacement would probably be more desirable (non destructive), one could do some silencing on the side while swapping

[matt3o]

okay, i understand.. so a full hammer replacement would probably be more desirable (non destructive), one could do some silencing on the side while swapping

as far as I can see, this seems the only option. I could work on a 3D model to be printed if there's interest.

[cookie]

I mean, with a 3D print, we could get in touch with different producer who make moldings for plastic parts. I think this can be done quite easily with ABS plastic!

I think this would be way cheaper than keycaps!

[cookie]

Now what about stabs?

I'd rather modify the MX Spacebar then those things!

[matt3o]

I mean, with a 3D print, we could get in touch with different producer who make moldings for plastic parts. I think this can be done quite easily with ABS plastic!

I think this would be way cheaper than keycaps!

definitely. I'll try to work on it. it should be pretty simple. To mold them the cost is in the tooling, the plastic is totally inexpensive. You could easily spend €300 in the mold itself and with €1000 you have something like 100k sliders

[cookie]

If there is enough Interesst on both forums DT and GH, we coul'd theoratically go in production with this. But there is a good chance that Coolermaster has already announced a patent on this kind of stem