Which generation of Fujitsu Leaf Spring is this?

Reimu64 · 20 Nov 2021, 01:27

Switches:

There are no pictures of this particular switch mount on the wiki…and I’m left wondering if these are just regular gen 3 leaf springs. I've read of a 4th generation leaf spring from Telcontar, but found no other links.

Keyboard front:
If I didn’t remove the switch module, it could probably pass for a Peerless switch. The whole keyboard even looks like a FKB4700.

Keyboard rear:

The keyboard uses a standard 5 din plug and works fine through a Soarer’s Converter, so no weird propriety protocols here.

Palatino · 20 Nov 2021, 13:53

Ah, it was you who outbid me on this! I was also puzzled by this board but attracted by FLS without the need of internally converting it. How do the switches feel? I have a battered 3rd gen leaf spring board and I love the feel. Like Futaba but a little less smooth (on my board at least) but more tactility on the downstroke.

Go-Kart · 20 Nov 2021, 15:53

Reimu64 wrote: 20 Nov 2021, 01:27 Switches:

There are no pictures of this particular switch mount on the wiki…and I’m left wondering if these are just regular gen 3 leaf springs. I've read of a 4th generation leaf spring from Telcontar, but found no other links.

Keyboard front:
If I didn’t remove the switch module, it could probably pass for a Peerless switch. The whole keyboard even looks like a FKB4700.

I was going to say, those sliders remind me of Peerless switches, as do the caps.

Noobmaen · 20 Nov 2021, 16:11

The keycap mount and keycaps should be the same as peerless, unlike 3rd and 2nd gen FLS switches which have a slightly smaller side length. Be careful when removing caps, the stems easily snap off in my experience. I am not sure where this is positioned historically compared to "4th gen" FLS, which uses membranes but has the presumably older keycap mount.

These switches can also be found in fujitsu fkb 2930, which is pretty much the fujitsu branded version of this keyboard, and is also externally indistinguishable from the fkb 4700.

Reimu64 · 20 Nov 2021, 17:11

Palatino wrote: 20 Nov 2021, 13:53 Ah, it was you who outbid me on this! I was also puzzled by this board but attracted by FLS without the need of internally converting it. How do the switches feel? I have a battered 3rd gen leaf spring board and I love the feel. Like Futaba but a little less smooth (on my board at least) but more tactility on the downstroke.

Ehehe, top bid was only £58. I’ve seen FLS some sell for over £100. So, I was surprised when I won this one. I guess it’s because it’s not documented?

The feel is quite scratchy since it’s on the dirty side, especially when pressed off-center. Plus, the switches bind, not horribly so, but enough that I wouldn’t daily drive them if given the choice. Even when I cleaned a couple of them, they still bind lol! I’d rather type on my Peerless board.

Oh, and there’s also this one in case you’re interested: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393701372303 ... Sw8HBhgWF- it’s missing a few caps, but it’s easy enough to find IBM Model M caps for it.

morbid42 · 21 Nov 2021, 04:45

Great found！Can you post more picture of the back side of the pcb and internal side of the case? Really curious for when this keyboard was manufactured.

Palatino · 21 Nov 2021, 15:13

morbid42 wrote: 21 Nov 2021, 04:45 Great found！Can you post more picture of the back side of the pcb and internal side of the case? Really curious for when this keyboard was manufactured.

Seconded. A big reason I bid on this was to investigate the undocumented switches and board. Glad it ended up with one of us!

Reimu64 · 21 Nov 2021, 21:45

morbid42 wrote: 21 Nov 2021, 04:45 Great found！Can you post more picture of the back side of the pcb and internal side of the case? Really curious for when this keyboard was manufactured.

Alright, here are some more images.

Backside of the PCB:

Backside PCB marking and Top case markings part 1:

Assuming 1-12 are the months...I have no idea what 61, 62 or 63 stands for.

Top case markings part 2:

It appears to go from 1-9.

Both Bottom case markings:

Same as the top case markings, but 7-62 isn't marked on the grid. Had to peel off this shiny thing to see these.

Keyboard controller (Top side):

It says FUJITSU '84 and INTEL '82 on the right hand side of the controller chip. You can also see the old Fujitsu logo on the top left hand side along with a bunch of different markings as well.

Keyboard controller (back side):

The marking upside down says "YK87V-0". These were also markings on the PCB:

And that's all the possible markings I can find on the board.

MMcM · 21 Nov 2021, 22:02

Reimu64 wrote: 21 Nov 2021, 21:45 I have no idea what 61, 62 or 63 stands for.

Showa 62 is 1987.

Reimu64 · 22 Nov 2021, 00:55

MMcM wrote: 21 Nov 2021, 22:02
Reimu64 wrote: 21 Nov 2021, 21:45 I have no idea what 61, 62 or 63 stands for.
Showa 62 is 1987.

Wow, thanks. Awesome fact. I never would've known that.

Crizender · 13 Aug 2022, 22:26

Sorry to resurrect this thread - do you have a clear photo of the part number on the outside of the case? If you were looking at the back of the case its the sticker on the left.

The part number should look something like this:
N860-2930-XXXX (XXXX being the last part of the part number).

Thanks!

jsheradin · 15 Aug 2022, 00:35

Crizender wrote: 13 Aug 2022, 22:26 Sorry to resurrect this thread - do you have a clear photo of the part number on the outside of the case? If you were looking at the back of the case its the sticker on the left.

The part number should look something like this:
N860-2930-XXXX (XXXX being the last part of the part number).

Thanks!

I have one of these in pretty beat up shape. No Victor branding but it's the same PCB, switch, etc if it's of any use:

Spoiler:

Crizender · 15 Aug 2022, 13:57

Thats very helpful, thank you! These can come with other Fujitsu switches so I was wondering if the P/Ns were the same even if the switch was different. This gives me hope that the P/N dictates the switch you get (just need more pics of other FKB2930s to confirm)