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shit.cx

Keyboard Stablisers: Fail

2020-11-05T20:46

It seems that I was a little over-optimistic about the simplicity of cutting the stabiliser plate holes.

Stabilisers are used on the larger keys. When you press the edge of a key like spacebar, they help distribute the force to the button. Without a stabiliser, the key would be prone to twisting instead.

I have discovered that Costar stabilisers require highly accurate mount holes. When the hole is too tight, the gap that the top piece slices between closes up. This causes top section of the stabiliser to rub and the key doesn't release.

Costar base

When the hole is too loose, the stabiliser moves in the baseplate. They don't stabilise the key.

So I've ordered some cherry stabilisers instead. Fortunately their mount hole isn't compromised by already having a Costar mount hole.

This is the first keyboard back-plate I've made. I chose Costar because they require the removal of less metal and I was happy with their performance (they're standard on Filco Keyboards). For hand-drilled and filed backplates, I wont use them again. I might use them if I were to laser-cut the backplate instead.

So now that I'm waiting for some parts to arrive, it might be time to get started on the chassis.