Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cornell!rochester!rit!ultb!clf3678
From: clf3678@ultb.UUCP (C.L. Freemesser)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Replace those key caps. PLEASE!!!
Summary: Very simple upgrade to the keyboard
Message-ID: <726@ultb.UUCP>
Date: 22 Apr 89 03:17:45 GMT
References: <8904111619.AA15221@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> <866@sactoh0.UUCP> <23238@agate.BERKELEY.EDU> <2869@ritcsh.UUCP>
Reply-To: clf3678@ultb.UUCP (C.L. Freemesser (709ITP))
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology, Information Systems
Lines: 36

In article <2869@ritcsh.UUCP> derrick@ritcsh.UUCP (Derrick Williams) writes:

> Chris Freemesser has suggested placing a spacer (cut out of sheet rubber)
>between the plastic cyliner of the keys and the rubber cups to decrease
>the throw distance. I havn't tried this, but does anyone have any mods or
>heard of mods to improve the tactile feel of the ST?
> Where I'm living now, there are many keyboards from old terminals available,
>but I suppose it won't be possible to replace the ST keyboard with it.

Hey, that's me being referred to!

A few months ago, I did some serious hacking on the keyboard of my ST
(as well as that of the XE computer).   What I did was to punch out some
rubber dots using a hole punch and 1/16 inch rubber sheeting.  On the
bottom of the keyboard assembly, there are 20+ small screws that holds
the circuit board to the key cap assembly.  Using a precision
screwdriver, I put a small hole in the middle of the rubber dots.  Then,
I used them as washers, fitting them between the circuit board and the
key cap assembly board.  Here is what I found:

520ST - works moderately well; removes some of the spongyness.
1040ST - not much effect 
XE with rubber cups - no real effect
XE with springs - FANTASTIC.  Made the keyboard feel EXCELLENT.

All in all, the upgrade wasn't very effective except for the XE keyboard
with the springs.  I pretty much gave up on upgrading the keyboard after
I managed to trash my first one (accidentally dissolved the silicon
contact).

What I have found is:  if one was to put the silicon contact on the
bottom of the plastic key cap mech, and put a spring underneath the
key cap itself, the keyboard would be GREATLY improved, and pretty
usable.   :^)

=cf=