On Tue, Sep 17, 2013 at 5:06 PM, Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org> wrote:
I had to fix some Lisa keyboards, and here is what I
finally came up with
after a week or two of experimenting that produces perfect pads.
Woodland Scenics 5mm HO track bed for the foam, as others suggested ($1
for 24" x 2")
Maudlin PL10-0075 .0075 x 10 x 20 plastic shim stock for the back (about
$10 with shipping)
Michaels metalized mylar sheets for the pads (a couple bucks for several
square feet)
Get a
Disc Cutter with 7 Punch 1/4" to 5/8" from ebay ($28)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/**390617394797<http://www.ebay.com/itm/390617394…
example
This is critial (see below)
Cut the foam and shim stock to 10" x 9/16"
Cut strips of mylar long enough and wide enough to apply to the foam
Attach the shim stock to the mylar with Scotch Super 77 spray adhesive
Do the same with the mylar, metal side against the foam, with enough
tension so it is smooth.
You only have about a second to fiddle with the mylar before the adhesive
starts to set!
Shim the disc cutter so the strips just fit through the upper and lower
plates without binding.
Then use and arbor press or non-metal mallet to punch the discs, mylar
side up. You'll get about
15 discs per strip. I experimented with a leather punch, and even tried a
11mm cigar punch, but the
only way I could get perfectly straight cuts through the foam was with the
disc cutter.
So far, I've identified the following systems that need pad replacements
Apple Lisa
Corvus Concept
Terak
Genrad Futuredata
SOL-20
I was thinking of making a bunch, but changed my mind after finding what a
PITA they are to make.
The other thing I discovered was Elmers School Glue Sticks work the best
for attaching old pads and plastic to new foam.
That's very cool, thanks for sharing the results of your research -- I was
just recently contemplating what it'd take to get my Lisa's keyboard
working again...
I'll add a couple of systems to your list:
- Compaq Portable (the original and the II at the very least, not sure of
others in the line). Perhaps not really a classic, but I like mine...
- The TRS-80 16-bit line (II, 12, 16, 6000). The II may not have used
foam, I do not recall for sure, but I know the others did.
- Josh