13 Sep
2006
13 Sep
'06
2:54 p.m.
These sound
very similar to the switches used on the TRS-80 Model 3 and
Model 4 keyboards. They may even be the same parts -- the ones in the M3
and M4 were made by Alps IIRC. Any maker's name on these? If they are the
saem, a junk M3 or M4 keyboard would be a source of spares.
I found out last night that the switches are the same. The question then would become "are the switches on the junked
keyboard still good?". See
http://home.online.no/~kr-lund/repair.htm
Maybe, maybe not. My experience is that you'll get _some_ good switches
from such a keyboard. How many do you need (no, I
don't have any spares...)?
A couple more suggestions. Chemtronics sell
(sold?) a rubber keyboard
repair kit. It was a 2-pack thing that you mixed and then put a bit on
the conductive rubber pad. The problem was that it's expensive, and once
mixed you have to use the whole lot (enough for about 100 switches I
think).
You can't mix up small batches? 100 is about how many switches I have to fix (two terminals worth)
Well, if you need to do all the switches, it may be worth buying said kit
(if it's still available) and giving it a go.
-tony