Does the ibm IBM 5251 only have 1 fly plate for the space bar?

clickboyclick · 18 Jun 2018, 10:26

I am missing a fly plate for the other switch on the space bar. I noticed that in this guys restoration https://i.imgur.com/JzD7DXO.jpg and in this guys https://i.imgur.com/ynDb4ph.jpg they are both missing one fly plate where the space bar is located. I thought for a while I had lost the fly plate... And now think that one of the space bar switches is a dummy. But why is there contract on the pcp?

andrewjoy · 18 Jun 2018, 11:57

one will be a dummy i am almost sure of it.

What one however....

hypkx · 18 Jun 2018, 14:59

The spacebar only has one flyplate, there are two contacts. I thought on my 5251 the same after refurbishing it.

pansku · 18 Jun 2018, 15:15

Only 1 fly plate on mine aswell.

clickboyclick · 18 Jun 2018, 18:38

hypkx wrote: ↑The spacebar only has one flyplate, there are two contacts. I thought on my 5251 the same after refurbishing it.

OMG glad I am not alone on this uhhhhhhh hahhaha I looked all over the place looking for it after removing the pcp plate thinking it must have fallen out

Bass · 18 Jun 2018, 20:58

Pretty sure most if not all beamspring models have this. If you are configuring your layout after installing an xwhatsit controller, you'll find not only a few elements in the matrix that are always pressed, but also a leftover element that's never pressed. This should in fact correspond to the dummy switch for the spacebar.

orihalcon · 19 Jun 2018, 23:42

Agreed one plate, though I must have missed that there are capsense pads under each of them. If that's the case, you could pretty easily mod to have a split spacebar which would be pretty cool I think.

PlacaFromHell · 20 Jun 2018, 01:54

In mine hasn't even traces for the dummy switch. I wonder if we can put an IBM model D split spacebar on some beamspring keyboard adding a fly plate for the dummy switch. Also some models have stocks for unused keys.

codemonkeymike · 20 Jun 2018, 02:59

Can anyone confirm there is a pad under the dummy, I went and looked through some restoration photos and haven't seen a model with a pad under the dummy. (My 3276 also does not have a pad under the dummy)

Bass · 20 Jun 2018, 05:40

Yeah guess I was wrong, just looked through some PCB photos for a 3278 and there doesn't seem to be a dummy pad.