Leopold FC700R with 2mm O Rings

abhibeckert

12 Dec 2012, 11:44

I just fitted a set of O Rings on my Leopold FC700R with Cherry MX Red switches.

Instead of WASD O Rings I ordered from a local importer.

They have a 5mm inner diameter, are 2mm thick, and "N90" hard. That's a lot thicker and a lot harder than the WASD rings.

I've heard the WASD O Rings make the keyboard feel a bit mushy, these don't have that effect. You can hear a slight difference when tapping the keys but can't feel any difference except for the change in travel. The travel is reduced by almost the full 2mm, which still has plenty of headroom (I guestimate there is still 1mm between when the switch triggers and when it bottoms out).

Price was 22 cents each (including 2 cents sales tax, in australian dollars). From http://www.sealimports.com.au

I've only used them for a couple of hours, but so far it's a huge improvement. The reduced travel not only reduces the amount of movement, but I think it also reduces the chance that I will accidentally press two keys at once (which is very easy to do with cherry mx red switches).

Perhaps the only concern is, because the o-rings are so hard and thick, I had to press each key down with extreme force to seat them all the way down the on the switch. If my keyboard had PCB mounted switches it almost certainly would have cracked.

MissMurd3r84

13 Dec 2012, 10:46

Wait a second, you put the o-rings on the switches? Don't they usually go on the keys :\ if not, I have been doing it wrong. -_-

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TAdams

16 Dec 2012, 02:07

I currently have the 4mm black o-rings that came stock on the Logitech G710+ and have been eyeballing the WASD reds that have a 2mm height (40A-L). Are you comparing the o-rings you purchased from sealimports to the WASD Black o-rings or to the red or blues?

Perhaps I should just get the WASD sampler kit. The G710+ with the stock o-rings feels mushy a bit. I can compare with my my CM Storm trigger and I do prefer the o-ringless feel. I would love to try 2mm and 4mm abs plastic cylinders with a cutout for the + on the keycap, I will check into that as I think it would be a nice experiment.

PS I put the o-rings on the keycaps. The Logitech also came this way.

Polymer

16 Dec 2012, 03:44

Pretty sure the G710+ o-rings are thinner and harder than what you'll get from WASD. Or in the least, pretty sure they're thinner than either the blue or black O-rings from WASD and they're harder than the reds.

The G710+ is actually relatively quiet even without o-rings..which is probably why they have a relatively thin/hard o-ring.

Curious to see your results though...

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TAdams

16 Dec 2012, 06:06

Polymer wrote:Pretty sure the G710+ o-rings are thinner and harder than what you'll get from WASD. Or in the least, pretty sure they're thinner than either the blue or black O-rings from WASD and they're harder than the reds.

The G710+ is actually relatively quiet even without o-rings..which is probably why they have a relatively thin/hard o-ring.

Curious to see your results though...
I just removed one from the G710+ and the thickness is ~ 1/16" or 0.0625 in. confirming your comments on the o-rings. And they are also thinner than even the red 0-rings on WASD. Good info, I appreciate the feedback! I agree that the G710+ is pretty quiet, so I suppose I am looking for reducing travel without changing the "feel". In that case a thin plastic object as I wrote above would be what I am after and not an o-ring after all. I will get some abs plastic and draw up a cad file and see about having some cut out on a laser/punch.

Polymer

16 Dec 2012, 06:38

You can find harder o-rings that are thicker...There are some on Amazon, etc..The harder o-rings will not change the feel as much and they'll reduce travel...

abhibeckert

07 Jan 2013, 05:02

MissMurd3r84 wrote:Wait a second, you put the o-rings on the switches? Don't they usually go on the keys :\ if not, I have been doing it wrong. -_-
Sorry, yes I put them on the keys.
TAdams wrote:I currently have the 4mm black o-rings that came stock on the Logitech G710+ and have been eyeballing the WASD reds that have a 2mm height (40A-L). Are you comparing the o-rings you purchased from sealimports to the WASD Black o-rings or to the red or blues?
I have never tried the WSAD O-rings. But they their red ones are the same thickness as what I bought. However, WSAD reds are 40A. Mine are 90A (so they are significantly harder? I haven't compared).
TAdams wrote:Perhaps I should just get the WASD sampler kit. The G710+ with the stock o-rings feels mushy a bit. I can compare with my my CM Storm trigger and I do prefer the o-ringless feel. I would love to try 2mm and 4mm abs plastic cylinders with a cutout for the + on the keycap, I will check into that as I think it would be a nice experiment.
Perhaps you should try to find some 90A rings like the ones I purchased. I didn't really notice any change in feel, just shorter travel and slightly quieter bottoming out.

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