New Workplace Keyboard(s) Double 96 with Touchpad

[CeeSA]

better not, it's ugly. but it's recycling

[Icarium]

And what exactly do you mean by "shift works only one"?

[CeeSA]

should be "one way" (word way is missing).

in my first config the left keyboard was connected via PS/2 to the right.
So shift works only for everyboard themself and from left to right but not from right to left.

Now one controller only controlls both boards.

[off]

better not, it's ugly. but it's recycling

Personally, ugly yet functional is beautiful! Especially compared to all the crap that gets pushed out that doesn't even properly fulfill it's basic functions, yet looks good (at first sight)..
and really now, this does sound bloody interesting!: "to make the boards detachable i use some parts of the cardreaders."

[CeeSA]

ok, here you are:

internal con1.jpg (71.99 KiB) Viewed 3534 times

internal con2.jpg (85.4 KiB) Viewed 3534 times

This connector (male and female) was part of the cardreader.
Just cut the pcb with the female connector. The male part connector is soldered to the tipro internal connection bus/connector.

After connecting, the plug (of course not the cable) can be hidden in the casing. Could you imagine?

[off]

Yes!
Now only a small metal bracket to mount the connector in place, and perhaps some rubber (or metal/plastic from the cardreader casing) to make it a clean and easy connect/disconnect.. perhaps something like heatshrink around the loose connector on the cable and it's bloody awesome! Thanks for pics.

To be clear, this was relevant only because he removed/disconnected the controller from one of the boards. Right?

[CeeSA]

yes, that's right.

[Surger]

Nice setup, Ceesa.
I'm new to deskthority so hadn't seen this before. I could see myself working with something similar. Love the room for extra shortcuts, custom buttons etc. Couple of questions. If you answered these in other posts and I missed this, sorry...

You had to rework the electronics to use both simultaneously? I.e. When you say "Now one controller only controls both boards" that's a custom solution you created or out of the box?

Can't order different cherry's with this board, right?

[kbdfr]

[...]You had to rework the electronics to use both simultaneously? I.e. When you say "Now one controller only controls both boards" that's a custom solution you created or out of the box?

That will not have been necessary.
Tipro keyboards can be connected via "Tipro bus", i.e. both PCBs have a small inernal socket. Connect them and the modules will act as only one.
The problem is that the cable normally used is very short (a few centimeters), as modules usually are physically assembled together. So just make a longer cable if you can, that's all.
I'm quite sure CeeSA can

Can't order different cherry's with this board, right?

Right. Tipros have plate-mounted MX black switches.

[Surger]

Thnx. Interesting.... I'll keep that in mind in case ErgoDox doesn't work for me.

[Surger]

CeeSa has inspired me. I think I'll make something similar, but in 8x8, while I wait for ErgoDox.

Does the Tipro come with the double width Shift and Enter keys? Or did you order those separately?
What about the force needed to press those double keys. If they are on two switches, don't they require too much force to type comfortably?

And How about the alphanumerical keys? I don't see those specified on the Tipro site.

Thanks!

[kbdfr]

[...] Does the Tipro come with the double width Shift and Enter keys? Or did you order those separately?
What about the force needed to press those double keys. If they are on two switches, don't they require too much force to type comfortably?

And How about the alphanumerical keys? I don't see those specified on the Tipro site.

Tipro keyboards are point of sale keyboards. Original Tipro keycaps are flat and mostly relegendable (i.e. with a transparent lid, there also exist pre-printed lids).
But as Tipro keyboards use Cherry switches, of course you can put any Cherry or Cherry compatible keycaps on them.

As for double keys, yes, those matrix keyboards use two switches for them and they need more force. There are even quadruple (2x2) keys.
On some OEM Tipros designed for firms, one of the two switches on double keys just has no spring, thus the force needed to press the key is the same as for a simple switch; the springless switch just follows the up and down movement, being in fact used as a stabilisator.

[Surger]

OK, thanks. Already investigating where to buy the 8x8.

Sounds like a nice pet project, hopefully without complicated electronic or hardware issues.
If I do decide to go for this, I'll post some pics to Deskthority.

[Surger]

The problem is that the cable normally used is very short (a few centimeters), as modules usually are physically assembled together. So just make a longer cable if you can, that's all.

I just heard from Tipro that if you order one complete board (with the controller) and one slave (without the controller), the slave comes with an external connection cable to connect the two. It's about 180 cm long. That should probably give me enough separation

The new FREE boards seem slightly less compact than the old MID boards but come with 2 downstream USB ports, and some other technical improvements, according to Tipro.

I'm a bit worried about the activation force for the black Cherries, but will probably give it a try.

[kbdfr]

I just heard from Tipro that if you order one complete board (with the controller) and one slave (without the controller), the slave comes with an external connection cable to connect the two. It's about 180 cm long. That should probably give me enough separation

The new FREE boards seem slightly less compact than the old MID boards but come with 2 downstream USB ports, and some other technical improvements, according to Tipro.

I'm a bit worried about the activation force for the black Cherries, but will probably give it a try.

I suppose your connection cable info relates only to the FREE boards, as Tipro is phasing down the MID range.

I would be curious to know if there is any additional info about how the cable is is connected. Is there an external Tipro bus socket?

About the activation force, you'll have to get used to MX blacks or desolder the whole board
Personally, blacks are my preferred switches.

[Surger]

Yes, this relates to the FREE boards. The connecting cable is: "a small MINIDIN connector – looks like PS/2".

Regarding black cherry: I'm currently on a Kinesis Freestyle (dome). I'm a fast typist and find that I bottom out on the Freestyle, mostly because of the keys are not reliable at a lighter touch. My hope is that with the Blacks the activation point and increased travel will allow lighter typing so I won't bottom out and this will compensate for the higher activation force.

Desoldering? Right... More likely I'll toss the entire thing into the fireplace and see if that smoothens things up.