Silicon Graphics 32 Key Programmable
- flowerlandfilms
- Location: Australia
- Main keyboard: Silicon Graphics AT-101
- Main mouse: Logitech MX Vertical
- Favorite switch: the on/off switch
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
It may be perplexing to those born after 1996, but Silicon Graphics was once considered among Microsoft and IBM as one of the most important names in the computing world. Their 3D Graphical Workstations were the top of the line Ferraris of rendering, and despite not being sold to the general public, the mere mention of their name was enough to stir the imaginations of gamers and movie-goers everywhere. From the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park, to the Nintendo 64, in the 90s, Silicon Graphics was king.
Now all that's left of their former glory is a shadowy reflection called "SGI" bought up for its patents, and a few hardware relics like this, the Silicon Graphics 32 Key Programmable Button Box, 9980991. Made custom for Silicon Graphics by Advanced Input Devices for their Unix workstations these button boxes came with a set of dials which would aid in changing viewpoints and adjusting settings in 3D rendering applications.
This particular model (there are both earlier and later examples) comes equipped with Cherry Black switches with integrated LEDs. The actuation force is too hard, i don't care for them so much, but they feel brand new.
This model also lacks the ac adapter jack seen on other models, I believe because the jack was on the Dial box on this iteration, It has a male and female RS232 Serial port on the back, for connecting to the Irix Workstation and the Dial Box respectively.
It is in good condition except for this label scratch on the back. The construction of the box is fairly straight forward.
Removing 4 screws, two easily visible, two hidden under the flip up feet, the shell can be separated. It is made of rather thick plastic. A dark brown steel switch plate keeps the cherry switches from misbehaving.
Two more screws allow you to see a small daughter board which has the serial ports attached to it, and the only connection between it and the main board is this 8 pin direct socket, no ribbon cables or plugs.
The main board is a very attractive Forest Green.
The board manufacture date is revealed here to be 1987, older than I expected.
My plan is get this sucker going again to use as macro keys for Photoshop, Premiere, and After Effects. Suggestions on how best to make this happen would be most welcome as I have not made a custom keyboard before. Pretty excited to have a companion for my backlit Silicon Graphics Bigfoot though!
workshop-f7/backlighting-a-silicon-grap ... 16303.html
Last edited by flowerlandfilms on 24 Oct 2017, 07:52, edited 1 time in total.
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
It reminds me of the IBM LPFK 6094-020 made by Alps. My memories of what I've seen in this exact layout with all illuminated keys escapes me, though — I know there was one with MX switches but I forget who made it and for whom.
- duynguyenle
- Location: UK
- Main keyboard: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro L
- Main mouse: Logitech G502
- Favorite switch: MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: -
Excellent writeup
- flowerlandfilms
- Location: Australia
- Main keyboard: Silicon Graphics AT-101
- Main mouse: Logitech MX Vertical
- Favorite switch: the on/off switch
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
I found the IBM device on this japanese site, from other research i've done it seems to come with the exact same dial box as the SG machine, but confusingly says it was made by IBM themselves. Is one of them a ripoff?
http://kbd.rzw.jp/ibm/rs6000_lpf-keyboard_6094-020/
http://kbd.rzw.jp/ibm/rs6000_lpf-keyboard_6094-020/
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
rzwv's site was down again at the time I was looking for it. That one is made by Alps.
- flowerlandfilms
- Location: Australia
- Main keyboard: Silicon Graphics AT-101
- Main mouse: Logitech MX Vertical
- Favorite switch: the on/off switch
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Looks like my SG AT-101 has a new friend...
COMING SOOOOOOOONNNNNN...
COMING SOOOOOOOONNNNNN...
- flowerlandfilms
- Location: Australia
- Main keyboard: Silicon Graphics AT-101
- Main mouse: Logitech MX Vertical
- Favorite switch: the on/off switch
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Still putting on the final touches today.
Hey! any updates on your project?
My lab just found one of these laying around and I'm super interested to see if I can re purpose it.
My lab just found one of these laying around and I'm super interested to see if I can re purpose it.
- flowerlandfilms
- Location: Australia
- Main keyboard: Silicon Graphics AT-101
- Main mouse: Logitech MX Vertical
- Favorite switch: the on/off switch
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact: