Beam Spring 104+SSK Reproduction Project! First Batch In Stock, Shipping early next year after New Model F Project
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Ellipse
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Brand New Model F Keyboards
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Here we have the first user image of the Round 2 B104 Beam Spring Keyboard! This one is an ISO version with one of the new custom LED Overlay designs. The key set includes extra keys so that you can pick which ones you want to install.
Please do share your B104 images!
Please do share your B104 images!
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JCMax
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Unicomp New Model M
- Main mouse: Anker Vertical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Clciky-tactile
Thanks Ellipse! It's a tank!
Since you wanted pics I got one with all of the "lights" on. This thing don't need no RGB!
Since you wanted pics I got one with all of the "lights" on. This thing don't need no RGB!
- Attachments
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- Beamspring pic.JPG (580.05 KiB) Viewed 616 times
- Green Maned Lion
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Unicomp New Model M
- Main mouse: X-keys L-Track
- Favorite switch: Buckling Spring
I think the B122 is in the same sized case, right? Height wise, I mean, obviously it's wider.
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Ellipse
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Brand New Model F Keyboards
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Yes, I noted on the product pages:
Dimensions (all are approximate):
B62: 341 x 210mm (13.4 x 8.3in)
BSSK: 406 x 248mm (16 x 9.8in)
B104: 491 x 248mm (19.3 x 9.8in)
B122: 535 x 248mm (21 x 9.8 in)
All beam spring case heights are 39mm (1.5in) in the front to 49mm (1.9in) in the back
Dimensions (all are approximate):
B62: 341 x 210mm (13.4 x 8.3in)
BSSK: 406 x 248mm (16 x 9.8in)
B104: 491 x 248mm (19.3 x 9.8in)
B122: 535 x 248mm (21 x 9.8 in)
All beam spring case heights are 39mm (1.5in) in the front to 49mm (1.9in) in the back
Looking good! I love how the divot looks on Ellipse's keys--I only hope the MTNU Susus I have waiting for their new home will measure up.
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Ellipse
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Brand New Model F Keyboards
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
The keys are custom and are not made in line with any standard MX profile. As you can see in the various photos all of the keys do not vary much in height. These keys were the closest production keys I could find with characteristics similar to the IBM beam spring keycaps (color scheme, font, PBT double shot, each key about the same height).
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snarfbot
- Location: usa
- Main keyboard: model m
- Main mouse: kensington pro fit
- Favorite switch: buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: -
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
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- Green Maned Lion
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Unicomp New Model M
- Main mouse: X-keys L-Track
- Favorite switch: Buckling Spring
Joe, do you think more interesting keycap colours may become available in the future?
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Vertrillium
- Main keyboard: Keychron q5 max
- Main mouse: G502x hero
- Favorite switch: Nk box navy blue
Got mine today and outfitted them with the SA Macrodata Refinement Keycaps. https://imgur.com/a/DWn80cZ
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Ellipse
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Brand New Model F Keyboards
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Nope, due to high minimum order quantities of 1000 for each color scheme.
- engr
- Location: USA
I am stuck in the "get the Leyden Jar diagnostic tool to work" stage. Following the instructions, I downloaded the repository and tried to run the GenerateBuildForVS2022.bat file. Command prompt window flashes and disappears, and nothing is being generated in the build directory (even though I have VS2022 installed). What am I missing?
...And yet, it seems that I got incredibly lucky, because all the modules were OK visually, and all the keys are working perfectly out of the box. The only thing I had to do was to remove and re-install the spacebar (because it came installed upside down), and by some miracle I managed to do it without damaging the stabilizers, despite not having the plastic parts properly supported (yes, I should have used the wire).
At this point, I am happily typing on my B104 and I am kind of reluctant to disassemble the inner assembly, everything, clean PCB, etc. (Step 3), because, well, it's not broken, so why fix it.
There was a random loose machine screw inside the case, identical to the ones holding the controller PCB to the stands, that I still have not figured out where it came from.
It's going to take me a while to get used to the height of the keyboard and the fact that the standard wrist rests will not fit it. But the beam spring switches feel great.
...And yet, it seems that I got incredibly lucky, because all the modules were OK visually, and all the keys are working perfectly out of the box. The only thing I had to do was to remove and re-install the spacebar (because it came installed upside down), and by some miracle I managed to do it without damaging the stabilizers, despite not having the plastic parts properly supported (yes, I should have used the wire).
At this point, I am happily typing on my B104 and I am kind of reluctant to disassemble the inner assembly, everything, clean PCB, etc. (Step 3), because, well, it's not broken, so why fix it.
There was a random loose machine screw inside the case, identical to the ones holding the controller PCB to the stands, that I still have not figured out where it came from.
It's going to take me a while to get used to the height of the keyboard and the fact that the standard wrist rests will not fit it. But the beam spring switches feel great.
- Attachments
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- B104kb.png (2.5 MiB) Viewed 338 times
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_eyechedelia
- Location: United States
Posted this to geekhack first since I got locked out of my deskthority account, but here's my B104 with a combination of WoB and Fairlane MT3 keycaps. Been using it a couple days now and am really enjoying the switches; in setting it up I fortunately only had to reattach the beam flipper for one switch and wiggle another
- Attachments
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- beamspring.jpg (817.51 KiB) Viewed 223 times
Last edited by _eyechedelia on 21 May 2026, 02:38, edited 1 time in total.
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Ellipse
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Brand New Model F Keyboards
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
engr, why not use the precompiled release binaries linked in the below link?
The manual also notes the steps and prerequisites needed to compile. Rico notes additional instructions here: https://github.com/mymakercorner/Leyden ... ostic_Tool
Also have you considered 3d printing a good sized wrist rest? Maybe there are some 3d printed freely available ones that are resizeable based on user input. Please share any you like as I can offer them as part of the 3d printed product page on the project website.
Yes please do share typing tests! For now, primus, I posted a typing test a few years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip-L0e1aBmI
The manual also notes the steps and prerequisites needed to compile. Rico notes additional instructions here: https://github.com/mymakercorner/Leyden ... ostic_Tool
Also have you considered 3d printing a good sized wrist rest? Maybe there are some 3d printed freely available ones that are resizeable based on user input. Please share any you like as I can offer them as part of the 3d printed product page on the project website.
Yes please do share typing tests! For now, primus, I posted a typing test a few years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip-L0e1aBmI
Last edited by Ellipse on 21 May 2026, 02:12, edited 1 time in total.
- engr
- Location: USA
Because that link was listed under “Required downloads (BSSK and B62)”, while the “Required downloads (B104 and B122)” had a link to the GitHub pages instead, and I have a B104… and I didn’t see the link to what I am assuming are compiled binaries until now. So I tried following those additional instructions to build the executable myself (installed VS2022 and executed the .bat file) and it didn’t work.engr, why not use the precompiled binaries linked in the manual? QMK_layout_files.zip file
If I can use those precompiled binaries for B104, I will try that.
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Ellipse
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Brand New Model F Keyboards
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Sorry wrong link in my previous post (now fixed). The manual correctly notes the Leyden Jar diagnostic tool as one of the required B104 downloads. I updated the manual just now to note "see the right side of the page under "releases" to download"
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bigsmork
- Main keyboard: New Model F - 104
- Main mouse: Logitech G502 X
- Favorite switch: IBM Capacitive Buckling Spring
B104 arrived today - worked right out the gate. Very happy with the product and it was worth the wait. This will be replacing my Model F permanently!
- Attachments
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- PXL_20260521_135259962.jpg (602.71 KiB) Viewed 110 times
Last edited by bigsmork on 21 May 2026, 15:59, edited 1 time in total.
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Ellipse
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Brand New Model F Keyboards
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Sharing with permission a B104 in Off-White/Beige with the two keycap color scheme:
These keyboards are so heavy that I hope the stand can support the weight of the keyboard!
These keyboards are so heavy that I hope the stand can support the weight of the keyboard!