Beam Spring 104+SSK Reproduction Project! First Batch In Stock, Shipping early next year after New Model F Project

[Ellipse]

Yes, you can add modules to those spots if you cut the case a bit. The PCB accepts these additional keys so nothing else needs to be purchased besides the modules. No new samples are needed as I can test the modules manually.

[Ellipse]

The final beam spring sample keyboards arrived this week and have been tested.

They are excellent quality and have been approved for production! Now everything remaining with the beam spring project has been approved for production.

We just have some firmware issues including mapping errors on the boards that need to be corrected (the keys register but are not properly mapped).

I very much like the quality and consistency of the beam module assembly and sounds. I feel that the additional foam padding and slight enlargement of the top inner assembly module holes (more like the IBM originals but not so large that the keys wobble a lot - like on the IBM originals) refines the beam spring sound and eliminates much of the additional reverberation and higher-pitch sound found on the Round 1 boards.

Only 1 out of the ~244 modules needed adjustment for the two B122 boards I tested. And thanks to the change to the press-fit washers, the beam modules can be disassembled and reassembled by hand. It is far easier and faster to reattach the flyplate with everything out of the module!

Weights without keycaps: B122 9.4 lbs, B104 8.0 lbs, BSSK 6.8 lbs, B62 4.9 lbs

[jmaynard]

Yay!

What does that mean for a delivery date estimate?

[Ellipse]

Should be next year. Maybe mid-year?

[Johnbo]

I'm excited!

[Nikki2981]

ooh exciting!

[Ellipse]

Beam spring production update:

The factory notes that they have completed production and assembly of 80,000 Round 2 beam spring modules.

The cases, bottom and top inner assembly plates, foam, PCBs, and other small parts were approved for production last month.

The Leyden Jar (for B122 and B104) and xwhatsit (for B62 and BSSK) controllers are all in stock, ready to be installed.

The PBT double shot MX keycaps for the beam spring keyboards all arrived to me with last year's container shipment, so they are all ready to ship. These are the same keys from the same order as was done for the Round 1 beam spring keyboards.

I am hoping that they complete production and assembly of the remaining items over the coming months.

Again I want to reiterate that the quality of the sample beam spring keyboards received a month or so ago is excellent, and most noticeable is the significantly improved consistency of the key press of each beam module.

For those not following the project closely in the past year or so, the beam module supplier switched and brand new molds were created for the Round 2 beam modules. These new beam modules, combined with the improved assembly quality, has resulted in excellent production examples.

Here's a photo showing how the modules are being stored while we wait for the other parts to be completed. The modules are on layers in trays, with a cardboard separation between each layer of modules.

2025-01-02 beam module trays.jpg (491.81 KiB) Viewed 13476 times

[wobbled]

Ellipse will you consider apologising for shitting on other members by advertising in someone elses beamspring project thread? Still waiting for an answer on this

[snarfbot]

im convinced now that there's one guy with 10 sock accounts that is going around and shitting up all the threads on the forum with this anti ellipse crusade and it's honestly sickening.

please stop.

[wobbled]

im convinced now that there's one guy with 10 sock accounts that is going around and shitting up all the threads on the forum with this anti ellipse crusade and it's honestly sickening.

please stop.

Hardly… I've been here for over 8 years, and im one of many calling out the bullshit instead of lapping up bullshit like certain people.

Maybe if more than one person is causing a fuss there might just be a genuine issue? Just cos your board is fine doesn’t mean others haven’t been absolutely screwed by this borderline scammer.

[idollar]

im convinced now that there's one guy with 10 sock accounts that is going around and shitting up all the threads on the forum with this anti ellipse crusade and it's honestly sickening.

please stop.

I would suggest you to report the accounts which you believe are acting in this way.
In the meanwhile, I would also suggest that you do not spread around fake information that may affect the reputation of the forum.

[snarfbot]

lmao oh please don't threaten me guy. what are you gonna do start a fake grassroots campaign against me too? lmao.

you think you're slick but it's really obvious.

[idollar]

lmao oh please don't threaten me guy. what are you gonna do start a fake grassroots campaign against me too? lmao.

you think you're slick but it's really obvious.

Apologies if my message came across as threatening; that was not my intention. I was merely pointing out that you made accusations without providing any proof.

Could you please specify the accounts you're referring to? I only have this one. I registered it on October 24, 2014, at 16:57, and have been inactive for several years. If you still don’t believe me, feel free to verify the registration dates of the other accounts.

The usual procedure when accusations like the ones you've made are involved is that the accuser must provide evidence for their claims. If you have any understanding of the law, you'll know that it’s not the accused who must prove their innocence, but the accuser who must prove their guilt (legal principle of the presumption of innocence)

There is absolutely nothing to hide.

[AngryCockroach]

Just ignore them, add them as Foe and you won't see their messages.

[caesarcaliyugula]

Beam spring production update:

The factory notes that they have completed production and assembly of 80,000 Round 2 beam spring modules.

The cases, bottom and top inner assembly plates, foam, PCBs, and other small parts were approved for production last month.

The Leyden Jar (for B122 and B104) and xwhatsit (for B62 and BSSK) controllers are all in stock, ready to be installed.

The PBT double shot MX keycaps for the beam spring keyboards all arrived to me with last year's container shipment, so they are all ready to ship. These are the same keys from the same order as was done for the Round 1 beam spring keyboards.

I am hoping that they complete production and assembly of the remaining items over the coming months.

Again I want to reiterate that the quality of the sample beam spring keyboards received a month or so ago is excellent, and most noticeable is the significantly improved consistency of the key press of each beam module.

For those not following the project closely in the past year or so, the beam module supplier switched and brand new molds were created for the Round 2 beam modules. These new beam modules, combined with the improved assembly quality, has resulted in excellent production examples.

Here's a photo showing how the modules are being stored while we wait for the other parts to be completed. The modules are on layers in trays, with a cardboard separation between each layer of modules.
2025-01-02 beam module trays.jpg

If I have a B122 on order, is it safe to assume it's too late to change that order to a B104? I've switched to a new desk layout and have a little less free space than I might like.

[Ellipse]

Please email me - I have made some extras of each model so I might be able to make swaps.

[genericusername57]

I feel that the additional foam padding and slight enlargement of the top inner assembly module holes (more like the IBM originals but not so large that the keys wobble a lot - like on the IBM originals) refines the beam spring sound and eliminates much of the additional reverberation and higher-pitch sound found on the Round 1 boards.

Any chance of an updated beam spring video comparing the original to R1 and the approved samples of the R2's?

[tyrantcyan]

The beam samples have finally been completed! Soon they will be on their way to me for full testing.

Below is the first photo of the completed Round 2 Beam Spring sample keyboards:
2024-11-16 completed beam samples.jpg

Is this the light or dark blue?

[Ellipse]

genericusername57 Yes at some point, and also making a new beam manual before the Round 2 boards start arriving

tyrantcyan this is the dark blue. The beam spring boards have the same colors as the Model M case style Model F boards so feel free to look at those product pages for more photos of each case color.

[ritter]

Hi Ellipse,

I see you now have some nice Mac F1-F15 keys available for the model-F keyboards... will there be something like that for the beam spring keyboards? At present, I have a whole bunch of the re-legendable keycaps on order for my B122, but actual printed keys would be nicer.

Failing that, does anyone know where I might be able to get such keys for the B122?

Cheers!

[Ellipse]

I believe there are some places that will custom sublimate MX keys but they will not be double shot, which requires a new mold cavity for each legend. That is why unfortunately no additional keys will be made for the beam spring keyboards, which use MX compatible PBT double shot key sets.

Yes, everyone please do share their recommended MX key set options here so that I may share them as requested: 122+ key sets, various international language options, media keys, custom sublimated MX sets, etc. MT3 sets have been recommended but I am not sure if their largest sets are still available to order.

[jmaynard]

I need to make up a set of keys for the B122 that duplicates the IBM PC3270 keyboard.

[Rico]

MT3 3227 looks to be a very good fit and you can fill the F13-F24 with the extra kit.
https://drop.com/buy/drop-matt3o-mt3-32 ... Ids=967004
https://drop.com/buy/drop-matt3o-mt3-32 ... Ids=967000

It is in stock and rather cheap.

[Ellipse]

Thanks everyone for the recommendations. Please keep sending them!

Here are the first professional style photos of the Round 2 classic style beam spring keyboards and F122 keyboard:

To see the high res photos, please go to the bottom of the post of all the newer F and Beam models:
https://imgur.com/a/brand-new-model-f-b ... ls-EIebi75

The photos show each available layout with the factory keys: ANSI, ISO, Split Shift and 2U Backspace, and Split Shift and Split Backspace.

Here is one photo of each available layout:

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[jmaynard]

Those keycaps look great., and even multiple profile sculpted on the main keyboard. Yay!

Would it be possible to obtain (through a custom commission from the maker, if necessary) similarly sculpted keycaps for F13-F24 and the left hand 10 key cluster? And the specs for the font used, so we can make keys that match? The relegendable caps will at least allow use of the keyboard, but they look cheesy. I know you're not going to sell them, but I do want to get a set, from whoever.

[Ellipse]

Unfortunately that is not possible, as each keycap legend for double shot keys requires its own mold cavity to be created for each new key design, which is extremely costly.

The use of transparent relegendable keys on beam spring keyboards, and most notably such caps with a different profile, has precedence: IBM did so with their own IBM 4978 keyboards, as shown by forum member and beam spring keyboard restorer Noobmaen: viewtopic.php?t=19429

I do sell the pictured relegendable keys and double shot keycaps, which can be bought with the keyboard or separately. These are the key sets being sold with the new beam spring keyboards.

Like the Model F keys, these keys I believe are custom drawn instead of being a font, so there would be no way to get an exact match.

[genericusername57]

Looks absolutely gorgeous. I'm just wondering if I'm regretting getting an ISO one instead of an ANSI one since I've converted to using ANSI at home. But I guess I'll just have to work more at the office to make sure I get full use of it. I'd love to see a sample of the industrial gray with the black and white keycap set though.

[jmaynard]

I understand that those are double shot keycaps and that custom keycaps would be printed or dye sublimated or something similar. But I'm looking to get as close as I can given the limitations.

[dodddummy]

I understand that those are double shot keycaps and that custom keycaps would be printed or dye sublimated or something similar. But I'm looking to get as close as I can given the limitations.

I agree. At this point I think the closest I can get is keycaps that match in color but have no legends. Not a huge issue for me since I'll know which key I'm on due to the landmarks. But I would love some with legends. Probably not enough that I try to make some a la the keymacs youtube channel.

[jmaynard]

I agree. At this point I think the closest I can get is keycaps that match in color but have no legends. Not a huge issue for me since I'll know which key I'm on due to the landmarks. But I would love some with legends. Probably not enough that I try to make some a la the keymacs youtube channel.

A match in color and shape, both. Those curved caps look fantastic.