Possible to modify Amiga keyboard for Cherry MX keycaps?

Mrs Beanbag · 13 May 2013, 15:10

I was looking into the possibility of building a new keyboard in Amiga layout. It is possible by modifying an existing keyboard except some keys (esp. the Fn keys) are non-standard sizes, I can get these custom made but gets expensive just for one. But then I had an idea.

A lot of people like to paint their Amiga cases black but the problem remains of what to do about the keys. It would be nice to be able to replace them with keys that you can buy elsewhere. There is something of a standard for this in the form of Cherry MX keycaps (for mechanical keyboards) but obviously these won't fit an Amiga... or will they?

The problem is these little guys:

Whereas a Cherry MX keycap fitting looks like this:

If the stem were to be cut off and replaced by a cross fitting I think a Cherry keycap could be made to fit on an Amiga keyboard. An A1200 keyboard has 96 of these and they are all identical so maybe it is possible to adapt them.

Arnie · 13 May 2013, 18:44

What about cutting the keycap to fit the stem?

Mrs Beanbag · 13 May 2013, 19:45

Modding the key to fit the stem seems more difficult, I don't know how you would do that.

Plus my thinking is that alternative stems could be produced from scratch in bulk. I don't know how just yet, possible 3D printing?

13 May 2013, 15:10	#1
Mrs Beanbag Glastonbridge Software Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Edinburgh/Scotland Posts: 2,243	Possible to modify Amiga keyboard for Cherry MX keycaps? I was looking into the possibility of building a new keyboard in Amiga layout. It is possible by modifying an existing keyboard except some keys (esp. the Fn keys) are non-standard sizes, I can get these custom made but gets expensive just for one. But then I had an idea. A lot of people like to paint their Amiga cases black but the problem remains of what to do about the keys. It would be nice to be able to replace them with keys that you can buy elsewhere. There is something of a standard for this in the form of Cherry MX keycaps (for mechanical keyboards) but obviously these won't fit an Amiga... or will they? The problem is these little guys: Whereas a Cherry MX keycap fitting looks like this: If the stem were to be cut off and replaced by a cross fitting I think a Cherry keycap could be made to fit on an Amiga keyboard. An A1200 keyboard has 96 of these and they are all identical so maybe it is possible to adapt them.

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13 May 2013, 18:44	#2
Arnie R.I.P Smudge 18-08-16 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Leicester/UK Age: 66 Posts: 3,968	What about cutting the keycap to fit the stem?

13 May 2013, 19:45	#3
Mrs Beanbag Glastonbridge Software Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Edinburgh/Scotland Posts: 2,243	Modding the key to fit the stem seems more difficult, I don't know how you would do that. Plus my thinking is that alternative stems could be produced from scratch in bulk. I don't know how just yet, possible 3D printing?

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