Stormbringer Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 I've had it with trying to get the Mitsumi mylars to work in my 800's. I know some people are trying to produce a replacement but this to me seem like a better long term solution. Using a PCB and kailh low profile switches. it feels good to me at least. I'm no keyboard snob, however. Seems damn satisfying with the tactile feedback. Might need to find a spacer that will fit between the pcb and the upper shell/keyboard but from my testing works without em.. Just haven't found anything off the shelf(I admit I haven't looked either). I'd hate to have to print something. that means days fiddling around with the 3d printer. I like this solution because it uses the keyboard frame so you don't have to monkey around with printing adapters or deal with wobbly keys. About $80 bucks in parts too. Bought a sample pack of switches on amazon for testing. Ordered the rest of the switches from: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32838369089.html The PCB I had made from JLCPCB. PCBWay must have stock in shipping companies.... VID_20211215_132432.mp4 VID_20211215_134412.mp4 14 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 That looks like a great solution. Wonder if it can be adapted for use on the hitec keyboard, I've got a dead space bar on mine and nothing I try seems to fix it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 he is using his own pcb and switches... so long an the shaft can hit the switch tabs it will work... if you have to cover or fill in the post it won't cost much at all to do that... at worst it's just another pcb if screw holes won't line up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted December 16, 2021 Author Share Posted December 16, 2021 To credit Multifarious Industries, who's original design this is based off of, his PCB lined up with MOST of my keys and the mounting holes. I needed to rotate the keys to follow the angled plungers and alter the placement of a couple keys. Also needed to change the footprint from cherry to the kailh profile.. Short story long, I'm sure the mounting holes will line up. I've never seen the bottom keyboard portion of the Hi-Tek so I do not know if there is a "plunger" to smack down on the key switches. I will say that the feel of the Mitsumi is pretty damn sweet. To the point that I will be converting all of mine, working or not. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted January 4, 2022 Author Share Posted January 4, 2022 FINALLY got my keys from the slow boat. Soldered them all in and it works great! VID_20220104_135844.mp4 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spamh8r Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 I love that you've used the existing frame. This is what I've been waiting for. Any plans to purchase a significant number of those PCBs to offer for sale? (please say yes) I'll take 2-3 at least depending on cost. Happy to source the switches/cable/solder on my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+gnusto Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 +1 for sure, stealth upgrades (in terms of visibility) are the best upgrades, I'd be all over this. I have 3 800s that want to feel like my mechanical... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scelbi8h Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 My 800 comes with the Hitec keyboard, so I can't apply this. But this gives me an idea for my C64s... What software did you use for creating the PCB? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tillek Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Now if we can only get something like this for the 1200xls. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketmonkey101 Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 really cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted February 19, 2022 Author Share Posted February 19, 2022 (edited) Sorry about the late reply. Thought I provided the gerber files but I guess not. they are attached here now. The attachment contains the gerber files needed to print the board and the kicad files as well. You can have these made for fairly cheap. Again, I used JLCPCB in the States (Illinois) and it was around 30-35 bucks shipped for 5 of em. Plus the cost and wait on the keys. which you can source easily on aliexpress. I provided one link earlier. So, no need to wait for me to provide kits. go for it! I will say that I should have rotated the keys by like 1%. Adjacent keys slightly "bump" into one another on the corners. I just nipped both sides with cutters to make soldering easy. the plastic around the corners on the keys aren't support but there just to square them off. The boards worked well for me so I ordered more keys to replace my working 800 Mitsumi. I know the mylar will eventually fail. Atari800MitsumiKeyboardStormbringer.zip Edited February 19, 2022 by Stormbringer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spamh8r Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 Fantastic!! Thanks so much, sir!! I'll be ordering some once I get a count of which machines have which keyboard. Hopefully someone will take the time to do the same thing for 1200xl keyboards. I would if I had the skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spamh8r Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 Found a $40 104 key keyboard with the white switches. Soldered in, but I've got a heat gun and I can't wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenames99 Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 (edited) hi, does anyone have 2 of these boards extra? I only need two of them. or should I order a batch and make the extras available? thanks. well, both keyboards are those mechanical hitech things but both have a bunch of sticking keys due to breakage/mechanical failure. so I probably won't be able to use these. sigh. Ken Edited February 20, 2022 by kenames99 more info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spamh8r Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 Ordered 5 boards in black- I'll have at least one or two spares if anyone is interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spamh8r Posted March 6, 2022 Share Posted March 6, 2022 Building my first one now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted March 11, 2022 Author Share Posted March 11, 2022 Any Pics or progress? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spamh8r Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Funny story-- as my son and I were getting things ready for the arcade expo, I spent a couple hours building one of those and figured I'd start pulling all my AIR machines out until I found a Mitsumi. 6 machines later, I never did find one without the Hi-Tek, but I'm sure there are more, I just had to get things ready for the expo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spamh8r Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 (edited) On 3/11/2022 at 5:11 PM, Stormbringer said: Any Pics or progress? I never did find any 800s with the Mitsumi keyboard, but now I'm looking for one so that I can have the sweet sounds of this mechanical keyboard. Edited March 14, 2022 by spamh8r 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 Man that looks good in black Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.Cade Posted June 26, 2022 Share Posted June 26, 2022 If anyone has any spare boards or keys, let me know before I go and order more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted July 13, 2022 Author Share Posted July 13, 2022 On 6/26/2022 at 10:28 AM, R.Cade said: If anyone has any spare boards or keys, let me know before I go and order more... I've got 3 spares, when I ordered from JLCPCB I got 5 of em... maybe minimum order? I don't recall. Anyhow, they were really cheap - prolly cheaper that me shipping you one using ups / fedex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.Cade Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 45 minutes ago, Stormbringer said: I've got 3 spares, when I ordered from JLCPCB I got 5 of em... maybe minimum order? I don't recall. Anyhow, they were really cheap - prolly cheaper that me shipping you one using ups / fedex. That = true. I ordered some a day or so after asking, so I will have 5 also, with 4 spares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.Cade Posted July 23, 2022 Share Posted July 23, 2022 (edited) Mine is built. It doesn't fit down flush on the old mounting screws... So what are you guys using for spacers? Edited July 23, 2022 by R.Cade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted July 25, 2022 Author Share Posted July 25, 2022 I was going to 3d print some spacers but just screwed it in with the original screws until it rests on the sides of the keyswitches. The bottom PCB should rest on the shield with the cable in between. Seems pretty stable in my 2 800's that I did. Do you have access to a 3d printer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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