Unreal Topre Modifications Guide

Tools

Materials

Procedure


  1. Remove the keycaps
  2. Remove the shell
  3. Unscrew the PCB
  4. Wearing safety glasses, remove the stems from the housings. You can use an unsharpened pencil for this.
  5. Remove the stem housings. Use a jimmy and insert it between the tab on top and the metal plate. Repeat on the other tab.
  6. Remove the stabilizers, including the spacebar stabilizer.
  7. Disassemble the slider and stabilizer bar.
  8. Apply heat shrink tubes to the stabilizer bars:

    Cut 4mm lengths of 1.5mm diameter heat shrink tube. Apply to either ends of the stabilizer bars.

    Using an exacto knife, make a cut lengthwise in two 3mm diameter heat shrink tube.

    Apply the heat shrink tubes to the center of the spacebar stabilizer bar. For the HHKB, avoid placing heat shrink tube next to the spacebar slider housing and tab in the center of the shell.

    Using an exacto knife, make a cut lengthwise in two 8 cm lengths of a 3mm diameter heat shrink tube.

    Apply to either ends of the spacebar stabilizer bar

  9. Prepare the stabilizers:

    File down the tabs on either end of the stabilizer housings.

    Apply TriboSys 3203 to the surface of the stabilizer slider, including the spacebar stabilizer plunger. Use the smallest amount to cover the surface.

    Next, to the surface of the stabilizer housing where the slider touches the housing, apply TriboSys 3203. Again, use the smallest amount to cover the surface.

    Install topre silencing rings, either to the underside of the stabilizer housing or slipped around the slider, if available.

    Install the slider in the housing.

    Install the stabilizer bar in the housing.

    Apply liberal amounts of Krytox 206g2 to where the bar acts on the slider.

  10. Prepare the slider housings:

    Apply Krytox 205g0 to the housing rails. Use the smallest amount to cover the length of the rail.

    Install topre silencing rings, either to the underside of the housing or slipped around the slider, if available.

    Install the slider into the housing.

  11. Align the Unreal Topre Gasket with the underside of the metal base plate, or install the HHKB spacebar gasket to the spacebar stabilizer housing.
  12. Install the prepared housings and stabilizers housings, ensuring both sides snap into place.
  13. Using 2 books, elevate the plate and housings off the table enough that the sliders are able to be in the “up” position upside down with the underside of the housings showing.
  14. Place the domes on the housings. If using BKE domes, ensure the alignment carefully. An easy check is to align the crisscross pattern that the domes have for ventilation.
  15. Place the capacitive springs on the housings. If using BKE domes, ensure the spring is not “snapped” into the dome but rather resting on top.
  16. Place 1/64” thick neoprene landing pads on either side of the underside of the stabilizers.
  17. Place 1/32” thick neoprene landing pads on either side of the spacebar stabilizer housing. The semi-circles on either end should surround the tabs of the stabilizer housing. FC660C users should not install any landing pad under their spacebar. R2 RGB uses the same 1/64” thick landing pads for the spacebar as the other stabilizers.
  18. Lube PCB with a “toothpaste” amount of Krytox 205g0. Using your finger, apply a thin layer to cover the entire board.
  19. Reassemble the PCB
  20. Prepare the shell:

    Fill the case with adhesive weights.

    Fill the remaining areas with adhesive 1/8” sponge neoprene or sorbothane.

  21. Replace the shell.
  22. Test the keyboard.
  23. Apply MX or Topre O-rings to the keycaps to prevent bottoming out of the keycaps on the plate.
  24. Replace the keycaps.
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