Building a C4P Replica

Jeff
Posts: 370
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 4:44 am
Location: British Columbia, Canada

Building a C4P Replica

Post by Jeff »

I am thinking of building a C4P Replica.

I have a bare 502, a bare 540, a memory board, and a backplane.

What I am missing is a keyboard. Does anyone know of replica keyboard boards?

EDIT: (added links to sub projects)

542C Keyboard...follow here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=433
502 CPU... follow here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=468
540B Video... follow here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=457
470HR Klyball... follow here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=469

/Jeff
Last edited by Jeff on Tue Apr 02, 2019 3:40 am, edited 4 times in total.
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Klyball
Posts: 230
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2014 12:53 am

Re: Building a C4P Replica

Post by Klyball »

I've got one ready to go if there is interest

But those custom keys are expensive
Replica 600 Rev D:8K,CEGMON
Replica 610 Rev B: 24k,MPI B-51 with Custom Data separator D-13
510 on the bench/replica 582 backplane/replica 470a /replica 555/original 570B/2 x Shugart 851
Ongoing : 630 ,620 ,510,542c,custom 590,SA1200,592,594,596,598
Jeff
Posts: 370
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 4:44 am
Location: British Columbia, Canada

Re: Building a C4P Replica

Post by Jeff »

Is there a way to use standard mx keys?
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Klyball
Posts: 230
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2014 12:53 am

Re: Building a C4P Replica

Post by Klyball »

I have a board ready for mx keys like the superboard clone or the original keys

The custom made keycaps are pricey , but I believe the one that were used on the briel superboard III are reasonable , but are not very close to the original's , the custom ones are minimum run of 10 sets and they are double shot like the originals
Replica 600 Rev D:8K,CEGMON
Replica 610 Rev B: 24k,MPI B-51 with Custom Data separator D-13
510 on the bench/replica 582 backplane/replica 470a /replica 555/original 570B/2 x Shugart 851
Ongoing : 630 ,620 ,510,542c,custom 590,SA1200,592,594,596,598
Jeff
Posts: 370
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 4:44 am
Location: British Columbia, Canada

Re: Building a C4P Replica

Post by Jeff »

Here is a photo of the Superboard 3 keys, just for reference.

/Jeff
Attachments
SB3.png
SB3.png (801.74 KiB) Viewed 14882 times
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Klyball
Posts: 230
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2014 12:53 am

Re: Building a C4P Replica

Post by Klyball »

Klyball replica keys
600key.jpg
600key.jpg (110.67 KiB) Viewed 14879 times
Replica 600 Rev D:8K,CEGMON
Replica 610 Rev B: 24k,MPI B-51 with Custom Data separator D-13
510 on the bench/replica 582 backplane/replica 470a /replica 555/original 570B/2 x Shugart 851
Ongoing : 630 ,620 ,510,542c,custom 590,SA1200,592,594,596,598
dave
Site Admin
Posts: 710
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:24 am

Re: Building a C4P Replica

Post by dave »

Grant,

Your contributions to the state of OSI hobbying have been nothing short of astounding!

It would be great if you made your keyboard design available. I am in the process of removing keys from a 542B keyboard for scanning, but was also considering making a keyboard replica from your 600D cherry and original flavors. I was also thinking it would be nice to have a generic ASCII keyboard based on the OSI layout, for other retrocomputing projects.

It would also be great to have information on your source for the custom cherry keycaps. Your keys are truer to the original than the SB III keys. I would consider doing a bulk buy to have these available.

The original keys are readily available, and very cheap, but keycaps would have to be custom, and possibly more expensive than cherry keys, for which tooling is abundant.

The cherry keys are a bit pricey for a full set, but an inexpensive way to get them is to buy a cherry keyboard used (about USD$30-40) and harvest the keys. That gives enough for 2 OSI keyboards, after buying 2 shift lock keys.

Dave
Jeff
Posts: 370
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 4:44 am
Location: British Columbia, Canada

Re: Building a C4P Replica

Post by Jeff »

I agree, Grant's keycaps are way closer to the original, and the original switches are easily available. I have purchased them for my 600D and also replaced all the switches on my C4PMF.
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Klyball
Posts: 230
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2014 12:53 am

Re: Building a C4P Replica

Post by Klyball »

The caps I had made fit the cherry keys , probably they could mold them to fit original keys if I sent them one. but I think it would serve better to use cherry keys as it would be easier and more reliable in the long run for everyone. even the new old stock originals are still old.


I could do a small run of 5-10 boards if there is interest
542c_new.jpg
542c_new.jpg (665.74 KiB) Viewed 14872 times
542c_old.JPG
542c_old.JPG (640.5 KiB) Viewed 14871 times
Replica 600 Rev D:8K,CEGMON
Replica 610 Rev B: 24k,MPI B-51 with Custom Data separator D-13
510 on the bench/replica 582 backplane/replica 470a /replica 555/original 570B/2 x Shugart 851
Ongoing : 630 ,620 ,510,542c,custom 590,SA1200,592,594,596,598
Jeff
Posts: 370
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 4:44 am
Location: British Columbia, Canada

Re: Building a C4P Replica

Post by Jeff »

Put me down for 2 or 3
/Jeff
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