K3 buttons
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Hi friends,
I've downloaded and read the manual. Even in Hi-res, i cannot figure wether the K3 has real (microswitches) buttons or only those horrible "rubber-on-PCB" type, like those cheap china calculators ?? -- Laurent Ferracci, F1JKJ Blog radio: http://www.ferracci.org _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Laurent Ferracci wrote:
> I've downloaded and read the manual. Even in Hi-res, i cannot figure > whether the K3 has real (microswitches) buttons ... Hi Laurent, First I should mention that our very picky field testers have all said they really like the feel of the K3's switches. You'll have to try them yourself when you get a chance. As for the construction: The K3 uses full-custom, high-reliability switches selected specifically for their tactile properties and long rated lifetime (typically > 1M operations). They're fully sealed against moisture, which is important for use in high-humidity environments. Each switch incorporates a large polydome for positive tactile feedback (about .02" travel), and the contact surfaces are gold-plated. (These are not the hard-to-press, no-feedback matrix switches found on cheap calculators.) The switches are molded into several custom shapes, including two rocker switches (BAND UP/DN and MODE UP/DN). They're labeled in two different colors, and the ink is protected by a hard-coat that's also rated for very long life. (I tried very hard to scrape or rub the labels off of the samples the manufacturer provided. You can't do it without a knife or a file.) As a packaging designer, I find these switches -- which are similar to those found on other recent HF transceivers -- to be ideal for high-density front panels. 73, Wayne N6KR --- http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Guys:
I just want to add a comment on the buttons. I've not seen the K3 yet (mines in the 2nd batch), but I am very familiar with ultra-violet and epoxy hardcoats. My company has been printing (and engraving) keycaps for control panels, keyboards and switches since the early 70's. Under normal use (like we hams do), they will last quite a long time. The only time I've seen a failure, is when we did a job for Jiffy Lube, and the grease and oil on the techs hands did a job on their keyboards (we switched them to sublimation process to cure the problem). I'm sure Elecraft cannot go to sublimation, as there can be no white legends, and I'm sure 2-shot molding is too expensive. 73 Ken Kaplan WB2ART www.arkayengravers.com www.wb2art.com www.unpcbs.com www.apluscomputerserv.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Thinking about things - I've been using the same keyboard now for over 10
years and all markings are intact - we're talking 10 years * 300 days a year * 10 hours a day (or so). It's a rock-solid Cherry keyboard, arguably the best there is. Simon Brown, HB9DRV ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Kaplan" <[hidden email]> > Under normal use (like we hams do), they will last quite a long time. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Simon et all:
If the keycaps are 2-shot molded, it will last forever. You can pull a keycap off, and look at the bottom. If you see a large area of the same color as the legend, then it's 2-shot molded. However, Keytronics Corp produced quite a few keyboards, that were coated, and wore off very quickly. I has many people call and see about replacement keycaps. But keyboards are so cheap now, you can (almost) just chuck it. 73 Ken Kaplan WB2ART Simon Brown (HB9DRV) wrote: > Thinking about things - I've been using the same keyboard now for over > 10 years and all markings are intact - we're talking 10 years * 300 days > a year * 10 hours a day (or so). It's a rock-solid Cherry keyboard, > arguably the best there is. > > Simon Brown, HB9DRV > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Kaplan" <[hidden email]> > >> Under normal use (like we hams do), they will last quite a long time. > > > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Ken Kaplan
One of the things I do is use clear finger nail polish on buttons that have
printing on them. Walt K8CV Royal Oak, MI. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Kaplan" <[hidden email]> To: "Elecraft" <[hidden email]> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 7:37 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: K3 buttons > Guys: > I just want to add a comment on the buttons. > I've not seen the K3 yet (mines in the 2nd batch), but I am very familiar > with ultra-violet and epoxy hardcoats. My company has been printing (and > engraving) keycaps for control panels, keyboards and switches since the > early 70's. Under normal use (like we hams do), they will last quite a > long time. The only time I've seen a failure, is when we did a job for > Jiffy Lube, and the grease and oil on the techs hands did a job on their > keyboards (we switched them to sublimation process to cure the problem). > I'm sure Elecraft cannot go to sublimation, as there can be no white > legends, and I'm sure 2-shot molding is too expensive. > 73 > Ken Kaplan WB2ART > www.arkayengravers.com > www.wb2art.com > www.unpcbs.com > www.apluscomputerserv.com > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Ken Kaplan
Ken Kaplan a écrit :
> Under normal use (like we hams do), they will last quite a long time. Well, my concern is not with the markings but with the buttons themself: These buttons will collect dust and moist over the year and become sticky, erratic or unusable. Having to unmount the front panel to apply some contact spray once a year may be a solution, but having to apply a 1 ton pressure in the upper right corner of a tiny button in hope that it will work is not fun at all. And it gives the unit as a whole that cheap "made-in-###" touch i'd have do without. BTW my Thinkpad laptop is 2 years old and some keys ARE already erased. Is there a technical explanation of why Elecraft chose this kind of buttons, or is it just for budget ? -- Laurent Ferracci, F1JKJ Blog radio: http://www.ferracci.org _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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These buttons are extremely rugged and reliable. They are back printed
and coated with a rugged finish The legends should will not rub off. They do not collect significant amounts of dust and do not become sticky when wet. The electrical connections are more reliable than those on the K2's buttons. They provide a very pleasant tactile feedback when pressed. Overall they are an improvement in both presentation and reliability. 73, Eric WA6HHQ --- Laurent Ferracci wrote: > Ken Kaplan a écrit : > >> Under normal use (like we hams do), they will last quite a long time. > Well, my concern is not with the markings but with the buttons > themself: These buttons will collect dust and moist over the year and > become sticky, erratic or unusable. Having to unmount the front panel > to apply some contact spray once a year may be a solution, but having > to apply a 1 ton pressure in the upper right corner of a tiny button > in hope that it will work is not fun at all. And it gives the unit as > a whole that cheap "made-in-###" touch i'd have do without. > > BTW my Thinkpad laptop is 2 years old and some keys ARE already erased. > > Is there a technical explanation of why Elecraft chose this kind of > buttons, or is it just for budget ? > Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Laurent Ferracci
This is absolutely not true, Larent. The switches are completely
sealed, and we've been using them for nearly three years with no change in appearance or behavior. Remember that this is a front-facing switch array. It's a lot harder to drip coffee on your K3's switches than, say, the ones on your PC. 73, Wayne N6KR On Sep 12, 2007, at 6:01 AM, Laurent Ferracci wrote: > Ken Kaplan a écrit : > >> Under normal use (like we hams do), they will last quite a long time. > > Well, my concern is not with the markings but with the buttons > themself: These buttons will collect dust and moist over the year and > become sticky, erratic or unusable. --- http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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