[Coco] Coco KB membrane replacement

[Bruce W. Calkins]

Back in the mid 1980's surplus keyboards (Cherry style) were available.  
I bought one, unsoldered the printed circuit board and hard wired the 
keys for my "E" board CoCo 1.  It worked the first time.  I eventually 
wore it out and did another.  Unfortunately, the second one did not fit 
as well, but it still works.  As I see it, part of our problem is the 
availability of usable surplus keyboards.  Now if we could design a 
board with switches placed per the CoCo 2 & 3 patterns, (That is to use 
the CoCo keyboard top and keys) I'd be in for at least 3 of each.  
Remember, the CoCo 1 up to the "E" board used a printed circuit board 
with brass colored spring contacts under the chicklet keys.  it was a 
royal pain to reassemble.

Bruce W.



On 05/14/2017 07:32 PM, camillus gmail wrote:
> what about the conductive rubber pads, that is being used in calculators, remote controllers and other keyboard pads. The rubber can fit is the coco's key stems, only it needs then a complete different outlining, because the stem is not in center of he contacts.
>
> cb
>
> I considered that, as one could very easily replace the mylar and the
> back metal frame with a circuit board. But, can't find something that
> will press down that can easily be contained on top of each pad except
> for mylar.
>
> JIm