Unreal Topre Modification Guide

Tools

  • Keycap Remover
  • Phillips head screwdriver
  • Jimmy or other opening tool
  • Fine paint brush
  • Lubricant Syringe
  • Heat gun or hair dryer
  • Scissors
  • Exacto knife
  • Safety glasses
  • Pencil or Pen
  • Two books of equal thickness
  • File

Materials

Procedure

A. Disassembly

  • Remove the keycaps
  • Remove the shell
  • Unscrew the PCB
  • Wearing safety glasses, remove the stems from the housings. You can use an unsharpened pencil for this.
  • Remove the stem housings. Use a jimmy and insert it between the tab on top and the metal plate. Repeat on the other tab.
  • Remove the stabilizers, including the spacebar stabilizer.
  • Disassemble the slider and stabilizer bar.

B. Preparations

  • For Realforce RGB keyboards, cut 6mm lengths of 1.5mm diameter heat shrink tube. Apply to either ends of the stabilizer bars.
  • 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.
  • 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.

C. Assembly

    • Align the Unreal Topre Gasket with the underside of the metal base plate, or install the HHKB spacebar gasket to the spacebar stabilizer housing.
    • Install the prepared housings and stabilizers housings, ensuring both sides snap into place.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • Place 1/64” thick neoprene landing pads on either side of the underside of the stabilizers.
    • 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.
    • Lube PCB with a “toothpaste” amount of Krytox 205g0. Using your finger, apply a thin layer to cover the entire board.
    • Reassemble the PCB
    • Prepare the shell:

      Fill the case with adhesive weights.

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

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