This key turned out to be a prototype, but is now complete,
basically as I made it I realised with four sets of ballraces six rare
earth ring magnets and eight separate adjustments it was over complicated and could have been made easier
to a different design, Here bolts under fingertip pressure drop into tapered recesses in opposite sides of
a gimble, so I can change modes from Swiper to Straight in 8 seconds,
by simply tightening one adjustment and slackening another strangely the
knob in paddle mode feels quite comfortable in straight key mode? although
it can be rotated and locked if required.
It has an excellent magnetic straight key action and and in Swiper mode can
be set very finely being centred by opposing magnetic fields however it
needs a gentle intelligent touch to change modes and to set it all up, it is
the sort of key you have to learn to live with as it is quite unique and the
only one of it's type in the world with it's own personality.
Really this key was a folly, and perhaps a lesson to all would be key
makers, as I progressed with it and slowly overcome it's operational
problems it became more and more complex, really at an early stage I should
have scrapped it and moved on to a redesigned model, but I didn't, having
already put hours and hours of work into it I soldiered on doing a bit now
and again and now finally after nearly two years it is complete, It is a fine unique key, it looks chunky and aggressive almost,
but it isn't, the adjustments are fine and delicate, the pictures don't do
it justice as it looks and feels a real machine, the terminals are just nuts
and washers, I thought more knurling would make it look even more over
engineered, It really needs a solid heavy steel or stone base as it is easy
to get carried away in swiper mode and move it about.
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