What is SpaceFN and why you should give it a try
The SpaceFN concept - setting up your space key as a layer switch when held - is probably one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby. Let me explain how it works. My SpaceFN article on kbd.news made some rounds recently - quite surprisingly given the age of this concept. This piece you're reading is a condensed version of the full post. If you're left with unanswered questions, you'll most likely find the info you're looking for in the original write-up. On my imaginary top list of the most useful keyboard features, tweaks and hacks, SpaceFN would deserve a podium finish for sure. But what makes it so special? In short: SpaceFN is easy to implement, easy to learn, costs nothing, can be used with any keyboard, and can improve your productivity instantly. I will list its benefits below, but can state right at this point that the SpaceFN concept, setting up your space key as a layer switch when held, is clearly one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby....
Apr 30, 2024
When I do a quick google search to find vendors of switches with light pipes included, and it seems hit or miss and the light pipes are only limited in some switches but not available in others?
Is there some way that future Massdrop switch buys will have light pipe switch tops that I could put into this keyboard? Seems a bit of an oversight on my part, but now it seems a lot worse of a mistake since I can't seem to fix it.
Also yes in our usual kaihua speed switch drops - the switches do not have the light pipes built in (mostly because the pipe would prevent the switch from sitting flush with a lot of the PCBs out there and also prevent through hole LEDs from been used).
I'll see what we can do about making some of these switches more available.
Are all the available switches with CTRL (ALT as well) available with light pipes? I was looking at Box Whites possibly so I might be able to pick up a set of switches nobody needs on the mech market. But I've had my eye on Box Jade and Speed Bronze as well which is why I wondered if there were any available elsewhere. I thought I could just buy up speed gold switches and swap out the tops/light pipe, but it turns out, due to the whole different stem design, the bottom "pipe" area is narrower on the speed copper vs gold.
But sorry for the long winded response, but I'll keep my eye out if you guys do a light pipe switch drop between now and ~August when I get my CTRL. Thanks for your response!