This is another firm favourite, the
famous Amplidan, I've made a few of these keys in the past, this one will
constructed slightly differently than the others as I now have a small Milling
machine, here you can see I've milled out the base shape from a solid block of
Acetal instead of using two separate pieces as previously, the original has a
plastic moulding. It is sitting on a steel base plate, correct size but
smaller gauge.
It won't be an exact replica, Many of the parts on an original Amp are to
comply with an isolated electrical requirement, for general Amateur use they
are not really required so I will be redesigning the electrical side of things
to make it simpler, but the original action components will be the same except
for ball race bearings which most agree are better than the original pin pivot
type. Below you can see the key almost completed, On this key I've
made the contact spring of heavy gauge brass and then ground off the thickness
under the contact until I've got the "Feel" I'm after, this is some key, it
makes my original Amp and my Blade feel positively resistive, just
requires the little weight under the knob and its finished at last.
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