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Author Topic: Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?  (Read 3956 times)

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Offline wyatt8740

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Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?
« on: Sat, 13 December 2014, 19:21:30 »
Hi, I've just got a quick question.
I feel like building my own keyboard. I know I can do the keyboard controller, but I want to know if the pins on a MX series switch will line up nicely with a perfboard, like one I buy from radio $hack.

If these work, I'm going to make my own Cherry MX green keyboard with an old keyboard's case and an extra set of model M keycaps I have.

On the subject of MX green, I'm trying to find someone who sells either MX1A-F1DW (MX green for PCB's with diodes) or MX1A-F1NW (MX green for PCB's without diodes). Does anyone know where I can get them?
« Last Edit: Sat, 13 December 2014, 19:31:52 by wyatt8740 »
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Offline feizor

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Re: Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 13 December 2014, 19:28:29 »
How do Model M keycaps work with Cherry MX greens?
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Offline wyatt8740

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Re: Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 13 December 2014, 19:33:44 »
Sorry I meant to say that I would 3D print a thing that would attach to the MX green, and that had the shape of the part of a model M keyboard underneath the keycap on the top, so I could put the keycaps on there.
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I don't usually collect things, but when I do, they're from the 70's, 80's, and 90's. My typing speed: 79 WPM
IBM Model M 1386303, 1987 / IBM Model M 1391401, 1993 / IBM Model M 59G7980, 1993 / Unicomp "Mini M" UT40E7A (modded), 2021 / Dell AT101W, 1994 (Black Alps) / Apple Extended Keyboard (Orange Alps), 1987 / Sun Type 5, unknown year (Rubber Dome)

Offline suicidal_orange

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Re: Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 13 December 2014, 19:36:56 »
I've just tried, they don't fit.  You'll have to be confident and print your case first :thumb:
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Offline wyatt8740

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Re: Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 13 December 2014, 19:40:35 »
So the switches dont fit on perfboard? How tragic. Is it because of pin spacing or is it thickness of the pins?
I don't think the case really matters... I just want to know about how I should make a PCB to mount them on without having one custom made by someone else.
I have a good case, anyway.

I'm looking for this kind of perfboard:


I have a lot of this but bigger boards.

And what about ordering MX greens? who sells them?
« Last Edit: Sat, 13 December 2014, 19:47:49 by wyatt8740 »
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I don't usually collect things, but when I do, they're from the 70's, 80's, and 90's. My typing speed: 79 WPM
IBM Model M 1386303, 1987 / IBM Model M 1391401, 1993 / IBM Model M 59G7980, 1993 / Unicomp "Mini M" UT40E7A (modded), 2021 / Dell AT101W, 1994 (Black Alps) / Apple Extended Keyboard (Orange Alps), 1987 / Sun Type 5, unknown year (Rubber Dome)

Offline suicidal_orange

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Re: Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 13 December 2014, 20:01:29 »
It's the pin spacing that doesn't match but you might be able to bend the pins to fit that board - I was testing the spacing on breadboard (it's the same) - I will take a switch to a shop that sells it tomorrow and let you know for sure if no-one has responded before.

Is it stiff enough to use as a mounting plate though or are you planning to print some supports?
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Offline neverused

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Re: Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 13 December 2014, 20:11:57 »
The pin spacing and the size of the pin will not fit regular protoboard. Also the "bump" on the bottom of the switch will ruin into the protoboard so the board would need to be drilled out. Yes it would be possible to use those components together but I don't see how the work to make the modifications needed would be worth your time.

You would almost be more will of self etching a pcb or having one fabricated.
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Offline wyatt8740

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Re: Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 13 December 2014, 20:13:26 »
My board should be thick enough to avoid needing a mounting plate, but I can't seem to find the MX greens with the PCB mount style ANYWHERE.

The only place I found the plate mount type, even, was WASD keyboards.
http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/keyboard-parts/cherry-mx-green-keyswitch-mx1a-f1nn-tactile-bump.html

I really do not want to make a plate mount (my printer isn't big enough!)

But yeah, the perfboard is sturdy enough if I can find the PCB mount types.


If it really won't fit I may self-etch one. But I am not having one fabricated (mostly because this is a one-off thing and I don't even know anyone around here who would offer to fabricate it!)
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I don't usually collect things, but when I do, they're from the 70's, 80's, and 90's. My typing speed: 79 WPM
IBM Model M 1386303, 1987 / IBM Model M 1391401, 1993 / IBM Model M 59G7980, 1993 / Unicomp "Mini M" UT40E7A (modded), 2021 / Dell AT101W, 1994 (Black Alps) / Apple Extended Keyboard (Orange Alps), 1987 / Sun Type 5, unknown year (Rubber Dome)

Offline user 18

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Re: Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?
« Reply #8 on: Sat, 13 December 2014, 20:30:11 »
Mechanicalkeyboards.com sells plate mount MX Greens and PCB mount MX greens in packages of varying numbers.

It will take a lot of effort to mount switches to perfboard. It would be much easier to salvage a plate from a scrapped board and do direct wiring than to drill out all the proper holes you'd need for mounting the switches. You'd probably end up with a much more stable finished product that way too.
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Offline jacobolus

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Re: Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?
« Reply #9 on: Sat, 13 December 2014, 20:46:31 »
I think Alps switches might work with perfboard, especially if you’re willing to do some slight bending of the pins.

Personally though, I’d recommend using a switchplate and just direct wiring the switches without any circuit board.
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Offline Streiw

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Re: Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 18 December 2014, 00:40:34 »
Why not just solder some wire to the switch pins and then you could use it on the proto-board without any problem.
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Offline Melvang

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Re: Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 18 December 2014, 00:42:14 »
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Offline berserkfan

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Re: Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 19 December 2014, 08:28:29 »
Quote from: user 18 on Sat, 13 December 2014, 20:30:11
Mechanicalkeyboards.com sells plate mount MX Greens and PCB mount MX greens in packages of varying numbers.

It will take a lot of effort to mount switches to perfboard. It would be much easier to salvage a plate from a scrapped board and do direct wiring than to drill out all the proper holes you'd need for mounting the switches. You'd probably end up with a much more stable finished product that way too.

Exactly! Why don't you check out Ebay, using the keywords Rosewill not working or something. There is always some keyboard that is being sold for parts for cheap. You will get at the very least, switches and a casing + plate. Can't go wrong there.
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Offline Findecanor

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Re: Soldering Cherry MX switches to perfboard?
« Reply #13 on: Fri, 19 December 2014, 14:39:21 »
Quote from: jacobolus on Sat, 13 December 2014, 20:46:31
I think Alps switches might work with perfboard, especially if you’re willing to do some slight bending of the pins.
Alps sort of works .... if you don't care about key spacing or having the keys lined up with the axes of the board.

Regular perfboard is 1/10" between holes, where as keys are 6/8" apart. There exists perfboard that is 1/8 between holes, but it is quite rare ... and you won't be able to fit regular ICs on it, or switches.
« Last Edit: Fri, 19 December 2014, 14:42:08 by Findecanor »
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