Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[MKULTRA]

This is regarding Cherry MX keychains, do these allow you to remove the switch, or are the switches glued in?

Depends on the keychain.  Most allow you to switch.

[jdcarpe]

I was looking at the '356mini' photo album on deskthority. I noticed he was using screws on PCB mount cherry stabilisers, as you can see in this photo. Is it normal to do this? Can it be done with them stock, or do I need to modifiy them?
rest of album here : http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8/356mini-t5185.html

Show Image

Those screw-in Cherry PCB mount stabilizers are found mostly on old WYSE boards for the spacebar. The PCB would have to be designed for them, since the screw holes are much smaller than the snap-in holes.

[MOZ]

This is regarding Cherry MX keychains, do these allow you to remove the switch, or are the switches glued in?

Depends on the keychain.  Most allow you to switch.

So how does the switch stay in place?, wouldn't it pop off easily?

[Photekq]

I was looking at the '356mini' photo album on deskthority. I noticed he was using screws on PCB mount cherry stabilisers, as you can see in this photo. Is it normal to do this? Can it be done with them stock, or do I need to modifiy them?
rest of album here : http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8/356mini-t5185.html

Show Image

Those screw-in Cherry PCB mount stabilizers are found mostly on old WYSE boards for the spacebar. The PCB would have to be designed for them, since the screw holes are much smaller than the snap-in holes.

Oh I see.. Thanks for the info :)
Out of curiosity do you know if the KMAC 1.4 PCB supports them?

[CPTBadAss]

This is regarding Cherry MX keychains, do these allow you to remove the switch, or are the switches glued in?

Depends on the keychain.  Most allow you to switch.

So how does the switch stay in place?, wouldn't it pop off easily?

Press fit like a plate. My alixinzhai keychain feels like a very tight press fit and my feng keychain feels a little loose.

[MOZ]

This is regarding Cherry MX keychains, do these allow you to remove the switch, or are the switches glued in?

Depends on the keychain.  Most allow you to switch.

So how does the switch stay in place?, wouldn't it pop off easily?

Press fit like a plate. My alixinzhai keychain feels like a very tight press fit and my feng keychain feels a little loose.

Thanks, but plate mounted switches are reinforced by the PCB they are soldered to, and thus it is impossible for them to fall

[Photekq]

Thanks, but plate mounted switches are reinforced by the PCB they are soldered to, and thus it is impossible for them to fall

Plate mount is still secure. You cannot simply pull a plate mounted switch off, it's held in place by two tabs. I have a Cherry keycap puller that has a switch on it - it's mounted just like plate mount switches. I imagine most other keychains are too.

[CPTBadAss]

Press fit like a plate. My alixinzhai keychain feels like a very tight press fit and my feng keychain feels a little loose.

Thanks, but plate mounted switches are reinforced by the PCB they are soldered to, and thus it is impossible for them to fall

I'm not understanding your point. They're not a complete assembly. I'm pretty sure I can force it apart since it's just a press fit though.

[jdcarpe]

I was looking at the '356mini' photo album on deskthority. I noticed he was using screws on PCB mount cherry stabilisers, as you can see in this photo. Is it normal to do this? Can it be done with them stock, or do I need to modifiy them?
rest of album here : http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8/356mini-t5185.html

Show Image

Those screw-in Cherry PCB mount stabilizers are found mostly on old WYSE boards for the spacebar. The PCB would have to be designed for them, since the screw holes are much smaller than the snap-in holes.

Oh I see.. Thanks for the info :)
Out of curiosity do you know if the KMAC 1.4 PCB supports them?

No, unfortunately I'm not familiar with the KMAC 1.4 PCB at all. Sorry. :(

[Melvang]

Any idea what boards I could look for with a 10x or larger space bar.

[Photekq]

No, unfortunately I'm not familiar with the KMAC 1.4 PCB at all. Sorry.

No problem

Any idea what boards I could look for with a 10x or larger space bar.

A lot of wyse boards have them I think.

[WhiteFireDragon]

Any idea what boards I could look for with a 10x or larger space bar.

GH60

Out of curiosity do you know if the KMAC 1.4 PCB supports them?

If those stabs with screws has the same mounting hole location as modern PCB-mounted stabs, then it will fit kmac 1.4 PCB.

[Photekq]

Out of curiosity do you know if the KMAC 1.4 PCB supports them?

If those stabs with screws has the same mounting hole location as modern PCB-mounted stabs, then it will fit kmac 1.4 PCB.

Well the stabs I got from you definitely work on the KMAC 1.4 (the same KMAC pcb that's used in the KMAC 2)
I'm guessing the screws make it much more secure.. I guess I'll look into possibly getting them.
Thanks

[kenmai9]

On a Poker X, is it possible to switch the Function button with the right windows key using a program or something?
I got used to the Poker 2's Function button being two to the right of the space bar. Now I'm all goofed up!

[CPTBadAss]

On a Poker X, is it possible to switch the Function button with the right windows key using a program or something?

Try AutoHotKey?

[BlueBär]

On a Poker X, is it possible to switch the Function button with the right windows key using a program or something?

AHK/any similar software will not work as the FN button presses don't get send to the OS. So no.

[CPTBadAss]

How does the Fn button work?

[remedyhalopc]

Who sells MX Mini cases or housings? Is it strictly with the group buys or what?

[Melvang]

How does the Fn button work?

To my knowledge it functions completely inside the keyboard firmware.

[BlueBär]

How does the Fn button work?

To my knowledge it functions completely inside the keyboard firmware.

This. Here's a list of all keycodes Windows uses and the FN key is not part of it.

[domoaligato]

FN is in the firmware and does not forward a scancode to the pc for the FN button.
If you wish to remap a existing FN + button you can use autoit.
example... FN + [ = Home on a poker.
you can use autoit to remap this to another scancode.

but if you wanted to remap something like FN + R this would not work because that doesn't do anything normally on a poker.

[kenmai9]

FN is in the firmware and does not forward a scancode to the pc for the FN button.
If you wish to remap a existing FN + button you can use autoit.
example... FN + [ = Home on a poker.
you can use autoit to remap this to another scancode.

but if you wanted to remap something like FN + R this would not work because that doesn't do anything normally on a poker.

Meh, I was trying to switch FN with R_Win on my Poker X.
Thank you for the info though.

[nubbinator]

Who sells MX Mini cases or housings? Is it strictly with the group buys or what?

Gon sells some in his vendor sub-forum on here.

[Melvang]

Anyone know the manufacturing method of the MKC aluminum spacebars sold by Feng on here and ebay?? IE cast or machined.  I have tried sending him PM's a couple other times with no response hence my question is being posted here.

Nevermind I found the answer myself.  They are cast.

[Narcix]

Can you change the keycool 87 case? sorry for the noob questions

[CPTBadAss]

Can you change the keycool 87 case?

Change like swap out? Probably you can swap it out with another Keycool case. Most cases have slight differences in the standoffs. For example, the Phantom PCB is designed to fit into a Filco case but with a slight modification (I'm not exactly sure what is involved but Moose has done it and LeslieAnn will be providing adapters), it will fit in a QFR case. I don't know if a Keycool PCB fits in a QFR case. Maybe jdcarpe knows.

[Melvang]

Any ideas on what brands of keyboards to look for in an attempt to source a 15x spacebar?  No there is not a . missing.  I have evidence from the GH60 thread that they exist.  Now I just need to source one.

[CPTBadAss]

Any ideas on what brands of keyboards to look for in an attempt to source a 15x spacebar?  No there is not a . missing.  I have evidence from the GH60 thread that they exist.  Now I just need to source one.

I *believe* that Samwisekoi and others who created that hilarious 10x or 15x spacebar layout for the GH60 (in the GH60 thread) either got theirs from a WYSE or some Cherry board.

[Melvang]

Don't be calling it hilarious, I'm gonna do the 15x spacebar layout.  Arrow keys will be in the same spot and the keys above it will be Vol+, Win, Vol- then Ctrl, Delete, Alt on the bottom row in 1.5,1,1.5 layout.

[CPTBadAss]

1) Don't be calling it hilarious

2)Arrow keys will be in the same spot and the keys above it will be Vol+, Win, Vol- then Ctrl, Delete, Alt on the bottom row in 1.5,1,1.5 layout.

1) 10x and 15x spacebars are the funniest layout I've seen in a long time

2) I'm not following you.

[Melvang]

1) Don't be calling it hilarious

2)Arrow keys will be in the same spot and the keys above it will be Vol+, Win, Vol- then Ctrl, Delete, Alt on the bottom row in 1.5,1,1.5 layout.

2) I'm not following you.

this

[CPTBadAss]

Let's continue this here.

[Melvang]

Sounds good sorry to take this beyond the scope of simple Q&A

[Vintage]

Does anyone know if there are any groupbuys going on or starting soon for a moddable TKL plates? Would really love to get my hands on one because I want to trick my board out soon. I don't think there are but wanted to make sure im not missin out

[Melvang]

Does anyone know if there are any groupbuys going on or starting soon for a moddable TKL plates? Would really love to get my hands on one because I want to trick my board out soon. I don't think there are but wanted to make sure im not missin out

Phantom Plate is TKL with the easy open switch hole but for the life of me i don't remember if it is compatible with other PCB's but I know it is compatible with a few stock cases

[CPTBadAss]

Does anyone know if there are any groupbuys going on or starting soon for a moddable TKL plates?

Yes there are customized TKL plates, check out WFD's GB. This is the Phantom Plate that Melvang is referring to. Not sure if it fits any other PCB besides the Phantom (I'm guessing the Filco PCB *might* work since the Phantom fits in a Filco case). I know the date is kind of old but there was a second small round and I believe the info was all in that thread.

[badcop]

Does anyone know if there are any groupbuys going on or starting soon for a moddable TKL plates?

Yes there are customized TKL plates, check out WFD's GB. This is the Phantom Plate that Melvang is referring to. Not sure if it fits any other PCB besides the Phantom (I'm guessing the Filco PCB *might* work since the Phantom fits in a Filco case). I know the date is kind of old but there was a second small round and I believe the info was all in that thread.

wont work.  no cutout for the controller.

[Melvang]

You beat me to the punch badcop was just going to mention the controller interference but that isn't anything a dremel can't fix hehe.

[badcop]

You beat me to the punch badcop was just going to mention the controller interference but that isn't anything a dremel can't fix hehe.

lol yeah you could make anything fit with a dremel 

[Melvang]

You beat me to the punch badcop was just going to mention the controller interference but that isn't anything a dremel can't fix hehe.

lol yeah you could make anything fit with a dremel 

Or a bigger hammer

[Vintage]

lol. Would you need to make room for the QFR controller? And if so does anyone know where the hole would have to be on the plate?

[domoaligato]

Does anyone know if there are any groupbuys going on or starting soon for a moddable TKL plates?

Yes there are customized TKL plates, check out WFD's GB. This is the Phantom Plate that Melvang is referring to. Not sure if it fits any other PCB besides the Phantom (I'm guessing the Filco PCB *might* work since the Phantom fits in a Filco case). I know the date is kind of old but there was a second small round and I believe the info was all in that thread.

wont work.  no cutout for the controller.

the title of WFD's thread is
[GB] Universal TKL plate (Filco/phantom/CM quickfire compatible)


it looks like it has the correct cutout for the controller to me.
what am I missing here?

[CPTBadAss]

Hm, at a quick glance, looks like it will fit. See this post.

[badcop]

Does anyone know if there are any groupbuys going on or starting soon for a moddable TKL plates?

Yes there are customized TKL plates, check out WFD's GB. This is the Phantom Plate that Melvang is referring to. Not sure if it fits any other PCB besides the Phantom (I'm guessing the Filco PCB *might* work since the Phantom fits in a Filco case). I know the date is kind of old but there was a second small round and I believe the info was all in that thread.

wont work.  no cutout for the controller.

the title of WFD's thread is
[GB] Universal TKL plate (Filco/phantom/CM quickfire compatible)


it looks like it has the correct cutout for the controller to me.
what am I missing here?

Show Image

that plate will work.  the phantom plate will not.


photo credit: russ?

[BlueBär]

The GH60 PCB supports PCB mounted switches, but I will use a plate. Would using PCB mounted switches (isntead of plate mounted switches) + the plate make it even more rigid (because of the 2 extra pins on each switch) or would it not make a difference?

[esoomenona]

Shouldn't make too much of a difference. The PCB pins are not for rigidity, but for helping align the switches correctly, which the plate does as well.

[CPTBadAss]

The GH60 PCB supports PCB mounted switches, but I will use a plate. Would using PCB mounted switches (isntead of plate mounted switches) + the plate make it even more rigid (because of the 2 extra pins on each switch) or would it not make a difference?

My KMAC has PCB mounted switches and a plate. It *does* feel really solid but I literally never thought about this until now. More solid then my 700R...

[oTurtlez]

WFD said in one of his videos to use PCB mounted with a plate whenever you can for increased rigidity.

[SpAmRaY]

WFD said in one of his videos to use PCB mounted with a plate whenever you can for increased rigidity.

IF the PCB has holes for the PCB mount pins...not all do.

[oTurtlez]

WFD said in one of his videos to use PCB mounted with a plate whenever you can for increased rigidity.

IF the PCB has holes for the PCB mount pins...not all do.

Hence the "whenever you can" sir. More physical locking connections can't hurt.