[GB] Holtite / Mill Max Sockets (EU) R3 (COMPLETE)

[piit79]

Fancy making your next board hotswappable? It's pretty easy, just install some Mill Max sockets into your standard PCB. It's been a while since I ran the previous GBs (R1, R2) and since I need some more sockets myself for my Lubrigante/Acrylic Gasket 60% thingy, it's time for another round. (Reddit thread for reference.)

This GB is Europe only as it doesn't make much sense importing the sockets and then sending them back to NA. (If you really really want some sockets though and live elsewhere, PM me.)

Product	|	Mill Max "7305" sockets	|	Mill Max "0305" sockets	|	Holtite 8134-HC-8P2	|	Holtite 8134-HC-5P2
Price per socket	|	0.22 GBP (@2500)	|	0.13 GBP (@500)	|	0.22 GBP (@2500)	|	0.14 GBP (@2500)
Usage	|	Switches	|	Switches	|	Switches	|	LEDs
Overall length	|	2.67 mm (0.105")	|	3.94 mm (0.155") longer	|	3.45 mm (0.136")	|	2.39 mm (0.094")
Mounting hole diameter	|	1.52 mm (0.060")	|	1.52 mm (0.060")	|	1.47 mm (0.058")	|	1.04 mm (0.041")
Flange thickness	|	0.36 mm (0.014")	|	0.64 mm (0.025") thicker	|	N/A	|	N/A
Contact finish	|	Gold plated	|	Tinned	|	Gold plated	|	Gold plated

Join here: https://forms.gle/eft1GPyKHgVrfwMF6

• Postage & packing: 4 GBP to anywhere in Europe (not just EU) for any number of sockets
• No MOQ on individual orders. We just need to reach 2500 total order quantity on each socket type to get the lowest price on each of the sockets. If there is risk of not meeting MOQ on some socket type I'll contact you with options (switch to the other type, go with the higher cost)
• Price includes 21% VAT and 5% PayPal fees
• Payment by PayPal in GBP, or by Revolut with a 5% discount and in any currency
• The GB will run till Sunday 13 October 2019
• I will send out invoices shortly after the GB closes. Unpaid invoices will be cancelled after 24 hours and order placed with Mouser
• Shipping from Mouser should take about 5 working days
• Once I receive the sockets I will pack them and send them out to you within 2-3 of days

Pictures

• Almost 5000 sockets from R1: https://imgur.com/IKAiR4l
• My Nyquist Rev3 with sockets soldered in: https://imgur.com/gallery/pRWfFSW
• How to slightly modify some switches to make them fit: https://imgur.com/573L48T

Soldering the Holtite sockets: see

Soldering the Mill Max sockets

It's not difficult, just fiddly. You need to be careful not to get solder inside the sockets (requiring replacement). This is how I do it:

• Stand the PCB upright on one of the (usually longer) side
• Insert a batch of sockets into the PCB
• Set the iron pretty high (I use 400°C, the maximum the TS-80 allows)
• Heat the sockets up from the top (i.e. from the side the switch is inserted)
• Apply a small amount of solder from the other side around the protruding part of the socket. I use 0.5 mm solder but thinner would be even better

Any questions please don't hesitate to ask!

UPDATE: All orders have been shipped and the GB is now complete. Thanks everybody for joining and for your patience!

[Signature]

approved

[saesh]

Perfect timing! I am in. Thanks for doing this GB!

[pixelpusher]

I have to say, the 7305 mill max sockets are a game-changer for me.  Sure, you have to be more careful soldering them in and it takes much longer, but they are rock-solid once installed.  Love my 7305s

I place mine on the switch pins, place the switch in the board, carefully solder (using the same .8mm solder I use for switches and a chisel tip on my hakko), and then remove the switch.  Did a whole board without getting solder in the socket.

Placed a dab of solder on the top-right corner of the switch, then then turned the PCB and did the same (effectively the bottom left).  If you're careful, you can then flow the two sides together and form a nice ring.

For the record, I use 63/37 solder and I set my iron to 650F.

[piit79]

I have to say, the 7305 mill max sockets are a game-changer for me.  Sure, you have to be more careful soldering them in and it takes much longer, but they are rock-solid once installed.  Love my 7305s
...

A really nice job, thanks for sharing! I'll try your approach on my next board ;-)

[htprww]

Nice job!

Is it stable enough to do a plateless build?

[piit79]

Is it stable enough to do a plateless build?

I guess you were asking pixelpusher, but I'll chime in with my opinion. I guess it would be usable, but there might be more wobble than you would like. The socket flanges prevent the switch from sitting flush with the PCB.

[pixelpusher]

7305 sits basically flush. Ever notice how there are the little nibs of plastic on the bottom edge of the switches?  That’s the same height as the 7305 flanges.  Perfect.  Plate mount switches would wobble out for sure.  Now, if you did PCB mount switches it works much better.  I tried going plateless with my minivan but it annoyed me when off center presses might make a cap/switch go wonky.  Ended up having a plate cut and it feels much better.  Probably depends on the switch pins and pcb.  They all vary.  Sometimes it’s a good tight fit. Sometimes not so much. 

[honoka]

Joined!
Dont even remember what, how many and actually IF i ordered.
Dont drink and lurk on geekhack.

[KaosJ]

Looking for advice OP, i'm not sure, should i go for "7305" or "0305" ?
0305 being longer seems easier to solder (well i soldered tons of boards, but still might be easier with a longer socket) and is cheaper,  while the 7305 seems like a cleaner solution.

I'm not sure tho, did you noticed one more stable than the other?
Also, is the "thicker" head of the 0305 barely blocking the switch bottom?

[KaosJ]

7305 sits basically flush. Ever notice how there are the little nibs of plastic on the bottom edge of the switches?  That’s the same height as the 7305 flanges.  Perfect.  Plate mount switches would wobble out for sure.  Now, if you did PCB mount switches it works much better.  I tried going plateless with my minivan but it annoyed me when off center presses might make a cap/switch go wonky.  Ended up having a plate cut and it feels much better.  Probably depends on the switch pins and pcb.  They all vary.  Sometimes it’s a good tight fit. Sometimes not so much.

it is much harder to solder or more or less the same thing and just must solder carefully?
I saw your photos and seems like it is easy for the solder to flow inside with such a thin socket, i can't understand if you are just very good at soldering or you did it easy and fast just like soldering switches or longer sockets.

(i usually put some tape on the behind instead of a switch to solder the socket, would you recommend still doing the switch thing to solder it?)

[piit79]

Looking for advice OP, i'm not sure, should i go for "7305" or "0305" ?
0305 being longer seems easier to solder (well i soldered tons of boards, but still might be easier with a longer socket) and is cheaper,  while the 7305 seems like a cleaner solution.

I'm not sure tho, did you noticed one more stable than the other?
Also, is the "thicker" head of the 0305 barely blocking the switch bottom?

The longer 0305s are probably a bit easier to solder - not as easy to put solder inside them with them protruding slightly more from the PCB. I don't know personally though, only did 2 boards and both with 7305s.

The soldering is not all that hard, just need to be careful.

I don't think there is any difference in stability as even the 7305s are (almost) long enough for the switch pins (only a fraction of a mm sticking out).

Hope that helps a bit

[piit79]

Joined!
Dont even remember what, how many and actually IF i ordered.
Dont drink and lurk on geekhack.

Thanks! Just FYI - 200 0305s

[pixelpusher]

7305 sits basically flush. Ever notice how there are the little nibs of plastic on the bottom edge of the switches?  That’s the same height as the 7305 flanges.  Perfect.  Plate mount switches would wobble out for sure.  Now, if you did PCB mount switches it works much better.  I tried going plateless with my minivan but it annoyed me when off center presses might make a cap/switch go wonky.  Ended up having a plate cut and it feels much better.  Probably depends on the switch pins and pcb.  They all vary.  Sometimes it’s a good tight fit. Sometimes not so much.

it is much harder to solder or more or less the same thing and just must solder carefully?
I saw your photos and seems like it is easy for the solder to flow inside with such a thin socket, i can't understand if you are just very good at soldering or you did it easy and fast just like soldering switches or longer sockets.

(i usually put some tape on the behind instead of a switch to solder the socket, would you recommend still doing the switch thing to solder it?)

Just have to be careful.  Get the socket hot and one quick flow of solder will surround the socket. Add another dab if it’s too light.  Add too much and it flows into the socket and you have to desolder and try again.

[saesh]

Can you please post here if you sent out the invoices?

[piit79]

Can you please post here if you sent out the invoices?

Hey, all Revolut invoices including yours were sent a short while ago. I'm now working on PayPal invoices (using PayPal REST API for nice itemised invoices ;-) )

[piit79]

All invoices (but one) sent.

[piit79]

Sorry for the lack of updates, I kind of forgot about this thread - it's the first time I posted a GB here

Anyeay, the sockets have arrived: https://i.imgur.com/WYuyUOH.jpg . The shipping will start shortly, I will aim to have all the orders sent by Wednesday 6 November.

I'm slightly regretting offering the Holtite LED sockets - those things are absolutely minuscule. They will be a pain to count. My scale has 0.01 g resolution, but that might not be enough here...

[saesh]

That looks so little. Thanks for the update. Happy counting!

[saesh]

Hey, have the sockets been shipped last week?

[piit79]

Hey, have the sockets been shipped last week?

Hey, they haven't unfortunately, I've been very busy. I'm counting and packing the sockets as we speak and will post within a day or two.

I'll post an update when the shipping is complete.

Sorry for the delay!

[saesh]

No worries, take your time!

[menuhin]

If someone (esp. in Germany) has a few spare, please PM me: I just come up with a little bit of money to buy about 80 pairs of sockets.

Please let me know!

(To OP: If I had $ back then I won't miss this GB)

[piit79]

All orders have beed shipped and the GB is now complete. Thanks everybody for joining and for your patience.

See you at the next round! It might be VAT-free this time around

[saesh]

Thanks for this GB piit79!

[flight505]

what happen with this GB ? i dont remember getting a follow up mail ?

[Adelscott]

what happen with this GB ? i dont remember getting a follow up mail ?

You're still in time for R4, it closes tomorrow. Head out to the right thread !

[piit79]

what happen with this GB ? i dont remember getting a follow up mail ?

Sorry for that! I went back to this thread to post an update but somehow couldn't find the reply button so I assumed the thread was locked (facepalm). Still time to join the R4 and I'll be getting some spares this time too.