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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: litster on Wed, 08 June 2011, 00:14:41

Title: MX Switches Innards Transplant
Post by: litster on Wed, 08 June 2011, 00:14:41
I just salvaged over 100 MX Black switches from a very old Wyse keyboard.  I want to transplant the MX Blacks' innards into a Das II keyboard, currently has MX Blues.  The Das II is PCB mounted.  It took me a long time and very carefully to open up just one MX Blue switch to replace it with the innards of a black switch.

Is there an easier way or a trick so that I can open up an MX switch quickly without damaging it?  Thanks.
Title: MX Switches Innards Transplant
Post by: Orphagn on Wed, 08 June 2011, 01:03:39
I believe there's a Wiki here on how to do it.
Title: MX Switches Innards Transplant
Post by: litster on Wed, 08 June 2011, 02:17:55
Found it!  Thanks.  I need to start reading through all the wikis again.  The link http://my3c.com/D5/viewthread.php?tid=4625&extra=&page=1
 is dead though.  That site went dead.  I might try making a tool with paperclips and use Dremel to grind the tips flat.
Title: MX Switches Innards Transplant
Post by: vun on Wed, 08 June 2011, 02:47:47
I'd love to hear your experiences with this, I have an old WYSE board with blacks that I can't use with a computer and I'd love to make the most of it. Might put the double shot caps on one of my Filco boards, but I have no idea what to do with the switches or how to do it.

Edit: Well I can actually use the board with a computer, problem is that I'd have to do some extensive modding to make it work. The people on IRC was very helpful, but in the end I couldn't really wrap my mind around it.
Title: MX Switches Innards Transplant
Post by: Findecanor on Wed, 08 June 2011, 03:18:48
I fashioned a small tool out of wire. I turn it around so that the two ends meet the two prongs on one side of the MX switch. Then I use leverage against the PCB to open the prongs. When the switch is open on one side, I use it on the other side.

I think that other members have made better tools from wire than mine. There was a member that was thinking of manufacturing a few tools for sale, but I don't think anything came out of it.