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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: nhwhaup on Fri, 09 September 2011, 16:15:41

Title: What keyboard have PCB plates?
Post by: nhwhaup on Fri, 09 September 2011, 16:15:41

Not that I need anymore keyboards cause truly I don't, but other than the KBC Pokers, what keyboards have the PCB Plates?

Title: What keyboard have PCB plates?
Post by: redpill on Fri, 09 September 2011, 16:32:45

Are you asking which keyboards have the switches mounted directly to the printed circuit board (PCB) and don't have a metal plate?

If so, there aren't many options, but Cherry Corp is known for doing that themselves.

It's unfortunate actually, because I think a lot of keyboard enthusiasts would like a quality tenkeyless keyboard with PCB-mounted Cherry switches for the ease of customization.

Title: What keyboard have PCB plates?
Post by: nhwhaup on Fri, 09 September 2011, 16:35:52

Quote from: redpill;413507

Are you asking which keyboards have the switches mounted directly to the printed circuit board (PCB) and don't have a metal plate?

If so, there aren't many options, but Cherry Corp is known for doing that themselves.

It's unfortunate actually, because I think a lot of keyboard enthusiasts would like a quality tenkeyless keyboard with PCB-mounted Cherry switches for the ease of customization.

This is exactly what I mean. After typing on the Poker, I actually like the feel better than other keyboards that have the metal plate.

Title: What keyboard have PCB plates?
Post by: Lanx on Fri, 09 September 2011, 17:01:28

cherry made keyboards (at least the 8200 i've taken apart) feel really, really , really cheap. And yea i think finding a keyboard w/o a plate is gonna be difficult, you could... buy a keyboard, unsolder all the switches, take off the plate, then resolder w/o the plate. That'll prolly take you a good 4hours, i did the exact thing, except i put back the plate tho.

Title: What keyboard have PCB plates?
Post by: N8N on Fri, 09 September 2011, 17:04:00

I think that if you were to do that you would want to also change the bottoms of the switches to the ones with the location pins, and drill the holes for them in the PCB.  I don't think that relying on the solder joints to retain the switches is a good idea.

That, and while it does make the keyboard much harder to customize, I love the solid feel of plate mounted switches, compared to a Cherry board, I don't think I could give that up for a "good" board.

Title: What keyboard have PCB plates?
Post by: Lanx on Fri, 09 September 2011, 17:08:58

naw a good solder joint will hold up anything.

Title: What keyboard have PCB plates?
Post by: Findecanor on Fri, 09 September 2011, 18:16:22

The soldering might hold, but the pad on the PCB might not.

Title: What keyboard have PCB plates?
Post by: Mr. Perfect on Fri, 09 September 2011, 20:54:51

Somebody really needs to try that...

Title: What keyboard have PCB plates?
Post by: pitashen on Sat, 10 September 2011, 00:07:32

Quote from: Mr. Perfect;413687

Somebody really needs to try that...

I doubt it is possible as the metal plate actually serves as a support structure, you'll also have to find a way to fix the PCB onto the enclosure.

Title: What keyboard have PCB plates?
Post by: porgo on Sat, 10 September 2011, 02:58:43

Das Keyboard mk2 fits the bill.

Title: What keyboard have PCB plates?
Post by: redpill on Sat, 10 September 2011, 12:29:24

Quote from: porgo;413814

Das Keyboard mk2 fits the bill.

I thought Das Keyboards were plate mounted?

If a compact layout is acceptable, I think the old Deck 82s were PCB mounted but I'm not sure they make them anymore.  They still list the Ice as being available on their site for $119.  It's backlit which may be good/bad depending on your preference, and they have a unique legend font which you may like/not like.

Title: What keyboard have PCB plates?
Post by: keyboardlover on Sat, 10 September 2011, 14:44:58

Is that the model with rollover issues?

Title: What keyboard have PCB plates?
Post by: darkblader on Sat, 10 September 2011, 15:02:15

Déck 82 / Cherry G80 are pcb mounted.

i never thought that the metal plate would do so much extra noice.

Title: What keyboard have PCB plates?
Post by: Minskleip on Sat, 10 September 2011, 15:38:13

Quote from: keyboardlover;414069

Is that the model with rollover issues?

It's a rebranded Cherry Something, so it should be perfect. I know; I wrote my dissertation on one. <- Minskleip is scientist.