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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: TheQsanity on Fri, 05 October 2012, 16:39:38

Title: Quick Question about PBC and Plate
Post by: TheQsanity on Fri, 05 October 2012, 16:39:38: Is there any way to use a PBC switch type for a plate board or a Plate switch on a PBC board?

If there is a way would it be cost efficient at all?(for example using an old board from ebay for switch parts)

Thanks!
Title: Re: Quick Question about PBC and Plate
Post by: Sifo on Fri, 05 October 2012, 16:45:26: Yeah it's fine, PCB mounted switches just have these two pegs on top to fit onto the PCB. All you'd have to do to fit them on a plate mounted board is break them off. I don't know if it works the other way around, I'm not sure how sturdy it would be to just have them soldered.
Title: Re: Quick Question about PBC and Plate
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 05 October 2012, 17:07:03: You don't want to use plate switch on pcb mount. It won't be sturdy enough without the pins to keep them in place. If you want to change switch type on pcb mount with plate switch, it would be best to leave the original switch soldered, and simply open the tops and switch the stem and/or springs.
Some plate mount boards actually use pcb mount switches too, so it just depends on the board in question if you would even need to remove the pins or not.
Title: Re: Quick Question about PBC and Plate
Post by: i3oilermaker on Fri, 05 October 2012, 17:13:05: I'm sure lysol is right, but doesn't the plate switches still have that plastic circle lead on the bottom? I always figured those two side plastic pieces were more for the alignment than stability.
Title: Re: Quick Question about PBC and Plate
Post by: TheQsanity on Fri, 05 October 2012, 17:19:37: Quote from: lysol on Fri, 05 October 2012, 17:07:03
You don't want to use plate switch on pcb mount. It won't be sturdy enough without the pins to keep them in place. If you want to change switch type on pcb mount with plate switch, it would be best to leave the original switch soldered, and simply open the tops and switch the stem and/or springs.
Some plate mount boards actually use pcb mount switches too, so it just depends on the board in question if you would even need to remove the pins or not.

Have any of you guys done the leaving the bottom of the switch soldered and just switching out the top?(does I hinder with feel or durability?)

Or is it recommended.

Is there a place to buy the pins(Home improvement store, online or something)
Or is it not possible to add the pin onto the switch?
Title: Re: Quick Question about PBC and Plate
Post by: Sifo on Fri, 05 October 2012, 18:06:21: It's not possible to add the pins onto the switch really unless you've got a lot of time and super glue... they're attached to the plastic piece on the bottom of the housing.

Hopefully this can help you get a better understanding:

From Left to Right, Plate mount, PCB mount, PCB mount with snapped off pins
(http://i.imgur.com/OhxL5.jpg)

individual shots in the same order:

http://i.imgur.com/eRcAg.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/rBkij.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/5AsJ3.jpg
Title: Re: Quick Question about PBC and Plate
Post by: TheQsanity on Fri, 05 October 2012, 18:22:57: Quote from: Sifo on Fri, 05 October 2012, 18:06:21
It's not possible to add the pins onto the switch really unless you've got a lot of time and super glue... they're attached to the plastic piece on the bottom of the housing.

Hopefully this can help you get a better understanding:

From Left to Right, Plate mount, PCB mount, PCB mount with snapped off pins
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/OhxL5.jpg)

individual shots in the same order:

http://i.imgur.com/eRcAg.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/rBkij.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/5AsJ3.jpg

Ah, I see. Some arts and crafts pro may be able to get it down! Lol jk

And Which way is more recommended to switch out the switch? By soldering it or popping the cap off? Or are they the same?(just want to get an idea of what the majority of you do)

edit: Thanks for the pics btw much appreciated!
Title: Re: Quick Question about PBC and Plate
Post by: Sifo on Fri, 05 October 2012, 18:24:18: For most plate mounted you HAVE to desolder it to take the switch off. On certain platemounted boards like the Phantom and LZ*, you can just take the top part of the housing off. For PCB mounted ones, you can just pop the switch off without desoldering.
Title: Re: Quick Question about PBC and Plate
Post by: alaricljs on Fri, 05 October 2012, 18:34:59: Quote from: Sifo on Fri, 05 October 2012, 18:24:18
On certain platemounted boards like the KMAC, you can just take the top part of the housing off

Not true of the KMAC. The Phantom is the first known example of a plate board that allows opening switches while still mounted. There is also a newer design from LZ (http://lzlife.tistory.com/) using the same concept but executed differently.

If it's possible to take the top half of the housing off that is the preferred method. Mostly it just boils down to what's easy. Besides, de-soldering has a higher risk of damaging the PCB or switch.
Title: Re: Quick Question about PBC and Plate
Post by: Sifo on Fri, 05 October 2012, 18:48:46: My bad, it was one of the Korean keyboards :P
Title: Re: Quick Question about PBC and Plate
Post by: TheQsanity on Fri, 05 October 2012, 18:52:39: Quote from: alaricljs on Fri, 05 October 2012, 18:34:59
If it's possible to take the top half of the housing off that is the preferred method. Mostly it just boils down to what's easy. Besides, de-soldering has a higher risk of damaging the PCB or switch.

Thanks sounds good, probably what I would do.

I would assume that some of you would rather de-solderer for whatever reason, not sure how many if there are any.
Title: Re: Quick Question about PBC and Plate
Post by: Sifo on Fri, 05 October 2012, 18:54:15: Well, it's because with most platemounted boards you have to desolder :( I wouldn't if I had a Phantom plate.