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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => DIY Discussions ARCHIVE => Topic started by: jayray999 on Mon, 30 March 2009, 16:29:44

Title: Any SMK-88 mods
Post by: jayray999 on Mon, 30 March 2009, 16:29:44

I am a newbie so please excuse my ignorance. How hard is it to modify a SMK-88 to replace the black Cherry switches with blue Cherrys? I am moderately good with a soldering iron and following instructions and have done electronic projects and mods in the past. Does anyone have instructions and diags?

Title: Any SMK-88 mods
Post by: bhtooefr on Mon, 30 March 2009, 18:04:02

Are the switches directly mounted to the PCB, or mounted through a plate?

If they're directly mounted to the PCB, get yourself a cheap PCB mount blue Cherry donor board (hint: G80-3000LSCRC-2s go for about $65.) On here, there's guides on opening PCB mount Cherry switches.

If they're mounted through a plate, get an Ione Scorpous M10 (about $50,) desolder the blues from the M10, the blacks from the SMK-88, and swap.

Title: Any SMK-88 mods
Post by: Chloe on Mon, 30 March 2009, 18:16:30

The switches are plate mounted (http://pds8.egloos.com/pds/200805/19/41/b0043841_48305898c528a.jpg).

Title: Any SMK-88 mods
Post by: bhtooefr on Mon, 30 March 2009, 18:37:11

In that case, take off every zig, move zig, for great justice, you know what you doing.

Title: Any SMK-88 mods
Post by: jayray999 on Mon, 30 March 2009, 18:46:49

Thanks guys. Presently feeling dissuaded by Karlito's despondence here: http://wiki.geekhack.org/?page=KBreviews-scorpm10-karlito although I do believe he finished the mod in the end.

Title: Any SMK-88 mods
Post by: bhtooefr on Mon, 30 March 2009, 18:52:20

I think his issue was with it being a lot of soldering. Which it would be, but...

Title: Any SMK-88 mods
Post by: karlito on Tue, 31 March 2009, 01:40:56

it is a ton o soldering.  solder vapors will make you sick too so be careful. mask and well ventilated area is necessary.

Edit: I did finish the mod and sold the SMK-88 here on geekhack. :). the SMK-88 was replaced by a Filco tenkeyless w/ brown switches.

Title: Any SMK-88 mods
Post by: Chloe on Tue, 31 March 2009, 10:56:53

It may be better to spend some more and buy new (http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=CH196-ND) switches instead, or get the Cherry keyboard and make a tool like this (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=1414) to open them to swap the springs and stems. Desoldering two sets of switches is a pain and I think only worth doing with ALPS due to their unavailability.

Title: Any SMK-88 mods
Post by: jayray999 on Tue, 31 March 2009, 11:22:33

Thanks Chloe. Incidentally what's the difference between the part you have and this one: http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=CH197-ND

Title: Any SMK-88 mods
Post by: Chloe on Tue, 31 March 2009, 11:34:59

The MX1A-E1NW is for PCB mount, MX1A-E1NN for face plate mounting. They are the same internally but the bases are different:

Title: Any SMK-88 mods
Post by: jayray999 on Tue, 31 March 2009, 16:24:51

And just to confirm I need the MX1A-E1NN (face plate) right?

Title: Any SMK-88 mods
Post by: Chloe on Wed, 01 April 2009, 14:45:04

Yes. I found some pictures of the PCB and face plate:
http://musecine.textcube.com/114

Title: Any SMK-88 mods
Post by: jayray999 on Wed, 01 April 2009, 20:48:44

Hey thanks Chloe.