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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Karura on Wed, 29 October 2014, 12:09:17
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Hello,
I am very confused as to which Cherry (this thread will only be about Cherry, not Costar) stabilizers are the very best.
Perhaps some of you may know better.
1) Is there actually a difference between the rigidity of plate and PCB mounted stabs?
If I'm aware, would the only difference between the two be that plate-mounted stabs may have some clearance issues? If anyone knows, which specific keys are we talking about?
2) Is it possible to clip plate-mounted stabs, and would it be an improvement?
3) Can someone describe the reasons for clipping stabilizers?
I read that it decreases mushiness, but how does it accomplish that by remove some plastic?
I've done some searching and couldn't find enough information.
Hopefully we can get some answers!
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1) If you're using a custom plate, plate mounted cherry stabs do have a tendency to be somewhat loose, and can sometimes pop out when removing keycaps, but they can be easily reseated, but to me, but I wouldn't say there's any rigidity issues.
2) Yes! and HECK YES!
3) Clipping the stabilizers helps make the stabs feel a bit easier to depress and more "crisp" much like how a costar stabilizer feel without the rattle from the wire. BlueBar has a great video on how to clip them, I highly recommend you check it out if you decide to do that mod.
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How to make Cherry stabilizer feel as good as Costar stabilizer (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34759.0)
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On a serious note, the "mushiness" comes from a piece of plastic hitting the PCB that stops you from descending all the way down and bottoming out like you would on any other switch. Removing that plastic allows you to bottom out, thus returning the feel of the switch to normal. It's still preference.
Yeah, the design makes the bottom out feel mushy because the bottom little tabs of the stabilizer insert acts as a spring for the last little bit of travel (0.5mm or so). I have a slightly different method of clipping stabilizers that is a little easier.
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Appreciate the responses, I have a better idea now.
I jumped the gun and already have enough plate-mounted stabilizers shipped out to me.
If I recall correctly, it was either the PCB mounted 6.25u or 7u space bar that had a non-straight wire from factory that is no good.
Which is it?
If PCB mount really has tangible benefits over plate mount, would my best course of action be to order OEM Cherry PCB inserts, and use the wires from the plate mounted stabs?
My planned out build will support both plate and PCB, so I guess sometimes too many options will lead to decision paralysis. Appreciate the replies :D
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Appreciate the responses, I have a better idea now.
I jumped the gun and already have enough plate-mounted stabilizers shipped out to me.
If I recall correctly, it was either the PCB mounted 6.25u or 7u space bar that had a non-straight wire from factory that is no good.
Which is it?
If PCB mount really has tangible benefits over plate mount, would my best course of action be to order OEM Cherry PCB inserts, and use the wires from the plate mounted stabs?
My planned out build will support both plate and PCB, so I guess sometimes too many options will lead to decision paralysis. Appreciate the replies :D
I'll go to Ivan's GB thread to double check, but I believe it was the 6.25 plate mount wires that were operating faulty. I'll let someone else comment about the inserts, as I wouldn't want to give you incorrect information.
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Bump, just curious if anyone else knows what would be my best course of action, if I already have plate-mounted stabs and want to do PCB mount instead
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You can only switch to PCB mount if the PCB supports it. I don't see any real difference between plate and PCB mount stabilisers, at least none that really matter. The sliders are fairly loose in the mounts, so they aren't affected much by being plate or PCB mounted. If you bottom out the stabiliser sliders, then plate mount could be a touch more stable, since the mount point is higher and the plate is more solid than a PCB. On the other hand, the PCB mounts tend to be very snug and some plates are not so precisely made, so the stabs could move sideways a little. So it all depends, but I don't think it really matters much as I said since they are both very stable vertically which is most important.
Clipping the tabs allows the stabiliser to bottom out instead of being damped in the last 0.5mm of the movement. I like the damping, but I think I'm definitely in the minority about that.