geekhack

geekhack Community => New Members => Topic started by: gnmar2723 on Thu, 14 January 2016, 16:43:32

Title: Hello all!
Post by: gnmar2723 on Thu, 14 January 2016, 16:43:32

Hello everyone! I just joined and I wanted to ask about disassembling a keyboard and weather you can salvage individual key switches to reuse them on a custom pcb and case and weather or not it is possible.

Title: Re: Hello all!
Post by: Moistgun on Fri, 15 January 2016, 12:48:01

It is absolutely possible.

The one thing they depend upon is the type of mount they are.  a plate mount switch will have two metal pins and a center nub, a PCB mount switch will have two metal pins, two plastic pins for stability when attaching to a PCB, and the same center nub.

the only difference in the switches are the plastic bits underneath that provide more stability.

Title: Re: Hello all!
Post by: gnmar2723 on Fri, 15 January 2016, 17:07:07

Sweet! Thanks a lot

Title: Re: Hello all!
Post by: demik on Fri, 15 January 2016, 18:28:19

hi

Title: Re: Hello all!
Post by: JonnyPolygon on Sat, 16 January 2016, 02:19:32

Hey man

Title: Re: Hello all!
Post by: Zapheo on Sat, 16 January 2016, 02:22:38

Welcome to the club. I hope you enjoy your stay! :)

Title: Re: Hello all!
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 16 January 2016, 23:45:21

Welcome to Geekhack!

One of the benefits of a mechanical keyboard is that each switch is a separate electrical unit that can be removed, replaced and modified.

You can salvage switches from old keyboards (which can often be found on eBay), but depending on how many switches you want, you can also buy them new.  Or if you ask nicely, someone might have a few spare switches to give you.