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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Numpy on Fri, 19 February 2016, 13:55:58
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Hey,
so the time has come and all my parts have arrived for my first keyboard with winkeyless' PCB from LeandreN's group buy.
I have never soldered before or done anything similar so it will all be new for me.
I really don't want to stuff it up and so if there are some super helpful resources that people know of or any crucial tips I would love to hear.
I also have 61 LEDs to solder and I've heard they're a pain in the ass. So any advice on how to do these would be great!
Keep in mind I'm I complete novice so any input will be greatly appreciated :)
Thanks,
Numpy
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Youtube has all the tutorials you may need, watching and learning is the easiest way to master such skills.
Make sure you have proper tools and start with switches alone and see if they all register.
You can add LEDs at a later time and when you do, double check polarity.
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Make sure you have proper tools and start with switches alone and see if they all register.
Make sure you have proper tools (a good solder iron that won't fry your hardware) and better start with practicing far away from your newly bought board! No offense, but I ruined enough hardware to write with experience. Also you might want to take a look at SIP sockets.
Also you might want to clip those stabs before installing them. Or at least try them out.
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Make sure you have proper tools and start with switches alone and see if they all register.
Make sure you have proper tools (a good solder iron that won't fry your hardware) and better start with practicing far away from your newly bought board! No offense, but I ruined enough hardware to write with experience. Also you might want to take a look at SIP sockets.
Also you might want to clip those stabs before installing them. Or at least try them out.
Thanks for this!
I had an old board with some dead LEDs that I tried to replace but I couldn't desolder them. I was able to get the solder to melt but couldn't get them out.
Is there something else that you recommend me practising on?
As far as a soldering iron I just bought one that I think is pretty ok. Nothing super fancy like a Hakko though, I just couldn't justify the cost.
Sorry (novice question) but what's an SIP socket? Is that the controller? If so I think it's already been soldered onto my board. All resistors and diodes came presoldered on my PCB so all I need to solder are the switches and LEDs.
Also, with the stabs. I see that everyone clips them but all the videos I've seen I haven't been able to tell what legs have to be clipped D:
If you could answer these questions that would be fantastic!
Thanks so much,
Numpy
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I was able to get the solder to melt but couldn't get them out.
Do you have a solder remover tool? Either solder sucker (https://d1gd7xtq3dij0r.cloudfront.net/d_4986.gif) or a wick (http://www.jewelerssupplies.com/media/800405.jpg) is required.
Is there something else that you recommend me practising on?
Dead electronics, such as an older modem or a router.
Stabilizers: I haven't been able to tell what legs have to be clipped D:
Top-right and bottom-left as per this picture (https://deskthority.net/resources/image/7639). I do recommend to cut those legs off as well, it makes them much better.
what's an SIP socket?
Read this. (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=51792.0)
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I was able to get the solder to melt but couldn't get them out.
Do you have a solder remover tool? Either solder sucker (https://d1gd7xtq3dij0r.cloudfront.net/d_4986.gif) or a wick (http://www.jewelerssupplies.com/media/800405.jpg) is required.
Is there something else that you recommend me practising on?
Dead electronics, such as an older modem or a router.
Stabilizers: I haven't been able to tell what legs have to be clipped D:
Top-right and bottom-left as per this picture (https://deskthority.net/resources/image/7639). I do recommend to cut those legs off as well, it makes them much better.
what's an SIP socket?
Read this. (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=51792.0)
Ok thanks for all this.
Those SIP sockets look super useful. Do you know a good place to get them? Is it something you would find at a local electronics store? I searched ebay but was only able to find larger SIP sockets (more than 2 pins)
I do have a solder sucker (http://www.jaycar.com.au/Tools-%26-Soldering/Soldering/Accessories/Metal-Desolder-Tool/p/TH1862) but I'm not sure how good it is. I attempted to use it once the solder was melted :/
How necessary is prior practise? From melting a bit of solder I have somewhat of an idea but I haven't actually soldered (I've watched a couple videos).
I guess I can get to clipping my stabilisers though, thanks for the info :)
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Those SIP sockets look super useful. Do you know a good place to get them?
Your local electronics store might have them, just print the picture and show them.
Is it something you would find at a local electronics store? I searched ebay but was only able to find larger SIP sockets (more than 2 pins)
I believe you can cut them as large as you want.
I do have a solder sucker (http://www.jaycar.com.au/Tools-%26-Soldering/Soldering/Accessories/Metal-Desolder-Tool/p/TH1862) but I'm not sure how good it is. I attempted to use it once the solder was melted :/
That works. I own one but recently I bought a SS-02 (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31wLeVgZfYL._SY300_.jpg) which is awesome.
How necessary is prior practise? From melting a bit of solder I have somewhat of an idea but I haven't actually soldered (I've watched a couple videos).
It helps, the more the better. Again, try with dead or disposable electronics. Solder and desolder until you feel confident.
I guess I can get to clipping my stabilisers
You sure can, it's extremely easy.
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I was in the OP's shoes about 6 months ago. I found the EEVblog soldering tutorials on youtube helpful.
I would also like to offer a dissenting opinion on SIP sockets. I originally put them in my board, but I wasn't happy with the outcome. The SIP sockets didn't fit into the switch quite right and made it hard to put the top of the switch housing back on. Then, some of the LEDs fall out when you turn the board upside down. Also it is hard to tell the polarity when you trim the leads to be short enough to fit in the sockets, so it's not like you are going to keep several sets of colors and switch between them when you get tired of them. Finally, when I disassembled the switches to remove the sockets (I had a problem and needed to replace the circuit board), I damaged some of the switches and have had trouble getting them to work properly.
I have promised myself that I will never open another switch again. It just isn't worth it. LEDs are cheap, and desoldering LEDs is a lot easier than dismantling switches to fuss with SIP sockets.