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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: hoggy on Sat, 20 February 2016, 05:53:54

Title: Techkeys enablers
Post by: hoggy on Sat, 20 February 2016, 05:53:54

I bought a spare case from PeterStock an eternity ago, and finally got around to doing something with it. 

I've mounted the switches on the plate.  I have enough Enabler pcb's for each switch (except that I should have added a few pcbs with stabilizer support).  I've got a teensy hanging around somewhere.

What's the best way to go about this?  Should I insert the diodes in the switches (which way do they go?), or add them to the board.  Should I solder the switches (and diodes) and then connect the pcbs together?   

Title: Re: Techkeys enablers
Post by: regack on Sat, 20 February 2016, 11:59:59

I think I would put the diodes on the PCB first, then attach them to the switches, and finally wire everything else up.  I don't actually have any of them though.  Putting the diode on the Enabler makes it easier in the future if you want to change switches or something.  It is marked pretty well for SMT diodes, but I remember there being pads for TH diodes as well...

Title: Re: Techkeys enablers
Post by: axtran on Sat, 20 February 2016, 20:48:35

Through hole requires the diode to run through the switch, which limits LEDs.

I'd go with SMDs.

Title: Re: Techkeys enablers
Post by: MOZ on Sun, 21 February 2016, 14:32:33

This reminds me, I have to update and upload the Enabler files.

Title: Re: Techkeys enablers
Post by: axtran on Mon, 22 February 2016, 23:32:14

Quote from: MOZ on Sun, 21 February 2016, 14:32:33

This reminds me, I have to update and upload the Enabler files.

Make some design changes?

Title: Re: Techkeys enablers
Post by: MOZ on Tue, 23 February 2016, 04:25:30

Quote from: axtran on Mon, 22 February 2016, 23:32:14

Quote from: MOZ on Sun, 21 February 2016, 14:32:33

This reminds me, I have to update and upload the Enabler files.

Make some design changes?

Sure, what changes, one thing I have in mind is to have differently shaped pads, for easier identification .

Title: Re: Techkeys enablers
Post by: AKmalamute on Wed, 24 February 2016, 11:36:22

Quote from: axtran on Sat, 20 February 2016, 20:48:35

Through hole requires the diode to run through the switch, which limits LEDs.

I'd go with SMDs.

I'm at work, and my collection is at home, but I'm moderately sure that (for reason of supply numbers) I chose through-hole, and added all the diodes first, and switches later.

I think though, that to do that you have to have the diodes on the underside, away from the switch or, as you point out the switch won't fit anymore.

SMT on those little things is nifty. I have a 60% ALPS keyboard about half-wired and I keep thinking I want to get back to it ... along with all the other half finished projects. Like the adding RAID-50 to my home PC that required replacing the motherboard because booting to CD was proving nigh impossible.  :eek:

Quote from: MOZ on Sun, 21 February 2016, 14:32:33

This reminds me, I have to update and upload the Enabler files.

Great to see you near a computer an on the forum, Moz! Makes me wish I could say the same about me.

Title: Re: Techkeys enablers
Post by: MOZ on Wed, 24 February 2016, 14:23:43

Thanks for the welcome back :) I'm in IT, so always on a computer, just hadn't had the time or drive to be on the forum until recently as I began a lot of typing work and realised I needed to change somethings to make the experience more comfortable.