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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Pavilions on Tue, 31 July 2018, 19:38:55

Title: Switches does not sit on pcb? Aluminum plate
Post by: Pavilions on Tue, 31 July 2018, 19:38:55
What is the best method to follow when building your keyboard? I always have one issue when making my keyboards. The Aluminum plate you can't get it to stay flush and all the  switches sit together when I try the first row (f1,f2,f2, etc..) I manage to make the switches sit flush on the PCB, but the middle is always hard like the letters I can't keep them sit properly on the PCB its stay higher than the switches on edge. even though the metal contacts are shown but not like the first rows or the switches on the edges

This issue happened to me multiple times on keyboards.

Title: Re: Switches does not sit on pcb? Aluminum plate
Post by: xondat on Tue, 31 July 2018, 19:59:33
Put 10-20% of total switches into the plate spread out; push the PCB into place, making sure each switch is properly fitted; solder 1 pin of those switches in.

Put the rest of the switches in, making sure they're in fully (should be easy since some are soldered); solder 1 pin on every switch until complete, then check everything again. Finish soldering.
Title: Re: Switches does not sit on pcb? Aluminum plate
Post by: Pavilions on Tue, 31 July 2018, 21:19:34
Put 10-20% of total switches into the plate spread out; push the PCB into place, making sure each switch is properly fitted; solder 1 pin of those switches in.

Put the rest of the switches in, making sure they're in fully (should be easy since some are soldered); solder 1 pin on every switch until complete, then check everything again. Finish soldering.

I will try this method on my next build. I hope it will fix this issue that I'm having. Thanks a lot.
Title: Re: Switches does not sit on pcb? Aluminum plate
Post by: Pavilions on Wed, 01 August 2018, 00:18:17
Put 10-20% of total switches into the plate spread out; push the PCB into place, making sure each switch is properly fitted; solder 1 pin of those switches in.

Put the rest of the switches in, making sure they're in fully (should be easy since some are soldered); solder 1 pin on every switch until complete, then check everything again. Finish soldering.

Another Question, after I install my boards everything is fine and aligned the keycaps are installed fine but do you think that the gaps between the switches and plate could affect the typing experience?
Title: Re: Switches does not sit on pcb? Aluminum plate
Post by: suicidal_orange on Wed, 01 August 2018, 12:29:12
As long as all the switches are clipped into the plate it should feel perfect.

The only 'problem' your boards will have is the PCB is only hanging on the soldered switch pins rather than some of the weight being taken by the plastic centre pegs clipping in.  Don't use the board as a baseball bat and you should be fine :))
Title: Re: Switches does not sit on pcb? Aluminum plate
Post by: Pavilions on Thu, 02 August 2018, 16:29:05
As long as all the switches clipped into the plate, it should feel perfect.

The only 'problem' your boards will have is the PCB is only hanging on the soldered switch pins rather than some of the weight being taken by the plastic center pegs clipping in.  Don't use the board as a baseball bat and you should be fine :))

Thanks for your answer, and yes the switches on the board are clipped well with no issues at all the only problem I had that the PCB not stuck to the switches and there is like half mm space. I know it's not a big deal, but I just wanted to know if this is going to affect the experience or not.

I also used a PCB mount switch on the plate I didn't clip the two extra pins because the PCB support both plate and PCB mount, it's okay to do that right?
Title: Re: Switches does not sit on pcb? Aluminum plate
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 02 August 2018, 16:36:35
I don't understand what is happening..

Is this an assembly issue of a kit ?