Some years ago after Kailh's switch hot-swap sockets first had been introduced, there were many forum threads about them breaking from swapping switches too often or carelessly. They were only surface-soldered to the back of the keyboard PCB, and they tended to take the soldering pad on the PCB with them.
For that reason, I have avoided hot-swap keyboards and not given them much thought.

Through the years, however, Kailh has apparently made revisions of their sockets, and there have been a few copies from other makers.
They seem to be very common these days; practically compulsory in new enthusiast keyboards these days.

But AFAIK, hot-swap sockets are still only surface-mounted on the back of PCBs.
 Is there something I have missed?

Has the durability issue been improved ? Are there well-known methods for reducing the risk of sockets lifting pads and breaking PCBs?

Specifically, I am curious about:
• Are there specific types of PCBs that are better suited for sockets?
• Is there some way to support sockets from behind to reduce the risk of breakage?
• How does flex-cuts affect durability? Does it make it better or worse?
• Are there socket brands that are better than others?

In case you haven't checked it out yet, here's a site where you can compare different force curves: https://www.switchesdb.com

Thanks a lot! This seems to be very helpful indeed...
I did not know about this page. Seems I missed a lot while being away.

Looks Ama-za-zing.... where do i send my cash?? oh wait... can i send cash...ok, apple pay it is... just take my money already, i really have no other use for it...

GDI,  again, exactly 3:10pm,  Service, SWAMPED...  

Quote from: tp4tissue on Fri, 17 October 2025, 09:08:54

dat lingo

4:20 has been around for decades.

Of course fohat'd know that, Mr. addict.