A few assorted questions about building a keyboard

[epicepee]

(Cross-post from /r/mechanicalkeyboards)
I plan to build a keyboard. It will be my first mech, and I have a few questions about homemade keyboards, and about the nature of Cherry MX swithces (I'm going to use Blues).

Firstly. How easy is it to hand-wire a keyboard, and have it be fairly robust? I'll have the switches plate- or case-mounted. It seems a little fragile to me, though, with the wires held on just by solder joints, especially with the diodes making things harder.

Is there any way to have easily swappable switches? The idea is to use some sort of sockets so that one could exchange switches as easily as one could exchange keycaps. Is there some sort of MX socket that fits on the pins?

Is there a list of layouts somewhere out there? My requirements are rather specific (compact with function and arrow keys, a few other quirks) so I figured I'd draw my own but some standard layouts for comparison would be nice.

How exactly do stabilizers work, and how would I mount them? Do they mount like MX switches? I've read about them, but I don't really understand how I would use them. How large of a keycap can one use without stabilization?

I plan to lasercut or 3D print the top plate. Is there somewhere I can get the dimensions for the holes?

Thank you all for your help.



EDIT:  I have decided to use a standard TKL layout.  I assume the schematics from the CAD tools thread are all accurate and compatible?

[fohat.digs]

I strongly recommend that you completely disassemble and reassemble a conventional keyboard to get a feel for how it all works together.

Thousands of scientists have been working for decades to perfect keyboard design and construction, stand on their shoulders before you re-invent the wheel.

[SpAmRaY]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61714.0

Check that board out for swappable switches.

And lots of info here

 http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47744.0

[epicepee]

Fohat:

I plan to take a close look at other people's buildlogs to gather some information.  By "Conventional" I assume you mean mechanical, and I don't have one to disassemble.

Spamray:

Cool, thanks for the link!  Do you know where I could obtain some jacks like that?

[SpAmRaY]

Spamray:

Cool, thanks for the link!  Do you know where I could obtain some jacks like that?

No idea first time I have ever seen them used.

[Oobly]

Hand wired is durable enough, especially if you use single strand wire so it holds it's shape. You can wrap the diode leads / wire around the pins a couple times before soldering to make a stronger physical bond. Be sure to mount all the parts the wires attach to to the case / plate, though, like the controller board and switches to stop them moving relative to each other.

You can use plate mounted Cherry stabilisers for keys that need stabilisers. I'm sure you can find the specifications somewhere for the hole sizes and shapes needed. You just missed the order deadline for this GB: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=60789.0

But perhaps you could still fill in the form and PM Ivan if you know the sizes and numbers of stabilisers you will need?

[epicepee]

I don't think that GB would have had all of what I needed.  I need two 3-unit stabilizers, do those exist?

[dorkvader]

I don't think that GB would have had all of what I needed.  I need two 3-unit stabilizers, do those exist?

not really.

The stabilizer is designed for the keycap. Rightshift, which is 2.75, uses a 2-unit stabilizer. Spacebars use one designed for the mounts they have (which can vary) What 3 unit keycap will you be using? Some japanese keyboards have spacebars that small and might have mounts for a 3-unit stabilizer.

[Oobly]

I don't think that GB would have had all of what I needed.  I need two 3-unit stabilizers, do those exist?

SP do sell a 3x DSA profile cap, but I have no idea what stabiliser spacing it uses. I would honestly recommend to rather use 2.75x caps and 2x stabilisers. You can then fit almost any set on as long as you can order some extra right shift keycaps.

[vvp]

I have some stabilizers here (none of them is 3x) but it looks like stabilizers of different length differ only in the length of the steel wire. If so then get any stabilizer and bend some steel wire to the appropriate length.