Building First Board -- Need Help

[OnTheBrink]

Hey,

So I picked up the Sentraq kit with some Zealios 67g. I figured out switch placement and mounted it to the plate. I figured out how to install the cherry stabilizers on the PCB and did that as well.

Next part was to flip the plate with the switches and put on the PCB for soldering. This is where my frustration begins.

First, these switches almost have to be pushed into the PCB because of the plastic pins (not the connectors) in order for any pin to be protruding from the PCB for soldering. When trying to attach the PCB across all the switches I have, this is very difficult and I do not want to force anything in. I already bent a pin I needed to bend back.

However, when I think I have it all aligned, I try giving it a little push and the middle is what concerns me. Is it normal with Zealios switches / Gaeteron switches to have to do this? Or for Cherry MX for that matter? I feel like it shouldn't be this difficult if the pins line up. Or is it possible that the switches I purchased won't fit? Mind you if I put one switch into the PCB it goes in but like I said -- I have to give it some slight force. Once in the PCB it will actually just stay there.

Any help is much appreciated as I was excited to get my board up and running today.

[SpAmRaY]

I've always started with the PCB on a soft surface, lay the plate over top with a switch in each corner and only in the corners get those all aligned and pressed down then do the rest.

I've never tried the method you described but it may depend on the plate used etc.

But if the switches have the extra legs for PCB mount then yes they have to be pushed all the way down. Assuming your PCB has the extra holes for the legs.

I know some PCBs have tighter tolerances for those little PCB mount switch legs and gateron switches tend to be a little tighter fit than cherry.

Edit: Photos are also helpful so we know exactly the issue you're having.

[OnTheBrink]

I've always started with the PCB on a soft surface, lay the plate over top with a switch in each corner and only in the corners get those all aligned and pressed down then do the rest.

I've never tried the method you described but it may depend on the plate used etc.

But if the switches have the extra legs for PCB mount then yes they have to be pushed all the way down. Assuming your PCB has the extra holes for the legs.

I know some PCBs have tighter tolerances for those little PCB mount switch legs and gateron switches tend to be a little tighter fit than cherry.

Edit: Photos are also helpful so we know exactly the issue you're having.

This solved it for me, thanks man. I think my first mistake was putting the switches in the plate first. I am new at this and was following a White Fox guide when this is not a White Fox board. It's funny because I was thinking "why don't I just do it one at a time into the PCB and plate" and you confirmed my suspicious.

They do have the plastic legs for the PCB mount and it is a tight fit so it makes sense what you're saying.

That settles it then. Time for me to remove the switches and start with those corners. It makes even more sense when I have one stabilized switch that keeps coming out of the plate because the cutouts don't support it to be just resting in the plate. Likely to support more layouts and because I should be mounting the switching into the PCB and plate one at a time.

[merlin64]

The Winkeyless PCBs are notorious for being a tad too small for Gaterons. I literally have to stop every 5 switches otherwise my fingers just hurt too much. I've since changed my building strategy. I only keep the two extra PCB pins on the corner switches and the GH keys, and the stabilized switches. Everything else, I snip off the pins.

[OnTheBrink]

The Winkeyless PCBs are notorious for being a tad too small for Gaterons. I literally have to stop every 5 switches otherwise my fingers just hurt too much. I've since changed my building strategy. I only keep the two extra PCB pins on the corner switches and the GH keys, and the stabilized switches. Everything else, I snip off the pins.

Yeah, I was debating just clipping them off myself but honestly glad I didn't. The snug fit ensured that all the pins were equal length.

I built the board if you want to take a peek: http://i.imgur.com/toV4o3Y.jpg

I am so eager to build another now lol. I'm thinking about picking up the Zeal PCB on Massdrop for a deep metal case RGB setup but don't know which switches I'll use.

You know how it is; by the time you're finished with something new you become an expert. Now my solders are so beautiful I want to build from scratch so every one is immaculate. Amazing how easily I can drop the perfect amount for both the switches and the LEDs when not too long ago I was unknowingly using way too much and wondering why it wasn't coming off the tip.