Genovation 630 Keypad Switch Replacement

[RandalFlagg]

Hello everyone!  Ready to get my feet wet with the modding scene, but have a few questions to ask before placing any orders.

Picked up a Genovation 630 that comes stock with Black Cherry MX switches.  Goal here is to switch over to Blue switches.  Upon doing research,I came across "Note that the switches are plate mount but the PCB supports PCB mounted switches but not stabs."  Now I may just be overlooking the obvious, but the last line " but the PCB supports PCB mounted switched but not stabs" is throwing me off a bit, and this may very well be from my ignorance.  Am I going to need anything besides solder/desolder equipment , Blue PCB mounted switches, and Plate mounted stabilizers?  Here is a picture from a previous thread here I found of a teardown/review. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=67707.0 ----Thanks  To MGH for that----

I'd appreciate any help here as this is my first dip into the keyboard mod scene.  I'd consider just looking out for a numpad with blue switches, but that's not going to help me into any future projects that my arise.

Thanks in advance!!

[CPTBadAss]

Your shopping list looks good.

[zeltner]

I don't think you need to buy any extra stabilizers though. There should already be stabilizers on it you would just use those.

[RandalFlagg]

Thanks for the heads up on the stabilizers.  Looking at the teardown thread again I mistakenly said I needed PCB mounted, but these are indeed Plate Mounted. 

I also stumbled upon this by someone who replaced their switched on the 630.  "I removed the old switches and soldered in Cherry MX Clears. but without proper tools it can be a pain in the ass because during the process I discovered that the plate hooked onto the pcb at 4 different points with solder underneath the hooks holding it down. I ended up having to very carely cut off the hooks with a metal cutter saw since I didn't have my dremel, which is something I would not recommend doing since I luckily didn't damage the pcb in the process."-Demokirby

I was honestly thinking it would be possible to swap out the switches without having to remove the plate from the pcb.  Once again, this could just be my ignorance on the matter.  But the switches are ordered up, and I'll be picking up the soldering equipment at some point during the week through work I'm sure, so look forward to an update this time next week hopefully!

[Dernubenfrieken]

I have the goldtouch keypad which I believe is the same PCB design. The solder is a bit had to get off those areas where the plate connects, but not impossible with some patient desoldering and maybe some pliers.

[zeltner]

Why would OP need to remove the plate though? Iv'e swapped some switches before on a board and did not need to remove the plate... Is there something different about this pad that the entire plate would need to be removed?

[RandalFlagg]

Why would OP need to remove the plate though? Iv'e swapped some switches before on a board and did not need to remove the plate... Is there something different about this pad that the entire plate would need to be removed?

This.

I can only assume its because the switches only release from pressure applied from underneath the plate?  I will find out Monday worse case scenario.

[CPTBadAss]

Yes the plate will need to be removed. It doesn't have the notches cut into it that allow for swapping.

[zeltner]

Yes the plate will need to be removed. It doesn't have the notches cut into it that allow for swapping.

Wow really. I am still somewhat a noob so maybe I have misunderstood the purpose of plate notches. I thought the purpose of the plate notches were to allow for switch top removal without desoldering. This way if you want to do a spring swap or something you can do it and do need to desolder every switch.

You are saying you cannot even desolder a single switch unless there is a cutout?

[suicidal_orange]

Doesn't look to be anything strange here - desolder the switches, press hard on the center bit and watch them fly across the room, same as any other board )

Notches are indeed so you don't have to desolder the switches to open them up, very handy...

[CPTBadAss]

Yes the plate will need to be removed. It doesn't have the notches cut into it that allow for swapping.

Wow really. I am still somewhat a noob so maybe I have misunderstood the purpose of plate notches. I thought the purpose of the plate notches were to allow for switch top removal without desoldering. This way if you want to do a spring swap or something you can do it and do need to desolder every switch.

You are saying you cannot even desolder a single switch unless there is a cutout?

You'll have to desolate the switches then push the switches out of the plate and then put switches back in. If they have the notches, then you can just swap the internals and tops and leave the bottoms. Not sure I explained it clearly the first time. But your understanding is correct.

No stock keyboards come with the notches though. Only aftermarket plates have them.

[admiralvorian]

Yes the plate will need to be removed. It doesn't have the notches cut into it that allow for swapping.

Wow really. I am still somewhat a noob so maybe I have misunderstood the purpose of plate notches. I thought the purpose of the plate notches were to allow for switch top removal without desoldering. This way if you want to do a spring swap or something you can do it and do need to desolder every switch.

You are saying you cannot even desolder a single switch unless there is a cutout?

You'll have to desolate the switches then push the switches out of the plate and then put switches back in. If they have the notches, then you can just swap the internals and tops and leave the bottoms. Not sure I explained it clearly the first time. But your understanding is correct.

No stock keyboards come with the notches though. Only aftermarket plates have them.

With a board of this size I'd just desolder all the switches then remove the plate with the switches on it, then push them all out.

That's assuming you get a clean desolder on every switch, which may be a pipe dream.

[RandalFlagg]

Well, this tirned out to be A LOT easier than I was assuming.  No plate removal needed.

[RandalFlagg]

Finished this up today.  Didn't have a switch tester so I had to replace 2 switches after the initial solder job, but everything wemt smooth.  I will be upgrading my solder iron before undertaking any larger projects as my battery powered device took quite a bit of time to heat up.  Looking forward to trying my hands at a new numpad where I add L.E.D.'s. 

[CPTBadAss]

Looking good. Glad you found it to be easy! Always great to see more people modding and building. I find people often make soldering and switch swapping much harder in their heads than it actually is when you do it.

[suicidal_orange]

Thanks for reporting back, glad to hear it went well