Did I just break my switch

[marodox]

I got a new set of key caps today that are really tight on the switch. I was pulling one off and the switch came apart. I got it back together and it still works and all, but If I try and remove the key, the whole switch comes apart again. Here is a pic.

[Djuzuh]

yes, you broke it .

But as long as it works, who cares !

Just try to find a replacement switch (which you'll have to desolder/resolder) in case it breaks completely.

Maybe your warranty will cover it however. I don't know.

[o2dazone]

Yeah, looks as though you yanked the whole thing apart. This happens with tight keycaps. The proper way to reseat it would be to remove the top half of the switch, and place the stem and spring back into the switch, and clip the top housing back on.

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Cherry+switches+and+boards
http://park16.wakwak.com/~ex4/kb/tech_cherry_mx.htm

Good luck btw a little plastic safe lube inside the tea-axis of the keycap should keep it from being too tight. But if its crazy tight, even that might not fix it.

[marodox]

Ok it just ordered a new switch just in case. I'm not really comfortable with soldering because I have never done it before so I'll only replace if it dies. The switch still has tactility and everything.

[The_Ed]

You could always have somebody else repair it for you. But shipping both ways would be a killer for a single switch. If you're a Minnesotan I could fix it for a few dollars.

Are those SP glowcaps? On a das...

[dorkvader]

They look like POM to me.

That said, I'm really liking my SP glowcaps over indicator LED's (thanks Flynn!)

[The_Ed]

I've never seen POM like that, only SP glowcaps.

[dorkvader]

I've never seen POM like that, only SP glowcaps.

It looks to me like some are slightly different colours, just like those POM sets you get from imsto/china. Here's a link to a topic in GB where you can get them.
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?30405-round-2-dyesub-105-and-105-rainbow-jelly-keycaps-group
Image:

They do kind-of look like glow caps, We'll have to wait for the OP to respond

[The_Ed]

Those white POM look much whiter than the OP, but that may just be lighting.

[marodox]

They are the POM rainbow jelly keys, I got them from Toaboa.
Here is a picture of the final product.

[dorkvader]

Wow, looks great! How was it, repairing the 'board?

[marodox]

Wow, looks great! How was it, repairing the 'board?

Well for now I just put the part that came off back in, and it works fine, still has tactility, but it will come out if I try and remove the key from the switch, so it is still technically broken.
I have a new switch in the mail and once that comes I'll probably get on to replacing it, but I don't know when because I have no experience with soldering. Definitively before I sell it.

[False_Dmitry_II]

You will have fun anytime anyone sits at your computer and attempts to type something.

[The_Ed]

Hunt and peckers FTW! There's no way I could ever type on blank caps.