pcb mounted switches vs plate mounted switches question

[AnteroX]

do pcb mounted switches have more key travel than plate mounted switches?

[WhiteFireDragon]

Nope, they're exactly the same, except that PCB mounted ones have two little plastic pins that go through the PCB. This is needed to better hold the switch in place since it has no plate.

[Jmneuv]

The keycap itself never touches the 'floor', so it doesn't make a difference.

[firebt]

Nope, they're exactly the same, except that PCB mounted ones have two little plastic pins that go through the PCB. This is needed to better hold the switch in place since it has no plate.

Exactly.  +1.

Also, I would like to include that you can easily use PCB mounted ones (with the pins) on plate mounted, all you have to do is remove the two little pins on the bottom.  However, you can't do it the other way around, as they would wobble like crazy and wouldn't feel solid at all. 

Also, plate mounted is better in terms of solidarity, but they are ultra annoying to mod and remove as you have to take apart the whole keyboard (cover off, connections disconnected, PCB removed, desoldering, etc).  So most people that really like to lube and change springs etc get PCB mounted, although I would highly suggest a plate mounted board. 

[jdcarpe]

PCB mount vs. plate mount Cherry MX:

PCB mount (has mount pins):


Plate mount (lacks mount pins):

[firebt]

PCB mount vs. plate mount Cherry MX:

PCB mount (has mount pins):

Show Image

Plate mount (lacks mount pins):

Show Image

gg.  +1

[ninjadoc]

I hate to be stupid but I  have some PCB black switches that have two additional metal pins at the bottom of the switch. What are those for?

[SpAmRaY]

I hate to be stupid but I  have some PCB black switches that have two additional metal pins at the bottom of the switch. What are those for?

Does it have a diode inside the switch?

[ninjadoc]

I hate to be stupid but I  have some PCB black switches that have two additional metal pins at the bottom of the switch. What are those for?

Does it have a diode inside the switch?

It must. Have dig out "the Beast" switch tools. According to http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/switches/key/mx.htm it should have a diode. Now for the noob question - what do you need the diode for? I say a thread by Lister I believe on Phantom assembly were he was telling someone that either diodes or resistors were a cause of some keystrike errors. Can you educate me please?

[whiskytango]

I hate to be stupid but I  have some PCB black switches that have two additional metal pins at the bottom of the switch. What are those for?

Does it have a diode inside the switch?

It must. Have dig out "the Beast" switch tools. According to http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/switches/key/mx.htm it should have a diode. Now for the noob question - what do you need the diode for? I say a thread by Lister I believe on Phantom assembly were he was telling someone that either diodes or resistors were a cause of some keystrike errors. Can you educate me please?

This article helped me understand it. Diodes come into play when you get to the ghosting / masking part

http://pcbheaven.com/wikipages/How_Key_Matrices_Works/

[ninjadoc]

Actually the switch only has a piece of wire like a paperclip in the switch. No diode. I will have to message him and see what they came off of. They are cherry, older I believe not "vintage" with the big logo.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

That's a jumper wire — it helps with PCB routing (laying out all the traces) by allowing two traces to cross over each other. I have those in my G80-3000 — perhaps one day I'll take a picture of one for the DT wiki. Some low-profile Alps switches also have integrated jumper wires in them.

The alternative to jumpers is three-legged (KPT/TEC, Omron B3G-S, Futaba clicky etc) and four-legged (e.g. NMB Hi-Tek) switches, where one or both of the electrical contacts has two legs (this is even mentioned specifically in the patent for the NMB Hi-Tek). This means that you can run a trace into one side of the switch and out the other easily.