Noob Corner: Plates for keyboards

[eRadicatedZomBiE]

Hello all, I'm starting out in the whole mechanical keyboard world and it's great!
I'm trying to learn a little bit about everything.
I'm look at you experts, I would like your input.
I want to learn first about those "poker plates" and plates in general I keep seeing everywhere.

I'll start with a couple questions and go from there,
What are they?
And what do you do with them?

I apologize if this has already been brought up or discussed(could you link me to the discussion?)
Thank you in advance!

[The_Beast]

Hello all, I'm starting out in the whole mechanical keyboard world and it's great!
I'm trying to learn a little bit about everything.
I'm look at you experts, I would like your input.
I want to learn first about those "poker plates" and plates in general I keep seeing everywhere.

I'll start with a couple questions and go from there,
What are they?
And what do you do with them?

I apologize if this has already been brought up or discussed(could you link me to the discussion?)
Thank you in advance!

Plates are just metal with holes cut in them to support a switch. Since PCB's aren't that thick, they tend to flex. With a plate, that flex is eliminate or reduced which I think makes the board feel a lot more solid than just PCB mounting

To install a plate, you first have to desolder all the switches, install the switches onto the plate and then resolder those switches back onto the PCB. I've always like this picture to explain why to have to desolder:


If you want to read a lot of stuff surf this thread:
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=36039.0

[tjcaustin]

I'll start with a couple questions and go from there,
What are they?

 They're metal plates that reinforce the pcb to remove any flexing that happens when you type.

And what do you do with them?

 You install your cherry mx switches into them and then solder that onto your pcb for delicious solid typey types.

[tjcaustin]

Btb, I got one of your poker plates with this poker I traded my SSK for, beastmode.  Love it.  Now to just get some o' dem switch tools.

[The_Beast]

Now to just get some o' dem switch tools.

Soon™

[Jocelyn]

Now to just get some o' dem switch tools.

In case OP would like to see 

[eRadicatedZomBiE]

Are these plates universal(fit all boards)? Or do they have to be designed for certain manufacturers?


Btw thank you all for your quick responses.

[esoomenona]

They have to be designed for different keyboards. WhiteFireDragon actually made a semi-universal plate that works for a bunch of keyboards. Search for Universal TKL plate. Then there are plates for Pokers. And then there are many different plates for the many different layouts you can build with a Phantom.