Solderless board, has there ever been one made?

[digi]

When will someone create a board/plate that allows you to snap in MX switches without the need for solder?

Keep a jar full of different switches and swap them around whenever you feel like it.

Ready...set....go, thanks!

[SpAmRaY]

I have dreamed of such a board.

The no soldering part....like a breadboard keyboard

[CPTBadAss]

Plates already exist to do this? The_Beast and WFD's custom plates as well as a myriad of Korean boards have plates that support swapping without desoldering.

You just pop the top off, swap the spring/stem, then pop the top back on.

Wish already granted?

[digi]

Plates already exist to do this? The_Beast and WFD's custom plates as well as a myriad of Korean boards have plates that support swapping without desoldering.

You just pop the top off, swap the spring/stem, then pop the top back on.

Wish already granted?

oO - please post link's to this.

[Xenderwind]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=36907.0
Damn I shoulda bought that spare one when I saw his post...

[bazemk1979]

but they still need to be soldered once, after that they are all moddable, but there are stages to modding such as modding LED's and top housing of the switch if the board has leds on it.

[Photekq]

Plates already exist to do this? The_Beast and WFD's custom plates as well as a myriad of Korean boards have plates that support swapping without desoldering.

You just pop the top off, swap the spring/stem, then pop the top back on.

Wish already granted?

I think myriad is the wrong word.. Some LZs have them. Not many others have them. Kmacs don't, 356/456 don't.. etc.

[oTurtlez]

but they still need to be soldered once, after that they are all moddable, but there are stages to modding such as modding LED's and top housing of the switch if the board has leds on it.

I believe there was a mod where you could drill out the LED housing of the switch a bit to let you remove the top without desoldering the LED. Not sure though.

[CPTBadAss]

I'm bad at Korean boards. I just assumed they all did besides my KMAC LE.

Oh and any PCB mounted board you can swap the springs/stems out.

[bazemk1979]

but they still need to be soldered once, after that they are all moddable, but there are stages to modding such as modding LED's and top housing of the switch if the board has leds on it.

I believe there was a mod where you could drill out the LED housing of the switch a bit to let you remove the top without desoldering the LED. Not sure though.

1st pic is a no go, 2nd and 3rd is a GOOOOO!!!!

[digi]

I should have clarified further, a board and plate that allows for a complete switch swap without soldering. Not requiring the removal of stems, etc. But the entire switch itself.

[Techno Trousers]

I think the bottom of Cherry switches are identical, so there shouldn't be a need for that.

Solderless boards and breadboards tend to start failing after too many insertions. Metal fatigue, I guess.

[CPTBadAss]

The connections would be iffy I think and there'd be wear like Techno Trousers said. Nothing is stopping you from making a board and try this though

[WhiteFireDragon]

I should have clarified further, a board and plate that allows for a complete switch swap without soldering. Not requiring the removal of stems, etc. But the entire switch itself.

Some Chinese guy made one of these "hot swap" switches. I'll link to it when I find the thread. I don't think it's 100% practical though, because being able to just easily pull of the switch means that pulling the keycaps off will pull off the switches as well.


EDIT: found it. Link to the original thread, and link to the video.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=41004
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNTAzMzkyNzUy.html

[digi]

I should have clarified further, a board and plate that allows for a complete switch swap without soldering. Not requiring the removal of stems, etc. But the entire switch itself.

Some Chinese guy made one of these "hot swap" switches. I'll link to it when I find the thread. I don't think it's 100% practical though, because being able to just easily pull of the switch means that pulling the keycaps off will pull off the switches as well.


EDIT: found it. Link to the original thread, and link to the video.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=41004
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNTAzMzkyNzUy.html

That's exactly what I'm talking about, thanks WFD. Do you know if he sells them? Thanks for posting.

[WhiteFireDragon]

I'm not sure if those are available to buy or not. If it is, it won't be cheap though considering there is a metal case, and an additional layer of PCB. Also note that it's a bit thicker than your typical mechanical keyboard to mount that extra hot swappable PCB.