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XTaran
361
Aug 10, 2019
Can you please provide a picture of a hotswap socket without switch in it? Does the PCB support PCB-mount switches, i.e. 5-pin switches?
(Edited)
actualdingus
1
Aug 10, 2019
XTaranYou may be aware already, but the two support pins on 5 pin switches can be clipped off if the PCB does not. Granted this can make the switches more prone to sitting crooked in the socket, but with hot swap sockets that should be easily corrected.
XTaran
361
Aug 10, 2019
actualdingusOf course I'm aware of it, but this is a clear no-go as this would make the switches unusable in plateless keyboards. You may be aware already, but one of the features of hotswap is that you can easily remove the switches again and use them in another board — which might have no plate. (SCNR) And I surely won't cut of the support pins of e.g. $1.20 Zilents to make them unusable in a PCB-mount board. Example: I have a GMMK TKL which only has three holes around its hotswap sockets. And the most annoying thing with it is that I can't use Zealios or Zilents with it without making them unusable in my plateless hotswap MiniVan.
(Edited)
Cyphre
2708
Aug 10, 2019
XTaranUnfortuantely that is going to be the case for all hotswap boards you'll see in the future. The scarcity of plateless boards means cutting the pins won't do you any harm in the future.
cerement
213
Aug 10, 2019
CyphreAnd yet the 2 extra holes for PCB mount are standard on hotswap boards, hotswap boards without the 2 extra holes are the exception – even the cheapie GK61/iGK61 has them ...
XTaran
361
Aug 10, 2019
CyphreI doubt that, because half-plate keyboards seem to be quite in fashion at the moment. And it's not about plateless hotswap — that was just an example. It's about plateless (or half-plate) in general: The possibility to take out switches out of a hotswap board and to solder it into a plateless board has the same issue.
fractl
112
Aug 10, 2019
cerementIt's a fair question, as none of the Drop keyboards have PCB-mount holes. As a matter of fact, I just clipped the legs off a batch of Silent Inks so I could use them in my High-Pro ALT. I'm not sure they're the best match for the KB, and I'd consider using them in a soldered build instead... but certainly won't do so now that the pins have been removed. So, it might be $50 wasted, if I swap them out.
Cyphre
2708
Aug 10, 2019
XTaranThis is hotswap, which is what this is about. Kaihua hotswap sockets are more in vogue than PCB mount keyboards. Unfortunately, there is no space available, and there is no harm in snipping PCB mount legs unless you actually have a keyboard you intend to build in the near future.
Cyphre
2708
Aug 10, 2019
cerementMaybe if you're using holtites? Last I checked, Kaihua hotswap sockets do not have space to also allow extra holes for PCB mount legs.
Chinspike
155
Aug 10, 2019
CyphreThey do though. Lots of Kailh hotswap PCBs have support for 5pin. GK 61/64/68 as has been said, most of kbdfans hotswap boards (DZ60 for example), Input Club's upcoming re:type, all of the hotswap PCBs for RAMA's boards, YMDK hotswap PCBs, just off the top of my head.
XTaran
361
Aug 10, 2019
Cyphre> Kaihua hotswap sockets are more in vogue than PCB mount keyboards Sorry, but that's bullshit. Hotswap and PCB-mount don't exclude each other. Kailh hotswap sockets work with both, plate-mount and PCB-mount. BTDT. > Unfortunately, there is no space available Bullshit, too. Of course there is space for these two additional holes per socket. Not only in my MiniVan but also in e.g. the Rama Works U80-A. > there is no harm in snipping PCB mount legs And again bullshit. Given that in the meanwhile even switches are only produced in limited editions are not easy to get again after the initial run, snipping off the plate mount pins might even be financial harm (if you intend to sell these switches later again). > unless you actually have a keyboard you intend to build in the near future. The same counts here. Of course there is no time limit in how long in advance you know if you might want to put these switches into a PCB-mount board later.
XTaran
361
Aug 10, 2019
CyphreThere obviously is enough space. Both, my MiniVan as well as the Rama Works U80-A (according to the product pictures) have Kailh hotswap sockets and 5 holes per switch socket. And the plateless hotswap DZ60-RGB wit Zealios v2 I'm currently typing this text on, has them, too.
Sstyleuser
29
Aug 11, 2019
XTaranLOL
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