This is the link to the original thread on GH https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=69740.0
Long story short, Hasu wanted to make 60% Alps PCB compatible with classic Alps keyboards so that it will be easy to source caps and cut the plate down to 60% size. So there were 9 PCB's available and I got one, PCB Nr.7
This is the PCB:
First step was to prepare the diodes, I used a piece of wood cut down to size so I could bend all the diodes :
Now the hard part, as a donor I used a NIB black Dell keyboard Alinh had, de-soldering the switches was a pain but that was not the hardest part.
I had to cut down to size the steel plate, for that I used a Dremel and some cutting disks, I think I broke around 10 of them but it worked in the end The disks were not meant for cutting 1.5mm steel but I didn't had the time to order something else. Anyway, the end result looked good :
This is what was left of the Dell plate :
Except for the short 1.75u Right Shift and Pinky Fn that I miss so much the board is great, I managed to put a layout that it is easy to use, I'm typing since yesterday on this keyboard and it feels really nice. I know people hate the black Alps, but I like them, they feel interesting. I didn't had any issues with the PCB, everything worked as it was supposed to.
It was the first time I got a chance to test and evaluate a prototype and it felt great This small project had a lot of firsts for me, modding a plate, Alps switches, TMK firmware and the end result is a fully functional keyboard that looks and feels better than a commercial one
For soldering I used an Antex XS25 soldering iron with 1mm tip and 0.5mm 60/40 soldering wire. The Antex soldering iron was much better than the cheap one I used in the past, it allowed me to make much cleaner soldering points, a great tool all together. I bought this one directly from their web site, they have fast and cheap delivery, and their products are of very good quality for a good price.