Is it possible to reduce the amount the pcb flexes? I've got a colleague who is after a keyboard with keys stiffer than the 11900, but not a stiff as one of my access 'boards (plate mounted).
I was thinking that it might be possible to prop up the underside of the pcb with some non-conductive material...
Come to think of it, would this even help?
Is it possible to stiffen a G80-11900
-
Findecanor
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
- DT Pro Member: 0011
I wonder if it is not actually the case that flexes the most ...
There are studs at the bottom of the case touching the PCB. There is one row in-between each row of switches with studs spaced 3 cm (?) apart on each row.
Perhaps you could stiffen up the case by filling the space in-between these rows of studs with some very rigid material to prevent the case from flexing.
I would suggest strips of fibreglass weave with epoxy resin. Fibreglass provides rigidity. Fibreglass weave is easier to work with than fibreglass matting. Most fibreglass items are cast with polyester resin, but it is better to use epoxy when using fibreglass to stiffen something up because epoxy provides much much better adhesion than polyester. (speaking from experience reinforcing ABS plastic with fibreglass). BTW "auto body filler" is polyester resin with some kind of dust as filler, and has as bad adhesion properties as polyester/fiberglass.
Alternatively, you could lay fibreglass directly onto the back of the PCB, but you would have to rebuild the insides of the case to fit the extra bulk.
There are studs at the bottom of the case touching the PCB. There is one row in-between each row of switches with studs spaced 3 cm (?) apart on each row.
Perhaps you could stiffen up the case by filling the space in-between these rows of studs with some very rigid material to prevent the case from flexing.
I would suggest strips of fibreglass weave with epoxy resin. Fibreglass provides rigidity. Fibreglass weave is easier to work with than fibreglass matting. Most fibreglass items are cast with polyester resin, but it is better to use epoxy when using fibreglass to stiffen something up because epoxy provides much much better adhesion than polyester. (speaking from experience reinforcing ABS plastic with fibreglass). BTW "auto body filler" is polyester resin with some kind of dust as filler, and has as bad adhesion properties as polyester/fiberglass.
Alternatively, you could lay fibreglass directly onto the back of the PCB, but you would have to rebuild the insides of the case to fit the extra bulk.