Modding Cherry Plate Mount / PCB Mount Stabs

[Muirium]

The MX Board 6.0 review process grinds on. I don't much like the feel of its stabs. I'm wondering if I can use the stab clip mod that some people suggest on Cherry stabs. But I've never done it before, and I don't know if it can be done on these particular stabs:



I reckon they're plate mount. As this is the underside of the PCB around the ISO Return key:



And the overview.



Are these stabs moddable? If so, I'll try it on one of the numpad stabs in case I screw up!

[DanielT]

You can do the mod also on plate mount stabs. The "mobile" part it's the same, so you can clip them. Also a little lube will make them just perfect. I'm not a big fan of modding and lubing, but with stabs it's a different story, it's really worth the trouble

[HzFaq]

It depends on whether or not you can get the stab out of the plate just by desoldering the stabilized switch, otherwise you would need to desolder the whole board...

The stab insert bit that you need to clip is exactly the same on PCB and plate mount stabs though, so once you've got them out the mod is pretty much the same.

I'm not a massive plate-mount guy so can't tell if it's doable, but I will say that it is 100% worth doing if it's just a case of taking out one switch...not sure if it's worth desoldering a board for though, especially as there are LEDS to contend with as well...

[Muirium]

Cool, I'll give it a looksie. I'm up for desoldering a switch (and LED) or two, but doing the whole board is straight out of the question. Hopefully a little bit of surgery will do the trick.

Besides, I really want to put in a heavier switch on the spacebar. I don't like it much, and my gamer friend who I'll probably gift this board to when I'm done was having a lot of trouble with that key. He rests his thumbs there, and isn't used to actuation anywhere but fully bottomed out!

[HzFaq]

Heavy spacebars, clicky escape keys and clipped stabs are all mandatory features on my boards .

This is a pretty good guide to stab clipping if you can make it through all the guff...Don't bother with putting anything between the stab and the PCB though, I've been using boards with clipped stabs for years and never had any problems with them "damaging" the PCB. As Daniel said as well, a bit of lube where the wire clips into the stab casing thing makes a hell of a difference as well.

http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/cher ... t2780.html

[DanielT]

On the boards with Cherry plate mounted stabs I have played with the stabs came out really easy, no desoldering. So you can try, it's just a plastic clip that you have to push with a wooden stick/toothpick so not much of a challenge
And yes, don't worry about damage, there is no risk, I have done this on all my keyboards.
As for the spacebar spring I find 68g very nice

[Muirium]

68g you say: how does that compare to an MX black? Naturally, I've got those springs from Gon that you proxied for me, and I might as well see about using them…

[DanielT]

68g is almost as a MX Black but more elastic, this is the way the SPRiT 68g are. I think you should have some in the samples I've sent you. If you don't I might have a couple to spare and a simple envelope from Germany shouldn't be expensive, something like a post card
I like 55g all over the board and 68g on the spacebar, and all linear Maybe clicky on the Esc

[chzel]

Go for it Mu!
I think it's easiest to desolder the switch, otherwise it's a bit fiddly if you haven't done it before!
And my offer still stands! If you don't like them clipped, I'll send you a couple unmodified!

[DanielT]

He will like them clipped, it's one mod worth doing

[Muirium]

Thanks for the reassurance, guys. Anyone got that diagram handy of which bit I should give a snip?

[HzFaq]

Before (right) and after.

http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/cher ... tml#p55022

[Muirium]

Thanks. Looks like two chops to me:



Front and back?

[HzFaq]

Yeah, the base of the stab should end up flat. Two snips with some flush cutters and you're done.

[Muirium]

Right, cheers!

[chzel]

Go on, clip them already!

[ideus]

This mod change the feel of the assembly greatly and for the good.