Keyboard Builders' Digest
Save 5% at Typeractive! Code: KBDNEWS
Keyboard Builders' Digest / Tips & Tricks

3D-printed hotswap sockets V4

V4 of the 3D-printed hotswap sockets by stingray127 are open source.

KBD.news
Published June 12, 2021
Creators! Feel free to tip me off about your keyboard related projects to bring them to 150K readers.

STL: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4791318

Guide on Github: https://github.com/stingray127/handwirehotswap

This is a completely solderless way of wiring a keyboard matrix together. Using these 3d printed pieces, through hole diodes, and solid core wire, you can put together a keyswitch matrix that conforms to the shape of any build space, with the added benefit of being able to remove and replace all of the switches.

Version 4 improvements:

  • Easier to print
  • Improved robustness of row wire connection
  • Faster to assemble / put in diode
  • Better method of connecting pin and diode

How long does it take to assemble each socket on average?

I got this down to like 1:30 - 2 minutes per socket, so yeah its still a time sink.
Do you like this post? Share, donate, subscribe, tip me off!

Published on Sat 12th Jun 2021. Featured in KBD #30 (source).


Related

ISO13715 macropad

A cute macropad with ISO Enter: ISO13715 by Daniel Gotteswinter.

Ghoul keyboard

The Ghoul by u/tzarc is a Planck-like ortho but also a development board for QMK.

Quill

Samuel Stephenson shared the files of Quill, a nice hotswap macropad with encoders.

Transparent hotswap sockets

After colorful ones, Chosfox announced transparent hotswap sockets.

Colorful hotswap sockets

Durock came out with some new hotswap sockets in vivid colors.

A macropad - literally drawn

This macropad by MartasSan is handwired, hotswappable, and it was literally drawn rather than printed.

×
top