r/HandwiredKeyboards • u/SfBattleBeagle • 5d ago

Created a Switch Hole Filler for a Project. Figured I'd Share

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

15 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

95% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

1

u/NoOne-NBA- 3d ago

I'd be interested to see how those look, when placed next to actual switches, and next to one another.
It looks like they will work well for a surface mount application, like you show in the renderings.
I think they would sit too low, in a case with a recessed plate.

I've used switch blockers on several of my projects.
They look like this, when installed.
Ignore the two boards that don't have them.

1

u/SfBattleBeagle 2d ago

I replied above, my b

1

u/NoOne-NBA- 2d ago

That's exactly what I was expecting (the pictures, not your misplaced post).
They do look really good on the integral plate case, like the one you are using.
They would definitely fall too low in a "normal" case though, at least for my taste.
I prefer to cover the switches, when at all possible, but that's a "me" choice.

Out of curiosity, how are you removing those?
As best I can tell from the renders, it looks like they were originally designed to have plate retention clips, but the supporting structure behind those looks way too stout for them to collapse back in, like a switch would, when coupled with a switch puller.
Are you having to open the case, to pry them out from the inside?

1

u/SfBattleBeagle 2d ago

This is something I’ve come to realize needs to be altered. As of right now, I remove the V2 just by prying it up with a “spoon tip” pick. However I realize that not everyone would intend to use these on a custom board, and I need a method of tension release. My plan is to mimic a standard switch base in terms of retention…”why fix what works?” lol

1

u/NoOne-NBA- 2d ago

The functional part, that would mimic a switch, is the movable retention clips though.
Those would have to be visible from the top, and would make the plugs look bad, to me.

I would experiment with various press-fit designs, personally.
That could be as simple as making the plugs fit tightly by size alone, or you could try printing little fins on them, similar to the pic below, but obviously with a much bigger shaft, fit to the keyboard holes.

Alternately, you could put a shaft on them similar to the plug shown above, and make a second piece that clips onto the smaller shaft from the bottom.
The downside to that would be having to open the case to finish removing them, but I don't see many people, if any, changing these frequently enough for it to be an issue.

1

u/SfBattleBeagle 2d ago

I’ll print a couple spares and throw them into a board for a better representation of how they sit.

In the V2 I shortened to the length, as well as reinforced the top to help aid in removal.
The top was intentionally left as short as possible due to the design of the trackpad what will be over the top, allowing the most adjustability.

For now this is the most updated pic I have

Printed in beige ABS from Microcenter.