Earlier, we covered in detail the components needed to build your own keyboard and, hopefully, we felt a little less discouraged. Today, we will review the assembly process, so that you can turn your stack of parts into a functional board.
Once you have set up a clean workspace and no flammable objects, you can start assembling everything. The basic process looks like this:
- Support your stabilizers on the PCB if necessary
- Align your plate and solder the switches
- Secure all assembly in the case
- Install your keycaps
DZ60 Wood Keyboard by WarmCat
There is little you can do to make this even easier. The very first thing is to make sure that you follow the above in the exact order. Your stabilizers can not be installed above the plate and your switches can not be installed underneath, unless you really want to do a workout with your welding plunger.
Installation of stabilizers
The installation of your stabilizers is quite simple. Align the pins with the appropriate holes in the PCB and press them directly. The orientation is however important.
Skirting boards that terminate on the outriggers must penetrate the larger holes in the circuit board, while the ends with the clamps must pass through the smaller holes. If you install them in the other way, they will not stay. Install first in the large holes then press the other side and install the stabilizers in the smaller holes. You may need to apply some pressure to close the clips.
Before proceeding to welding, it should be noted that the stabilizers are not lubricated at the factory. This means that they can be a little noisy, but can be mitigated by applying a small amount of lubricant to the touch points. WASD sells a silicone-based lubricant for a few dollars.
Align and solder
It can be difficult to keep the plate aligned with the PCB when you try to place all your switches at one time. For perfect alignment and to keep the plate level on all sides, first install the 4 corner switches and solder them. You can also install the bottom row and adjust the fit of your caps. The bottom row usually has several switch placement options to accommodate different space bar and modifier settings. It is best to check the fit now and solder once rather than desoldering an entire row.
Before soldering anything, make sure your soldering iron is at temperature and do not forget to clean and tin the tip. The application of a small amount of solder at the tip increases the conductivity and makes the solder faster, which will protect your PCB.
Each solder joint should not take more than a few seconds. Do not leave the tip pressed against the pad for longer than this. This could result in the removal of the PCB buffer. Instead, clean the tip with the help of a damp sponge and then tin the surface clean.
The only time you need to touch the solder at the end of the soldering iron is when you tin. For a solid welded joint, heat the pad and the terminal of the switch while feeding the solder to the opposite side.
Your solder contains a chemical cleaning agent called flux that can not do its job if it never touches the solder surface. A good solder joint will not melt and will have a nice shine.
Final assembly and cap installation
The last part of the assembly process should be fairly easy if you have already handled a screwdriver before. With a little luck, you left the tiny screws used to attach the PCB to the case somewhere until now - they get lost very easily.
Simply place the assembled board in the case and secure the screws. Most enclosures will have 5 mount points, but your PCB may only have four mount points. That's fine, four screws will always hold the card securely. The last thing to do is to install your keycaps. Press firmly on the rods of all your switches and you're done.
By following this guide, you will end up with something truly unique, made for you, according to your specifications and tastes, something that is not in the trade.
Keyboards with Unique Search
For inspiration, we collected a collection of some of the best constructions we could find on the net.
Photo credit: Keyboard divided by Jesper
Image Credit: DZ60 by HoldTheseBalls
Photo credit: DZ60 by fishpos
Photo credit: DZ60 By Glod
Photo credit: Carbon DZ60 by durandalreborn
Photo credit: JD40 Build
Photo credit: JD45 by evangs
Photo credit: Planck End Game Case by jebbra
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