This is one of the reasons I generally don’t like mounts that isolate the switch vibrations from the case entirely. Those mounts require a lot more care in choosing a switch. A bad switch can sound okay in certain builds. In isolation mounts, a bad switch just sounds bad. There’s no fixing it.
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That makes a lot of sense. Also explains why boards I spend most time tinkering with are top-mount and tray-mount boards where gasket mount boards are rarely tinkered with once built.
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So, in the process of designing my keyboard I have bought several sets up different keycaps(profiles and materials). Good thing I did that because I noticed from clearance issue on my top plate. Was having issues of the MT3 keycaps hitting the edge of the pockets. So, I decided to take some pictures as example for the clearances. I will be measuring the outside dimensions of the keycaps but did not get that done today.
From that I determined that if I was intending on having the same clearances as is kept between each keycap I had only done half that spacing. So I will have to cut off about 0.020" from each wall of the clearance pockets. For the examples I only used the arrow keys.
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I learned I need to double check the numbering of my old switch collection spreadsheet cause uhhhhh whoops. But I’m almost done with my new sheet and its so much easier for me to read, and more importantly add more switches to lol
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Nice details. Yes, there’s definitely more than the “room between keycaps” on almost every board own. I prefer it that way. I have two boards with tight tolerances and it can be challenging to get everything aligned perfectly so that nothing rubs. Stabilized keys are usually the biggest offenders because they can rotate slightly and collide with the case.
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The space bar was the biggest offender with the MT3 set being the worse and even slightly with the others. Though that was originally with durock v2 stabs, the ones on their now are AP v4 and those are much better.
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Can confirm - I’m a bigtime MT3 fanboy but I’ve had to forego it on a few builds because of it’s slightly larger footprint.
I once had a build customer that was set on using MT3 Susuwatari on an Ikki68 Aurora - I made it work, but only after an uncomfortable amount of sanding… >.>
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It’s obvious in hindsight but TIL that long-pole switches don’t have North-facing switch keycap issue.
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today i learned more about capacitive PCBs and topre. I lowkey wanna build a board with a capacitive PCB, it’s a very intriguing process. It’d be cool to see more boards offer that pcb option like MM studio is doing because beyond that you’re mostly dealing with NIZ and HHKB/realforce which is fine but variety is the slice of life.
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That tadpole mount with the softer tadpoles is goated. Been daily driving my Frog 8K since I built it & I am just loving the feel of it. The positives of good old top mount, with as much give as a stiffer gasket mount! Also that maybe, just maybe hot swap PCBs aren’t as bad as I’ve built them up to be in my mind. I opted for the HS PCB with my Frog & I’ve swapped the switches a few time in it already. I do gotta admit, now that they have multiple layout support & some improvements to the sockets. I can’t deny how nice & convenient it is to just be able to change the switches anytime with little hassle.
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I really enjoy having one or two hot swap boards for the reasons you mentioned, but I have since moved back to solder PCBs because I love the “completeness” feel that it provides. Hot swap can just feel a little loose-y goose-y on occasion.
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TIL that ChinaJoy isn’t just a weird name Gateron (and now KTT) chose for a switch, but a digital entertainment expo - think E3 overseas:
I’m sure plenty of you knew that - but I didn’t. 
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Interesting. I’d never heard of it either…
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I learned a nice kicad tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVUqaB0IMh4. Hopefully it can replace my use of proprietary software to build keyboard and dongle PCB
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gonna try to find gros michel banana soon and some others
been wanting to track down some exotic fruits for a while
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There is some variety, just not in western facing markets and/or not as well known. Like the Mlice, which is an EC alice layout board. There is also an EC PCB for the NCR80 and there are some EC 60% PCBs that fit your average tray mount 60% cases like the tofu or poseidon.
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I did not know it, but the MSX was keyboard heaven in terms of colourways.
If you watch the first 1.5 minutes of this video:
you’ll see a number of MSX keyboards. Some very familiar-looking colourways there, plus interesting legends. Some of these would make for good repro sets! Clone designers take note!
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I’m like three years late to the party, but VIAL is such a huge step up from just about every other keyboard remapping software I’ve tried. Finally got around to trying it with my Day Off 60.
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I think everyone goes through a period where they try all the crazy things QMK can do via compile or Mechmerlin’s wizard and when they get over it they surrender to the ease of use that VIA provides.
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VIA is nice but VIAL is better. It would be nice if more vendors rolled it straight in.
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