Handwire Hot Swap Socket for Mechanical Keyboards

prusaprinters

<h3>Version 4 is out!</h3><p><strong>The STL orientation is incorrect. Please print the parts with the diode channel facing upwards.</strong></p><p>v4 socket improvements:</p><ul><li>Easier to print</li><li>Improved robustness of row wire connection</li><li>Faster to assemble / put in diode</li><li>Better method of connecting pin and diode</li></ul><p>ASSEMBLY GUIDE HERE: <a href="https://github.com/stingray127/handwirehotswap">https://github.com/stingray127/handwirehotswap</a></p><h3>What is it?</h3><p>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 key switches.</p><h3>How did we get here?</h3><ol><li>I printed a Dactyl Manuform</li><li>I did not like the idea of soldering switches in a Dactyl Manuform</li><li>I spent a week designing and printing this project to avoid 4 hours of soldering</li></ol><h3>Who is this for?</h3><ul><li>Handwire keyboard builders that would also like to change switches at some point in the future</li><li>Any project with keyswitches in hard to solder areas</li><li>Anyone trying to build a keyboard without a PCB, really</li></ul><h3>How do I use it?</h3><p>I wrote a guide complete with pictures, and its hosted on Github.</p><p><a href="https://github.com/stingray127/handwirehotswap">https://github.com/stingray127/handwirehotswap</a></p><h3>Printing Notes</h3><p>The STL orientation is incorrect. Please print the parts with the diode channel facing upwards.</p><p>v4 significantly reduced the difficulty of printing. The features touching the print bed will work even if there is elephants foot warpage.</p><p>Layer height did not matter much.</p><h3>Other Notes:</h3><p>The STL file was designed for these wire sizes:</p><ul><li>Diode Legs: 25 SWG</li><li>Solid Core: 24 SWG</li></ul><p>If you need other gauges of wire, use the SCAD file to generate your own versions of this print.</p><p>As this is a hot swap socket, one should be careful to not damage the switch pins when inserting the switch into the socket.</p><p>Slightly bending the switch pins a few degrees before inserting the switch into the socket may improve electrical connection stability, should you run into connection issues.</p><p>While this does allow you to "hot swap" a keyswitch out, you can only really do a few at a time, otherwise the entire wiring matrix falls out of the keyboard body.</p>