I'll add to the chorus here; I had a misbehaving space key, and prior to seeing this video had lifted the keycap but did not know how to pull the switch apart. With this video I was able to fix it, saving me the cost of a Dygma Defy. Thanks, Matou!
I did it! I am so in love with the feel of my keyboard now. I'm kind of amazed this method works, given how close the tolerances are inside the switch contacts. I only made one "oops" where I had to go in and solder in a new switch. Then I got the hang of it and the rest were relatively easy. Thanks so much for posting these instructions!
I can't even tell you how happy this video makes me! I have a Model 01 Keyboardio that I love, except for the tactile bump in the switches. Seeing that's it's relatively easy (and looks like a fun process) to replace the switches for linear red has made my day.
The leaf you're talking about in the switch disassembly doesn't tell us whether it'll be linear; though it does influence the type of tactile event we have when combined with the stem. The reason that Holy Pandas are all the rage is because the metal leaf in a traditionally linear switch (invyr panda) enhances the tactile event (lengthen the tactile event and make the bump a bit bigger) that halo true/clear stems usually provide. Looking at the stem's shape at the bottom will tell us how smooth, long, and tactile the bump will be in any given switch. Glad that you're a bit into the frankenswitch game :)
I bet one could model and 3D print a little tool that you could just slip over the switch and have it pop the latches. That'd likely spare your fingertips and speedup the process. This was a really interesting video. I would have never thought of tearing down the switch to replace the parts and save yourself from de-soldering and soldering everything. Not sure which is more tedious, but I do know that my soldering skills are such that I'd opt for your method . :)
I did this on a Roccat Vulcan 80 from brown tactile to Gateron green linear clicky and it was super easy once you get the hang of popping the housing off :)
@@matoumakes Hi! Yes, I tried it and succeeded with two different keyboardios :) I did use a slightly different 'technique' to open them up by using some tools, but it was mostly the same :)
@@matoumakes I see, I ended up following a generic soldering tutorial and surprisingly it was super easy! So easy I even think there's less of a chance to break something by soldering than by opening it up to replace the mechanism lol
@@GGs-c1u I worry about heat damage to the microcontrollers in soldering, if you didn't get the heat-sink set correctly. Did you have any issues in that regard?
@@SyneMitchell no, there's a specific area where you apply the heat which is covered by metal. Also, the solder melts very quickly, almost instantly, so it's very fast
I think so, yes! I actually had this issue with a few switches during changing them and it was fixable by taking them apart and making sure everything is placed correctly. However, I’ve only tried this with the Alps design switches. No idea if other switches work the same way.
Yep, I've had to do this with a bunch of the switches in my older-generation Model 01. You just need some alcohol wipes (prep pads), and you just need to clean up the contacts on the centre stem of the switch, on the contact leaf leg, and on the metal piece in the switch. It's pretty quick to do once you get used to it (I used just some cosmetic tweezers to pull the switch while I used fingers to push aside the clips).
I'll add to the chorus here; I had a misbehaving space key, and prior to seeing this video had lifted the keycap but did not know how to pull the switch apart. With this video I was able to fix it, saving me the cost of a Dygma Defy. Thanks, Matou!
I did it! I am so in love with the feel of my keyboard now. I'm kind of amazed this method works, given how close the tolerances are inside the switch contacts. I only made one "oops" where I had to go in and solder in a new switch. Then I got the hang of it and the rest were relatively easy. Thanks so much for posting these instructions!
Congratulations 😃
Enjoy the new feeling when typing
I can't even tell you how happy this video makes me! I have a Model 01 Keyboardio that I love, except for the tactile bump in the switches. Seeing that's it's relatively easy (and looks like a fun process) to replace the switches for linear red has made my day.
Thank you so much! I am still super happy with the updated switches. It's really cool that it was possible to change this.
The leaf you're talking about in the switch disassembly doesn't tell us whether it'll be linear; though it does influence the type of tactile event we have when combined with the stem. The reason that Holy Pandas are all the rage is because the metal leaf in a traditionally linear switch (invyr panda) enhances the tactile event (lengthen the tactile event and make the bump a bit bigger) that halo true/clear stems usually provide. Looking at the stem's shape at the bottom will tell us how smooth, long, and tactile the bump will be in any given switch.
Glad that you're a bit into the frankenswitch game :)
I guess I still have a lot to learn about switches. Thanks :)
I bet one could model and 3D print a little tool that you could just slip over the switch and have it pop the latches. That'd likely spare your fingertips and speedup the process. This was a really interesting video. I would have never thought of tearing down the switch to replace the parts and save yourself from de-soldering and soldering everything. Not sure which is more tedious, but I do know that my soldering skills are such that I'd opt for your method . :)
That is a really good idea! I’ll have to try that.
I did this on a Roccat Vulcan 80 from brown tactile to Gateron green linear clicky and it was super easy once you get the hang of popping the housing off :)
Nice! I was thinking on doing this myself so I'll definitely give it a try after seeing a couple of people execute it succesfully :)
I'm curious: did you try it yet? If yes: were you successful?
@@matoumakes Hi! Yes, I tried it and succeeded with two different keyboardios :) I did use a slightly different 'technique' to open them up by using some tools, but it was mostly the same :)
Cool! Glad to hear it. Thanks for the update 😃
do you have a tutorial for replacing WITH soldering?
No I never tried that. I considered it but decided that changing only the mechanisms is less risk of me breaking stuff.
@@matoumakes I see, I ended up following a generic soldering tutorial and surprisingly it was super easy! So easy I even think there's less of a chance to break something by soldering than by opening it up to replace the mechanism lol
@@GGs-c1u I worry about heat damage to the microcontrollers in soldering, if you didn't get the heat-sink set correctly. Did you have any issues in that regard?
@@SyneMitchell no, there's a specific area where you apply the heat which is covered by metal. Also, the solder melts very quickly, almost instantly, so it's very fast
Thank you for the video! Do you think using this technique I could fix a broken switch that makes contact all the time without soldering?
I think so, yes! I actually had this issue with a few switches during changing them and it was fixable by taking them apart and making sure everything is placed correctly. However, I’ve only tried this with the Alps design switches. No idea if other switches work the same way.
Yep, I've had to do this with a bunch of the switches in my older-generation Model 01. You just need some alcohol wipes (prep pads), and you just need to clean up the contacts on the centre stem of the switch, on the contact leaf leg, and on the metal piece in the switch. It's pretty quick to do once you get used to it (I used just some cosmetic tweezers to pull the switch while I used fingers to push aside the clips).