Support for Alternative Layouts
This is a summary of how alternative layouts have been supported by kits such as Colevrak and Homing. It is not a discussion of alt layout performance and development, but if that interests you I highly recommend starting with Pascal Getreuer’s A guide to alt keyboard layouts (why, how, which one?). It’s a concise and comprehensive overview with links to some great sites that go deeper. He also has a separate Links about keyboards page. The Keyboard layouts doc he recommends explains layout goals and metrics in detail, summarizing the alt layouts discussed here as well as more than one hundred others. Sculpted-profile The majority of custom keycap sets are sculpted-profile (Cherry, SA, MT3, KAT, etc. - more on profiles generally here) so let’s start there. Because each row has a unique keycap shape, alt layouts require a unique keycap for each legend that moves off its QWERTY row. At first there were two The Dvorak layout was patented in 1936 by August Dvorak & William L....
Apr 23, 2024
Side note, does anyone know if it is possible or any benefits/downsides to modding this to be hot swappable? Like sip sockets for the led's only for the switches as well. Possible downsides if it is possible: four connections for switches and led's is going to be a huge amount of work(I could put the led's beneath the pcb though, as the zealios is clear), also prone to failure. The switches will be raised from the pcb (somewhat), but other than that... Has anyone seen something like this diy? I'd like to consider it and research the benefits/downsides. But i cannot find anything through google, might have a specific name or something. Please enlighten me if anyone knows if this has been done before, nothing is impossible it all comes down to determination hehe.
You might want to look at: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/team-wolf-swappable-switch-mechanical-keyboard or https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61714.0 for ideas of how this was accomplished. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing slightly larger holes were drilled in the PCB to accommodate the SIP sockets.
Just a disclaimer, I'm not an engineer, haven't seen this board in person, and I defer to anyone with more hands on experience on this matter. Just my $0.02.
Thanks for the reply friend!
If you've opted to place SIPs in your keyswitches, and you're using a closed plate (non-universal, like the MIT plate), now is the time to do so! If you're using an open plate (universal) or none at all, these can be installed anytime afterwards.
Remove the top of each keyswitch by allowing the 4 "claws" to pass over the bottom half's lips. It's much easier to place the SIP while holding the switch top slightly above the bottom, keeping the spring and internal mechanism aligned with each other. Once the SIP is in place, you can carefully place the top back on.
Here's someone installing them: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=51792.0
Disclaimer: I personally haven't done this.
I still don't get why people install stickers in the switches though. I mean, are the switches that bad of an construction? And while I am thinking about sip sockets, I am having to open the switches anyways. But it seems like so much work! Are there anyone here that had experience with the zealios switches and rattling/wobbling between the top part and the bottom or is this purely placebo? Like people thinking they hear the difference between $500 and $20 000 sound cables lol
Thinking of downloading the sound test from (https://deskthority.net/f-o-r-s-a-l-e-f58/ro-59-leftover-sale-stickers-custom-springs-t3591.html#p69943) but right now I am listening to music, working and having a whiskey 'and can't like even deal'! Have a fantastic friday/saturday whoever bothers to read this!
Again, thank you for clear and concise explanation and reply!