Does this require soldering in the switches? New to custom boards and mechanical keyboards in general.



Normally a PCB group buy would require also: a microcontroller (the Teensy 2.0 is popular around here)SMD soldering, or through-hole diodes ... one per switch -- except here that will be done alreadyswitches -- yes, you'll need to source, then solder the Cherry MX switches yourself (be creative! Have the home row keys be green then switch to Dark Gray for the Function row, with Whites everywhere else. Or, you know, don't. Just use browns, like all the other unimaginative folks here*)keycaps -- this is the part your fingers actually hit, and if you're not using blanks, this is the part that has 'legends' ... IE, letters or other symbols. If you have blanks, this is the part your coworkers will stare at and say "How do you tell what letters you're typing?!?"HTH,the alaskan malamute.Edit: You'll wish for a case, too. Mind you you'd have a working keyboard once the microcontroller has been filled with suitable firmware ... but it really isn't a keyboard until the PCB has a home.Spirit happens to be running a GB for acrylic cases that will match these PCBs! What luck!edit2: you might wish for a plate. It would sit between the switches and the PCB, so you'llneed to decide about that before you solder anything. It will also affect which switches you buy, since the housing is slightly different between the two forms -- PCB mount, or plate mount.*: oh crap please don't do this. Not unless you know what I just said and actually want to do that.