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About Split Keyboards - Build Guide
Last review: 2024-07-17

OLED sockets

OLED sockets allow you to remove the display without desoldering.
This step is optional.

You should perform this step if you opted to use 4-pin sockets for the OLED displays. If not, you can go to the next step using the button below.

Take care: If you skip this step, you cannot easily add the parts of this step later. You may need to desolder parts.

TRRS jacks

TRRS jacks allow you to connect the halves of a split keyboard together with a TRS or TRRS cable.

Microcontrollers

The brains of your keyboard.

The bottom side of a 4-pin socket

The bottom side of a 4-pin socket.

It's also suitable for the nice!view display, even though it has five pins instead of four. You'll then still need to manually wire the fifth pin directly to the controller. It won't entirely be hot-swappable, but it does save some effort when removing it.

Insert the socket from the top of the PCB. You can use a piece of electrical or scotch tape to hold it in place.

Some tape holds the 4-pin socket in place. As the socket sits lower than the TRRS jack, it's best to use tape so it won't drop out once you flip the PCB over to solder it

Some tape holds the 4-pin socket in place. As the socket sits lower than the TRRS jack, it's best to use tape so it won't drop out once you flip the PCB over to solder it.

Flip the PCB and solder one single pin of the socket.

The first pin of the socket soldered. The order doesn't matter much, as long as you only solder one pin to start with

The first pin of the socket soldered. The order doesn't matter much, as long as you only solder one pin to start with.

Then, flip the board around again and check whether the socket is aligned straight. If it’s not, heat up the solder joint and move the socket around until you’re happy with how it looks.

Lastly, solder the remaining three pins.

The soldered socket, looking at the bottom side of the PCB

The soldered socket, looking at the bottom side of the PCB.

The soldered socket, looking at the top side of the PCB. Notice how it sits straight, and flush with the PCB

The soldered socket, looking at the top side of the PCB. Notice how it sits straight, and flush with the PCB.

TRRS jacks

TRRS jacks allow you to connect the halves of a split keyboard together with a TRS or TRRS cable.

Microcontrollers

The brains of your keyboard.

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