MY magnets - great for fridges and for testing layouts
Posted: 04 Feb 2013, 23:39
Here's something you can do with your old G81 boards after harvesting the caps: Use the switches to test new/alternative layouts!
How? Like this:
These neodymium magnets are STRONG. Even the 10 mm squares tend to repel each other if same polarities are placed next to each other on a smooth surface. Therefore, I made two sets with alternating polarities. Furthermore, anti-skating rubber tape was applied to all of them.
The bottom of MY switches does have large empty spaces, therefore the contact surface between the switch base and the magnet is not exactly large. Square magnets nicely reach into the flat surface at the corners and therefore give a better bonding than disc-shaped magnets of equal or slightly larger size. Slightly larger rectangles than used here, e.g. with a=12 mm would be ideal, I guess. Unfortunately, these were not available at my favorite magnet webshop.
One more thing: you can easily use stabilizers with this setup because the stabilizer bases are built into the MY switches. Oh, and the black switches seem to be less scratchy than the white ones when pressed off-center.
More pics behind the spoiler
- MY magnet
- P1080969_cr_cr.jpg (69.27 KiB) Viewed 2372 times
- ErgoDox layout.
- P1080968-2.jpg (314.3 KiB) Viewed 2576 times
- 1) Harvest the switches (use a chisel to remove the rivets).
2) Remove the leaf springs. As a side effect, the MY switches will feel much better.
3) Get some strong neodymium magnets. I've tried discs with d=15 mm and h=3 mm but they were a tad too strong and would repel each other in a staggered arrangement. I finally went for rectangles with a=10 mm, h=3 mm.
4) Roughen up the surface of the magnets and the switches with sanding paper. Be careful not to damage the magnet's coating or they will corrode away.
5) Gluing time. Superstrong epoxy is recommended.
6) Optional: apply squares of rubber tape to prevent skating.
7) Arrange to your liking. They look also great on a fridge
These neodymium magnets are STRONG. Even the 10 mm squares tend to repel each other if same polarities are placed next to each other on a smooth surface. Therefore, I made two sets with alternating polarities. Furthermore, anti-skating rubber tape was applied to all of them.
The bottom of MY switches does have large empty spaces, therefore the contact surface between the switch base and the magnet is not exactly large. Square magnets nicely reach into the flat surface at the corners and therefore give a better bonding than disc-shaped magnets of equal or slightly larger size. Slightly larger rectangles than used here, e.g. with a=12 mm would be ideal, I guess. Unfortunately, these were not available at my favorite magnet webshop.
One more thing: you can easily use stabilizers with this setup because the stabilizer bases are built into the MY switches. Oh, and the black switches seem to be less scratchy than the white ones when pressed off-center.
More pics behind the spoiler
Spoiler:
.