Non-magnetic click leaves

[errant linden]

Non-magnetic click (and tactile) leaves for the KS-20s (Lekkers), 20Ts and 20Us. Potentially for the Lekker V2s too if they have a click leaf slot. Could be sold just like the spring packs, for those who want tactile or clicky switches.

Tactile leaves would require redesigning whereas click leaves already exist, just not non-magnetic.

[errant linden]

It’d cuck Gateron too, in a way. I don’t doubt if there is enough demand for Clickies they’d rerelease KS-20s but Clicky. 😐

[restive flume]

Oh man thank you for figuring all of this stuff out! I'm tempted to try this out!

[errant linden]

You’re welcome man! Seeing the click leaf slot in Gateron’s magnetic switches bugged me since I first saw it but their second gen optical switches (which have the click leaf) are an absolute pain to get. Then noticed the Melodics use the exact same click leaf and ordered some of those instead. If you’re interested in trying it for yourself: #🔧│keyboard_modding message (it isn’t really a guide but it has a bit more info).

[restive flume]

Just tried this mod out. 🙂 Super easy to do with your guide/info.

It's a better typing experience for me as it adds a decent tactile feedback and the sounds are nice. It does feel a bit off from a regular tactile switch like the Melodics themselves or Kailh Box. I noticed specifically that my mod doesn't have a second click on the up stroke. It almost feels like the click happens near the bottom vs the middle or top of the down stroke. Guessing this is because the stem isn't specifically designed to hit a click spring.

Overall, this is a super fun mod and it'll definitely hold me over until there's an official tactile or clicky magnetic switch.

Oh just FYI (you probably know this already), the Geonworks Raptors don't have a slot for the clickspring. I was hoping make a super frankenswitch between the Lekker, Raptor, and Melodic switches. 😄

[errant linden]

Awesome to hear man! The stem of the KS-20(T)s was actually designed with the click leaf interaction in mind. You can see a little “rail” on the stem where the click leaf slides. I say “designed” but copied directly from the KS-22s is more accurate 😅. The stem of the KS-20Us don’t have this but they are much more subtle, similar to the Melodics. Their bump is also higher/earlier than the KS-20(T)s, at around 0.8mm I’d say.

I’m hoping for a good magnetic tactile switch too. I’m not a fan of clickies but that’s the best we have for now.

Yeah, I noticed that a while back when I first got my Raptors. It would’ve been cool if they had the slot. I guess they aren’t that much of a clone then huh? 😂

[errant linden]

Non-magnetic click leaves

[opaque blade]

magnetic tactility would still be better but it's not easily done without being ludicrously expensive

[errant linden]

You mean to design?

[opaque blade]

to design and produce

you have to account for the generated magnetic field

[opaque blade]

and also power requirements and all that stuff

and math would be a bit complicated to get the tactility since magnet repulsion is logarithmic

my requirements are different though all the feedback i need is that I see something on screen

[errant linden]

@opaque blade I’m confused, that’s not what this thread is about. It’s about tactile and click leaves of a non-magnetic material like that of the springs found in Wooting’s switches.

There are a couple pictures of a click leaf at the top of this thread.

[opaque blade]

apparently forces of magnetism are linearly proportional

[opaque blade]

yeah i get what you mean but it's not for everyone especially if you use analog functions or set custom actuation points

a better albeit prohibitively solution would be having electromagnets on the PCB that push onto the switches

[errant linden]

Oh definitely not for everyone, similar to springs I’d say. It’s mainly for those who prefer tactility while typing and for the few that’d use the tactile bump as a “first bottom out” in combination with DKS.

[errant linden]

An adjustable tactile bump. I don’t really see that happening anytime soon. Tactile and clicky leafs are cheap to produce and would be possible in a somewhat short timeframe.

[opaque blade]

it would be mechanically complex to adjust it without external human intervention

[errant linden]

Tactile and clicky leafs would not be adjustable, like springs.

Exactly like you’d see in non magnetic switches.

[stoic crow]

clicky switches with adjustable actuation point is such a loopy concept to me

[errant linden]

By that logic, so is a linear switch with a fixed actuation point. Sure, magnetic switches have analog capability but they are just another type of switch.