What stabilisers work with Choc V2 switches? Need help with PCB design

Learning and discussion Firmware, programming, and hardware compatability
,
1

I’m designing the PCB for a custom split keyboard using Choc v2 switches for the first time, and I’ve had massive trouble looking for stabilisers that work and design references for the PCB.

TLDR: Do Gateron low profile stabs work with choc v2 switches? How should I position them on a PCB? Do I need a cutout for them, and what are the dimensions for them if so?

I’ve already bought some Nuphy nSA profile keycaps, so I’m working around those.

Gateron seems to make some low profile ones for their KS33 switches, and Kailh (maybe??) makes some for their Choc v2 switches (can’t find them anywhere else but on Keebio). Both seem to require some specific cutout in the PCB to accommodate them being low profile. However, many people opt to make ortholinear ergonomic keyboards that don’t use any stabs for things like a spacebar or shift, so I’ve also had issues finding references online for designing my keyboard PCB.

I chose to opt for the Gateron stabs, as they seemed more available online than the choc v2 ones.

Nuphy apparently uses the Gateron low profile stabs for their air keyboards and have a large rectangular PCB cutout for them:

(Image from Reddit)

image
image1920×2560 366 KB

Keychron also uses the same stabs for their slimmer keyboards, but have a unique PCB cutout shape:

(Image from iFixIt guide on a Keychron K3 ultra slim teardown)

image
image1600×1200 384 KB

So now I’m uncertain of which to use.

Gateron has product specifications for their low profile stabs on their website, which show ‘The suggestion dimension of mounting’, but I assume it’s for the plate and not the PCB.

In Kicad, I just kinda guessed where the hole was supposed to go using the plate cutout as a ‘minimum required size’ and a 3D model of the stabs from Gateron’s site as a guide. I also accounted for how the plate mounting dimensions Gateron provided may be based on the triangular layout of the stab stems and switch stems found on Keychron keycaps.

image
image789×494 25.9 KB

image
image593×310 17.2 KB

I’m not sure of this though, as the stabs sit really high and are above the height of the Choc v2 stems. My next question then would be do I even have the stabs in the right place or position?

image
image894×591 28 KB

If you’ve had any experience working with or designing Choc v2 keyboards, it would be a great help if you know anything about this stuff! I’m new to this forum, so if it’s the wrong place to ask these questions, my bad.

I’m starting to realise how little support and documentation there is for the low profile enjoyers :sob:

Thanks in advance :slight_smile:

2

Hi! I have indeed run into this same problem and can say that, yes, Gateron LP stabs should work with Kailh Choc V2 switches.

For the PCB, you should just need rectangular offset cut-outs.

For the plate, I believe I used Cherry-MX plate-mount stabilizer footprints. The plate is one of the layers in the KiCAD files below. (I exported the single layer as a SVG and had a custom plate cut for it)

At one point, I found actual Kailh stabs for V2’s on their AliExpress store, but then 2025 rolled around and they won’t ship to the US anymore. The Keycron one you’re showing looks like Choc V1 stabs? They might be the V2 ones but the cut-outs don’t look big enough from what I remember.

It’s been a minute (and the repo is a disaster), but my KiCAD files for it should be in 2choc2flat (look, I’m bad at naming things especially when tired).

I do remember orientation being a bit of a pain esp for hot-swap sockets. I made a couple of different footprints and I think the production boards wound up with some switches sideways.

2 Likes
3

Thanks so much! The repo was a great help. Good to know someone else has been through the pain of choc v2 design :sob: