Final Assembly and Testing

Your PCB is now fully populated with stabilizers and switches, whether you chose the hotswap or soldered route. The most technical parts are over. This is the final, deeply satisfying stage where your collection of components becomes a functional, beautiful keyboard ready for its new home on your desk.

These final steps are where your keyboard truly comes to life, transforming from a collection of parts into a cohesive, polished instrument.

The Finishing Touches: Final Assembly and Validation

Your PCB is now fully populated with stabilizers and switches, whether you chose the hotswap or soldered route. The most technical parts are over. This is the final, deeply satisfying stage where your collection of components becomes a functional, beautiful keyboard ready for its new home on your desk.

Step 1: Mount the Assembly in the Case

How the PCB/plate assembly (often called the "daughterboard" or "build") mounts to the case is one of the defining features of a custom keyboard.

  1. Prepare the Case: Open your keyboard case and remove any packaging materials. If your case uses a "tray mount" system, ensure the standoffs are installed in the correct positions to align with the mounting holes on your PCB. If it's a "gasket mount," ensure the foam gaskets are applied correctly to the top and bottom case pieces or the plate itself.
  2. Connect Daughterboard (If Applicable): Many modern keyboards use a separate USB-C daughterboard to provide a more flexible and durable USB port. If your keyboard has one, connect the small JST cable from the daughterboard to the main PCB now. This is much easier to do before the PCB is screwed in.
  3. Place the Assembly: Carefully lower your assembled PCB and plate into the bottom half of the case. Ensure it sits flat and the mounting holes on the PCB align perfectly with the standoffs in the case. For gasket mounts, ensure the plate tabs are resting correctly on the gaskets.
  4. Secure with Screws: For tray mount boards, use your small Phillips head screwdriver to fasten the PCB assembly to the case standoffs. Tighten the screws until they are just snug. Do not overtighten. Overtightening can warp the PCB, damage the standoffs, and negatively affect the sound and feel of the board. A "two-finger" tightness is all that's needed.
  5. Attach the Top Case: If your case has a top piece, place it on now and secure it with the provided screws, again being careful not to overtighten.

Step 2: Install the Keycaps

This is the moment your keyboard's personality truly comes to life. The look and feel are about to be transformed.

  1. Layout Reference: Have a picture of your keyboard's layout handy. It's surprisingly easy to mix up the R2 and R3 versions of the [ and ] keys!
  2. Start with the Modifiers: It's often easiest to install the larger, stabilized keys first (Spacebar, Enter, Shift, Backspace). This helps anchor the layout. Press them firmly and evenly onto the stabilizer stems until they are fully seated. Wiggle them slightly to ensure both sides of the stabilizer are engaged.
  3. Fill in the Alphas: Continue installing the rest of the keycaps, working your way across the board. Pay close attention to your keymap layout to ensure you're putting the right keycap in the right place, especially for rows with different ergonomic profiles (like Cherry, SA, or KAT).
  4. Press Firmly and Straight: Press each keycap straight down onto the switch stem. You should feel it seat securely. Avoid pressing at an angle, which could bend the switch stem.

Step 3: The Final, Comprehensive Test

Plug your fully assembled keyboard into your computer.

  1. Hardware Test: Open a text editor or an online keyboard tester (like VIA's test page). Test every single key one last time. Check that they all register correctly and feel right. Listen for any unexpected squeaks or rattles.
  2. Firmware Test: Test your layers. Does your Fn key correctly activate your second layer? Test any special macros you've programmed. Check your RGB lighting controls if you have them. Ensure everything you configured in VIA, VIAL, or QMK is working as expected.

Step 4: Enjoy Your Creation!

Congratulations! You have successfully built your own custom mechanical keyboard. You've chosen every part, from the case material to the switch spring weight. You've assembled it with your own hands, lubed the stabilizers, and created a tool that is perfectly tailored to you. The time and effort you've invested will pay off every single time you sit down to type.

Enjoy the unparalleled typing experience, the sound, the feel, and the aesthetic. You've earned it.

This concludes our guide to assembling a keyboard. But the journey of customization is never truly over. What about the keycaps themselves? Let's dive deep into the world of Keycaps.

External Resources