Switch Compatibility Checker
Match switch pin layout, PCB socket type and plate cutout to confirm whether a switch drops in, needs pin clipping or will not fit at all.
Tool Operation Area
Compatibility verdict
- OKPin arrangement and PCB type match. The switch drops straight in.
- ActionAlways support the PCB from below when inserting a switch, and confirm both contact pins are straight first. A bent pin lifts the socket off its pads and is the most common hot-swap failure.
Working Principle
MX-style compatibility is decided by three interfaces. The first is the switch's underside pin arrangement. A 5-pin, or PCB-mount, switch has two metal contact pins plus a central post and two plastic alignment legs. A 3-pin, or plate-mount, switch has the two contacts and the central post only. Any 5-pin switch fits a 5-pin PCB, and it fits a 3-pin PCB after clipping the two plastic legs, which is safe and reversible only in the sense that it is a permanent trim to the switch. A 3-pin switch fits both, but is less stable when the plate is thin. The second interface is the PCB. Hot-swap boards use sockets that accept the two contact pins; the sockets are the fragile part, and a bent pin will push the socket off its pads, which is the most common hot-swap failure. Soldered PCBs accept any pin arrangement but require the plate to be assembled first. The third interface is the plate cutout. The MX standard cutout is 14 mm square; a plate with switch-opener style notches allows top-housing removal in place, and a 13.9 mm cutout common to some kits makes tight-fitting switches hard to seat. Optical and low-profile switches use entirely different pin geometry and are never cross-compatible with MX sockets, which the checker flags explicitly rather than approximating.
How to Use
- 01Select your switch pin type from the packaging or by looking at the underside.
- 02Select your PCB type: hot-swap five pin, hot-swap three pin, or solder.
- 03Select your plate cutout size and material.
- 04Read the verdict, any required modification such as pin clipping, and the installation warnings.
- 05Beginner warning: always check that both contact pins are straight before pressing a switch into a hot-swap socket.
FAQ
Is clipping the plastic legs safe?
Yes, it is standard practice. Use flush cutters, trim level with the housing, and keep the two metal contact pins untouched.
Can I use optical switches in a hot-swap MX board?
No. Optical switches need a matching optical PCB; the pin geometry and the sensing method are entirely different.
Why does my switch sit crooked in the plate?
Either a bent pin, a 3-pin switch in a thin plate, or foam pushing the PCB out of plane. Remove and re-seat before assuming the switch is faulty.
Do all Cherry MX clones fit the same cutout?
Nearly all use the 14 mm standard, but housing tolerance varies. Very tight kits may require gentle plate deburring.
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