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Stabilizer

A wire-and-slider mechanism that keeps long keys (Shift, Enter, Space) from wobbling. On the PCB it is only holes, with no electrical pins.

What it does#

A key 2u (two key widths) or longer would tilt when pressed off-centre. A stabilizer has two sliders at the ends of the keycap, joined by a wire, so both sides go down together. PCB-mount (screw-in or snap-in) stabilizers need two pairs of holes in the PCB, at a spacing fixed by the key length.

Key Size Stabilizer spacing (Cherry)
Shift, Enter, Backspace 2u – 2.75u 23.88 mm (0.94 in)
Spacebar 6.25u 100 mm
Spacebar (tsangan, WKL) 7u 114.3 mm

In PCB Canvas#

The stabilizer is a separate part with only a footprint (holes). In the schematic it has no pins, so it needs no wires. On the board it follows its key automatically. The KLE import adds stabilizers for 2u and wider keys.

Example circuit: A 2u MX key with its diode, and S1, the 2u stabilizer: no pins, no wires, only holes on the board.
A 2u MX key with its diode, and S1, the 2u stabilizer: no pins, no wires, only holes on the board. Open the stabilizer_2u example from this page in PCB Canvas: “Insert into my schematic”.

Pitfalls#

  • Rotated keys (a vertical 2u key) need a rotated stabilizer; place it with the key.
  • Plate-mount stabilizers clip into the plate and need no PCB holes, but the PCB still needs clearance cut-outs.