Hey, if you’re reading this, you’ve hopefully just received a shiny new Sofle V2 kit from Mechboards!
This build guide features the choc (low profile) variant of the Sofle V2, but the build guide will be the same for the MX variant too!
Contents of the Kit:
First things first, let’s check we've got everything included in the kit. If there’s anything missing, send us a message here so we can get you back to the build ASAP! (Spares are included in the contents below)
1 x PCB
2 x Acrylic OLED cover
60 x Mini-E LED
2 x Switch plate
60 x SMD diode
14 x Underglow LED
2 x Frosted acrylic backplate
60 x Hotswap socket
2 x OLED screen
1 x TRRS cable
2 x Rotary encoder + knob
2 x RP2040 controller
2 x Zener diode
2 X 15Ω resistor
2 x OLED socket
4 x Controller socket
2 x Reset switch
2 x TRRS jack
50 x Mill-max pins
10 x Rubber feet
12 x 6/8mm Standoff (choc/MX)
5 x 12mm Standoff
16 x 4mm Screws
16 x 6mm Screws
IMAGE OF KIT CONTENTS
Other Parts Required:
There are a couple of parts that are required for the build that aren't included in the kit, hopefully you've already got these:
60 x Switches of your choice
1 x Set of keycaps
IMAGE OF BITS REQUIRED
Tools Required:
Here's a list of the tools you need to build the keyboard:
Soldering iron
Phillips head screwdriver (M2)
Tweezers
Solder
Snippers/Cutters
IMAGE OF TOOLS
Making the Sofle V2:
Step 1: SMD Diodes
The first components to add to the PCB are the SMD diodes. We can get started by applying a small amount of solder to one of the pads we're attaching the diodes to, as shown below:
IMAGE OF 1 DIODE PAD (BEING) SOLDERED
SOLDER ADDED TO DIODE PAD
Once the pads all tinned (soldered), we can add the diodes by melting the already placed solder with our iron and gently placing a diode leg into the solder and then leaving it to harden in place. The line on the diode should be facing the same side as the line on the PCB, as pictured below:
IMAGE OF DIODE ORIENTATION
IMAGE OF PLACING/SOLDERING DIODE
Now we just have to solder the remaining diode legs to their pads:
IMAGE OF FINISHING DIODE SOLDERING
Step 2: Underglow LEDs
The second components we're adding are the underglow LEDs, these are bit more sensitive to heat, so I'd recommend keeping your iron at or below 300°C, this way it'll be a little bit harder to melt them! We'll begin by again, applying a small amount of solder to one of the pads as shown below:
IMAGE OF SOLDERING UNDERGLOW LED PADS
Once the pads are soldered, we can repeat the same process used for the diodes; heating one pad, placing the LED pad onto the solder, and then allowing the solder to harden. (Avoid touching the LED with your soldering iron) Be sure that the small cut out on the front of the LED matches the markings on the PCB, like this:
IMAGE OF UNDERGLOW LED
IMAGE OF PLACING/SOLDERING UNDERGLOW LED
Once they're all in place, we can solder the remaining pads:
IMAGE OF SOLDERING REMAINING UNDERGLOW LED PADS
Step 3: Per-key LEDs
Next up are the per-key (Mini-E) LEDs, just like the underglow LEDs, these are sensitive to heat.
We'll begin by again, applying a small amount of solder to one of the pads as shown below:
IMAGE OF SOLDERING MINI LED PADS
Now that the pads are ready, we can again, gently heat one pad, place the LED leg into the solder, and then allow the solder to set.
Make sure the small cut-out on one of the legs matches the marking on the PCB, like this:
IMAGE OF PER-KEY LED ORIENTATION
IMAGE OF PLACING/SOLDERING PER-KEY LED
Once the LEDs are all in place, we can go ahead and solder the remaining legs to their respective pads:
IMAGE OF SOLDERING REMAINING PER-KEY LED LEGS
Step 4: Hotswap Sockets
Now for the hotswap sockets, I tend to find it easiest to place all of the sockets in their outlined positions and then solder them into place one side at a time.
IMAGE OF SOCKETS PLACED
IMAGE OF SODKETS SOLDERED ON ONE SIDE
IMAGE OF SOCKETS SOLDERED ON OTHER SIDE
Step 5: Socketing Controller and OLED screen
We recommend flashing your controller before beginning this step, just to check it's in a working condition. If you're unsure how to do this, check out our wired pre-build page, this has instructions on how to flash your controller: Wired Pre-Builds
Next is getting our controllers onto the board. The new Sofle V2 kits include machine pin sockets and pins, we recommend using them to make replacing/upgrading your controllers easy.
First off, insert the sockets into the top side of the PCB (opposite to the side with the hotswap sockets), soldering the top and bottom pins to secure them.
Be careful to only adjust using the middle of the sockets, heating the solder can cause the end pins to become very hot
IMAGE OF CONTROLLER SOCKETS BEING PLACED
IMAGE OF CONTROLLER SOCKETS BEING SOLDERED
From here we can heat the solder on these pins and readjust them until they're flat and straight:
IMAGE OF CONTROLLER SOCKETS BEING ADJUSTED
Now that we've got the sockets in position, we can solder the rest of them. Once we've secured the sockets, we can insert our socket pins. I'd recommend placing the pins into the sockets with tweezers, and then using something flat to push the pins in completely, being careful not to bend them. Here I'm using the other end of the tweezers:
IMAGE OF THE CONTROLLER SOCKETS FULLY SOLDERED
IMAGE OF CONTROLLER PINS BEING INSERTED
Once we've got the pins into position we can place the controllers component side down onto the pins/sockets, from here we can solder the controller to the pins (being careful not to heat them for too long, as this can cause the solder to travel down the pin and flood the socket):
When using our controllers, make sure the pins start at the bottom of the controller, leaving the top ones empty!
IMAGE OF CONTROLLER SOLDERED TO PINS
The OLED sockets are a similar process to the controller sockets, soldering one pin, heating/adjusting, and soldering the remaining pins:
IMAGE OF OLED SOCKET BEING ADJUSTED
IMAGE OF OLED SOCKET SOLDERED(?)
Once the OLED sockets are installed, we can insert the OLED screen. To make it a flush fit, we'll need to trim the pins with some flush cutters:
SNIPPING OLED PINS
OLEDS INSTALLED
Now is a good time to give your build a test, so you can troubleshoot any issues before screwing the case together. Feel free to get in contact if you run into any issues.
Step 6: Other Components
Now we've got a few different components to add on, the process for all of these will be similar to the previous steps!
First up the zener diode and resistor, this is the same process as the diodes, although we don't have to worry about the resistor orientation, so it has slightly different PCB markings (The line on the zener diode should be facing the line on the PCB)
The orientation of the resistor can be in either direction
IMAGE OF ZENER AND RESISTOR ORIENTATION
IMAGE OF ZENER AND RESISTOR SOLDERED (IF YOU THINK IT'S NECESSARY <3)
Next are the TRRS Jacks and reset switches. For the jacks, we can solder one pin and adjust them to make sure they're flush, be careful to avoid the pin you're heating though. And for the reset switches, these tend to stay in place with the friction from the pins once inserted:
IMAGE OF TRRS JACK AND RESET SWITCH PLACED
Please note - Do not insert or remove your TRRS cable while the keyboard is powered on!
RESET AND JACK SOLDERED ONE PIN
Finally, we can solder the rotary encoders, using the same method as above. It's worth noting the bigger pins are purely for support, so they don't have to be soldered perfectly:
IMAGE OF ROTARY ENCODER BEING ADJUSTED
IMAGE OF ROTARY ENCODER SOLDERED
Once they're soldered, we can push on the rotary encoder cap!
Step 7: Installing Switches and Assembling Case
Almost there now, just a couple more steps to go! We're going to start by screwing our 6mm (choc) or 8mm (MX) standoffs onto the frosted acrylic bottom plate, using the 6mm screws.
IMAGE OF BOTTOM PLATES WITH STANDOFFS INSTALLED
Now we can grab our switch plates and pop a few switches into the plate, and then insert these switches into the PCB, being sure to check the pins are straight and aligned with the hotswap sockets:
Be aware of the thumb key orientation, if they're the wrong way you can stab the per-key LED.
IMAGE OF A FEW SWITCHES IN PLATE
PUTTING PLATE WITH SWITCHES ON PCB/CHECKING ALIGNMENT
Once we've got our plate in place, we can begin to insert the rest of the switches. Sometimes the plate can drop in this process (mainly choc builds), but that's no worry, the plate tends to come back up when installing the keycaps, or we can use something thin to pop the plate back up into position:
INSTALLING REMAINING SWITCHES
LIFTING DROPPED PLATE
Next up, we're putting the 12mm standoffs with 4mm screws onto the PCB, these will be what we're attaching our acrylic OLED covers with at the end of this step.
IMAGE OF OLED STANDOFFS INSTALLED
We can now finish assembling the case by placing the PCB and switch plates onto our pre-prepared bottom plates, and screw them together from the top, with 4mm screws.
IMAGE OF SCREWING BOTTOM AND TOP TOGETHER
Finally, we can screw on our acrylic OLED covers with the remaining 6mm screws:
Be careful not to screw these too tightly, acrylic is fragile!
INSTALLING OLED COVERS
Step 8: Installing Keycaps and Changing Layout
Our final step here is a nice and easy one, we can now install our preferred set of keycaps!
This is as simple as matching the keycaps to our layout of choice, and pushing them onto our switches.
If you're using our default firmware (or any that's via compatible), you can view/alter the layout here: https://usevia.app/#/
VIA DISPLAYING LAYOUT
KEYCAPS BEING INSTALLED
And that's it, you should now have a complete Sofle V2 to get typing on!
