You may choose to cut before applying switches or after. Place your PCB on top of the PE Foam sheet. If your keyboard is currently built, remove all keycaps/switches/stabilizers and disassemble the keyboard so that your PCB is empty and on the work surface in front of you. Brass Wool (if modding a soldered board).Soldering Iron (if modding a soldered board).

Desoldering Pump/Gun (if modding a soldered board).

1x Sheet of PE Foam (1.0mm or thinner ideally).

In order to perform the PE Foam Mod you will need: If you are unable to de-solder your switches for the PE Foam Mod (or are simply too lazy like me) then consider trying the “ Tempest Tape Mod“. If you choose to perform PE Mod on your Optical keyboard, please make sure that none of the lasers or stems are obstructed. As some Optical boards rely on an infrared laser mounted under the PCB to read stem-pole travel, PE Mod could potentially prevent your optical switches from actuating properly.

PE Foam mod is NOT recommended for optical boards unless you pre-poke holes in the foam, or use PE Foam stickers.

If you wish to perform this mod on a soldered or pre-built keyboard, you will obviously have to de-solder your switches and re-assemble with the PE Foam. Since the PE Foam mod is meant to be applied under your switches, it is easiest to modify a hotswap board or perform the modification before soldering switches. Tips and Precautions Owlabs Spring PCB and PE Foam If you’re a beginner and want an easier mod to start with, try out tape mod! This mod is not the easiest to perform but can result in some game-changing differences in the sound profile of your keyboard. Today we will be covering the PE Foam mod, a sound-altering solution inspired by Owlabs and the Jelly Epoch TKL. Over the last year, the custom keyboard hobby has exploded, bringing with it a plethora of new innovations and modifications.

Poppy keyboard