It's always a good idea to check if your microcontroller works before you assemble it, but sometimes they break after you've installed it. Desoldering a microcontroller is a lot of work, and can sometimes destroy your microcontroller board in the process.

With these sockets, removing or replacing a microcontroller from your keyboard will be easier. Reuse a premium microcontroller like an Elite-C or Proton C, or easily remove it in case you want to swap it out.

One set consists of two 12-pin socket strips, enough for a single microcontroller. Please order two sets if you'd like to outfit both halves of a split keyboard.

Samtec Socket Headers or Mill Max Pins

Socketing your microcontroller with sockets takes some time, but is well worth it. Usually, socketing can be done with diode legs. The metal which diode legs are made of holds up well enough to form a reliable connection. If you intend to reuse your controller, diode legs might not hold up well enough to the removal and reinsertion, bending the legs in the process.

Samtec socket headers provide all pin connections in a convenient plastic package, so there's no fiddling with plastic pins. They also add a little bit of height, which is convenient when using nice!nanos so you have more space for a battery. They won't add enough height to be inconvenient on a wired build, either.

Mill Max socket pins are made of a stronger, more rigid material than diode legs, holding up better to reuse.

Both Samtec socket headers and Mill Max pins are not required as you can still use diode legs, but they do provide ease of use.

Package contents

Set of sockets

• 2 rows of 12-position low profile sockets, suitable for a single microcontroller.

Set of sockets with headers

• 2 rows of 12-position low profile sockets, suitable for a single microcontroller.
• 2 rows of 12-position socket headers, compatible with the low profile sockets.

Set of sockets with pins

• 2 rows of 12-position low profile sockets, suitable for a single microcontroller.
• At least 25 low profile socket-compatible Mill Max pins.

Set of socket headers

• 2 rows of 12-position socket headers, compatible with the low profile sockets.

25 pins

• At least 25 low profile socket-compatible Mill Max pins.

Compatible with

Any microcontroller with 12-position pins, such as the Liatris, Elite-Pi, Pro Micro, Elite C and nice!nano.

Specifications

• Socket model number: Mill Max 315-43-112-41-003000
• Pin model number: Mill Max 3320-0-00-15-00-00-03-0
• Socket header model number: Samtec BBL-112-T-E

More information

• Why would I want to socket my microcontroller?
• Using sockets, socket headers and pins (part of the Aurora build guide)