M5 Alice PCBs (For MGA v3)

IMPORTANT for HOTSWAP PCBs: *No Warranty, Returns, or Exchanges* will be honored for issues related to hotswap damage.

M5 PCBs are developed specifically for MGA v3. This PCB will not support V1 and V2 because of the need for a separate daughterboard. 

THIS PCB VARIANT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH MOST LAYERED ALICE CASES.

The firmware is shared with M4 (identical) and is not yet merged with QMK, but the PCB comes pre-flashed for VIA+Vial. Vial (https://get.vial.today/) will not require any additional side loading and the PCB will be immediately recognized. Also, Vial allows for dynamic reassignment of rotary action 

THIS PCB VARIANT IS **NOT COMPATIBLE*** WITH MOST LAYERED ALICE CASES (e.g. Switch Couture, Qlavier, etc). Check with your case maker. 

For those unaware, Kailh hotswap sockets are common but delicate. Care must be used to properly line up the switch pins before pushing the switch into place. Having a hotswap socket detach from the circuit board during keyboard assembly is not a result of any manufacturing defect, but a property of how these hotswap sockets are designed by Kailh. Also, with repeated installation of switches, the metal socket connectors can become loose, and can be easily bent back into position using a fine needle to press the leaves closed. 

Two variants of M4 are available: soldered and hotswap. Hotswaps are pre-assembled for most of the conventional key positions, along with a couple surprises!

FEATURES

- FOR HOTSWAP VERSON: Absolutely no soldering necessary for standard layout use and for LEDs. (rotary requires soldering)
     - 1mm thickness PCB, will require 0.6mm shims (included). 
     - Optimized for flex, with flex-cuts in the PCB. 
     - Through-hole white indicator LEDs are PRE-INSTALLED
     - Powered by QMK
     - RGB Underglow. THIS IS NOT PER-KEY RGB. Here is a comprehensive reddit thread explaining the difference between Underglow and Per-Key RGB. 
     - Switch footprints are lined with metal plating for salvage use in case of Hotswap failure-- even if socket breaks off, the switch can be soldered into position. 
     - Right shift split positions (1.75u + 1u) are hotswapped! Please see picture below. NOTE: the stabilizer holes cannot be used for the full 2.75u right shift until the hotswap sockets for the split positions are removed first!

     - Pre-loaded firmware supports dynamic key assignment using VIA (not yet merged into main build as of 9/29/2021, does not support rotation modification), and Vial (works without additional files required, also supports changing rotation functions!)

- Powered by QMK

- Key map of Soldered PCB (same layout as M4)

- Key map of Hotswap PCB (same layout as M4)