Though I may end up there. I've used various keyboard switches in the past that would fit on one of those standard 0.10" square-matrix wire-wrap boards with 0.042" holes. I've even used some switches that will plug directly into a 14-pin DIP socket. In this case, they had built in LED's, which came in handy as well, since the switches were bitwise toggles on a bus front-panel.

I've noted that the switch you suggest is quite suitable, except for the requirement for drilling a large hole with which to locate each switch. That's why I'm still hoping to find a keypad assembly rather than building a board. There are a couple of other options I've yet to expand, like cooking up a new "front-panel" for my very much custom MDS.

BTW, I put a photo of that small wire-wrap board I like to use on the 8052.com-local website under users/richard.

I mention this because you seemed surprised that one would have a solid, low-impedance ground and power plane available on a wire-wrap board. I've built and sold boards like this for VME, S-100, Multibus-I, Multibus-II, for some time, though it's also been about 10 years since the last time I had any of them made.

All these boards had a ground strip around their periphery, plated-through holes, and hard, dry-film solder mask, easily chipped off in small bits with a sharp tool when needed for attaching bypass members. Now thta I commonly use SMT bypass cap's it's a little more work, since I have to solder in a post to which the supply plane connections are made. Trust me when I say, it's very handy to have that ability.

RE