Enhance Your Typing Experience With Mechanical Keyboards

by writerbenjamin

Older geeks remember the sound of typing on an IBM Model M and how the cheaper rubber domes that later replaced them just aren't as pleasurable to type upon.

However, mechanical keyboards, especially with the Cherry switch technology are revolutionizing computer input.

This article is meant to introduce you to the basics of mechanical keyboards.

So how are mechanical keyboards different from the keyboard that came with my computer?  What is the difference between tactile, linear, and clicky switches?  What are double-shot, laser etched, or pad pressed keycaps?  Is RGB lighting even necessary?  And is that different from red, blue, green, brown, or black switches?  I'll attempt to explain this here.  (Please note that building mechanical keyboards is beyond the scope of this article.)

The keyboard that came with your computer is usually a membrane keyboard, otherwise known as a rubber dome.  The difference is in how the keys are actuated.  In the membrane keyboard, the switches consist of a rubber mat that covers the entire circuit board of the keyboard.  There is a rubber dome under each key which contains a round carbon disk.  The printed circuit board has the keyboard matrix with contact for each key. When the key is pressed, it pushes the carbon disk down onto the contact and sends the computer the key code for the key that was pressed.

This gives a mushy feel and the key must be pressed all the way to the bottom of the key's travel to activate.

Mechanical keyboards are keyboards where each key is a physical switch.  These switches are soldered directly onto a printed circuit board.  The switches usually contain a spring, a stem, and a plastic housing.  Metal contacts inside the switch are shaped in such a way to give different properties to the switches.  The keycap connects to the stem on the switch and the stem presses against a spring in the housing.  Inside the housing are the metal contacts.  The stem presses the contacts together at a specific point in its travel.  This becomes important later in the section on types of switches.  Once the switch activates, it sends a key code to the computer.

What are the advantages of mechanical keyboards?

First, the typist need not bottom out the key to actuate a key stroke.  Instead, the key actuates somewhere in the middle before the key reaches the bottom of its travel.  By not pressing the key all the way to the bottom of key travel, this reduces repetitive strain injuries while typing.  Additionally, the key's switches can be configured for stiffer and lighter resistance or to provide feedback when the key actuates.

There are three modes of mechanical keyboard actuation: linear, tactile, and clicky.

Linear switches actuate consistently through key travel...  For example, as the typist presses a key, it requires more and more force to continue pressing the key.

There is no feedback when the key actuates, but they are faster and have a smooth regular travel when the key is pressed.  This trait is prized by gamers, as many believe it increases performance where accuracy and precision are necessary.  Linear switches are very quiet as well, as long as you don't bottom out the key travel.

Tactile switches, on the other hand, do not have a linear feel.  Instead, when they are pressed, there is a slightly heavier feel just as the key actuates.  These switches are not as quiet as linear switches, but the typist gets feedback at the actuation point so they know when to stop depressing a key.  This trait is useful for writing or typing.  This is also quieter than the next category, the clicky switch.

Clicky switches are more controversial among mechanical keyboard users.  Clicky switches are tactile switches which emit an audible click when the switch is actuated.  This gives the user more feedback than with a tactile keyboard, as it gives off a sound as well as the tactile bump.

The reason it is controversial is the switches are loud.  Other people might be annoyed by the sound.  However, it is the best for a typing situation, depending on preference for the audio experience.  It can become a problem when the sounds of keys typing might be picked up on Skype calls or when recording podcasts.

Mechanical keyboards are categorized by size.

Full-size keyboards have 104 keys and have a top row with function keys, an area with arrow and navigation keys, and a numerical keypad.  The numerical keypad duplicates the number row at the top of the keyboard as well as the arrow and navigation cluster and can be toggled between modes with the Num Lock key.  The next smallest keyboard size is a tenkeyless or 87 percent keyboard.  This keyboard simply doesn't have a numerical keypad.

This maintains a standard keyboard layout, but allows the user to hold the mouse closer to the keyboard.  The 60 percent keyboard only has the letter and number keys.  The function keys are omitted along with the arrow and navigation keys.  There is also a variant of the 60 percent called the 65 percent keyboard which has an extra column of keys on the right side which are usually used as arrow keys or navigation keys.

The smallest keyboard you can type on is the 40 percent keyboard.  This keyboard also omits the number rows from the top of the keyboard.  Usually there is a function key to access the missing keys on lower layers of the keyboard.

The final keyboard type is the numpad.  This keyboard is only the numerical keypad, which is useful when you have a "tenkeyless" keyboard and sometimes need to work with numbers or spreadsheets.

Mechanical keyboard switches are also measured by actuation force.

This can be adjusted by installing weaker or stronger springs.  Thus, the switches can be classified by activation force and type.  The default color scheme is the Cherry MX color scheme where red and black are various strengths of linear switches, brown and clear are various strengths of tactile, and blue and green are variations of clicky switches.

The reds, browns, and blues require about 45 grams of force to actuate.  The blacks, clears, and greens require about 60 grams to actuate.  The color schemes of the switches are only present in the stems of the switches and the purpose is to show the type of switches.  The color schemes vary by manufacturer, as there are many clone switches that aren't made by Cherry.  Some of the switches from other manufacturers are better than the Cherry-style switches.

This is not to be confused with the colors of the LED lights on RGB keyboards.

RGB lighting allows the keyboard to light up in various colors and patterns.  Not all mechanical keyboards have LED lighting - some have only a single color of LEDs, but others have multicolored LEDs that can be changed programmatically.  These RGB lights can show patterns such as solid colors, breathing, the wave, and star burst.  RGB lighting is primarily on mechanical keyboards marketed toward gamers.

Keycaps are the top part of the key which have the letters written on them.

These are for customization, provided your mechanical keyboard has Cherry-style switches, which most do.  The keycaps can be bought separately and come in different colors or themes.  Cherry-style key caps are categorized by the shape of the keycap, the type of material used, and the method by which the characters are affixed to the key.

There are four main ways to affix the character symbol or lettering on the key.

The easiest and cheapest method is pad printing.  These are made by pressing pigment onto the key with a pad press.  The disadvantage is that the lettering can rub off over time.

Another method is to laser etch the keys.  The keycap is painted and a laser is used to etch the letters into the keycap.  These are also cheaper and prone to wear.

The third method is dye sublimation.  The plastic of the keycap has lettering dyed into the surface of the plastic.  The disadvantage of this method is that the letters have to be a darker color than the keycap.  This limits the colors that you can have on a dye sublimated keyboard.

The final method is the double-shot keycap.  In this method, the lettering and the rest of the keycap are injection-molded and then pressed together.  No matter how worn the keycaps get with use, the lettering will stay bright and legible.

Keycaps are made out of two main types of materials: ABS or PBT.

ABS keycaps are made of the same material as LEGO bricks.  They are injection molded and they tend to be very smooth.  The main disadvantage is that the user will polish them into a shine as they are typing.

Among gamers, this shine will show up first on the W, A, S, D keys.  However, you can buy higher quality ABS keys that don't develop a shine as quickly.  The advantage of ABS is you can get a better variety of keycaps.  Some mechanical keyboard users don't like the shine and prefer PBT keycaps.  These keycaps are made from a harder plastic than ABS.  They are more durable and have a textured surface that doesn't develop a shiny surface over time.

The final category of keycaps is the shape of the keys.

The most common shape of keys is the Cherry or OEM keys.  The main difference is OEM keycaps are slightly taller than Cherry keycaps.  Both these keycap styles are middle of the road for keycaps.  The keycaps are taller at the tops and bottoms of the keyboard and shorter at the home row which makes reaching for the keys easier.

DSA keycaps are a uniform shape and height on every key on the keyboard.  These are shorter than Cherry and OEM style keys.

SA and MT3 keycaps are very tall sculpted keycaps.  They are even taller at the higher rows on the keyboard and are slightly smaller on the home row.  These are never the keycaps that come stock on a keyboard and they must always be purchased separately.

This should cover the basics of the idea of mechanical keyboards and give you enough information if you wish to shop for or just understand mechanical keyboards.