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nogoodnames
259
Jan 9, 2018
All of these gmk keycaps seem to be abs doubleshot why is that?
nogoodnamesBecause its best you can get right now ;)
donutcat
182
Jan 9, 2018
nogoodnamesBecause GMK only produces ABS keycaps. If you want cherry profile in a different material, you have to find another manu.
nogoodnames
259
Jan 9, 2018
donutcatOk I do know it's high quality abs i was just curious
Cyphre
2708
Jan 10, 2018
nogoodnamesGenerally ABS is better at reproducing the myriad of custom colors, and unlike PBT itself, it is able to be doubleshot. PBT is nice and all, but can only be 'doubleshot' using a different material for the legends (typically POM if I recall).
nogoodnames
259
Jan 10, 2018
CyphreYeah I thought though so because I see way more abs keycaps that are colored
CyphreYeah it's kinda sad because PBT definitely has a higher durability and are less prone to shine. Still, this is a really cool looking set.
nogoodnamesGMK only makes ABS Cherry Profile doubleshots, currently.
Merlin64
239
Jan 17, 2018
EwigeSchlangenkraftSome would actually argue that GMK's ABS is higher quality than most PBT.
Styvkuling
207
Jan 27, 2018
Merlin64Who are those "some" people, and what is their definition of "quality"?
nogoodnames
259
Jan 27, 2018
StyvkulingMore solid thicker nice colors
Merlin64
239
Jan 27, 2018
Styvkulingtl;dr: "Some people", are in the minority If you were looking at the sum total of ALL mechanical keyboard users, those "some" people would be in the minority. The mechanical keyboard enthusiast community is still rather small (but growing) compared to the greater whole. I'd surmise that the total number of keyboards produced by Corsair in a year may still be greater than the total ownership of custom enthusiast grade keyboards. By extension, the total number of keycaps produced by Corsair and the like probably exceeds the total number of enthusiast grade keycaps produced by both SP and GMK combined. I don't have hard paperwork, but from being in the community since 2015, it sure seems like that. So yes, where can you find these people? You can go check out deskthority.net, geekhack.org, and r/mechanicalkeyboards.
tl;dr: This is subjective, but no real data on plastics quality but there is noticeable differences on manufacturing quality. To answer your question, the debate between PBT vs ABS in my opinion is purely a subjective conversation. Do you like the feel of ABS or do you like the feel of PBT? There are also several different levels of ABS or PBT quality. For the most part this is perceived quality as there is no real data detailing what the differences in chemical composition between each manufacturer is like. Given that, the community ("some people" above) regard Signature Plastics in Custer, WA USA and GMK in Germany as the two leading keycap manufacturers. There are other companies standing in the mix, but that's for another discussion. With that out of the way, here are some definitions of quality. Comparisons will be from the point of view of SP vs GMK for simplicity sakes as this is getting LOOONG.
Shine Resistance: GMK ABS is considered the most shine resistant out of all the currently available ABS keysets. PBT is considerably more shine resistant, so if you were arguing solely on shine resistance, PBT wins.
Texture: ABS is more slippery, PBT is more textured and "rough". You choose what is best
Sharpness/Clarity of Legends: The doubleshot process in which two plastics are used in construction (1 for the keycap, and 1 for the legend) is considered the sharpest of them all. The doubleshot process varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. However GMK and SP have the best doubleshotting process. I can't really tell the difference between the two. PBT on the other hand can be doubleshot but due to the qualities of the plastic, it is a very expensive process. There aren't too many double shot PBT sets around. The more common form of putting quality legends on a cap is through dye sublimination. Clarity is great but still not as good as double shotting.
Profile: There are many profiles available. GMK only does 1, the Cherry profile. SP does a few including DSA, SA, DCS,G20, and their new DSS. For the most part the Cherry profile is considered the best, but this really is another point of contention. You can find PBT Cherry profiles but you have to consider the rest of the information on "quality" I have provided.
Manufacturing: GMK does not offer PBT, only SP does. However PBT requires a different process than ABS and I believe higher heat too. What happens is that some PBT keys end up being warped (most noticeably the spacebar). This doesn't happen all the time, but often enough.
Colors: Each manufacturer has a different color palette they will work with. If you're looking for a specific shade of blue, both GMK and SP have the most extensive selection. Colors in PBT are different than colors in ABS. If you really are in love with a particular color ONLY in ABS, you probably will choose ABS.
Keycap Thickness: On a whole, GMK keycap thickness is thicker than SP except for maybe the SA profile. Keycap thickness gives better light bleed protection and gives a more satisfying sound as you type.
I'm sure there are a lot more definitions of quality as vast as the number of individuals on reddit. However, I've given you 7 definitions. Pick 3.
Merlin64Jesus dude. You need to get out more.
Merlin64
239
Mar 1, 2018
EwigeSchlangenkraftNO. I am content living under my rock!
StyvkulingI'd say it is basically a fact that GMK currently makes the highest quality caps on the market.
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