Mechanical Keyboard Sound Isn't That Simple
Figure 1: I couldn't think of a more literal way to represent this article if I tried... Looking back just a few years ago, there’s no doubt that the huge influx of people that joined the hobby at the peak of the COVID pandemic were drawn to keyboards by way of YouTube, TikTok, and other audio-visual content platforms. Even as the output from these content creators has waned in recent months, their collective impact and legacy on the keyboard hobby is rather firmly etched in the history books. As a result of all of their sound tests, build logs, and opinion videos, the message is clear to any new person joining the hobby: mechanical keyboards are all about the sound. Thock this, clack that. Whether it’s keyboards, keycaps, or even singular switches, seemingly everyone new to the hobby meticulously pores over each component of their keyboard not in an attempt to figure out how it will feel in hand, but how it will sound as they’re furiously grinding their way out from...
Mar 27, 2024
Keycaps: What Are They?
Think of keycaps—the things you touch with your fingers when typing—as the clothes that tie a keyboard together. Without them, a keyboard is naked. With them, a keyboard takes on a personality of its own. That’s because keycaps have become much more than the plain-Jane, off-white, basic pieces of plastic from keyboards past.
Now, there are keycaps in every shape and color imaginable, plus a variety of different textures. Some are glistening gold. Others fade from light to dark. Some are perfectly round, and others are shaped like everyday objects. There are even keycaps that look like characters from comic books and movies. Indeed, like clothing, keycaps are a form of self-expression. What do your keycaps say about you?
Keycaps: What Are They Made Of?
Most keycaps are made by injection molding thermoplastic. The process involves melting plastic and injecting it under pressure into a steel mold. The most common types of plastic are ABS and PBT.
ABS plastic, short for "acrylonitrile butadiene styrene," is the most commonly used plastic, mainly because the material is less expensive and easier to work with.
Legends are the letters, numbers, or symbols printed on the keycaps—the markings that tell you which character will appear on your screen when you touch that key. Just as customizable as the color of the keycap, the legend can be printed in a variety of fonts, colors, and sizes. It can be printed on the top, front, or side of the keycap, or it can be absent from the keycap entirely.
There are a few different ways to mark a keycap with a legend, including pad printing, dye sublimation, laser etching, and double-shot molding. There are also a few other methods, such as UV printing, but these are less often used.
Pad printing is the most commonly used method, and for good reason: It’s fast and cheap. But pad-printed legends—made by dipping a pad into ink, then transferring it onto the keycap—are quick to fade and are therefore less desirable.
Laser etching is exactly what it sounds like: A laser beam is used to burn the legend into the keycap. Though it does a good job of creating lines, it has a harder time creating solid-fill legends, like the one on the Windows key. Laser-etched legends are also quick to collect dirt.
Dye sublimation uses heat to impregnate the keycap with dye. The dye actually becomes part of the plastic keycap, ensuring the legend will never fade like pad-printed legends do. Dye-sublimated keycaps are among the most desirable.
Double-shot molding is another one of the most sought-after methods of keycap printing. As its name implies, double-shot molding is a two-step process, and it results in a couple of different benefits. For one, legends will never fade from double-shot keycaps. They’re also bolder and more vibrant, and they can be colored a distinctive hue different from the keycap itself. What’s more, a keycap with a double-shot legend is uniformly smooth—no raised or indented textures.
Keycap Mounts & Compatibility
Not all keycaps work with all keyboards. Turn the keycap over and you’ll see the mount. This is the attachment point between the keycap and the key switch. Because different types of switches feature different types of stem shapes, you’ll have to be sure the keycaps you use are compatible with the switches on your board. Cherry keycaps, for example, will not fit on Topre boards unless you’ve added a slider to the switch. Stay tuned for more on sliders in future articles!
To switch out your keycaps, you’ll need a keycap puller. Most of these basic-but-handy tools consist of two pieces of wire and a handle. Slip the two pieces of wire beneath each side of the key and pull. Voila. You’re ready to switch out your keycap.
This article touches on the basics of keycaps—plenty to get you started on your first set. But there are a lot of nuances, such as keycap profile, that we’ll cover in future tutorials. Until then, as you explore the wide world of keycaps and the Mech Keys Community at large, remember that it’s all about customizing the keyboard to your liking. There’s no good or bad, right or wrong keycap. The keycaps you choose should feel and look good to you—nobody else. Because that’s what mechanical keyboards are all about: a better user experience.
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