A quick pre-view of this article
1. What is the switches for keyboards?
2. How many parts does a mechanical keyboard key switch include?
- Top Housing
- Stem
- Spring
- Metal Leaf
- Bottom Housing
3. How does a switch work?
4. Which 4 keyboard switches types are there?
- Linear Switch
- Tactile switch
- Clicky switch
- Quiet keyboard switches
5. Which type of keyboard switches is the best?
6. 3 Specifications about the switch
- Operating force
- Pre-Travel
- Total travel
7、How to modify keyboard key switches
- Lube/factory pre-lubed
- Add Switch Films
- Spring Swap
- Stem Swap
It is interesting hobby to dive into switch for keyboard area. There are lots of components of a keeb to be explored. After knowing what a key board is, let’s move forward to types of keyboard switches. Actually typing is not only simply influenced by a keyboard design. Even the 2 keebs from the same model, the difference of every components inside the key boards will bring different typing feeling.
So, we will introduce 4 main keyboard switches types in this blog. You will know the differences between them and how to choose. After deciding which cool keyboard designs we like, the next step is to make a decision of switch. We consider it as one of the most important of steps to customize a keyboard. As most mechanical keyboard is hot swapping, even we find we do not like the typing feeling after receiving a keyboard, there is still a chance to customize it according to our preference. While for the new guy to the mechanical keyboard area, it is hard to tell the differences between types of mechanical keyboard switches.
What is the switches for keyboards?
The mechanical keyboard switch is used to connect keyboard keycap and the PCB. If we remove the keycaps, then we can see there is a switch under every keycap. (how to remove keyboard switches)While for some keyboard, the switches can not be removed, they are soldered on the PCB. But for hot swapping keyboard, the switch can be replaced without soldering tool and skills. This adds mechanical keyboard more possibility to be customized.
How many parts does a mechanical keyboard key switch include?
A switch is composed of 5 parts normally，although there exits tiny difference in different keyboard switches. Noted that we only talk about the normal mechanical keyboard switch, not to mention hall effect keyboard switches（like Kzzi G68 magnetic switches keyboard） or optical switch, which will be introduced in other blogs.
Top Housing
When holding a switch, there is top housing and bottom housing. On the top housing, there is a hollowed part to pass though the stem, guiding the stem to move vertically up and down to prevent shaking and rotation. It can also help prevent dust or liquid entering inside.
Stem
It is the part between top housing and the spring. And the outside part of the top housing is used to lock with keycaps. Normally it is designed with ‘+’ shape column on its top, what we called “MX switch” now. When press the keycap down, the stem is the actual part we push. When it moves down, it squeezes the metal leaf, achieving keystroke.
Spring
The spring stands between stem and bottom case. Its main function is to support the stem’s vertical movement. When we release our finger on the keycap, the spring will push the stem to the original place.
The length, diameter, and circles influence the operating force and total force we need to press a key, range from 35gf to 80gf.
Metal Leaf
As a core part of the switch, the metal material and coating process of Leaf will decide the life span of a switch. When the stem is pressed, the movement will connect 2 parts of leaf. That’s why the keystroke appears.
When a switch is pressed, the stem presses into the metal leaf that sits in the bottom housing. The connection registers the keypress onto the PCB, allowing those magical symbols to show up on your computer.
Bottom Housing
There exits 3 pin switches and 5 pin switches. They are distinguished by the pin quantity on the bottom housing. 3 pin is made of 2 metal pins and 1 plastic pin. While 5 pin is made of 2 metal pin and 3 plastic pin.
It is the basic part of a switch. The main function is to fix all the components inside the switch, like spring, leaf, stem.
How does a switch work?
Simply speaking, finger presses the keycap--keycap pushes stem--stem moves down to press spring forward. The stem move smoothly to make leafs contact. Keep pressing to make stem hit the bottom.
After getting the keystroke, finger leaves keycap. With the help of spring, the stem will bounce to its original place. During the process, the contact part of leaf will be apart.
All in all, these five components work together, converting each press of the user's finger into an accurate signal. The combination of different materials, processes and structural designs has created the types of keyboard switches. They differs in keyboard switch colors, typing sound, and typing feeling.
Which 4 keyboard switches types are there?
Based on the typing feeling of the switch, all the keyboard switches are divided into 4 types. They are linear switch, tactile switch, clicky switch, silent switch. Let’s introduce these 4 keyboard switch types one by one and the difference in keyboard switches.
Linear switch
Linear switch offers a totally smooth keypress in the whole process. From the pressing down to bouncing up, there is no interrupted or tactile feedback. We can feel the stem inside the linear moves straightly, consistently. With its feature, linear switch is the most common type used in keyboard. It is easier for everyone to start the first mechanical keyboard.
Tactile switch
Tactile switch is the one between linear switch and clicky switch. It provides a obvious bump in the middle process of pressing down, which happens at the actuation point. This tactile feedback helps us know the keystroke has been finished. The tiny bump normally requires more force to overcome compared to linear switch. Although this physical feedback is obvious, it is not as loud as a clicky switch.
Clicky Switch
We mentioned tactile switch gives a bump to overcome when pressing. Apart from this physical feedback, clicky switch also offers an audio feedback. Just as its name, it makes a click sound when arriving the actuation point. Both the feedback can remind the keystroke has finished already. The function is we can release the key once we get the feedback. However, people have different opinions on the clicky switch. Is the click made by switch satisfying sound or annoying noise?
Silen/Quiet switch
The silent keyboard switches (such as Kzzi Sakura Pink V3) own specially designed features (like rubber pads), significantly reducing the noise of hitting the bottom and rebounding, resulting in the lowest sound level.
Which type of keyboard switches suits for you?
Now, we understand the basic information of the 4 main types of mechanical keyboard switches. Then how can we know which is the best keyboard switches for gaming or typing? Kzzi always offer types of switches mechanical keyboard.
Linear Switch
As the most common type of 4 types, linear keyboard switches won’t be an error choice if we are new one to mechanical keyboard. Then we can start to discover the best mechanical keyboard switches we like.
For the gamers or typists, we can enjoying the typing experience for its consistence and smooth. No interrupt, no bump, no obvious sound, the butteriest keyboard switches. What’s more, there is a silent style option. If we want to use the mechanical keyboard in public environment, like office, cafe, library or home with family. Silent switch is necessary. But there are also some people may think the linear switch is too sensitive, making wrong typing with ease.
Tactile Switch
For some mechanical keyboard lover, the physical feedback of tactile switch can be satisfying. They enjoying the typing experience that they can know the exact point where to get keystroke. This features is favored by both some typists and gamers. It can stop them to continue pressing the switch to the bottom after getting the keystroke. When gaming, we can exactly know we finish the movement. And tactile switches are not so loud that disturb others around.
Clicky switch
The clicky switch is suitable for those who want both physical and audio feedback. They find the loudest keyboard switches click sound improves typing satisfaction. Each keystroke is equipped with typing bump and clicky sound. It is perfect for loud and heavier typing need. Kzzi K75pro tactile switches keyboard is equipped with Eternity Switch.
Quiet keyboard switches
If we need to use mechanical keyboard in a quiet environment, or we just won’t disturb others at all. Then it is necessary to find switches with silent/quiet sign. Kzzi’s quietest mechanical keyboard switches, or silent switch keyboard K98
So, it is totally depends on your preference to choose the the best keyboard switches,creamy keyboard switches, quiet keyboard switches, or tactile keyboard switches? And take the using environment into consideration, like the quietest keyboard switches, in case the mechanical keyboard might be banned due to noise.
The best way to decide which keyboard key switch types is to try them. Actually there is no need to buy many new keyboard. With one hot swap keyboard, we can replace the switches easily. Kzzi also offers types of mechanical keyboard switches. And Kzzi provides keyboards with different types of keyboard switches, with different operating force and travel. Or there is a tool like keyboard switch tester.
3 Specifications about the switch
Operating force
The number of operating force shows how much force is needed to press make the stem from original place to the actuation point. This is the core spec to influence the typing feeling. Lighter force switch means it doesn’t need much force from fingers, uneasy to feel tired. But it might cause more mistyping. While the heaiver operating force would cause wrist strain with longer typing.
Pre-Travel
The pre-travel is the distance, which describe the stem moves to actuation point, in millimeters (mm). Shorter pre-travel distance is better for speed gaming because of faster reacting. Because it does not need long depth to trigger the key.
Total travel
The total travel distance is how far the key can go down to the bottom. The short total travel distance means the key can bounce quickly to achieve faster consistent typing.
How to modify keyboard key switches
Even picking up a switch carefully, we might want to modify it for to gain best switches for keyboard. Here are some methods.
Lube/factory pre-lubed
Lubing switches requires add grease to the special parts of switch components. Since lubing the switch is a time-consuming process, most keyboard mechanical switches manufacturer will pre-lubed them to improve typing smoothness and make typing sound better.( how to lube keyboard switches)
Add Switch Films
Switch film works better with pre-lubed switch. But the importance is to choose the suitable thickness of film(normally 0.125mm-0.3mm). The thin film is used between the top housing and bottom housing, made of PET, PE or PORON. This can reduce wobble sound of loosen cases.
Spring Swap
The spring decides the operating force and bounce force. Lighter force spring(35g-45g) is suitable for long time typing.
Stem Swap
Using the stem of different material can adjust the typing sound and friction. The common material is POM, UPE, or Nylon.
Conclusion
Hope this article helps you to know the basic information of mechanical keyboard switches and how to choose the suitable one for your need. Besides linear, tactile, clicky and silent switch, we will introduce other keyboard switch types, like hall effect keyboard switches, optical switch and so on.