Mechanical Keyboard Club!

[seon123]

2 minutes ago, whm1974 said:

How heavy and stiff when typing? Expensive?

You can find force curves here.

https://chart-studio.plotly.com/~haata/179/ibm-membrane-buckling-spring-1989/#/

https://chart-studio.plotly.com/~haata/200/ibm-capacitive-buckling-spring-f-at/#/

https://chart-studio.plotly.com/~haata/415/novelkeys-box-navy/#/

https://chart-studio.plotly.com/~haata/417/novelkeys-box-jade/#/

 

Buckling springs are available in Unicomp Model Ms, and Model Fs.

Box Thick Clicks are about $0.34-$0.42 per switch.

[whm1974]

1 minute ago, seon123 said:

You can find force curves here.

https://chart-studio.plotly.com/~haata/179/ibm-membrane-buckling-spring-1989/#/

https://chart-studio.plotly.com/~haata/200/ibm-capacitive-buckling-spring-f-at/#/

https://chart-studio.plotly.com/~haata/415/novelkeys-box-navy/#/

https://chart-studio.plotly.com/~haata/417/novelkeys-box-jade/#/

 

Buckling springs are available in Unicomp Model Ms, and Model Fs.

Box Thick Clicks are about $0.34-$0.42 per switch.

How much do Keyswitches normally go for? I've seen a wide range of Pricing for Optical Switches everywhere online. As low as $12 for 70 ct to $1 per Switch.

[Begx]

Hi guys, 
new to the mechanical keyboards and in the community.
Recently I am looking for good mechanical keyboard mainly for programming since I am finishing first year of Computer Science degree and I am focusing on programming. Currently I have cheap 20$ membrane keyboard and I am typing on laptop so I don't really have much experience on mechanical keyboards. (I have tried Coolemaster masterkeys and HyperX Alloy) My budget is around 200$, 230$ max with all costs. I don't know should I build my keyboard since I live in Europe and don't know many websites for keyboard parts and I can't do soldering and buying extra tools etc. I would like to build it because of the customization and I would like some extra stuff like better cable, inner padding, keycaps, metal case and better stabilizators, but if there is some stock nice looking 60% keyboard with aluminium frame (I would like to go 60% because of the arrow keys integrated on the letters and everything is so close when I get used to it I think.) under 230$ i would considered it buying. There is so much choice and switches idk. I found Ducky Mecha Mini mx Brown very good stock keyboard but not so sure about sound is it silence enough. 
Tnx guys for the help...

[Random_Person1234]

On 5/25/2021 at 7:06 AM, whm1974 said:

How much do Keyswitches normally go for? I've seen a wide range of Pricing for Optical Switches everywhere online. As low as $12 for 70 ct to $1 per Switch.

Depends on how good of a switch you're looking for. Gateron Yellows, one of the best budget switches, go for around $0.20-$0.25 a switch. JWK switches, which are mid to high end switches, go for about $0.50-$0.55 a switch. Zeal switches, which are some of the priciest, are $1 a switch.

[DailyProcrastinator]

On 5/24/2021 at 11:06 PM, whm1974 said:

Which Keyswitches is the most Clicky and Tactile? I'm using Kahl Blues ATM. I want to hear and feel when I press a Key and /or type.

Kailh Box Jades (Box Thick Click) are pretty decent for a clicky tactile switch, really nice for keycap stability as well. 

 

https://novelkeys.xyz/collections/switches/products/novelkeys-x-kailh-box-thick-clicks?variant=3747938238504

https://kbdfans.com/products/novelkeys-x-kailh-box-thick-clicks-navy-jade?_pos=2&_sid=1070f150d&_ss=r

[Belac F]

Ill give it a shot @ProBottler

[Belac F]

On 5/25/2021 at 5:59 PM, Begx said:

Hi guys, 
new to the mechanical keyboards and in the community.
Recently I am looking for good mechanical keyboard mainly for programming since I am finishing first year of Computer Science degree and I am focusing on programming. Currently I have cheap 20$ membrane keyboard and I am typing on laptop so I don't really have much experience on mechanical keyboards. (I have tried Coolemaster masterkeys and HyperX Alloy) My budget is around 200$, 230$ max with all costs. I don't know should I build my keyboard since I live in Europe and don't know many websites for keyboard parts and I can't do soldering and buying extra tools etc. I would like to build it because of the customization and I would like some extra stuff like better cable, inner padding, keycaps, metal case and better stabilizators, but if there is some stock nice looking 60% keyboard with aluminium frame (I would like to go 60% because of the arrow keys integrated on the letters and everything is so close when I get used to it I think.) under 230$ i would considered it buying. There is so much choice and switches idk. I found Ducky Mecha Mini mx Brown very good stock keyboard but not so sure about sound is it silence enough. 
Tnx guys for the help...

I went with this guy right here: 

https://kbdfans.com/collections/65-diy-kit/products/65-low-profile-soldered-mechanical-keyboard-diy-kit

however, it comes with a soldered PCB. You can still spec it individually though, and add a hotswap PCB to cart. I would recommend getting a different stabilizers though. This kit is $125 for the alu case and plate, braided cable, PCB, and cherry stabilizers. The case will run 55 on its own, so if you can find a PCB and plate to fit it you could save some cash if you do not need any of the extras / are getting it separately anyway. KBDFans sells pcbs that fit it, however they all have large wait lists. There are a lot of cheap prebuilt keyboards you can transfer into this case, though. 

 

Another option is to go with a barebones such as a GMMK from glorious. TBH I don't know to much about them though. I've also heard good things about the KBD67 lite and Novelkeys Entry edition, however I have not used any of these personally so I can't speak for them myself, and those are polycarbonate.

 

 

Cherry browns are tactile, meaning you would feel a noticeable bump as it actuates. However, there are other switches that will have stronger tactility and less sound. There are also linear switches that have no tactile bump, and are much smoother. These can also be quite quiet, but a lot of them have a really satisfying sound. However if you do not want loud switches, you want to stay away from clickies. These have the tactile feeling, but make a clicky sound when pressed.

 

A lot of off the shelf prebuilt keyboards will be limited to cherry switches, but a lot of other options are available. gateron yellow switches are an excellent linear, and can be had for relatively cheap. I personaly got my 65% keybaord filled up with Gateron black switches with milky housing for better sound for 17.50 USD. There are many good options for not a lot of cost.

 

Hope this helped

[Guest]

 

 

Big, silly keeb is big.

 

[Hdubs]

Hi I’m building a mechanical keyboard I’m looking for a 75% hot swappable RGB ISO pcb could I have some links.

 

[Nowak]

2 hours ago, Hdubs said:

Hi I’m building a mechanical keyboard I’m looking for a 75% hot swappable RGB ISO pcb could I have some links.

A lot of PCBs are gonna support ISO. What kind of budget do you have?

[Hdubs]

$300

[Hdubs]

12 hours ago, Nowak said:

A lot of PCBs are gonna support ISO. What kind of budget do you have?

$300 sorry forgot to quote first time

[DailyProcrastinator]

5 hours ago, Hdubs said:

$300

For total budget this will go over but hot-swap PCBs in a 75% layout are hard to find right now. The KBD Bella DIY kit has the features you are looking for and is in stock.

https://kbdfans.com/collections/75-diy-kit/products/bella?variant=34248579350667

 

The GMMK Pro is going to be the best, it has all the features you are looking for and is the best value. However, it's not yet regularly stocked, and it seems that you have to order a separate plate for ISO support or order the ISO version. Either way ordering one could take a few months.

https://www.pcgamingrace.com/products/glorious-gmmk-pro-75-barebone-black-reservation

As of right now you cannot order an ISO version from Glorious, or the ISO plate. But sometime in Q2 they will update the options and one will be available, so it could be soon.

https://www.reddit.com/r/gloriouspcgamingrace/comments/k8h88k/gmmk_pro_with_iso_de_layout/

 

Or it can be bought from other European vendors in ISO (assume a wait time).

https://candykeys.com/product/gmmk-pro-iso

https://mykeyboard.eu/catalogue/gmmk-pro-black-slate-75-tkl-barebone-iso-layout-black-slate_3620/

 

For PCB's only you could look for the YMDK YMD75 hot-swap PCB, but I think they sell out fast. Check BangGood, AliExpress, and Ebay. 

 

There could be some other options as well, but these are a few I am familiar with that offer ISO and hot-swap compatibly +RGB.

[fred82]

hello

i have one question : for the keyboards in Quebec what is used ? 

I can remember someone from Quebec i shere ... i am just tired of Azerty to Qwerty switching hell so i want to change it all for the Quebec Qwerty keyboard

and if not possible go to the Qwerty 

[Dr0y]

8 hours ago, fred82 said:

hello

i have one question : for the keyboards in Quebec what is used ? 

I can remember someone from Quebec i shere ... i am just tired of Azerty to Qwerty switching hell so i want to change it all for the Quebec Qwerty keyboard

and if not possible go to the Qwerty 

I have a hard time understanding what is that swtiching you're talking about ... you have an ansi layout or iso qwerty or iso azerty ?

 

the layout of the keyboard is something determined by your language setting and keyboard selection ... you have to choose either canadien multilingue or french canada if you want qwerty layout ...

[fred82]

On 6/12/2021 at 7:41 AM, Dr0y said:

I have a hard time understanding what is that swtiching you're talking about ... you have an ansi layout or iso qwerty or iso azerty ?

 

the layout of the keyboard is something determined by your language setting and keyboard selection ... you have to choose either canadien multilingue or french canada if you want qwerty layout ...

thank you. ok for the layout. i was just wondering about the caps ... i mean you hve the é caps appearing in my old azerty laptop and work keyboard which is qwerty

so as you say it is french canadian one 

meaning the caps there are not like Qwerty (which i have too)

but this is a hell to change from my individual azerty to quebec qwerty one (which is not the same caps in the keyboard than qwerty which is my third keyboard (US))

i remebered you were from Quebec too. i  wanted to know if you were with the special keyboard or you just got the Qwerty keyboard and you didn't care the letter é and so not appearing. 

but maybe i guess what you mean: you can buy the special caps for your qwerty and then just change the setting of language, right?

thx anyway

[Dr0y]

9 hours ago, fred82 said:

thank you. ok for the layout. i was just wondering about the caps ... i mean you hve the é caps appearing in my old azerty laptop and work keyboard which is qwerty

so as you say it is french canadian one 

meaning the caps there are not like Qwerty (which i have too)

but this is a hell to change from my individual azerty to quebec qwerty one (which is not the same caps in the keyboard than qwerty which is my third keyboard (US))

i remebered you were from Quebec too. i  wanted to know if you were with the special keyboard or you just got the Qwerty keyboard and you didn't care the letter é and so not appearing. 

but maybe i guess what you mean: you can buy the special caps for your qwerty and then just change the setting of language, right?

thx anyway

All I use is ansi layout, my language setting is french canadian so I have the é right next to the shift and I know it's there.  At work we have some iso layout keyboard and some are french canadian labelled and the stupid key besides the short left shift is quite annoying.  I don't know if it's possible to find some french canadian labelled keycaps specifically ... you'll probably have a hard time to get some but if you find some it will be better than using an iso azerty keyboard ... we are not in france ...

[Belac F]

I've only used Razer and Logitech's in house switches, and the gateron milk blacks in my custom. I went to my friends house, and tried out his corsair keyboard. I had no idea what switches he had. I tried out what I assumed were cherry reds, but they felt a little scratchy. I was certain they were linear though. Nope. They were mx browns. Coming from a blind test, I legitimately thought they were some cheap scratchy linear switch.

[geo3]

1 hour ago, Belac F said:

They were mx browns. Coming from a blind test, I legitimately thought they were some cheap scratchy linear switch.

Yep!

[Admiral Shark]

The IBM 5576-C01 from 1994. A Japanese-exclusive Model M-based keyboard that to my knowledge was made specifically for a single system - IBM PS/55E, an all-in-one PC. It’s most likely the rarest TrackPoint keyboard IBM made.

 

An interesting fact is that its moulds were used to later produce the Unicomp EnduraPro (pictured below as the black keyboard on the right), Ultra Classic and SpaceSaver M keyboards. The most notable feature is perhaps its large rotating stand. It can be used to park the keyboard on its back well, I’m guessing to allow you to increase space on your desk as needed. It’s cool, though. Very cool!

 

[DailyProcrastinator]

Key Dot Co is restocking switches, for those interested they sell out fast.

 

C³ Kiwi Today, June 22nd @ 3PM ET (in 1hr) & 9PM ET

 

C³ Tangerine Friday, June 25th @ 3PM ET & 9PM ET 

 

I've been super happy with both of these, some of my favorite switches. The C³ Kiwi in particular is one the best Tactile switches I have typed on, based on the T1 stem but basically has been impossible to find in stock anywhere over the past 6-months. 

[mon1ka]

On 6/17/2021 at 10:13 AM, James Evens said:

Might scrap the wood enclosure idea and go with a "slimline" semi transparent plastic one instead.

  Reveal hidden contents

Need to look into how QMK handles the RGB as the rgb matrix (which is more a backlight/single colour) is on the same IO as the rgb light (which is again a combination of RGB and white LEDs).

 

Nice layout, curious: how do you hit the spacebar? 

[Eschew]

Mode SixtyFive Pre-Order

Mode Designs’s Mode SixtyFive Pre-Orders are up! 

 

 

Pre-Order Date: June 25, 2021 - ?
ETA: October, 2021 - December, 2021
Price: $299+

 

Main highlights include ISO Layouts for heretics the European audience, and the absolutely enormous options for customizability – from physical aesthetics, to mounting and layouts, and everything else a QMK keeb has to offer!

 

SixtyFive Configurator: https://shop.modedesigns.com/pages/sixtyfive-configurator

 

---

 

Specs:

• Compact 60% Layout (65%)
• ANSI or ISO Layout
• Hot-Swappable or Soldered PCB
  • Kailh Hot-Swap Sockets (+$10)
  • QMK/VIA-Compatible
  • USB-C Connectivity
• Versatile Mounting System
  • Top Mount
  • Isolated Top Mount
  • Stack Mount
• Variety of Materials & Finishes
  • Plate Sizes: ANSI, ISO, ANSI-Half
  • Plate Material: FR4, Black POM, Black Aluminum, Carbon Fiber, Brass, Copper, Silver Mirror
  • Top Chassis Finish: Black, Blue-Gray, Maroon, Blue, Lilac, White, Polycarbonate
  • Backpiece Finish: Black, Blue-Gray, Maroon, Blue, Lilac, White, Brass, Copper, Silver Mirror, Black Mirror, Gold Mirror, Multicolor Ti
  • Bottom Chassis Finish: Black, Blue-Gray, Maroon, Blue, Lilac, White, Polycarbonate, Brass, Copper, Silver Mirror
  • Silicone Base Color: Black, Gray, Yellow
  • Rubber Feet Color: Black, Gray, Yellow

 

Layouts:

 

Mounting System:

 

---

 

Smol Disclaimer:

'Chew owns a Mode Designs First Edition Eighty (Eighty #391, of the 450 × FE Eightys in existence ), so even though 60%s aren’t my market, I will still definitely be biased in Mode Designs’s favor. I enjoy their product and their atmosphere, and they left a very positive first impression when I interacted with them.

 

Friendos have commented that the SixtyFive is expensive, for a compact keeb at $299+. I can’t say that I agree with that statement, but I also don’t think my disagreement holds much weight (being biased and all).

 

To explain my perspective, the First Edition Eighty was $650 for me, but like the SixtyFive, offered an all-aluminum chassis, a mirrored finish for its bottom weight/chassis, choice of hot-swappability, compatibility with QMK/VIA for re-mappable layouts/additional layers/custom macros, gasket stack mounting, on top of being a limited-run product (only 450 made), being in-stock (not locked in a Group Buy or Pre-Order), and being in the custom TKL niche.

 

 

The Eighty (not First Editions) was priced at $480+, and offered all of the First Edition, sans the mirrored butt and limited run / in-stock dealio (it was Pre-Order), plus more colorways.

 

The niche bit is important, as there are significantly fewer custom TKL kits than compact kits on the market (especially in late 2020, when I bought my keeb), and, as a grossly simplified rule in economics, goods in the high demand but low supply category tend to carry higher price tags.

 

So, while the SixtyFive is probably more expensive than other all-aluminum, QMK-compatible compact keebs (KBDfans should have a number of competitive options), it is the most affordable keeb that Mode Designs has offered to date. I will concede that judging pricing between keebs with different form factors is a bit invalid, but the basis for that comparison is the SixtyFive takes heavy inspiration from the Eighty’s design. In my eyes, the SixtyFive is like the Eighty’s smaller sibling, so a comparatively lower price tag, on top of more versatile features (e.g. mounting styles, ISO layout, chassis), seems justified. Also, I’ve yet to see another compact keeb offering the sexy stunning mirrored finishes that Mode Designs does.

 

Read More:

• Introducing the SixtyFive from Mode Designs: A more in-depth rundown of the SixtyFive’s physical construction, mounting system, layouts, plus some early details about specs, pricing, and estimated timeline.
• SixtyFive - Pricing and Availability from Mode Designs: More details of the SixtyFive’s pricing in relation to customizable options, materials and finishes, and the ordering / fulfillment process.

[kelvinhall05]

26 minutes ago, Eschew said:

Price: $299+

Hey if someone wants to make an easy $700 flipping on mechmarket...

[Eschew]

17 minutes ago, kelvinhall05 said:

Hey if someone wants to make an easy $700 flipping on mechmarket...

Throw in some o' deez:

 

 

$2000, no low-ballers.

I know what I got.