User:HokuraDeluxe/sandbox

A Keychron K8, a mechanical keyboard from Keychron.

Mechanical Keyboards (or mechanical-switch keyboard,) are keyboards that use a metal contact type of switch. Many mechanical keyboards offer different ways of build, function, shape, and design, thus giving the user a lot of customization; ranging from the sound and feel, or the color.

Design

Assembly

A disassembled Cherry MX brown tactile switch, a common switch used in pre-built keyboards.

Switches

See also: Keyboard technology § Metal contact

Unlike other ways of keystroke sensing, metal contact, or switches, can produce a different feel, or acoustic depending on the type of switch. Mechanical switches comprising of a top and bottom housing, spring, stem, and the contacts. Different stems change the way the switch will feel, ranging from tactile, clicky, and linear. Along with different switch types, users can swap individual parts to their own preference.

Case

Cases come in different materials, such as plastic, metal, or wood. And also come with different ways of assembly, sometimes being a two part design with a top frame and bottom case, or being one solid piece. The way the case is made will also change the mounting style of the keyboard. Different case materials, mass, and weights, can change the sound of the typing.

Mounting

There are several types of how a keyboard's PCB board and plate to the case. Some examples of keyboard mounting styles includes sandwich, integrated, or gasket mounting. Gasket mounting isolates the case and the top frame with an elastic material with the plate in between.

Software

See also: QMK

Some keyboards can have their function configured with software like lights, macros, or keys. most keyboards come with proprietary software. Some keyboards use an open-source software called QMK, which can create layouts and flash software onto keyboards. Some software like VIA, or VIAL are built on top of QMK which can configure keyboards live from an application or a web-browser. Most keyboards use USB HID standard to interact with the software.