One day, the author searched for the word "keyboard" in Xbao, and was instantly captured by colorful keyboard pictures. Various keyboards have different colors and feel. Our commonly used ABS keyboards are only entry-level keyboards. Netizens who are new to keyboards will ask what material their keyboards are made of. Below, the editor of Huajun will explain to you the knowledge of keyboard materials.
If the mechanical axis determines the basic feel of a mechanical keyboard, it is an important element that can enhance the feel. Keycaps of different materials and colors not only determine the appearance of the keyboard, but also affect the long-term use experience of the mechanical keyboard.
Don't mention it, the keycaps are just plastic. Of course, most mechanical keyboard keycaps are made of plastic, but different plastic materials still have different material properties. And aside from plastic keycaps, there are also many keycaps made of special materials that are favored by enthusiasts. Sometimes a keycap is even more expensive than a keyboard.
The difference between fever lies in the material
1. ABS: A good choice for beginners with tight budgets
ABS is the most common keycap material, with low cost, good plasticity, and easy coloring. Many plastic device casings are made of this material. The thickness of the ABS keycaps is thin and will not affect the feedback of the mechanical shaft to your fingertips too much. So it will feel crisper when struck.
(ABS keycaps with rich colors and affordable price)
This kind of keycaps is also the lowest priced. A set of 104-key ABS color keycaps costs only about 100 yuan. If you want to change your keyboard into brightly colored "clothes" but have a tight budget, ABS keycaps can be an entry-level choice.
However, the biggest weakness of ABS keycaps is that they have low hardness and are prone to oiling and serious wear after long use.
2. POM and PBT: essential for facial control
The reason for putting these two materials together is that both materials have high hardness and can eliminate the oiling problem that occurs in ABS keycaps. There are relatively few POM keycaps on the market. Generally, Cherry's own keyboards use POM material, which has a higher hardness. Although the surface will not wear and oil, it is greasy and has a jelly-like feeling. Many "jelly keycaps" on the market are made of POM. The price of a set of 104 keys is about 300 yuan.
(POM material jelly keycaps)
PBT can be regarded as the best material among plastic keycaps, with high hardness and strong aging resistance. At the same time, through the dyeing process, the keycaps can be colored and the color will not fade after use. However, the price of PBT keycaps is higher. A set of single-color or evenly colored keycaps costs about 200 yuan, and some limited editions can cost thousands of yuan.
("Purple Zen Master" PBT keycap priced at nearly 1,000 yuan)
However, although PBT and POM almost perfectly solve the problem of keyboard appearance, the feel will be affected due to the thicker and harder materials. It doesn't feel as crisp as ABS keycaps when struck.
3. DIY customized keycaps
Resin, electroplated copper, titanium alloy, don’t think I’m giving you a materials lesson, these are all commonly used materials for DIY keycaps. After seeing the same colors and ordinary shapes, if you want something more fresh and exciting, DIY keycaps are your first choice.
(titanium alloy custom keycaps)
The rarity of things is particularly evident in the price of keycaps. The rarity of the material and the difficulty of processing are all factors that affect the price of keycaps. Take titanium alloy keycaps as an example. First of all, the cost of titanium alloy is not low. When it needs to be processed into a keycap with a three-dimensional pattern, it requires a long production process. Depending on the market conditions, the price of a custom keycap may reach three to four hundred yuan or more (note: it is one piece and not a set).
(Glittering electroplated copper keycaps)
Of course, such keycaps are meant to be rare and precious, and practicality is not considered. Many enthusiasts will choose a customized keycap to put on the infrequently used Esc key to show their personality.
What else is there to do besides keycaps?
Due to the mechanical shaft structure and tall keycaps of mechanical keyboards, many users will add a hand rest to the mechanical keyboard to find a comfortable input posture. Although the material change of the handrest will not affect the feel like the keyboard, the handrest made of warm and moist material can still add a lot of color to the keyboard.
(Huanghuali mechanical keyboard hand rest)
The above is a comparison of the feel and appearance of keyboard keys made of ABS, POM and PBT keycaps. Of course, if the user knows the size of the keyboard keys, they can also DIY the entire keyboard themselves, or customize the keycaps and shell.
