Guide to Keyboard Key Switch Mechanisms

This page is a guide of computer keyboard key switch mechanisms.

Rubber Dome Switch

most keyboard's key switch mechanism is rubber dome switch. For example, basically all laptop keyboard and Microsoft Keyboards.

Rubber dome switch is cheap to make, but is not as good as other mechanisms that use spring. Rubber dome's tactile feedback is not precise, wobbly, and wears out. Usually what made it worse is the cheap key housing that goes with it. (ever had squeaky keys that make ugly noises and sometimes stuck midway due to friction?)

Scissor Switch

Scissor-switch is found in laptop computers, starting around ~2002. It is still rubber dome, but is enhanced by a scissor-like mechanism above the rubber membrance.

Buckling-spring Switch

This is most famous as used by IBM Model M keyboard, and loved by many programing geeks.

You press the key, the spring compresses, then at some point, it can't take it anymore, CLICK, it buckles, crumpling and gave up all resistance!

This tech is old. If you want the tactile feel of the click, you can get from keyboards that use “Cherry MX Blue” switch. 〔►see List of Keyboards with Mechanical Switches〕 But if you really want buckling-spring, you can buy it from Unicomp. See: IBM Model M keyboard, Unicomp.

Cherry MX Switches

Cherry Corporation of Germany makes mechanical switches called Cherry MX. It is the most popular mechanical switch. There are several different models of Cherry MX, with different properties of feel. These models are color coded. They are:

Linear Action

MX Red requires the least pressure to activate the key. It's really nice. Typing on it is effortless.

For example of Cherry MX Red keyboards, see Cherry MX red

Cherry MX Black is same as Red, except more force is required. I don't like MX Black at all.

For example of Cherry MX Black keyboards, see Cherry MX black

Tactile

The Brown and Blue types are good for writers or programers. When you press down, after certain point, there's a bump feel, then after that the pressure is reduced. This lets you know whether a key has been registered.

Examples Cherry MX brown

The primary difference between Brown and Blue is that Blue has a more precise click point, and makes a audible “click” sound, and Blue is lighter. For many people, the major complaint about Blue is that it's noisy.

Examples Cherry MX blue

There are few others, but less common.

Cherry MX	brown	blue	green	red	black
Key Feel	Tactile Bump	Tactile Click	Tactile Click	Smooth (Linear)	Smooth (Linear)
Resistance	Medium-Low	Low	Firm	Very Low	Firm

Cherry MX Key Switch Sound Comparison

Here's a video that compare the noises they make.

Note: the only one that intentionally makes a sound, is the MX Blue, which makes a click sound.

All the others, do not make any noise if you press the key slowly. The sound came from the key hitting bottom. Also, they don't sound as loud as in the video. In the video, the wooden desk and recording makes it louder.

Another way to reduce noise is to buy those rubber ring switch dampeners. You put them in each key yourself.

Cherry Compatible Switches

Several companies make Cherry compatible switches.

Kailh switch

Kailh Switch is a Cherry MX compatible switch, made by Kaihua Electronics Co., Ltd.”. (凯华).

see Mechanical Keyboard: Kailh Switch

Outemu/Gaote switch

Outemu switch is Cherry MX compatible made by Gaote Corp. 东莞市高特电子有限公司. Home page http://www.cngaote.com/

Gateron switch

Gateron switch is Cherry MX compatible made by Gateron (惠州佳达隆电子科技有限公司). company site: http://www.gateron.com/

Romer-G Key Switch

Romer-G key switch are used by Logitech. They are quite! Used by Logitech G910 Orion Spark Keyboard and Logitech G810 Orion Spectrum Keyboard

Electrostatic Capacitive Switch: Topre Switch

Another type of expensive switch is by capacitance. In particular, one made by Topre Corporation, of Japan.

The Topre switch's feel primarily came from its high-quality rubber dome, not the spring.

Topre key switch is most famously used in Happy Hacking Keyboard.

White Alps Strongman Switch

Don't know how this switch works, but i have used one for a couple of years. It's excellent. See: Keyboard: Matias Mini Tactile Pro. This keyboard has strong presence in Mac community.

The Matias mechanical key switch is used by Keyboardio Keyboard Review

Hall Effect Switch

Hall Effect Switch Keyboard

Does Mechanical Keys Matter?

Yes. See: Does Mechanical Keyboard Reduce Risk of Repetitive Strain Injury?

List of Keyboards with Mechanical Switches

List of Keyboards with Mechanical Switches

List of Keyboards with Topre Switch

List of Keyboards with Topre Switch

Key Ghosting, n-key Rollover

Another issue commonly discussed with key mechanism is key ghosting and n-key rollover. Basically, it means how many keys can be pressed simultaneously. See: What's NKRO, N-key Rollover? .

References

• https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/wiki/switch_guides
• http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX