Mechanical keyboards are an upgraded and revived type of keyboard. Their quality cannot be determined solely based on subjective factors such as feel and sound; rather, they should be defined by their structure. Unlike the common membrane keyboards, mechanical keyboards have a complete circuit board inside. Some are equipped with steel plates, on which the key switches (axis bodies) are welded. When the keycaps are removed, each key has a separate Switch (also known as a switch) to control the closure. This switch is also called an "axis", and the axis body is the bone, while the keycap is the flesh. Although Cherry's mechanical axes are the most famous, apart from it, there are other brands of mechanical axes in the market, including the early Japanese ALPS axes, Taiwan's ALPS simple axes, Taiwan's White axes, etc.
Mechanical keyboards are distinguished from ordinary membrane keyboards. Each key has a separate Switch (also known as a "axis") to control the closure. This switch is also called an "axis". According to the classification of microswitches, mechanical keyboards can be divided into four common types of axes: Tea axis, Qing axis, Black axis, and Red axis, as well as White axis, Gray axis, and Green axis. Due to the fact that each key is composed of an independent microswitch, different colored axis bodies have different tactile sensations, thus creating a special feel suitable for gaming and entertainment. Therefore, they are usually regarded as relatively expensive high-end gaming peripherals and are also the ideal equipment for programmers. Note: Capacitive keyboard is also a special type of mechanical keyboard.
Advantages of Mechanical Keyboards
The most important part of a mechanical keyboard is the bearing. Mechanical keyboards have a longer lifespan than ordinary membrane keyboards. A good mechanical keyboard can last for over 10 years or even 20 years, and its feel remains almost unchanged. The pressure coefficient, paragraph sense, and response degree of different axis bodies vary, as do the heights, materials, and spraying of different keycaps, resulting in different feelings. For example: The black axis has a relatively hard and forceful feel, without a paragraph sense. It is a bearing suitable for fast typing and competitive games, so many gamers love the black axis. The theoretical maximum number of times a single key can be struck without failure for the black axis can reach up to 50 million times.
2. After using a mechanical keyboard for a long time, the feel of the keys remains unchanged, while this cannot be achieved with membrane keyboards.
3. The keys of different types of mechanical keyboards have distinct tactile sensations, offering a wide range of options. In contrast, the touch sensation of membrane keyboards is uniform.
4. Mechanical keyboards can achieve 6-key no-jamming (all keys respond when pressed simultaneously without any conflict or malfunction). Currently, regardless of whether they are domestic or imported, most mechanical keyboards can achieve 16 or 23 keys without jamming. Good mechanical keyboards can have no conflicts for all keys, while membrane keyboards typically have 3-key no-jamming.
5. Convenient for personalized DIY. You can replace the keycaps by yourself. Different heights and colors are available, including plastic, wood, and metal. The same keyboard can have different key switches at different key positions to meet the needs of blind typing or different handfeel requirements. If the keyboard is damaged, the relevant keyswitches can be replaced separately. There are also experts on various forums who perform operations such as adding background lights and modifying the lights to the mechanical keyboards they purchase. Some experts even make their own circuit boards, keyboard shells, keycaps, and modify the keyswitches to independently create mechanical keyboards.
Disadvantages of Mechanical Keyboards
The price is too high, and the switches inside the keyboard are also monopolized by German Cherry technology. Therefore, few manufacturers produce them, resulting in persistently high prices. While the mechanical keyboards developed with domestic switch technology are slightly cheaper, their feel and quality cannot meet the needs of the majority of users.
2. The appearance design of mechanical keyboards is limited by their structure (the circuit board and the internal components of the key mechanism are made of brass and gold contacts), so they cannot achieve the compact and lightweight features of membrane keyboards. However, in terms of aesthetics, they are now comparable to membrane keyboards.
3. The keycaps are consumables, similar to phone cases. Mechanical keyboards, except for the few metal keycaps, are prone to wear and require lubrication. Moreover, they come in a wide variety of colors and materials, and their prices are relatively high.
4. Mechanical keyboards tend to accumulate dust easily and are more difficult to clean; they are also the most prone to water infiltration. Currently, the waterproofing of the circuit boards and the mechanical switches is not very good.
5. What we are pursuing is the feel and sound effect. Therefore, it is not muted. Especially the blue axis, which produces a clicking sound similar to a light switch. For those who type, it is a pleasure; for those around them, it is a torment, especially when it disturbs people in the dead of night.
