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Mechanical Keyboard Parts The first thing you notice when you look at a mechanical keyboard is its size and the keycaps. Depending on the size you want will determine the dimensions of your case. Below I have included dif ferent sizes based on preference. There are also keypads you can get that are much smaller ranging from around two to four keys which are usually used for competitive gaming like osu! .

External surface of a keyboard I will be describing my 65% mechanical keyboard. The dimensions are 13.4 x 4.1 x 1.6 inches so it is a relatively small keyboard with dedicated arrow keys. There are no function keys or a number pad, however you can program your printed circuit board (PCB), using Quantum Mechanical Keyboard (QMK) or whatever is compatible, to have a smaller sized keyboard with full key accessibility . If you look at the specs while browsing for mechanical keyboards they will specify which layout it is compatible with. If you are a fan of heavy material there are some metal cases that provide weights to the back of your case to make them hefty . The one I am describing is made out of thick plastic so it is pretty average in terms of weight. The next part you will notice is the keycaps. There is actually a range of dif ferent keycap shapes with dif ferent profiles, and sculpted tops depending on what you like. The keycaps I have are a medium profile (about 0.285mm) with a spherical top. The standard keycap dimensions are 0.5mm and can go as far as 0.725mm. Underneath the keycaps are your switches. There is a wide range of switches that dif fer in tactility , actuation force, and whether they are “clicky” or loud when you press down on your keys. Like everything so far , this is all preference and what you personally like. The switches (buttons) I have for this keyboard are topre with an actuation force of 45g and they are silent so they are not clicky or loud. Topre switches are linear so they don't give you tactile push back (no noticeable bump in the middle of travel), with an actuation force range of 30, 35, 45, and 55 cN. Other switches you can look into are clicky and tactile switches. Tactile switches provide a small push back while typing without an audible clicking noise. Clicky switches have a tactile push back with an audible clicking noise. Depending on the actuation force of your switch it will either make the push back lighter or harder for the key to be recognized. The logical layout of this keyboard is US QWER TY which is the standard for most keyboards. I provided a picture below to show the exact layout. The last part you will notice is the USB port on the side top of the keyboard. Sometimes it will be in the middle but it can be seen more laterally like the one I have depending on the design. When buying a mechanical keyboard it will come with its own USB cable however , the reason why it is important to know which type of USB cable you have is so you can purchase or make your own custom cable. This keyboard has a mini USB port and below I provided a picture of my keyboard with its custom cable.

Internal surface of a keyboard Let’ s take a closer look inside a keyboard of the various parts it houses. Inside a keyboard you will find switches, a printed circuit board (PCB), stabilizers and a plate. I already described switches earlier so I’m going to jump right into what a PCB is. The PCB is the motherboard of the keyboard with electronic components that are the foundation of most modern devices. Depending on the size of the keyboard the PCB will have dif ferent dimensions. A 65% will have a 12 x 3.75 in PCB. On top of the PCB you may find a plate (size should be the same as the PCB) that can be made from steel, brass, aluminum, acrylic, or polycarbonate. Some mechanical keyboards don’ t have plates but it is recommended to have one because they are used to provide a consistent and firm typing feel that alleviates the stress on your PCB. Without it, you will have a bouncy and flexible feel while typing. You may see the term hot swappable or solder when looking for keyboards. Hot swappable keyboards allow you to swap out your switches without soldering and desoldering. This allows you to swap dif ferent switches and find one that you personally like. If you are a beginner I would highly recommend this because soldering is a tedious process. If you choose to solder be sure to have some practice with a practice board so you know exactly where everything is placed and know how to clean up mistakes. I only recommend this to advance individuals who know the ins and outs of a keyboard. The last part of a keyboard is its stabilizers. Stabilizers are used for lar ger keys that prevent them from wobbling when pressed, and help bind the switch to the keycap. Keys you would use stabilizers for are your space key , shift keys, backspace key , and enter key depending on the keycap size. Conclusion Overall, mechanical keyboards can help make your typing experience more enjoyable that can be personalized to fit your preferences. The major use and function of a mechanical keyboard is its ability to input letters and characters ef fectively to your display . What dif ferentiates generic keyboards and mechanical keyboards is its ability to style your computer setup, along with its customizable parts.

R efe re n ces Leopold FC660C White 65% Dye Sub PBT Mechanical Keyboard .

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