This is the 1st generation keyboard with aluminum housing of mini arrangement.
In order to give better typing feeling than 356 CL, the brass key is in the lower plate and housing has angle of inclination by itself.
Plate is not fixed in the upper housing with bolts, but fixed between upper housing and lower housing.
After that, many types of keyboard with aluminum housing came into the market.
356mini which has a nickname Sammini as bellows was produced with concept "Bring the lighter and smaller keyboard to the games room".
It is for only PS/2, but use the removable USB cable.
It can be used to plug the PS/2 conversion gender in to the end of USB cable.
The distance between the switch was reduced as much as possible beyond interference in order to reduce the keyboard size like mini arrangement.
The difficulty of assembling of 356mini is the best high level in 356 series.
The switch hole in the board is so tight, and controller of it is SMD type.
Also, copper foil on the board can be out easily if the lead is not removed carefully when you do de-soldering.
So, if you use the de-soldering machine, you can work easily more.
There is hole for line shape in the center of the board so that you have to be careful to assemble the switch into the board.
If not, tension will be disappeared by hardness key typing feeling unlike purpose of production.
Some people say that “Typing feeling is hard”, “I can’t use it with pain of hands”.
But wrong typing feeling is occurred by wrong assembling.
356mini was made of aluminum whole plates and partial plate.
The material of the board which has a hole on the center is CEM-3.
It is recommended to assemble the partial plate with black switch.
In case of apply the partial plate.
It can't fix the switch in the character string.
So, If tighten switch hole can fix tightly the switch, you can get more better typing feeling in spite of finger pain when you assemble it.
Honorably, I had a chance to test it in the filed first after assemble the final sample board and housing before 356mini came into market.