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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mashby on Sat, 05 January 2013, 17:09:11
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I recently purchased a KBT Pure CNC (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mashby/sets/72157632415216473/) because it already had the aluminum case. It was a remarkable difference from the KBT Race S (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mashby/sets/72157632249976584/) that I was using previously. All things being equal, both keyboards are from the same manufacturer (Vortex) and PCB mounted Cherry MX Blue switches, but the Pure has a M U C H more solid feel.
Since I got back into mechanicals, I've had my eye on getting a Poker and converting it to a plate mount, but I wonder if it would really make a difference given how great the aluminum case. Is it overkill?
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If it is only supported at the edges and at one point in the middle, then a quarter way over you may still experience some flex, ie, halfway between the supports.
A plate on the other holds each switch in place so expect there to a bit of additionally sturdiness from it.
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If it is only supported at the edges and at one point in the middle, then a quarter way over you may still experience some flex, ie, halfway between the supports.
A plate on the other holds each switch in place so expect there to a bit of additionally sturdiness from it.
Is that all the plate provides? Any other benefit over PCB mounted switches?
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If it is only supported at the edges and at one point in the middle, then a quarter way over you may still experience some flex, ie, halfway between the supports.
A plate on the other holds each switch in place so expect there to a bit of additionally sturdiness from it.
Is that all the plate provides? Any other benefit over PCB mounted switches?
No it's for stability only.. may some sound dampening-muffling, but that would be minimal..
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They make it harder to open switches without desoldering them. They may also provide a little bit of protection against liquid spils, but some might still reach the pcb through the switchess. With the custom plates done recently, they allow for the switches to be opened, so there is no longer any tradeoff. You get more stable keys, that is all.
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Plate > no plate any day
I liked my poker before, now I love it that I added a plate to it
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I recently purchased a KBT Pure CNC (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mashby/sets/72157632415216473/) because it already had the aluminum case. It was a remarkable difference from the KBT Race S (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mashby/sets/72157632249976584/) that I was using previously. All things being equal, both keyboards are from the same manufacturer (Vortex) and PCB mounted Cherry MX Blue switches, but the Pure has a M U C H more solid feel.
Since I got back into mechanicals, I've had my eye on getting a Poker and converting it to a plate mount, but I wonder if it would really make a difference given how great the aluminum case. Is it overkill?
Pure's PCB is more supported than the Race's. Race has uneven PCB support on the left and right. The "center" support is between G and H, which is not in the best position. So, right side of the board has more bounce than the left side. In regards to aluminum case to plastic case Pures. There are only minimal difference in how stiff the PCB feels. If you want a deader (as in PCB doesn't vibrate up and down) feeling keyboard, you need to stuff the inside of the board. Poker doesn't have center screw and most cases doesn't have the ribs supporting the board like the plastic one. You pretty much need to stuff the board/use a plate to make it not feel like tapping on a drum.
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Yeah, between my plate mounted Das Keyboard and my friends Vortex KBT Pure Limited (exact same as yours I'd imagine) there is definitely a difference. That being said, the difference isn't exactly night and day. The Pure is just SLIGHTLY more mushy if you are bottoming out. Not by much though at all. But yeah plate > no plate.
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When people say "that is all a plate does", it's a damn huge difference. Best mod to any PCB-mounted keyboard in terms of noticeable change in feel, apart from swapping switches.
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Funny how different forums feel about plate. KBT people are generally allergic to plate mount boards.
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Pure's PCB is more supported than the Race's. Race has uneven PCB support on the left and right. The "center" support is between G and H, which is not in the best position. So, right side of the board has more bounce than the left side. In regards to aluminum case to plastic case Pures. There are only minimal difference in how stiff the PCB feels. If you want a deader (as in PCB doesn't vibrate up and down) feeling keyboard, you need to stuff the inside of the board. Poker doesn't have center screw and most cases doesn't have the ribs supporting the board like the plastic one. You pretty much need to stuff the board/use a plate to make it not feel like tapping on a drum.
Thank you laffindude, you are always a wealth of information. Seriously, you are a tremendous help. Thank you.
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Plate does more than add stability. It offloads some of the bottom-out force to the plate rather than just concentrate it all on the PCB. If you have cheaper PCBs like CM/Rosewill where solder pads are only on one side, then not having a plate could be detrimental. The traces that are soldered onto the switch pins could be lifted over time. A plate will help absorb this stress. Fortunately Poker/Pure have through-hole solder pads that actually go through the hole on both sides. Adding a plate will still help disperse the bottom-out force.
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Funny how different forums feel about plate. KBT people are generally allergic to plate mount boards.
Is this because of how plates feel, or because KBT people like modding switches?
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Funny how different forums feel about plate. KBT people are generally allergic to plate mount boards.
Is this because of how plates feel, or because KBT people like modding switches?
More than likely because they're cheap
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More than likely because they're cheap
You have to explain this one to me. How do you draw that conclusion from not liking plate mount?
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I'm rather skeptical about the idea of PCB-mounted keyboards...
I mean, even if you can get decent switch stability with a metal case, do you really want there to be nothing between dust/crumbs/stray drops of coffee and the PCB? Just imagine all that crud that usually accumulates on the plate of a keyboard over time accumulating directly on the keyboard's electronics instead. And what about absorbing shocks from bottoming out, or if you accidentally drop a book or something else heavy on the keyboard?
Personally, I like my keyboards not only with a plate, but with that plate being as thick as the switches can support and made out of something nice and tough (like steel). Sometimes I do wonder about unexplored "third options", like having a piece that goes where the plate goes, with bits that come up and cover the switches (like an Azio Mech4/5's plate), but to which the switches don't actually click. With something like that, once you undo all the screws, take off all the keycaps, and open the keyboard up, you could simply remove it-- not only allowing you easy access to switches, but also making it very easy to clean. At the same time, it'd protect the electronics from dirt and liquids, and might even help absorb shocks (if the keycaps hit it when bottoming out). Of course, you'd still need to use PCB-mount switches and support the PCB to the same degree as with any other PCB-mount board, but the combination of easy switch replacement, easy cleaning, and decent protection might make for a decent long-life product. Until something like that exists, though, I'll take a plate.
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More than likely because they're cheap
You have to explain this one to me. How do you draw that conclusion from not liking plate mount?
I'm saying that KBC is staying away from plates because they are cheap. Plates cost money yo
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What does forumnites on KBT and KBC have to do with design decision of Vortex?