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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: mickyman on Sat, 26 April 2014, 13:10:29

Title: Metal Keycaps
Post by: mickyman on Sat, 26 April 2014, 13:10:29
I was thinking about getting a couple metal keycaps, maybe for my spacebar and others, and I struck me that they must be heavier (being made of metal).

Has anyone got any and is there much difference between them and say ABS caps in the force needed to actuate?
Title: Re: Metal Keycaps
Post by: exitfire401 on Sat, 26 April 2014, 13:14:34
I was thinking about getting a couple metal keycaps, maybe for my spacebar and others, and I struck me that they must be heavier (being made of metal).

Has anyone got any and is there much difference between them and say ABS caps in the force needed to actuate?

First off, not being a **** (because there are so many more who will be), just suggesting using search before posting as this has come up a couple of times in the last week. To answer your question, the only switch I've noticed any actuation difference on after adding zinc or metal caps of any sort were Reds.  They already take basically no force at all to actuate, and with the added weight of a metal cap, they can fail to rebound or just take no force to actuate whatsoever.
Title: Re: Metal Keycaps
Post by: mickyman on Sat, 26 April 2014, 13:21:33

First off, not being a **** (because there are so many more who will be), just suggesting using search before posting as this has come up a couple of times in the last week. To answer your question, the only switch I've noticed any actuation difference on after adding zinc or metal caps of any sort were Reds.  They already take basically no force at all to actuate, and with the added weight of a metal cap, they can fail to rebound or just take no force to actuate whatsoever.

I'll remember that for next time, and thanks.
Title: Re: Metal Keycaps
Post by: Razor Lotus on Sat, 26 April 2014, 19:17:44
I was thinking about getting a couple metal keycaps, maybe for my spacebar and others, and I struck me that they must be heavier (being made of metal).

Has anyone got any and is there much difference between them and say ABS caps in the force needed to actuate?

First off, not being a **** (because there are so many more who will be), just suggesting using search before posting as this has come up a couple of times in the last week. To answer your question, the only switch I've noticed any actuation difference on after adding zinc or metal caps of any sort were Reds.  They already take basically no force at all to actuate, and with the added weight of a metal cap, they can fail to rebound or just take no force to actuate whatsoever.

fail to rebound?

Wow that seems quite extreme doesn't it? Like you press it and it just stays down...? :(
Title: Re: Metal Keycaps
Post by: epzy on Sat, 26 April 2014, 20:08:20
I was thinking about getting a couple metal keycaps, maybe for my spacebar and others, and I struck me that they must be heavier (being made of metal).

Has anyone got any and is there much difference between them and say ABS caps in the force needed to actuate?

First off, not being a **** (because there are so many more who will be), just suggesting using search before posting as this has come up a couple of times in the last week. To answer your question, the only switch I've noticed any actuation difference on after adding zinc or metal caps of any sort were Reds.  They already take basically no force at all to actuate, and with the added weight of a metal cap, they can fail to rebound or just take no force to actuate whatsoever.

fail to rebound?

Wow that seems quite extreme doesn't it? Like you press it and it just stays down...? :(

Or just comes back up slowly.
Title: Re: Metal Keycaps
Post by: exitfire401 on Sat, 26 April 2014, 20:09:49
I was thinking about getting a couple metal keycaps, maybe for my spacebar and others, and I struck me that they must be heavier (being made of metal).

Has anyone got any and is there much difference between them and say ABS caps in the force needed to actuate?

First off, not being a **** (because there are so many more who will be), just suggesting using search before posting as this has come up a couple of times in the last week. To answer your question, the only switch I've noticed any actuation difference on after adding zinc or metal caps of any sort were Reds.  They already take basically no force at all to actuate, and with the added weight of a metal cap, they can fail to rebound or just take no force to actuate whatsoever.

fail to rebound?

Wow that seems quite extreme doesn't it? Like you press it and it just stays down...? :(

Or just comes back up slowly.

I've had both. slow returns, and just sticking at the actuation point.
Title: Re: Metal Keycaps
Post by: Photekq on Sat, 26 April 2014, 20:20:55
I've never used metal caps, but I've always thought the idea is stupid. Plastics are the ideal material for keycaps. Ultimately, function>form.
Title: Re: Metal Keycaps
Post by: epzy on Sat, 26 April 2014, 20:21:52
I've never used metal caps, but I've always thought the idea is stupid. Plastics are the ideal material for keycaps. Ultimately, function>form.

But, dat bling, yo. :p
Title: Re: Metal Keycaps
Post by: Melvang on Sun, 27 April 2014, 01:29:36
I have the keycap that is in my profile pic on my Esc key.  It is currently on a lubed brown (same spring as red) and on a stock unlubed brown.  It is titanium (heavier than aluminum for a given volume) and it has never failed to rebound or come back up slowly.  It does push down easier though.