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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Abn on Sat, 07 June 2014, 04:28:50

Title: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: Abn on Sat, 07 June 2014, 04:28:50: So I was wondering if http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=859 were thick or thin pbt keycaps, and if it really makes a difference.
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: strict on Sat, 07 June 2014, 07:45:31: That keyset should be fairly thick, probably not the thickest but definitely enough so to be considered thick.

Many people here claim thick PBT > *, I'm waiting on my pitch black PBT keys from Ivan's group buy to confirm whether or not it's all just hype. I am typing on thin PBT on my work keyboard and I will say that if going from thin PBT to thick PBT is as profound of an improvement as it was to go from ABS to thin PBT I will be very pleased.
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 07 June 2014, 07:55:15: (http://i.ebayimg.com/t/KBC-White-Dyesub-Blue-Fonts-Thick-PBT-104-Keyset-Cherry-MX-Keycaps-/00/s/MTA2NlgxNjAw/z/iKgAAMXQoYJSJPnb/$%28KGrHqZ,!oQFIGltnkrIBSJPnbKSm!~~60_57.JPG)
Ducky sets are 'thin' unless they are the 'Premier' dyesub edition keycap. Do they have different feeling? Yes. Will you like that different feeling... I can't tell you. You have to find out yourself.
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: strict on Sat, 07 June 2014, 08:00:44: Here is a picture of the non-engraved version of the white Ducky PBT keys Josh from mechanicalkeyboards.com sent me when I inquired about how thick they were. I also asked about their Grey/Blue and Pink/White PBT sets and he said they were all the same thickness.

(http://i.imgur.com/bOYy3uY.jpg)
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 07 June 2014, 08:06:37: That is 'Premier' set. The engraved ones are older and are thin I'm fairly sure.
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: kurplop on Sat, 07 June 2014, 08:17:15: In theory, wouldn't a thinner/lighter keycap make the switch more responsive, much like unsprung weight on a race car?
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 07 June 2014, 09:11:51: I find that thicker heavier caps actually make seem lighter, as there is slightly more preload. Though in case of click switch it does make them feel a bit less 'crisp'. They also certainly change the sound characteristic quite a bit giving a much lower tone on both bottom and top out.
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 07 June 2014, 09:57:17: sigh... the Thin and Thick caps weigh exactly the same..
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 07 June 2014, 10:16:33: That is amazing that they weigh the same... when the thick have almost 3x the material. NO they do not weigh the same.
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: Techno Trousers on Sat, 07 June 2014, 13:17:46: It makes sense that thick ones would be heavier, unless there are a lot of air pockets inside or something.

Has anyone ever weighed them? I assume we're talking fractional grams here.
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: ideus on Sat, 07 June 2014, 13:29:43: Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 07 June 2014, 09:11:51
I find that thicker heavier caps actually make seem lighter, as there is slightly more preload. Though in case of click switch it does make them feel a bit less 'crisp'. They also certainly change the sound characteristic quite a bit giving a much lower tone on both bottom and top out.

Have the same experience: The own weight of the cap on the switch makes it to feel lighter. I think this should depend also of the module of the spring and if the switch has a bumper or if it is linear.

For me it is more important the sound as it is the main feedback while typing. In general I may say that while I like think PBT, I prefer thick ABS most of the time. Of course I am talking about think original Cherry double shot ABS caps.
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: Abn on Sat, 07 June 2014, 13:43:51: Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 07 June 2014, 08:06:37
That is 'Premier' set. The engraved ones are older and are thin I'm fairly sure.
Could you have him clarify on the engraved ones I linked if they are as thick those, IvanIvanovich above said they were thin.

Basically I want a keycap set like this that will have the leds shine through, scroll to bottom http://imgur.com/a/KsIDT
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 07 June 2014, 14:09:12: Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 07 June 2014, 10:16:33
That is amazing that they weigh the same... when the thick have almost 3x the material. NO they do not weigh the same.

Yes I weighed them..(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/hehe-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862507)

the THICK pbt cherry profile weighs the same as pbt THIN OEM profile.

I've not seen thick pbt oem profile yet.. so Maybe those weigh more.. but I doubt it..
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: Abn on Sat, 07 June 2014, 15:39:05: Quote from: tp4tissue on Sat, 07 June 2014, 14:09:12
Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 07 June 2014, 10:16:33
That is amazing that they weigh the same... when the thick have almost 3x the material. NO they do not weigh the same.

Yes I weighed them..
Show Image
(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/hehe-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862507)

the THICK pbt cherry profile weighs the same as pbt THIN OEM profile.

I've not seen thick pbt oem profile yet.. so Maybe those weigh more.. but I doubt it..
EDIT: I bought them hopefully I will be pleased ! Mostly just want the shine through effect
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: davkol on Sat, 07 June 2014, 17:00:28: Quote from: tp4tissue on Sat, 07 June 2014, 14:09:12
Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 07 June 2014, 10:16:33
That is amazing that they weigh the same... when the thick have almost 3x the material. NO they do not weigh the same.

Yes I weighed them..
Show Image
(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/hehe-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862507)

the THICK pbt cherry profile weighs the same as pbt THIN OEM profile.

I've not seen thick pbt oem profile yet.. so Maybe those weigh more.. but I doubt it..

Apples to oranges then, okay.
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 07 June 2014, 20:03:43: Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 07 June 2014, 08:06:37
That is 'Premier' set. The engraved ones are older and are thin I'm fairly sure.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=49458.msg1152447#msg1152447

Shows a pic of the recent Yellow Edition PBT keycaps, mine are engraved and about that thick. Maybe a sign of Ducky making thicker PBT keycaps as a matter of course now.
Title: Re: Question about "thick" and "thin" pbt keycaps
Post by: 00zeRO on Sat, 07 June 2014, 22:45:22: Quote from: rowdy on Sat, 07 June 2014, 20:03:43
Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 07 June 2014, 08:06:37
That is 'Premier' set. The engraved ones are older and are thin I'm fairly sure.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=49458.msg1152447#msg1152447

Shows a pic of the recent Yellow Edition PBT keycaps, mine are engraved and about that thick. Maybe a sign of Ducky making thicker PBT keycaps as a matter of course now.

Yes, yes, and yes. They changed their tune after the first batch of Yellow Editions were having problems with breakage in the thin PBT material in test groups. Course, their first clue should have been the white blanks and engraved G2 Pros that had the occasional broken PBT keycap. The coolest part of the thicker PBT is definitely the straight, non-wavy spacebars...