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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: kaevix on Thu, 07 April 2016, 09:52:04

Title: What are the differences between R1-R2-R3-R4 keycaps?
Post by: kaevix on Thu, 07 April 2016, 09:52:04
Referring to the size of the keycaps by the way. Also can they be interchanged? (e.g. R3 fitting on R4, likely a stupid question because there wouldn't be a differentiation between the two otherwise, but oh well just confirming.)
Title: Re: What are the differences between R1-R2-R3-R4 keycaps?
Post by: inanis on Thu, 07 April 2016, 09:57:35
They are different heights and angles.
As an example this is SP's DCS, which is reasonably close to OEM profile:

(http://keycapsdirect.com/images/key-caps/angle3.jpg)

They can be interchanged, as in they will fit on the switch, but it will be uncomfortable to type on and look pretty terrible in most cases.

There are some caps which have all the same profile regardless of row, such as DSA, also made by SP.
Title: Re: What are the differences between R1-R2-R3-R4 keycaps?
Post by: Photekq on Thu, 07 April 2016, 09:59:31
It depends on the profile of the keycaps. Are you referring to OEM profile, Cherry profile, SP DCS, SP DSA, SP SA?

For most profiles there will be a significant change in shape. Take SP DCS for example :

(http://www.keycapsdirect.com/images/key-caps/angle3.jpg)

edit: destroyed by inanis
Title: Re: What are the differences between R1-R2-R3-R4 keycaps?
Post by: kaevix on Thu, 07 April 2016, 11:39:59
Quote from: inanis on Thu, 07 April 2016, 09:57:35
They are different heights and angles.
As an example this is SP's DCS, which is reasonably close to OEM profile:

Show Image
(http://keycapsdirect.com/images/key-caps/angle3.jpg)


They can be interchanged, as in they will fit on the switch, but it will be uncomfortable to type on and look pretty terrible in most cases.

There are some caps which have all the same profile regardless of row, such as DSA, also made by SP.

Any idea if it would look bad if I fit in 6 R4 keys instead of 3 R4 and 3 R3 in the INST-DEL-HM-END-PageUp-PageDown R4-R3 area?

Edit: Nvm, tried for myself and they looked really awkward.
Title: Re: What are the differences between R1-R2-R3-R4 keycaps?
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 07 April 2016, 21:39:38
Uniform profile (e.g. DSA, G20, some SA) can be swapped around all over the place as they all have the same profile.