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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mcmaxmcmc on Thu, 05 July 2018, 20:33:43

Title: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: mcmaxmcmc on Thu, 05 July 2018, 20:33:43
Shower thought.

This doesn't include any electric beepers, solenoids, etc. of course.

Which switch? (I'd like to only include those that are MX keycap-compatible, since there'll probably be some obscure X-TRATM loud switches out there, still unknown.)

Which case? Or how would one design such a case?  Thicker plates? Flexible custom-designed plates?  Which materials?

Which type of keycaps, if that helps?  Thin/thick ABS? Thin/thick PBT? Thin/Thick POM? A combination of these? Anything else?

Title: Re: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: UsualSuspectXXX on Thu, 05 July 2018, 20:38:34
Trying to piss off me cube mates at work?

Box jade switches are pretty loud, but I'd just pick up a Model F. That should be more than sufficiently loud.
Title: Re: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 05 July 2018, 20:50:10
Hrrrrrrrmmmmm... model F might  just sound louder because of the case resonance though..
Title: Re: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: BobCarltheThird on Thu, 05 July 2018, 20:57:25
The loudest board I have has a combination of Box Navies, a brass plate, and an aluminum case that has a lot of hollow space. It is as loud as a beamspring without the solenoid in it (yes I've actually tested this)
Title: Re: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: UsualSuspectXXX on Thu, 05 July 2018, 21:19:59
Quote from: tp4tissue on Thu, 05 July 2018, 20:50:10
Hrrrrrrrmmmmm... model F might  just sound louder because of the case resonance though..


Yes, but louder none the less.
Title: Re: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: rxc92 on Thu, 05 July 2018, 23:15:07
Quote from: UsualSuspectXXX on Thu, 05 July 2018, 20:38:34
Trying to piss off me cube mates at work?

Box jade switches are pretty loud, but I'd just pick up a Model F. That should be more than sufficiently loud.

Model Fs are somewhat loud, but because they're beam springs, they're relatively clean and quiet compared to the buckling spring on Model M. Just turn on the extra sound function to annoy your coworkers more  :thumb:
Title: Re: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: M on Thu, 05 July 2018, 23:27:35
i don't know about case or keycaps, but you might find this helpful: https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/7sjv4l/i_made_the_loudest_clicky_mx_switch_crude_mod_box/ (not mine, just have it saved)
Title: Re: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: Techno Trousers on Thu, 05 July 2018, 23:34:40
An F-122 is far and away the loudest pure stock keyboard I've ever used.
Title: Re: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: Findecanor on Thu, 05 July 2018, 23:35:43
I happened to construct my main keyboard to be pretty loud, without really trying. Here's how:
* If you press a key and bottom it out really hard, the bottom of the switch, switch pins or PCB should hit the bottom of the case. Ribs in the wrong places in the case bottom help with this.
* Make the plate sit really tight inside the case. That way, all vibrations in the plate are transferred directly to the case.
* Use no rubber feet so that the case clatters directly against the desk surface.
* Construct the case with unnecessary cavities that act as echo chambers.
* Use switches with very stiff springs. With users applying more force, that means more force in lateral movement (clatter) and a higher force (and louder noise) when the switch tops up. I used Cherry MX Clear, but a clicky switch with stiff springs would be worse. I think linear would be less noisy.

Other things I have learned:
* Use a too thin-diameter stabiliser wire that rattles a lot (K-Type. Input:Club had designed the keyboard but Massdrop had sourced the stabiliser. Input:Club's had rejected that stabiliser before launch but Massdrop used it anyway)
* Make top and bottom not sit really well together. Preferably, the keyboard should rattle if you shake it.
* Use keycaps in thin-walled OEM-profile in PBT plastic.
Higher keycaps lead to more wobble/lateral force and thus clatter inside the switch. Harder plastic dampens sound less. Thin-walled means less solidity and more space inside the keycaps for echo.
* Make sure that your switches are not lubricated. Either use switches that don't have any factory-lubrication, or disassemble, wash them and reassemble. (I have made a rubber dome keyboard feel very crappy by washing it...)
Title: Re: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: Rumblehotep on Thu, 05 July 2018, 23:40:49
solenoid all the things
Title: Re: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: nogoodnames444 on Sat, 07 July 2018, 14:32:25
Get a ****ty razer board and then put box jades or navies since the case is almost hollow
Title: Re: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: just_add_coffee on Sat, 07 July 2018, 19:16:55
I don't think it gets louder than a solenoid tapping against metal ...

(https://i.imgur.com/08SCrqc.jpg)
Title: Re: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: portbaron on Sat, 07 July 2018, 23:00:11
Quote from: just_add_coffee on Sat, 07 July 2018, 19:16:55
I don't think it gets louder than a solenoid tapping against metal ...

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/08SCrqc.jpg)

What is this amazing thing?
Title: Re: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: jcoffin1981 on Wed, 11 July 2018, 20:11:01
Is this a joke or an exercise, lol.  Why not get a board with clicky switches?
Title: Re: How can one make the loudest keyboard possible?
Post by: Findecanor on Thu, 12 July 2018, 04:27:24
Oh, my home-made keyboard with Clears was just as loud as one with clicky switches.
I installed Zealencios: that did not improve much.