Fixed vs Universal Plate

[mozaic]

Greetings everyone,

I'm curious on what the community's thought are about fixed layout plate vs universal layout which has cutouts for both ANSI and ISO. (I know the topic of ANSI vs ISO can get spicy, but let's leave that for another thread)
Maybe this can turn into a thread that others can reference in case they are curious as well, I will update this post with any suggestions you may have.

For starters, this is what I can think of so far:
FIXED PLATE

• Reduces the alignment error when soldering switches
• In case of hotswap PCB, usually there's no other choice
• Reduce the amount of dust that gets built up -nmur
• More consistent typing sound (more noticable across the bottom row) -Rob27shred

UNIVERSAL PLATE

• One plate to rule them all, reducing amount of parts needed to take care of for GB runners

YELLOW TEXT refers to user who made the contribution

P.S. This is may be my first post but I have been lurking for more than a year now, and only recently created an account.
I'm looking forward to introducing my first project with the community in the coming months.

[Leslieann]

Universal plates usually allow opening switches (Cherry style latches) without desoldering.

[nmur]

On a universal plate, there are going to be gaps in the plate that don't look great (only viewable when you look directly from the top), and debris/dust can make its way under the plate easier

[mozaic]

On a universal plate, there are going to be gaps in the plate that don't look great (only viewable when you look directly from the top), and debris/dust can make its way under the plate easier

Interesting, but wouldn't that also be the case for half plate and other plate designs that use a lot of relief cuts?

[Maledicted]

On a universal plate, there are going to be gaps in the plate that don't look great (only viewable when you look directly from the top), and debris/dust can make its way under the plate easier

Interesting, but wouldn't that also be the case for half plate and other plate designs that use a lot of relief cuts?

Probably. I'm cheap. I noticed there were some huge holes near the spacebar on my K65 when I swapping box navies into it. I just covered the holes with tape. Problem solved. I imagine I'll do the same with all of the voids on the CORRECT plate for my DZ60 once it finally comes in.

I got some very, very cheap oral thermometers on Amazon specifically because they touted that they were "waterproof". The very first time I washed one of them, careful to not get too much water near the cutout for the LCD screen ... like I always have done with a similar thermometer not made to be "waterproof" that we've used for many years, and it immediately stopped working. The two surviving thermometers are now wrapped tightly with packing tape. No more problems.

Packing tape, gaff tape, or duct tape (maybe others) should stay in place just about forever unless you want it off. Scotch tape and "electrical" tape were probably designed by Satan.

[Rob27shred]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the sound factor. A universal plate can lead to inconsistent sound across the board vs a fixed plate, most noticeable where large holes are cut in the plate to accommodate many different positionings. The right & left hand sides on the bottom row of a 60% built with a universal plate are a good example of this. While a fixed plate will have a more consistent sound across the board & also a fuller sound. Universal plates can cause a more hollow sound than a fixed would in the same build. Of course these are things you'd have to listen for & not super noticeable unless you are focusing on them. Although there is a difference nonetheless.

[mozaic]

Universal plates usually allow opening switches (Cherry style latches) without desoldering.

Are you talking about openings swithces to lube them, or something else?

[yui_]

As well as sound, the bigger cutouts around keys theoretically also affect the typing feel, making it less consistent.

Also,

One plate to rule them all, reducing amount of parts needed to take care of for GB runners

Though I agree with this to an extent, we are also seeing more and more group buys run with an ANSI-only plate and then files with which an ISO plate can be produced are released. Giving the much greater number of ANSI buyers the better experience of the more fixed plate, and allowing the small number of ISO buyers to get their own plates made which will also have the better experience of fixed for a small additional cost.

IMO, fixed plates are the best just because often these are very expensive custom boards we're buying, which we like to tune every last aspect of. It seems a waste of all that work to shoot it in the foot with something as small as the style of plate.

[Leslieann]

Universal plates usually allow opening switches (Cherry style latches) without desoldering.

Are you talking about openings swithces to lube them, or something else?

Lube, stem swaps, spring swaps...

[mozaic]

As well as sound, the bigger cutouts around keys theoretically also affect the typing feel, making it less consistent.

Also,

One plate to rule them all, reducing amount of parts needed to take care of for GB runners

Though I agree with this to an extent, we are also seeing more and more group buys run with an ANSI-only plate and then files with which an ISO plate can be produced are released. Giving the much greater number of ANSI buyers the better experience of the more fixed plate, and allowing the small number of ISO buyers to get their own plates made which will also have the better experience of fixed for a small additional cost.

IMO, fixed plates are the best just because often these are very expensive custom boards we're buying, which we like to tune every last aspect of. It seems a waste of all that work to shoot it in the foot with something as small as the style of plate.

Wow that was very well said, and I couldn't agree more.
Releasing plate files and allowing ISO users to make their own plate makes a lot more sense. Depending on the popularity of the board, the people who use ISO could also create a small GB for plates (If I'm not mistaken, I think it's been done before).

[mozaic]

Universal plates usually allow opening switches (Cherry style latches) without desoldering.

Are you talking about openings swithces to lube them, or something else?

Lube, stem swaps, spring swaps...

Ohh, ok I'll add that one soon. I guess that could be a benefit if a hot swap PCB is not offered

[Leslieann]

Universal plates usually allow opening switches (Cherry style latches) without desoldering.

Are you talking about openings swithces to lube them, or something else?

Lube, stem swaps, spring swaps...

Ohh, ok I'll add that one soon. I guess that could be a benefit if a hot swap PCB is not offered

Not everyone wants a hot swap pcb on their high end keyboard.