Is there any way to water proof / seal a Mechanical Keyboard?

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Make it so reliable that no dust, dirt, crumbs,  water, etc can get into the mechanical components / PCB / housing, etc?

If there is a way to do that, how expensive would it be to implement on a mass production scale?

I know there is relatively cheap ways to water proof the PCB with nano coatings.

But that doesn't cover the mechanical switches, there is always that gap on top of the switch for stuff to get into the inner mechanical workings.

Any ideas from the folks here?

[SpAmRaY]

TG3 puts a rubber membrane that goes between the keys and the switches in some of the keyboards they make.

[fohat.digs]

Get a rubber dome keyboard.

[BlueBär]

TG3 puts a rubber membrane that goes between the keys and the switches in some of the keyboards they make.

The IBM Beam Spring has something similar.

To make it completly water proof, I think there would need to be a foil of some sort that would cover the whole top side, including the switches, that would also need to go between the switches and the keycaps, and for this it would need to be very thin, elastic and strong, so even if there would be something like that, it wouldn't be cheap. If you would make holes on the switch stems, water could in theory still go through there, but it would be a whole lot easier, I think that's how TG3 does it (couldn't find a picture).

But yeah, if you really need a water and dirt-proof keyboard, get a rubberdome or one of those flexible keyboards (ew).

[mougrim]

I think it can be done with magnetic reed switches. At least electronic part of the keyboard can be sealed absolutely hermetically.

[BlueBär]

I think it can be done with magnetic reed switches. At least electronic part of the keyboard can be sealed absolutely hermetically.

Although reed switches and even more hall effect switches are very resistant to many things, that they still work after taking a beating does not mean that they still work good. Dirt can get stuck between the housing and the slider of such switches as well and would affect the feel, resistance, etc., and if you spilled something containing sugar on them they would stick, too.

[mougrim]

Although reed switches and even more hall effect switches are very resistant to many things, that they still work after taking a beating does not mean that they still work good. Dirt can get stuck between the housing and the slider of such switches as well and would affect the feel, resistance, etc., and if you spilled something containing sugar on them they would stick, too.

Yes, but mechanical part can be made easy cleanable (with, say, water) and electronics will be immune to any dust/liquid/etc. This is the closest to topicstarter's goal as it can get, if we talking about mechanical keyboards.

[BlueBär]

Yes, but mechanical part can be made easy cleanable (with, say, water) and electronics will be immune to any dust/liquid/etc.

Agreed. Not really practical though as there are afaik no hall effect or reed switch boards that still get produced and old ones are rare etc

[mougrim]

Yes, but mechanical part can be made easy cleanable (with, say, water) and electronics will be immune to any dust/liquid/etc.

Agreed. Not really practical though as there are afaik no hall effect or reed switch boards that still get produced and old ones are rare etc

Agreed. But we are are only theorizing there - about what could be done if someone really wanted it But someone can build custom one... Reed switches as is are still produced...  for industrial uses.

[C5Allroad]

I've seen some "resistant boards" with this little lip next the switch housing.
My brothers K90 was freaking water proof, he had water in his board, the lower right of it.... I picked up his board and water started dripping lol.

[dorkvader]

This mechanical is fully sealed against dust and liquids.
http://imgur.com/a/mg86H

[mougrim]

Hmm...  There are written "rubber dome capacitive" It's something like Topre switches?

[Dreamre]

The Asian way...saran wrap...

[mougrim]

Leakproof electronics and sturdy mechanical part - our way