Hello from Canada

[Owindyifu]

Hi, I am Yifu from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
I am a international Student from China currently in last year University in Canada.
My family back in China has business in manufacturing OEM keyboards ( mostly Chinese local brand, we made some for LG, Lenovo before)
and just starting making Mechanical Keyboards in there these few years.
So welcome to ask anything about keyboard manufacturing.

Here are some pictures(Sorry for the quality)
White ones are gaming keyboard with Mechanical switch feelings.(they feel really close to Mechanical)


Black one using Cherry MX black switches. And i also have 5 cats, here are two sisters favors keyboard.

[infiniti]

Welcome to Geekhack, Yifu!

Hmm...questions on keyboard manufacturing...got any how-it's-made type videos?

Oh and are you hiring keyboard consultants?

[Owindyifu]

Hmm, don't think i have any on my hands right now, but i would love to make a video when i go back home.

I remember about 8 or 9 years ago when my father first getting into the business, i used to "work" for him to make keyboards, normal ones.
So i spend like the whole day go through the whole manufacturing process, from the PCB board, back case, front case, keycaps alignments.
The best part is the laser engraving for the letters on keycaps, its the coolest thing ever.
I even made a special keyboard for one of my best friends as his birthday gift, all the letters are B on all the keys( well , just for FUN).

Since we are doing a lot of local business, none of my family factory staff can really communicate with English. But my mom taught herself English in these few years, but just basic stuff. They really want me to go back to family business after i graduate from University.

Welcome to Geekhack, Yifu!

Hmm...questions on keyboard manufacturing...got any how-it's-made type videos?

Oh and are you hiring keyboard consultants?

[GL1TCH3D]

Wow Yifu that's really interesting! I think a lot of people here would love to see how the keyboards are made.

What's the cost of a keyboard to make? (Though very understandable if you can't answer that one xP)

Are you studying business in university?

[BlueNalgene]

Welcome Yifu.

I just ordered a keyboard that looks exactly like the black one you have pictured.  It is hard to tell if something from China is as high quality as the advertisement claims.  Do you like it?  I read that those were the Genius Quake 87B, and that they used Kailh black switches instead of Cherry.  Any chance you could take a picture of a switch under the keycap so we can get a positive identification? 

Also, I would be super interested in seeing a How It's Made style video, even if there is a language barrier.  I think it would still be fascinating to hear someone describe their work in a language so foreign to me.

[Owindyifu]

Like the white one i have in the picture,  the manufacturing cost ( material, labor, and etc.- all on the factory side) would be about 60 +/- 10 RMB(Chinese Yuan, currency ratio 6.22 Chinese Yuan: 1 USD),
then we sell it to our customer(Flashget for this one) which they ordered large quantity (5K or 10K+).
They will have their way to sell to regional distributors, online store(i.e. Taobao) or to web cafe (which is a really big market in China) even.

They sell this keyboard for 245 RMB on the market, even when its on sell, its 168 RMB
here is a link on Taobao(it is not my store, i just randomly searched it), maybe you cant read Chinese but you can check out the detailed pictures and structures on the "switch".
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.38.OVqKql&id=42857820589&ns=1&abbucket=13#detail

They advertised it as Zero Axial Mechanical Key, and it fits all the DIY keycaps!

So there are definitely profits on this new market, when people willing to pay little more than a regular keyboard to get a better performanced one. Cause i think not EVERYBODY likes the stiff feeling of mechanical switches. for me i personally LOVE it, but my girlfriend prefer this white one better( which she is using right now, and she is a gamer!)

I am study Business Informatics in University, which is a new program involves study in both business strategy and Information technology sides.

And forgive me for all the messy typing and grammar.

Wow Yifu that's really interesting! I think a lot of people here would love to see how the keyboards are made.

What's the cost of a keyboard to make? (Though very understandable if you can't answer that one xP)

Are you studying business in university?

[Owindyifu]

Yes, that one is from Genius.

I went back China last summer and i am SOOO exciting to hear that the factory is making mechanical keyboards, so i asked my father to make few for me with Cherry MX switches, but unfortunately Cherry DO NOT sell switches to small companies, they only sell to certain big customers(Razer, Ducky, any solid big brand). So in the end my father found enough switches to make only one keyboard with Cherry Swithces, which is the one i have now.

And the ones on the market for Genius Quake would be all Kailh switches, and they perform pretty nice with their legit price. Of course they are not that reliable compare to Cherry ones but they are pretty close to Cherrys. You guys must know the new Razer mechanical keyboard with their own "Green" switches right? they are from Kailh as well. Kailh's 90% production is for Razer and they make millions switches each year. They are one of the biggest mechanical switch supplier in China now (Cherry is the biggest global for sure lol).

I will finish my degree this summer and will go back China around that time. I do amateur photography time by time, so for sure i would make a video about "How keyboards are made?"

Welcome Yifu.

I just ordered a keyboard that looks exactly like the black one you have pictured.  It is hard to tell if something from China is as high quality as the advertisement claims.  Do you like it?  I read that those were the Genius Quake 87B, and that they used Kailh black switches instead of Cherry.  Any chance you could take a picture of a switch under the keycap so we can get a positive identification? 

Also, I would be super interested in seeing a How It's Made style video, even if there is a language barrier.  I think it would still be fascinating to hear someone describe their work in a language so foreign to me.

[Owindyifu]

And ill post some pictures for some close shot( switches, LEDs, bacik/front case) if you guys are insteresed

Welcome Yifu.

I just ordered a keyboard that looks exactly like the black one you have pictured.  It is hard to tell if something from China is as high quality as the advertisement claims.  Do you like it?  I read that those were the Genius Quake 87B, and that they used Kailh black switches instead of Cherry.  Any chance you could take a picture of a switch under the keycap so we can get a positive identification? 

Also, I would be super interested in seeing a How It's Made style video, even if there is a language barrier.  I think it would still be fascinating to hear someone describe their work in a language so foreign to me.

[BlueNalgene]

Yes, that one is from Genius.

I went back China last summer and i am SOOO exciting to hear that the factory is making mechanical keyboards, so i asked my father to make few for me with Cherry MX switches, but unfortunately Cherry DO NOT sell switches to small companies, they only sell to certain big customers(Razer, Ducky, any solid big brand). So in the end my father found enough switches to make only one keyboard with Cherry Swithces, which is the one i have now.

And the ones on the market for Genius Quake would be all Kailh switches, and they perform pretty nice with their legit price. Of course they are not that reliable compare to Cherry ones but they are pretty close to Cherrys. You guys must know the new Razer mechanical keyboard with their own "Green" switches right? they are from Kailh as well. Kailh's 90% production is for Razer and they make millions switches each year. They are one of the biggest mechanical switch supplier in China now (Cherry is the biggest global for sure lol).

I will finish my degree this summer and will go back China around that time. I do amateur photography time by time, so for sure i would make a video about "How keyboards are made?"

Welcome Yifu.

I just ordered a keyboard that looks exactly like the black one you have pictured.  It is hard to tell if something from China is as high quality as the advertisement claims.  Do you like it?  I read that those were the Genius Quake 87B, and that they used Kailh black switches instead of Cherry.  Any chance you could take a picture of a switch under the keycap so we can get a positive identification? 

Also, I would be super interested in seeing a How It's Made style video, even if there is a language barrier.  I think it would still be fascinating to hear someone describe their work in a language so foreign to me.

A custom job, neat!  Thanks for the interesting info.

[Owindyifu]

Yes, that one is from Genius.

I went back China last summer and i am SOOO exciting to hear that the factory is making mechanical keyboards, so i asked my father to make few for me with Cherry MX switches, but unfortunately Cherry DO NOT sell switches to small companies, they only sell to certain big customers(Razer, Ducky, any solid big brand). So in the end my father found enough switches to make only one keyboard with Cherry Swithces, which is the one i have now.

And the ones on the market for Genius Quake would be all Kailh switches, and they perform pretty nice with their legit price. Of course they are not that reliable compare to Cherry ones but they are pretty close to Cherrys. You guys must know the new Razer mechanical keyboard with their own "Green" switches right? they are from Kailh as well. Kailh's 90% production is for Razer and they make millions switches each year. They are one of the biggest mechanical switch supplier in China now (Cherry is the biggest global for sure lol).

I will finish my degree this summer and will go back China around that time. I do amateur photography time by time, so for sure i would make a video about "How keyboards are made?"

Welcome Yifu.

I just ordered a keyboard that looks exactly like the black one you have pictured.  It is hard to tell if something from China is as high quality as the advertisement claims.  Do you like it?  I read that those were the Genius Quake 87B, and that they used Kailh black switches instead of Cherry.  Any chance you could take a picture of a switch under the keycap so we can get a positive identification? 

Also, I would be super interested in seeing a How It's Made style video, even if there is a language barrier.  I think it would still be fascinating to hear someone describe their work in a language so foreign to me.

A custom job, neat!  Thanks for the interesting info.

No problem mate, glad i can provide these info here.
I am still thinking about future business opportunities globally, maybe using my advantages to open fully customized mechanical keyboard business or something. Just an idea in my head now.

[Evo_Spec]

Welcome to GH!!

Wow dude that's so cool! you're living the dream many people here would love, does your family's company produce everything? like keycaps, PCB, and cases? or get them from OEM's and build them?

Also you should have your family look into Gateron switches, they're brand new but i keep hearing promising information about them.

[zentic]

Welcome!

[Owindyifu]

Welcome to GH!!

Wow dude that's so cool! you're living the dream many people here would love, does your family's company produce everything? like keycaps, PCB, and cases? or get them from OEM's and build them?

Also you should have your family look into Gateron switches, they're brand new but i keep hearing promising information about them.

We have few injection molding machine on field, so we but ABS or other raw materials and make keycaps, cases in the factory. We buy ICs from some Taiwan company. We also do OEM orders for other companys when they need more productions, since our company is famous for our product quality in this industry.

Thank you for the info on the new switches, maybe we will get some of it and make a sample product out of it.

[Evo_Spec]

Welcome to GH!!

Wow dude that's so cool! you're living the dream many people here would love, does your family's company produce everything? like keycaps, PCB, and cases? or get them from OEM's and build them?

Also you should have your family look into Gateron switches, they're brand new but i keep hearing promising information about them.

We have few injection molding machine on field, so we but ABS or other raw materials and make keycaps, cases in the factory. We buy ICs from some Taiwan company. We also do OEM orders for other companys when they need more productions, since our company is famous for our product quality in this industry.

Thank you for the info on the new switches, maybe we will get some of it and make a sample product out of it.

I can't wait to see what you bring to this community, so very cool.

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

I can imagine that many of us would be interested in seeing a video of how keyboards are made, especially mechanical keyboards!

It's also interesting that the non-mechanical keyboard (the white one) has MX-compatible stems - makes it easier to customise