Author Topic: Heavier switches -> less finger strain?  (Read 2250 times)

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Offline DuckMyDucky

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Heavier switches -> less finger strain?
« on: Thu, 19 February 2015, 02:33:40 »
I've noticed that my model m gives me the least finger fatigue and the least pain after a full day of typing. At least compared to my other keyboards with cherry mx blue and brown. I'm wondering if this might have to do with heavier switches, or perhaps the more curved profile of the model m? I wonder if heavy cherry mx switches will have same effect on me. Does anyone else share my experience?

Offline Moralless

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  • Location: Sydney, Australia
Re: Heavier switches -> less finger strain?
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 19 February 2015, 02:43:56 »
If you bottom out while typing on heavier switches like BS it's entirely possible the strain might be caused from you bottoming out a lot harder when typing on your blues/brown. That's what used to happen to me when I would switch between my cherry mx red and clears boards.

Offline DuckMyDucky

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Re: Heavier switches -> less finger strain?
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 19 February 2015, 02:51:51 »
I actually don't bottom out much on blues and browns (at least not hard bottom out). I find it hard not to bottom out on the model m, probably due to the sudden drop in force as the spring buckles.

Offline Oobly

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Re: Heavier switches -> less finger strain?
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 19 February 2015, 02:53:58 »
Could be a combination of the force profile after actuation and the difference in force required. Buckling springs have a rapidly increasing force curve after the actuation point which prevents any shock from "bottoming out". Stock MX switches have a "hard" bottom out, the spring rate increase is linear throughout the movement and there is no sudden ramp-up at the end. This is the main reason why people started using orings.

If you're used to using buckling springs, the force required on MX is much less, so you could be using more force than is necessary and thus still accelerating the key when you hit the hard bottom-out point, causing shock to the fingers. I find I still do this on linear MX switches (beacause there's no physical confirmation of actuation before hitting bottom), but not on the tactile ones.

Moving to heavier MX switches may help, but ultimately you have to get used to using whichever version you choose, so you're not bottoming out strongly. I find the heavier MX switches fatiguing on long typing sessions, 62g is the ideal spring strength for me.

Try using orings / trampolines. They do help to reduce shock very well. I find 62g ErgoClears with trampolines and heavy keycaps to be the absolute best MX typing experience I have had so far.
Buying more keycaps,
it really hacks my wallet,
but I must have them.