What mechanical switch (Cherry {and copies} or other) feels like a membrane?

[Row009]

Hi,

I was wondering, what switch type feels as close as possible to a membrane switch keyboard?
I have never actually used a different type other than the Cherry MX Blue (at least on a built keyboard).

[chyros]

By "membrane" do you mean "rubber dome"? The membrane doesn't really feel of all that much tbh xD .

Some switches actually incorporate rubber domes into their structure, by the way. But rubber domes have a very specific feeling that not much else feels like. Apart from obviously Topre I found SKCM neon green/lime to feel vaguely like it, but much more defined and obviously not spongy. No Cherry or copy feels like rubber domes, they're nowhere near tactile enough.

[Row009]

By "membrane" do you mean "rubber dome"? The membrane doesn't really feel of all that much tbh xD .

Some switches actually incorporate rubber domes into their structure, by the way. But rubber domes have a very specific feeling that not much else feels like. Apart from obviously Topre I found SKCM neon green/lime to feel vaguely like it, but much more defined and obviously not spongy. No Cherry or copy feels like rubber domes, they're nowhere near tactile enough.

Yeah, definitely rubber dome...
What about the MX reds?
Do they somewhat resemble the feel?

[Aran.E99]

actually, mx reds are somewhat the opposite - rubber domes 'collapse' in on themselves which increases resistance then when it passes a certain actuation point, it 'slams' down onto the membrane. in other words, sudden increase then decrease in resistance is another way of saying tactile. basically rubber domes are tactile (bump feeling) and reds are linear (smooth) . if you are referring to actuation, i compared cherry blues to a rubber dome, and it takes 7 £1 coins to actuate both. cherry mx reds use 45g springs so will take less force to actuate compared to cherry mx blues which take 50g of force to actuate. so no, mx reds are very different to rubber domes in feeling.

(hope that made sense xD)

[ndakota79]

Topre.

[chyros]

By "membrane" do you mean "rubber dome"? The membrane doesn't really feel of all that much tbh xD .

Some switches actually incorporate rubber domes into their structure, by the way. But rubber domes have a very specific feeling that not much else feels like. Apart from obviously Topre I found SKCM neon green/lime to feel vaguely like it, but much more defined and obviously not spongy. No Cherry or copy feels like rubber domes, they're nowhere near tactile enough.

Yeah, definitely rubber dome...
What about the MX reds?
Do they somewhat resemble the feel?

Nope, not at all. No MX switch feels anything like rubber domes.

[Findecanor]

Topre.

Topre switches are rubber domes without membranes, btw.

Very high quality rubber dome keyboards. Like Cherry MX switches they are not mushy when you bottom out, they have good rollover and actuation is in the middle of key travel as opposed to the bottom.
Some people even call them "mechanical" because of those characteristics - like an honorific.

[OfTheWild]

Heres a sad realization... the 'free' HP keyboard that i have under my desk at work feels remarkably similar to my HHKB Type-S. 

[chyros]

Heres a sad realization... the 'free' HP keyboard that i have under my desk at work feels remarkably similar to my HHKB Type-S. 

Just normal rubber domes or some kind of dome with slider design?

[Sifo]

Topre, but you might as well just bulk buy a few hundred pieces of **** at a thrift store

[OfTheWild]

Heres a sad realization... the 'free' HP keyboard that i have under my desk at work feels remarkably similar to my HHKB Type-S. 

Just normal rubber domes or some kind of dome with slider design?

I dunno its got snap in keys like a buckling spring board and a rubber dome at the bottom. As far as I can tell there are no springs, just rubber. They last about 3 years and then end up in the garbage. I'm hoping my Ducky with MX Blacks is the end of the keyboards for me at work.

[klennkellon]

Matias Quiet Clicks have a kind of rubber dome esque feel. Their bump is already quite high up and the dampening makes it feel like the bump is right at the top. The dampening gives it a mushier/softer feel.

It makes me wonder if SKCM Neon Green would feel even more Topre like if they were dampened.