Polycarbonate vs Aluminum Case Material

Polycarbonate is a lightweight, yet heavy duty plastic. It allows the board to have some degree of flex under pressure, while maintaining a lower overall weight than its aluminum counterpart. The sound is also more deep, thocky, and less pingy than aluminum. Its semi-trasnparent properties allow RGB underglow to diffuse through the body, and you can see the boards internals through it.

The 6063 aluminum used in our keyboards is very sturdy and makes the board feel solid. Typing flex will only come from the plate/pcb and not from the case. There is not too much thock and lots of resonance.

 

Half Switch Plates and Flex

Flex is a term we use to describe the physical flexing of a keyboard when under typing pressure. Some people enjoy it when their builds flex, and some don't. Its all personal preference.

For gaming I would suggest non flex builds, and for prolonged typing sessions I would suggest flex builds.

Half plates are plates where the alpha-numeric section of the plate is cut out. In a build, the switches would only be attached to the PCB and have no physical support from the plate. This is so that the plate/pcb flexes while under typing pressure.

Simply stated, if you want more flex, go with half plates and/or softer plate materials.

 

Switch Plate Options

Aluminum is your standard, underrated, look good feel good plate material. It's sturdy yet flexible, and sounds great.

Fine-blasted Brass is a solid plate that looks very pretty to the eye. It's pingy, loud, and will hold out fine when you are smashing keys.

Stainless Steel is beautiful to look at, very solid and not too pingy compared to brass.

Titanium is for when you absolutely want to kill flex and Brass or Stainless Steel just fall short. You want a raw strong feel? Here it is.

FR4 is the same material that PCB's are made out of. Its a lightweight, flame retardant plate made out of woven glass reinforced with epoxy resin. Sturdy yet flexible, and has a muted kind of ping than aluminum. Perfect overall option.

Polycarbonate is a super lightweight, flexible, and muffled plate. It's very discrete, quiet, and a nice change from the usual. Its also semi-transparent. Very underrated in my opinion and excellent for long typing sessions.

POM is a super lightweight, flexible, and durable plate. Louder and stiffer than polycarbonate. Tends to normally come surface scratched from the manufacturer.

Carbon Fiber is a very lightweight, flexible, and durable plate as well. Looks amazing and sounds very nice overall.

 

Hotswap vs Solder PCB's

Solder pcb's require you to physically solder every switch via their two pins, using a solder iron and solder.

Hotswap PCB's come with a component on them that allows you to simply press in the switch without the need to solder it in.

Hotswap PCB's are easier to assemble than a solder PCB, but hardcore enthusiasts claim Solder PCB's give the switch an ever so slightly stronger hold and feel and are better.

There can also be less layouts supported by hotswap PCB's as the hotswap sockets take up a large amount of space. This is true of the Pandora 60% PCB.