User Guide

apart a board and sometimes even the switches, risking the destruction of the keyboard or the
switches. Switches differ in how they close the circuit, signaling a key depression, the amount of
tactile bump felt and the loudness of the click when the key is depressed.
Cherry MX Switches
Cherry MX are mechanical switches that consist of a spring and two metal contacts. When
depressed, it causes the plastic stem to go down, at which point a steel spring inside closes the
switch, signaling the key has been depressed. One of the benefits of Cherry MX switches is the
gold-plated contacts. Unlike other metals, the gold prevents the contacts from rusting, increasing
the lifespan of the switch. There are a variety of switch constructions for these types of keys, and
they can be differentiated by the color of the stem, which you can see when you remove the
keycap.
Linear Switch: Cherry MX Black
Actuation Force: 60cN
Cherry MX Black switches were one of the first mechanical keyboard switches available to the
general public. They are linear, or non-tactile, this means that Black switches don’t have a loud
click or a bump that is felt when a key is depressed. Many gamers like these because of the
smooth feel and the fact that the actuation and release points are at the exact same position,
making double tapping easier than other switches.
Light Tactile Switch: Cherry MX Brown