Mechanical Keyboards
A Leopold FC750R mechanical keyboard.
What are Mechanical Keyboards?
What makes a mechanical keyboard mechanical is often debated; we have decided to clear that up before we begin. Here is our definition: mechanical keyboards are keyboards that use metal contacts to detect keypresses. When a key is pressed down, the contacts allow electricity to flow, which the MCU uses to detect the keypress and send the corresponding input to the computer. They are often considered to be superior to other keyboard types such as rubber-dome-over-membrane keyboards in both key feel and durability. Each key in a mechanical keyboard can last upwards of 50 million keypresses, with more recent models boasting a lifespan of over 100 million keypresses. When a key breaks, it is possible to replace the single key without having to replace the entire keyboard. However, they can often be louder and more expensive than other types of keyboards. This wiki is specifically catered towards mechanical keyboards; other keyboard types will not be discussed in detail.