Exploring Mechanical Keyboard Mounting Structures

GX87 Gasket Mount

Many keyboard enthusiasts are already well-acquainted with the Gasket Mount for its exceptional typing feel and sound quality. Brands like MCHOSE have brought this design to the forefront with standout models like the G75 and GX87. However, less is known about the unique characteristics of other mechanical keyboard structures. In this article, we’ll dive into these various designs, helping you discover which one might be the perfect fit for your typing experience.

GX87 KeyboardMCHOSE GX87 (Full Aluminum Keyboard)

Tray Mount

The Tray Mount is a straightforward and widely-used mechanical keyboard mounting structure. In this design, the keyboard lacks an upper cover, and the PCB is directly secured to the bottom shell of the case with screws. This structure is simple, cost-effective, and highly compatible, making it particularly popular in compact layouts and keyboard kits. Many PCBs with layouts such as 60%, 61%, and 64% can easily fit into a Tray Mount case, providing users with an easy upgrade path and interchangeable components.

Tray Mount

However, the Tray Mount structure does have its drawbacks. Since the PCB is only secured by a few screws, the force distribution across the keyboard plate may be uneven, leading to inconsistent typing feel and sound feedback in different areas. Additionally, with the PCB and bottom shell directly connected, the bottom case may vibrate upon key presses, producing unwanted noise. The screw holes also require a certain height, which can amplify cavity resonance. To mitigate these issues, users can enhance stability and feel by adding foam or silicone pads inside the case.

Integrated Mount

The Integrated Mount structure, also known as a one-piece design, features a keyboard where the upper cover and the plate are integrated. This design offers a robust structure and a more stable typing feel by minimizing gaps and looseness between components.

Integrated Mount

Similar to the Tray Mount, the keyboard's core is secured to the base with screws, with the upper cover and plate pressed onto the base. The integrated nature of this structure provides high rigidity, offering a more solid typing experience compared to the Tray Mount. However, this also limits the flexibility of the plate, resulting in a firmer typing feel and a loss of the soft, springy sensation. Vibration from typing is directly transmitted to the upper cover, potentially causing noise.

Plateless Mount

The Plateless Mount is characterized by the omission of traditional positioning plates or steel plates, mounting switches directly onto the PCB. By reducing the direct contact between the switches and the positioning plate, this structure delivers a softer, more natural typing experience. The lack of a plate helps prevent the resonance often caused by traditional steel plates, resulting in a more mellow and pleasant typing sound.

Plateless Mount

However, the lack of a traditional positioning plate makes the Plateless design more fragile compared to plate-mounted keyboards. Frequent use or heavy key presses may cause the PCB to flex or even crack. If using a hotswap PCB, stability may be compromised, and the pressure direction can cause switches to detach. As a result, Plateless Mount keyboards are typically better suited for soldered PCBs, which reduces the risk of instability. Additionally, repairing or replacing components may be more difficult due to the use of the soldered PCBs.

Top Mount and Bottom Mount

In the Top Mount structure, the internal plate is attached to the top shell of the keyboard, while in the Bottom Mount design, it is affixed to the bottom case. These structures offer more secure mounting compared to the Tray Mount, providing improved consistency in both sound and typing feel. The Bottom Mount design, in particular, tends to deliver superior sound and tactile consistency.

Top Mount

Bottom Mount

However, since both mounting styles still rely on screws to connect the internal plate with the case, the vibrations caused by key presses can result in noise from the screws and top cover, which may slightly degrade the sound quality.

Sandwich Mount

The Sandwich Mount is a layered design where the bottom shell, plate, and top frame are stacked and fastened together with screws from the bottom. This design is typically used in acrylic stacked keyboard and offers a unique typing experience and sound characteristics.

Sandwich Mount

Compared to other mounting structures, the Sandwich Mount improves the keyboard's overall integrity and reduces internal resonance due to the lack of fixed screw columns. This results in a more consistent typing feel and sound profile. One of the key advantages of this structure is its relatively cost-effective production and ease of innovation, making it a popular choice among custom builders. However, the Sandwich Mount tends to produce a firmer typing feel, which might not suit every user’ s preference.

Gasket Mount

The Gasket Mount design, which has quickly gained popularity since 2021, represents an evolution of the Sandwich Mount structure. It replaces rigid screws with flexible gaskets, which are used to mount the internal plate within the case under pressure from the outer shells. This structure provides the keyboard with vertical floating space, allowing for greater flexibility during keystrokes. The gaskets absorb vibrations, filtering out the noise typically generated by rigid connections.

Gasket Mount

The Gasket Mount design eliminates much of the noise caused by traditional hard connections, delivering a clearer, more defined typing sound, and providing a softer, more "bouncy" typing feel. However, due to the lack of central support, the Gasket Mount can sometimes create issues with sound and feel consistency, as the internal plate may shift slightly during use.

For example, keyboards like the MCHOSE K99, G87, and X75v2 all feature a Gasket Mount. Not only do they have excellent appearance and outstanding larger keys, but they also deliver a great typing feel and impressive sound performance.

Conclusion

Each mechanical keyboard mounting structure brings its own distinct benefits to the table. The Tray Mount stands out for its affordability and broad compatibility, while the Integrated Mount offers enhanced stability and more pronounced key feedback. The Plateless Mount caters to those seeking a softer, more cushioned typing experience, while the Top Mount and Bottom Mount designs provide superior stability and improved key feedback, making them great for customization. The Gasket Mount, on the other hand, strikes a perfect balance with its soft, bouncy feel and clear, crisp sound. Ultimately, choosing the right structure comes down to your personal preferences—whether you prioritize sound, typing feel, or durability. Understanding your unique needs is key to finding the perfect match.

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