Keyboard Mounting Styles
Even within the same form factor and layout, the internal makeup of a keyboard affects the overall experience. While there are several ways to alter and aim for that desired feel and sound, one of the primary factors that will help you estimate your eventual build is the keyboard mounting style.
In this course, we’ll be exploring what mounting styles are and what it means when a keyboard comes with a particular type.
Syllabus
What is a mounting style?
Types of keyboard mounting
What style is “best?”
What is a Mounting Style?
A keyboard’s mounting style is how the plate or PCB is secured in the keyboard housing. Since these components have to be secured within a keyboard, the community has developed several ways this can be done. Some are more rigid or flexible than others, affecting the assembly method, sound, and even typing feel of the board.
Types of Mounting Styles
Tray Mount
Tray mount boards secure the PCB to the bottom housing on several screw-in pins.
Top Mount
Top Mount boards are among the most popular, securing the plate to the top housing of the keyboard.
Bottom Mount
As the inverse, bottom mount boards secure the plate to the bottom housing of the keyboard.
Sandwich Mount
Screws go fully through the bottom housing, plate, and top housing of the keyboard, holding the plate like the middle of a sandwich.
Integrated Plate
An integrated plate means that the plate and top housing of the keyboard are produced as one piece. This gives the keyboard a very rigid and solid feel.
Gasket Mount
A gasket mount uses gasket material between the plate and keyboard housing on both top and bottom sides. This gives the board a slightly more cushioned feel since the plate isn’t in direct contact with the other metal components of the keyboard.
Cheat Sheet: Custom keyboard mounting styles
By Thomas Baart. Reproduced here with permission.
Which Mounting Style is Best?
Although the mounting style will greatly affect the experience of the keyboard, it is important to note that it is just one of many important decisions when it comes to your build. Your choice in layout, plate, switches, and modifications may either enhance or potentially diminish the inherent qualities of the mount. For example, a gasket mount with a brass plate will be much more rigid than a sandwich mount with a polycarbonate one.
Trying out different boards and keyboard components is key in creating the right build for you in a hobby where preference is king.
