If you want to fully understand the Gasket structure, you have to have a general understanding of the construction of mechanical keyboards.
Mechanical keyboards are generally composed of four parts: the shell, the liner, the switches, and the keycaps, where the plate, PCB, and sandwich foam belong to the liner, the keycaps and the switches are located on top of the liner, and the structure of the keyboard refers to the way in which the liner is fixed to the shell.
Hull structure: Before 2021, most mass-produced mechanical keyboards used a hull structure, with the inner shell fixed to the bottom shell at multiple points from top to bottom by screws. This design has the advantages of being strong, less material, and simple to assemble, so it has always been favored by keyboard manufacturers, but there are also problems such as poor consistency of key sounds.
Top Structure: For Top construction, the Locator Plate is secured to the top shell and then connects the top and bottom shells, and vice versa for Bottom construction. This construction provides a more consistent feel and consistent acoustic feedback. The disadvantage is that the positioning plate needs to be customized. This is more costly and less common.
No steel structure: Keyboards without steel construction may be lighter than traditional keyboards with steel plates, but they may also lack a certain amount of stability and rigidity.
Gasket Construction: Gasket refers to shims, Gasket structure, no screws or screws and is only responsible for fixing the upper and lower shells, the positioning plate relies on the pressure of the upper and lower shells fixed in the middle. Since the keyboard liner has no rigid structure or screws to support it, it only relies on the rubber and upper and lower cover precision to press dead in the middle of the keyboard. So the feel will also be very uniform, and at the same time, due to the presence of shims, the keyboard up and down the two vertical directions will be cushioned, thus providing a softer and warmer feel. This is precisely why Gasket construction is so highly regarded in the custom keyboard community.
Is there any need for a Gasket keyboard?
Whether or not it is necessary to purchase a Gasket construction keyboard depends on your personal needs and preferences. Here are some considerations to help you decide if it's the right purchase for you:
The Advantages:
Typing experience: if you value the typing feel of your keyboard and are looking for a softer, more flexible typing experience, then a Gasket construction keyboard may be perfect for you.
Sound Performance: Gasket keyboards typically offer a quieter, lower keystroke sound. If you like to type in a quiet environment or want a more textured sound from your keyboard, this type of keyboard may be a good choice.
Personalization and Customization: Gasket construction keyboards can often be changed to alter the typing feel and sound by replacing different gaskets or adjusting the construction. If you like to DIY or customize your keyboard, then this type of construction may offer more fun and satisfaction.
High-end quality: Gasket keyboards are often combined with other high-end keyboard designs and materials for a higher overall quality for those looking for the ultimate experience.
Disadvantages:
Higher price: Gasket keyboards are usually a bit more expensive than traditional mechanical keyboards. If you're on a budget, you may need to weigh whether it's worth paying extra for this feature.
May not be for everyone: some users may prefer the solid feel of a traditional mechanical keyboard to the soft feel of a Gasket construction. If you're more used to a hard keyboard feel, the Gasket keyboard may not be for you.
Relatively Niche: While the Gasket keyboard is popular in keyboard enthusiast circles, it's still a relatively niche choice. If you're just a casual user and not particularly looking for a keyboard experience, you may not feel much of a difference.
If you have high requirements for the feel and sound of the keyboard and are willing to invest more budget for that, the Gasket construction keyboard may be a good choice. (Recommended ATK RS7, ATK75, ATK VXE V75 X, ATK VXE V75 PRO)
However, if you have relatively ordinary keyboard needs or are not sure if you will like the soft feel, then you can either try out the experience first or opt for a more affordable mechanical keyboard (like the ATK68 ).