KEYCAPS 101
// Everything you need to know about mechanical keyboard keycaps
01 / KEYCAP ANATOMY
KEYCAP
The visible top piece you press. Made from injection-moulded thermoplastic (ABS, PBT, POM, or PC). Contains a stem mount on the underside that attaches to the switch.
SWITCH STEM
The cross-shaped plastic post (Cherry MX standard) that the keycap mounts onto. The stem color indicates switch type: Red = Linear, Brown = Tactile, Blue = Clicky.
SPRING & HOUSING
The spring determines actuation force (45g-80g typical). The housing contains the metal contact leaves and guides the stem. Transparent housings allow RGB light through.
02 / MATERIALS
| Material | Feel | Durability | Shine/Yellow | Sound | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PBT | Textured, matte | Excellent — hardest keycap plastic | Never yellows, resists shine | Deep, thocky | $$$ |
| ABS | Smooth, slightly glossy | Good — but develops shine over time | Yellows with UV exposure | Higher pitched, clacky | $ |
| POM | Slippery, low friction | Very good — dense and durable | No yellowing | Muted, quiet | $$ |
| PC | Smooth, can be transparent | Good — impact resistant | No yellowing | Varies | $$ |
ZIPFORCE uses PBT keycaps exclusively. PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) is the hardest, most durable keycap material available. It resists heat, chemicals, and UV damage. Typical thickness: 1.3-1.5mm for premium sets. PBT’s textured surface maintains its grip even after years of heavy use.
WHY PBT OVER ABS
- No shine: ABS develops a greasy shine from finger oils; PBT stays matte
- No yellowing: ABS yellows under UV light; PBT is UV-stable
- Harder surface: PBT rates higher on the Rockwell hardness scale
- Better sound: PBT produces a deeper, more satisfying “thock”
- Chemical resistance: PBT survives cleaning agents that would damage ABS
ABS STILL HAS ITS PLACE
- Double-shot molding: ABS shrinks less, making it ideal for double-shot legends (GMK standard)
- Color vibrancy: ABS produces brighter, more saturated colors
- Lower cost: More affordable for large keycap sets
- Smoother feel: Some typists prefer ABS’s smoother surface
03 / PROFILES
| Profile | Height | Shape | Feel | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry | Low-Medium | Sculpted, angled per row | Precise, fast | Typing, gaming — most popular |
| OEM | Medium | Sculpted, slightly taller than Cherry | Familiar, comfortable | General use — most pre-built keyboards |
| SA | Tall | Spherical top, sculpted | Retro, satisfying | Enthusiasts, vintage feel |
| DSA | Low-Medium | Spherical top, uniform height | Consistent across rows | Custom layouts, ortholinear |
| XDA | Medium | Flat top, wide surface, uniform | Large surface area | Typing comfort, large hands |
| MT3 | Medium-Tall | Deep scoop, sculpted | Guided finger placement | Typing accuracy |
| KAT | Medium | Smooth sculpted, between Cherry and SA | Balanced | All-around use |
Sculpted vs Uniform: Sculpted profiles (Cherry, OEM, SA) have different heights per row — keycaps cannot be swapped between rows. Uniform profiles (DSA, XDA) use the same shape for all rows, allowing full rearrangement. ZIPFORCE keyboards ship with Cherry profile PBT keycaps — the community standard for typing and gaming.
04 / LEGEND PRINTING
DOUBLE-SHOT (二次成型)
Two separate pieces of plastic molded together — the legend is a physical insert, not printed on top. The legend will never wear off. Provides maximum contrast and sharp edges. Most expensive process but the gold standard for durability. Used by GMK and all ZIPFORCE keyboards.
DYE-SUBLIMATION (热升华)
Ink is heat-transferred into the PBT plastic surface, becoming part of the material. Extremely durable — no raised texture, smooth feel. Limited to dark legends on light keycaps. Common on ePBT and enjoyPBT sets.
| Process | Durability | Feel | Color Options | Cost | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double-Shot | Permanent | Flush, no texture | Any color combo | $$$$ | GMK, ZIPFORCE |
| Dye-Sub | Very High | Smooth | Dark on light only | $$$ | ePBT, Akko |
| Laser-Etched | Medium | Slightly recessed | Limited | $$ | Stock keyboards |
| Pad-Printed | Low — wears off | Slightly raised | Any color | $ | Budget keyboards |
05 / COMPATIBILITY
STEM COMPATIBILITY
All ZIPFORCE keyboards use Cherry MX-compatible cross stems (+) — the universal standard. This means virtually all aftermarket keycap sets will fit. Other stem types (ALPS, Topre, Kailh Choc) are NOT compatible.
LAYOUT SIZES
- Full-Size (108): All standard keys + numpad
- TKL (87): No numpad, everything else standard
- 75% (84): Compact function row + nav cluster
- 65% (68): Adds arrow keys to 60%
- 60% (61): No F-row, no arrows, no nav
| Key | Standard Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spacebar | 6.25u | Some boards use 6u or 7u — check before buying |
| Right Shift | 2.75u | 65%/75% boards may use 1.75u or 2u |
| Enter | 2.25u (ANSI) / L-shaped (ISO) | ANSI = wide rectangle; ISO = upside-down L |
| Backspace | 2u | Standard on most layouts |
| Caps Lock | 1.75u (stepped) / 1.75u | Some sets include both variants |
| Bottom Row | 1.25u × 4 + 6.25u + 1.25u × 4 | Standard; some boards use 1u modifiers |
All ZIPFORCE keyboards use standard ANSI layout with 6.25u spacebar. Any standard MX-compatible keycap set will fit perfectly. We also include extra keycaps for Mac users (Option + Command).
06 / HOW TO REPLACE KEYCAPS
UNPLUG YOUR KEYBOARD
Always disconnect before removing keycaps. This prevents accidental key presses and protects the PCB.
USE A WIRE KEYCAP PULLER
Slide the wire loops under opposite edges of the keycap. Pull straight up with even pressure. Never twist or pry — this can crack the stem. Every ZIPFORCE keyboard includes a wire keycap puller in the box.
HANDLE STABILIZED KEYS CAREFULLY
Spacebar, Enter, Shift, and Backspace have stabilizer wires underneath. Pull these keys straight up slowly. Do not yank — you may dislodge the stabilizer inserts.
ALIGN AND PRESS NEW KEYCAPS
Align the keycap stem opening with the switch cross post (+). Press straight down until you feel a firm click. Do not force at an angle.
TEST EVERY KEY
After replacing, reconnect and test all keys. Use an online keyboard tester to verify every switch registers correctly.
07 / CUSTOMIZATION
POPULAR COLORWAYS
- GMK Olivia++: Rose gold on black — iconic community favorite
- GMK Botanical: Green/white nature theme
- ePBT Ivory: Classic beige/gray retro
- GMK Laser: Cyberpunk purple/cyan neon
- MT3 /dev/tty: Vintage terminal green on dark
- IFK Cafe: Coffee-inspired browns and creams
ARTISAN KEYCAPS
Handcrafted, one-of-a-kind keycaps made from resin, metal, wood, or clay. Each is a miniature sculpture. Popular makers include Keyforge, Artkey, Jelly Key, and Dwarf Factory. Prices range from $25 to $200+ per keycap.
08 / ARTISAN SHOWCASE
WHAT ARE ARTISAN KEYCAPS?
Artisan keycaps are individually crafted by independent makers, often in limited runs. They’re typically placed on the Escape key or other accent positions as a statement piece. Each one is hand-cast, painted, and finished — making every piece unique.
The artisan community trades, sells, and collects these keycaps through raffles, group buys, and aftermarket platforms. Some rare artisans sell for hundreds of dollars on the secondary market.
09 / KEYCAP BRANDS
| Brand | Material | Process | Profile | Price Range | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMK | ABS | Double-shot | Cherry | $120-180+ | Gold standard, vibrant colors, group buy model |
| ePBT (EnjoyPBT) | PBT | Dye-sub | Cherry | $80-120 | PBT alternative to GMK, excellent quality |
| Domikey | ABS/PBT | Double-shot | Cherry/SA | $80-140 | High quality, faster delivery than GMK |
| Drop (MT3) | PBT/ABS | Dye-sub/Double-shot | MT3 | $100-130 | Deep scoop profile, unique typing feel |
| Akko | PBT | Dye-sub/Double-shot | Cherry/ASA/OSA | $40-70 | Budget-friendly, great value |
| Kinetic Labs | PBT | Dye-sub | Cherry | $50-80 | Clean designs, quick shipping |
| Tai-Hao | ABS/PBT | Double-shot | OEM | $30-50 | Budget double-shots, wide color range |
// All ZIPFORCE keyboards ship with Cherry-profile PBT double-shot keycaps
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