introduction to switches

in this guide, we'll be going over keyboard switches. this guide is meant for beginners and will only cover the basics.

what are switches

switches are components underneath the keycaps and on top of the keyboard plate. they activate each key to register the corresponding letter or number you are pressing.

switches typically contain 3 or 5 pins. osume switches are 5 pin, which means it has additional plastic pins designed to provide stability and reduce wobble.

keyboard compatibility

before jumping into the switches, first identify if your keyboard is compatible. osume switches are fully compatible with any osume keyboards such as the nemui or play75.

if it is not an osume keyboard, you want to ensure it is hot-swappable (which means you can easily swap out the switches). some examples of incompatible keyboards are low profile keyboards, or keyboards with soldered switches.

there are 5 holes on the PCB indicating where each pin will go. once lined up, press the switch down until it sits on the plate securely.

types of osume switches

now that you have a basic understanding of switches, we will walk you through the difference between osume switches and how it changes your keyboard's sound profile.

each switch will differ in sound and actuation force (the amount of force required to register a keypress.) the lower the actuation force, the lighter force required to register a keypress.

linear switches

linear switches have a smooth and consistent typing feel

sakura linear switch

• 55g actuation force, overall smooth and firm typing feel

mochi linear switch

• 50g actuation force, overall smooth and medium typing feel

tactile switches

tactile switches product a tangible bump and are generally lounder than linears.

matcha tactile switch

• 55g actuation force, overall firm typing feel with a tangible bump

night market tactile switch

• 50g actuation force, overall medium typing feel with a tangible bump

silent switches

silent switches are quiet and offer a muted typing experience.

little ghost silent linear switch

• 45g actuation force, overall quiet and firm typing feel

winterglow silent tactile switch

• 50g actuation force, overall quiet and medium typing feel with a tangible bump

switch mods

lubing switches is one of the most well-known mods in the custom keyboard world. it is not required, but it is generally used to reduce friction in switches for a more desirable sound profile and smoother typing experience.

osume switches already come pre-lubed and ready to use without any further modifications.