Gateron, the company most known for its colored keyboard switches with distinct sound and touch profiles, launched preorders for its upcoming 'Oil King Linear Switches.' These are direct linear black switches with a moderate actuation force of 55 grams. However, as the name implies, these switches are pre-oiled and are designed to be re-oiled easily.
Oiling switches provides a smoother typing experience and a more muted, softer sound profile. Lubricating switches has become a common hobby in the keyboard-builder and DIY keyboard space, as the practice results in measurable benefits to typing performance.
As for the construction of the Oil King Linear Switches, Gateron stated that the housings are made from PA66 Nylon, while the stem uses POM construction. These materials provide soft sounds and solid keypress feedback.
Image Credit: Gateron, Drop
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Pre-oiled Keyboard Switches
- The trend of pre-oiled keyboard switches provides a smoother typing experience and a softer sound profile for mechanical keyboards.
- DIY Keyboard Building
- The trend of DIY keyboard building provides an opportunity for enthusiasts to customize their keyboard with pre-oiled switches for enhanced typing performance.
- Sustainable Keyboard Components
- The trend towards using PA66 Nylon and POM construction for keyboard switches provides an opportunity for sustainable, eco-friendly keyboard components.
Sectors Adopting This
- Computer Hardware
- The computer hardware industry can benefit from incorporating pre-oiled keyboard switches for a tactile typing experience.
- Consumer Electronics
- The consumer electronics industry can capitalize on the trend of DIY keyboard building by offering customizable and pre-oiled keyboard switches.
- Plastics and Polymers
- The plastics and polymers industry can gain from the trend towards using sustainable materials like PA66 Nylon and POM in keyboard switch construction.
