DCX vs DCD vs DCL - Drop’s Keycap Profiles Explained
We’ve covered the basics of keycap profiles before—spherical/cylindrical, sculpted/uniform, etc. One thing that has come up more and more over the years as we’ve expanded our portfolio of offerings here at Drop is the distinction between some of our similar profiles. Specifically, what is the actual difference between DCX, DCD, and DCL? Cylindrical Profiles To recap the previous article on the topic, one of the most basic ways to separate various keycap profiles is by shape (cylindrical, spherical, or flat). DCX, DCD, and DCL are all cylindrical profiles. The most famous cylindrical profile is Cherry profile, as defined by the original manufacturer of the keycaps—Cherry. GMK now owns those tools, and as such, only they can technically claim to produce “Cherry” profile keycaps. Similar keycap profiles are often called Cherry profile colloquially, but are in actuality slightly different. For the sake of not splitting hairs, all of the cylindrical profiles discussed here are...
Apr 9, 2024
Step 2: Install PCBA & Standoffs Inspect the PCBA for visible issues. With the side of the PCBA that has surface mounted components facing down, angle and gently lower the USB-C ports into the two cutouts before lowering the rest of the circuit board into the acrylic case.
Step 3: Test Basic Functionality Plug in the keyboard and check if everything is working. Every LED should be lit. Be sure to check the per-switch LEDs as well as the underglow LEDs.
Step 4: Assemble Stabilizers You should have 5 wires (4 short and 1 long), 10 stabilizer inserts and 10 stabilizer housings. If you prefer quieter sounding stabilizers you can lube or grease them during assembly.
- Assembling the Inserts and Housings
Take one insert and drop it into a housing. There is only one correct orientation. If the insert does not seem to fit, remove it, rotate it 180 degrees and try again.- Add Stabilizer Wire
It goes through the opening on the housing and through the bottom hole on the insert. Align the two parts, insert the bar, and it should look like this.- Install Stabilizers on the plate
Rotate each stabilizer assembly so the bar faces towards the bottom in U shape. Drop the bar through the cutout, pull down until both stabilizer ends are seated on the plate, then push the opposite end into place. They will clip into the plate. Install the other four in the same way.Step 5: Install Switch Plate Before installing the switch plate, we will first add switches to the four corners of the plate. This is an important step to align the plate with the circuit board and prevent damage during assembly. Before placing each switch you want to check the underside and see if the pins are straight. If bent, you can use your fingers to straighten them but it's best to use another one instead.
Step 6: Add Switches Check each switch for straight pins (orthogonal to the bottom of the switch). If they are slightly angled, you can gently straighten them with your fingers.
- Check Switches & Troubleshooting
Once all the switches are in, check for functionality. Plug your USB-C cable into your keyboard and computer. You should see all your keys lighting up. Next check that each switch is working. Navigate to keyboardtester.com, launch the tester and check that each switch outputs correctly when pressed. Note that pressing the function key by itself will not show anything. You’ll need a combo like fn + 1 (outputs F1) to see if the key is working. If there’s a problem, press the switch down firmly to make sure it's fully seated. If you still have trouble, remove it using a switch puller and check for bent pins. Place the tips into these grooved slots above and below the switch. Squeeze firmly to depress the tabs, and pull straight up to remove the switch.Step 7: Add Keycaps Lastly, add your desired keycaps.