12 Keys Cherry MX Switch Tester

Whether you’re smashing out code, enemy bots, or your face against that keyboard, you will certainly enjoy the high-speed comfort that the glorious Mechanical Keyboard has to offer. Over the past decade, Mechanical Keyboards have risen in popularity, especially among gamers, thanks to their superior responsive design and wide customisation. For us DIYers, that custom nature sparks even deeper interest and possibilities for 3D printing unique keyboard layouts and keycaps. Mechanical Keyboards make awesome projects for even first time Tinkerers to gain Electronics experience in soldering, building open-source projects and using microcontrollers, and end up with a truly brilliant keyboard! If you are looking to build your own Mechanical Keyboard, then this Cherry MX Switch Tester is a must have to get a feel for yourself which of 12 popular key types best suit you.

The 12 Key Cherry MX Switch Tester is mounted on a PCB with an acrylic base and clear keycaps to simulate exactly how each of its 12 Cherry MX Switches feel and sound. Cherry MX Switches are the golden standard for anyone building a mechanical keyboard and are available in a variety of colour-coded types. Each one offers different feature combinations of tactile bumps, load clicks, silent press, no tactile bumps, light sensitivity, or harder press force. Before you spend money on all the parts for your Mechanical Keyboard DIY Project, it will save you headaches to know which Cherry MX Switch you actually want and need. That’s where the 12 Key Cherry MX Switch Tester comes in because no matter how much you may read or watch videos of all the Switch types out there, nothing equates to trying them out for yourself. This 12 Key Cherry MX Switch Tester will be a handy tool in your workshop whenever you are considering beginning another fun Mechanical Keyboard project.

Please Note: This package includes only the 12 Key Cherry MX Switch Tester and a keycap remover tool. If you are looking for packs of mechanical switches and other keyboard components, please be sure to check out our Mechanical Keyboards Range.

Additional Resources for Building Mechanical Keyboards:

• If this is your first time project or you’re looking for a nice refresher guide for your Mechanical Keyboard build, we recommend you checking out Tom Hardware’s Step-by-Step Guide How to Build a Custom Mechanical Keyboard.
• One of the first decisions you are faced with when planning your Mechanical Keyboard build is which Switch Key to use. Cherry MX Switches are the golden standard, but many options exist in their colour-coded types. While the best way to know is to try them out with a Cherry MX Switch Tester, we found WePC’s Cherry MX Switches Guide helpful to know what makes each colour unique and worth it for your personal comfort.

However, Cherry MX switches do come with a premium price tag, but luckily, they are not the only quality mechanical switches out there. Gateron Switches offer better affordability and make just as great Gamer Keyboards. We recommend you check out the Gateron Mechanical Switch Guide for the differences between Gateron’s coloured switch types to help you decide your best option.

• If the prospect of 3D Printing your very own Mechanical Keyboard excites you, we recommend checking out these sweet STLs for your Project:
  • Thing:4978541 – Lowest Mechanical Keyboard Case and Keycaps
  • Thing:3478494 – SiCK-68 Mechanical Keyboard
  • Thing:3019052 – Custom 68-Key Mechanical Keyboard Case
  • Thing:2783650 – KeyV2: Parametric Mechanical Keycap Library
  • Thing:1955421 – Customizable Cherry MX Keycaps
  • This Skeletyl Keyboard Build on GiftHub is complete with Fusion files and other resources to build an ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard.