Hey everyone!
I’m diving into the world of custom keyboards for the first time, and I’m both excited and a bit overwhelmed. 
I want to build something that’s not only functional but also looks great and feels amazing to type on.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the following:
- Key Switches: What switches do you recommend for a nice balance between typing and gaming? I’m leaning towards something tactile, but I’m open to suggestions!
- Keycaps: Any favorite keycap sets or profiles? I’m looking for something that pops but also feels good under my fingers.
- PCB and Case: Any brands or models that you think are must-haves for beginners? I want something easy to assemble but also durable.
- Additional Tips: Any rookie mistakes I should avoid?
- Can I integrate AI (which is important for me) to automate various keyword related task. I have seen some people using this.
Thanks in advance for your help! Can’t wait to hear your suggestions and join this amazing community!
Best Regards 
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Weloce to the site! I am just about to start work so can’t go too deep right now, but we have many people here that will fill you in. My advice would be to look at Neo, QK, VTD (I think thays their name, they made the Cycle 7) boards. They’re offering crazy value right now. Very affordable prices with premium features & really good quality. I can inky soeak about Neo myself, but I was super happy with my Neo Ergo.
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Hello and welcome!
It can be a paralyzing case of too much choice at first, but it’s a good problem to have. It means that once you start getting a feel for your personal tastes, you can really hone-in on them. I’ll try and help narrow your starting search.
Key Switches:
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Light tactiles: If you aren’t sure where to start and want something balanced, you might try starting with light tactiles. They give a little feedback for actuation, but IMO not enough to interfere with the majority of gaming scenarios. A couple of my favorites are Akko POM Browns and NuPhy Fleeting Golds, and there are plenty more great ones to choose from.
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Linears: I think these can more easily sound and feel premium thanks to the more clean and minimal sensory feedback, minimal at least until you bottom-out. Some linears lean-into that and can sound really nice, or they can annoy everyone in the room. A couple of my favorite clacky linears are Sillyworks Hyacinth V2s and NuPhy Night Breezes, but there are tons of good ones out there. For a more subduded bottom-out sound that’s less likely to bother sensitive ears (or fingers), try the buttery WS Morandi or Gateron North Pole switches.
Keycaps: Since I’ve already recommended light tactiles, I’m going to recommend lighter-weight keycaps that bring out more of their character first, and then mention some other general favorites.
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DCS profile in ABS: DCS is familiar to generic OEM keyboards, but distinct in a few ways, mostly in the more steep angles of the lower rows. For our purposes here, the Signature Plastics DCS profile in ABS is a high-quality family of keycaps that have thinner walls than most of their peers. This makes their sound a bit higher pitched than the standard, but also lets them translate more high frequency detail in both the sound and feel of the keyboard. This can make bad stuff sound worse, but can bring out the best in excellent switches and boards, and they’re my favorite thing to pair with lighter tactiles. There’s a pretty affordable set in interest check now: [IC] DCS INTRO WOB AND BEIGE
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Tai-Hao OEM or Cubic: These are an inexpensive alternative if you’d like to try thinner caps without investing in a full-on premium set.
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Cherry profile and adjacents: the actual classic, it’s hard to go wrong here. These are usually thicker (and shorter in most rows) than the last few mentioned and quite a few manufactuerers produce high-quality takes on the shape. GMK CYL, KKB’s Cherry profile, and Drop DCX are all good options among many more.
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Higher profiles: for the most part, if you want deeper sound and/or feel like regular caps are too short. These are the most different compared to generic keys as they’re usually also spherical (like bowls) instead of cylindrical (like half-pipes) on top. The high profiles are also more different from each-other than the medium ones tend to be. My favorite is MT3 for its deep scoops, with several versions of SA also being very popular.
Chassis: Agreed with Rob, hard to go wrong with Neo or QK right now (they’re sister companies). I love my Neo65 and would recommend any of those boards. The ribbon cable on the 65 can be a bit fiddly the first time but that’s as “bad” as it gets, I don’t think I’ve ever put so little effort into a keyboard that sounds and feels so good. There are so many good “entry” options right now - the Neos are probably my current favorite but I also hear very good things about the “unabashedly plastic” Classic TKL from NovelKeys. Generally, VIA compatibility is a good thing to have for a first (or only) custom keyboard; this is software (web based or local) that makes it easy to re-map and add both layers and macros to your keyboard.
Tips: Rookie mistake (that “pros” still do sometimes): crushing switch pins and/or damaging hot-swap sockets. Probably my number one tip is to take care with installing switches in hot-swap sockets, especially when you’re first starting out. Just make sure the pins are straight and lined-up with the socket before gently pushing them in, never force it. You’ll get used to the feeling of the pins sort of settling-into the grooves of the socket when they’re lined-up properly. The second part of this tip is to always support the sockets from below when possible; I usually just put the thumb of the hand I’m pushing the switch in with under the socket.
AI: Honestly out of my wheelhouse, but I imagine this is all in the software realm of things - or at least the realm outside the keyboard itself. That is, I don’t think any choice in keyboards will limit your capacity for utilizing AI.
Feel free to pose any follow-ups and have fun!
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Hey there! I’m also a newbie in the world of custom keyboards, so I’m really excited to share this journey with you. 
For the PCB, I’ve heard that some popular options for beginners include the PCB from brands like KBDfans or GK61. They often have good compatibility and are relatively easy to work with. It’s important to make sure that the PCB you choose is compatible with the key switches and case you have in mind. Also, look for ones with clear documentation and support in case you run into any issues during the assembly process.
I’m still exploring myself, so let’s keep in touch and learn from each other as we build our dream keyboards! Looking forward to seeing how your project turns out. And about integrating AI, I’m not too sure yet, but it sounds like an interesting idea. Maybe we can research more together on how to make that work effectively. 
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As for avoiding mistakes, pay attention to the layout of the keyboard. Make sure it suits your typing style and needs. Also, don’t skimp on the stabilizers. Good stabilizers will make a big difference in the feel and sound of your keyboard.
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