Keycaps Cheat Sheet Daily

Getting Started With Keycap Profiles And Materials

You want to build a custom keyboard setup and you keep running into the same walls: profiles that feel weird in practice, pbt versus abs debates with no real data, and legends that wear out in a month. A Keycaps Cheat Sheet Daily has been around long enough now that it matters for anyone who actually types on mechanical keyboards regularly. I used it when I was setting up a new layout last year because looking up every profile height and material chart from scratch was taking too long. It is not some official document from a manufacturer. It is a community-curated reference that covers profiles like SA, DSA, Cherry, MX, OEM, and the more obscure ones like MT3 or KDA. It also breaks down materials: pbt, abs, pc, pom. There are sections on legend techniques too: dye-sub, double-shot, laser engraving. The layout is usually organized so you can find what you need in under thirty seconds rather than clicking through five forum threads. Most people open it and immediately look for a profile name. That is the wrong first step. Start with what you type and how you feel about key height. If you are doing fast touch typing at a desk, sa profiles look nice on a shelf but they are deep and slow for rapid keystrokes. I learned that the hard way after I bought a set because they looked good in photos. The cheat sheet will tell you the X, Y, and Z dimensions for each profile so you can compare them without guessing.

Here is the part nobody talks about: compatibility. Just because a profile exists does not mean it will work on your switch plate or keyrow. The cheat sheet usually includes a compatibility matrix that shows which profiles clear the plate on common layouts like ISO enter or split spacebars. I had a set where the back row keys kept catching on my aluminum plate because I missed that detail. I ended up filing the plate edges slightly to clear them, which worked but was annoying. Now I check the clearance notes before buying anything.

Profiles At A Glance

Standard Profiles

OEM is the default height most keyboards ship with. It is roughly 4.25mm at the center. Cherry profile sits slightly lower at around 4mm and has a more curved surface. DSA is spherical and all keys share the same height, which makes a very uniform feel across the board. SA is tall with a flat top and a deep curve, often called "cookie cutter" because of how pronounced the shape is. MX is another common one. It sits between OEM and Cherry in height. KDA and MT3 are newer profiles that have gained attention because they combine a lower center row with a raised perimeter for ergonomic benefits. The cheat sheet usually lists these alongside scan lines showing the actual cross-section, which helps you visualize the difference instead of just reading numbers.

Materials That Actually Matter

PBT is polybutylene terephthalate. It feels rougher to the touch and does not shine over time. Abs is smoother but develops a shine within months if you type enough. Pc is translucent and often used for backlit keycaps. Pom is rare and has a naturally smooth feel without any coating. The cheat sheet breaks down the texture ratings and shine potential for each, which helps you pick based on whether you care about longevity or initial feel. Here is a practical detail: legend durability varies wildly by material and technique. Dye-sublimation on pbt lasts years. Laser engraving on abs fades faster because the engraving is shallow and the shiny surface abrades quickly. Double-shot legends never fade because the legend is the plastic itself, but those keycaps are harder to find and cost more. I lost a set of laser-engraved abs caps to shine and wear within six months, which is why I switched to dye-sub pbt entirely after that.

Reading The Data Correctly

One thing beginners miss is that the height numbers you see on the cheat sheet are usually measured at the center of the key. The actual typing height at the base where your finger contacts can differ by a millimeter or two depending on curvature. Also, the profiles listed are averages. Some manufacturers mold slightly taller or shorter versions, and the cheat sheet sometimes notes these variations if enough community feedback comes in. Always check the manufacturer's specs alongside the cheat sheet if you are buying a specific set. Another detail: stem type. Most profiles assume cherry-compatible stems, but some keycap sets use alternative stem designs like box or crossed-ridge. The cheat sheet includes a section on stem compatibility, which is useful if you are mixing and matching kits. I ran into an issue once where a set I liked claimed cherry compatibility but the stem was slightly loose on my switches, causing wobble. I solved it by adding thin silicone rings around the stems, which is a workaround the cheat sheet mentions in its edge-case notes.

When The Cheat Sheet Falls Short

The reference is community-maintained, so it is not always up to date with the newest releases. If a manufacturer drops a limited edition profile variation, it may not appear until someone adds it. There is also a bias toward popular western layouts. Jis enter and jis spacebar dimensions are sometimes incomplete or noted as approximations. If you are building a jis keyboard, I would verify the measurements yourself or ask in the community threads before committing to a purchase. Sizing can vary between production runs too. I noticed a batch of pbt keycaps that measured noticeably taller than the previous batch, likely due to mold wear or material shrinkage differences. The cheat sheet captures one point in time. It will not reflect those small manufacturing variances. For that reason, I treat it as a starting reference rather than an absolute authority.

Where To Find And How To Use The Resource

The Keycaps Cheat Sheet Daily is available through the mechanical keyboard community hubs. You can access the full version at keycapsss.com. It is updated periodically based on community contributions. I keep it open in a tab while shopping because checking profile height and material notes takes about twenty seconds and saves me from buying the wrong thing. Use it alongside retailer listings and manufacturer spec sheets for the best results. If you are new to this, start by comparing two profiles you are considering. Look at the height difference, the curvature, and the material suggestions. Then check stem compatibility for your switches. That process alone will cut your research time from an hour down to maybe ten minutes.