Page 3 - A Closer Look - Disassembly and Internals
The disassembly process of the Epomaker HE65 V2 TMR is quite simple. Given the gasket structure, you can simply remove the knob then unscrew the top frame from the bottom. You may have some difficulty unclipping the top and bottom frame from each other without the right tools and know-how. If you want to take apart the PCB assembly, you will have to remove all the keycaps and switches. Upon unscrewing, the PCB assembly can be popped out fairly easily, only being tethered to the case by the daughterboard. This disassembly process was quite simple and standard for many gasket keyboards, but I was not expecting the top and bottom frames to be clipped together. It was a good experience to take it apart. Upon exposing the interior design, I was quite satisfied with the design. There is a good amount of foam usage to fill the case. Some would say it is a bit too densely packed, which can take away from the gasket feeling.
The interior design was quite standard in my opinion. Taking a quick look, the design is very simple. The Epomaker HE65 V2 TMR is a gasket mount keyboard. The installation is probably the most common modern mounting style, being used in many premium keyboards. The design uses gaskets on the edge of the PCB to hold in the enclosure within the case. As I have mentioned, the keyboard is very densely packed. This has a negative effect on the gasket structure as there is less space for the keyboard to flex, making for a stiffer typing experience.
The foam in the case is fully utilized. Epomaker does not hold back when it comes to foam in this case, as inside, you will find foam for the bottom of the PCB, switches, and plate. Foam usage in keyboards is quite important, so having access to this much foam is excellent. To explain simply, the more foam you use, the more muted your keyboard will be for the most part. The HE65 V2 TMR uses Latex Sandwich Foam with a layer of an IXPE Switch Pad. Underneath the PCB, we have EPDM foam paired with silicone to fill the space. I have noticed the usage of IXPE has been becoming more popular in keyboards. Switch foam is a strange usage of foam that I personally find to be a cheat code to premium sound with no science to back up my claim. These five layers of foam should help to benefit in the sound of the keyboard.
The plate material used inside of the Epomaker HE65 V2 TMR is FR4. FR4 is a very popular choice when looking for a middle ground sound type for your keyboard. This plate material will provide a deeper tone of sound, and in this case, a deeper “clack”. As an independent factor in the keyboard, the plate properties that affect its sound include its stiffness and density. To be more specific, we want the specific modulus or specific thickness, which is also known as the stiffness-to-weight ratio. The lower this number is, the more “thocky” this material will be for a keyboard.
Upon closer inspection of the Epomaker Creamy Jade switches, I hope to provide you with more detail in the makeup of the switch. According to the manufacturer's page, the Creamy Jade switch uses a POK stem, PC top housing, and a PA66 bottom housing. I will not bore you with the material specifications, but they all have relatively low coefficients of friction. The POK and PA choices make sense, as their low coefficients of friction make for a smoother experience, while the PC top housing is interesting as it is not clear. The spring is slightly longer than the usual at 20mm.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. A Closer Look - Disassembly and Internals
4. Conclusion
