Wednesday, November 3rd 2021

Ducky One 3 Series Grand Debut! Exclusive QUACK Mechanics Design Philosophy

Press Release by
VSG
 Discuss (24 Comments)
DuckyChannel International Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer dedicated to delivering professional-grade mechanical keyboards and mice, is officially launching a new series to our rich lineage of mechanical keyboards. Introducing the Ducky One 3 series, the successor to our renowned One 2. The new One 3 will launch with an exclusive addition, the Cherry RGB Clear switch. Additionally, our brand-new QUACK Mechanics design philosophy is applied to further elevate our already prominent characteristics. Ducky is ecstatic for everyone to feel the incomparable typing experience from the moment you touch the keyboard！

4 Exclusive QUACK Mechanics Design Features
  • True PBT Double-Shot Keycaps：Stain resistant keycaps with a frosted surface to embrace all challenges head-on.
  • Optimized Construction：Designed with perfecting weight distribution and center of gravity in mind to enhance stability & precision.
  • Authentic Acoustics：Reduces undesired sounds, immerse yourself in the raw acoustics of genuine switches.
  • Tuned for Balance：Stabilizers fine-tuned for an exceptional typing experience where the user and keyboard become one.
QUACK Mechanics Design: True PBT Double-shot Keycaps
Ducky uses only the finest materials, our keycaps are made from true PBT. The seamless legends are formed through a double-shot technique where two plastics are molded together, allowing legends to never fade away even after multiple years of use. Molded with a frosted surface, you can take control with confidence. These keycaps are shine and stain resistant, made for fast movements and non-stop use, all while maintaining their original look.
QUACK Mechanics Design: Authentic Acoustics
The joy of typing is heightened to another level with our advanced sound-suppression features. The materials provide a sound dampening effect, allowing the raw sound of switches to be the acoustic focal point and also softens your typing experience. Moreover, Pro (Hot-Swap) editions are fitted with an extra sound reduction pad that further negates any unwanted sounds and enhances impact absorption.

QUACK Mechanics Design: Tuned for Balance
Premium stabilizers are the foundation of a pleasant typing experience. Ducky utilizes exclusive stabilizers made from specially formulated synthetic materials and lubrication to create a solid & consistent typing feel for those larger keys.

QUACK Mechanics Design: Optimized Construction
One 3 has a refined weight distribution and lowered height to improve stability during the most rigorous of moments. It's front to back weight ratio is meticulously designed to keep the keyboard in one position, essential for advanced gaming and typing.

Multiple Form Factors with Hot-Swap and/or RGB versions
Ducky's One 3 mechanical keyboard features a detachable USB Type-C cable, N-Key rollover, Per-key RGB lighting, 4 form-factors ranging from 60%, 65%, 80% to 100%! The One 3 will also be exclusively debuting the Cherry MX RGB Clear, a unique tactile switch with an actuation force of 65 g. It is unique enough for us to encourage all typists to try out! Along with an assortment of reliable Cherry MX switches, you are sure to find a switch to suit your personal taste, offering users with more choices than ever before.

Want to learn more about the Ducky One 3 mechanical keyboards? Find out more on DuckyChannel's website: www.duckychannel.com.tw/en/Keyboards/One3-Series

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24 Comments on Ducky One 3 Series Grand Debut! Exclusive QUACK Mechanics Design Philosophy

#1
The Quim Reaper
Do people just collect these for the aesthetics alone, never actually using them, or something?
Posted on Reply
#2
Valantar
The Quim ReaperDo people just collect these for the aesthetics alone, never actually using them, or something?
Nah, the tactile experience is a huge part of keyboard fandom. People definitely collect them though, and looks are likely a huge draw for new sales (and a convenient excuse for people to also get new switches, boards, etc.).
Posted on Reply
#4
Chomiq
If you're in it for the looks the downside of Ducky keebs is that full layout has that extra media keys which never come with custom keycap sets (unless you buy the extra keys for $40+). Only sets that got you covered are those made by/for Ducky. Like the Horizon SA set I have for my MK Typist.
All that foam and silicone padding should help with ping that you can get on ONE 2 when you bottom out when typing. Hotswap is also nice but these keyboards already come with multiple switch options. It's just that their supply is very low and it can take 6 or more months before they get restocked, example A:

Given that have hotswap now it would be nice if they offered a switchless variant.

What is super weird is that have RGB and yet those PBT keycaps aren't shine through.
Posted on Reply
#6
Sybaris_Caesar
ChomiqIf you're in it for the looks the downside of Ducky keebs is that full layout has that extra media keys which never come with custom keycap sets (unless you buy the extra keys for $40+). Only sets that got you covered are those made by/for Ducky. Like the Horizon SA set I have for my MK Typist.
All that foam and silicone padding should help with ping that you can get on ONE 2 when you bottom out when typing. Hotswap is also nice but these keyboards already come with multiple switch options. It's just that their supply is very low and it can take 6 or more months before they get restocked, example A:

Given that have hotswap now it would be nice if they offered a switchless variant.

What is super weird is that have RGB and yet those PBT keycaps aren't shine through.
I read about PBT vs ABS a few weeks ago. Apparently PBT shinethrough is inferior to ABS because the double-shot layer lets less light through.
Posted on Reply
#7
csgabe
I want a Donald edition with Quack Quack mechanics.
Posted on Reply
#8
ShurikN
True PBT Double-Shot Keycaps
As opposed to what, fake double-shot pbt?
Posted on Reply
#9
bonehead123
lexluthermiesterI like this one;
www.duckychannel.com.tw/en/Ducky-One-3-DayBreak
Yep, I'm diggin that blue one too, now if they would just make a wireless/BT version, I would spring for it in a heartbeat :)

I like that yellow one too, but I think it would be way better if the letters/numbers were black and much easier to see...
Posted on Reply
#10
lexluthermiester
ShurikNAs opposed to what, fake double-shot pbt?
Actually, yes.
bonehead123now if they would just make a wireless/BT version
To each their own..
Posted on Reply
#13
Unregistered
I used to compound plastics to make superior plastic.
PBT and Nylon 66 base look exactly the same but PBT is chewy... That's how I checked to make sure it was the right stuff when labels were missing.

Are they using PBT as dampening material?
PBT isn't exactly a resilient material.
When I see "Double shot" I think "Inserts" with swirled looking plastic... Probably why they use bright colors.
#14
Valantar
jmcslobI used to compound plastics to make superior plastic.
PBT and Nylon 66 base look exactly the same but PBT is chewy... That's how I checked to make sure it was the right stuff when labels were missing.

Are they using PBT as dampening material?
PBT isn't exactly a resilient material.
When I see "Double shot" I think "Inserts" with swirled looking plastic... Probably why they use bright colors.
PBT is used for keycaps as it doesn't generally wear smooth and go shiny like ABS does, and thus holds up much better over time. Double shot refers to there being a two-step moulding process, where the outer keycap shell is one colour of plastic (with the key legend left as a void), to which a second layer of differently coloured plastic is added to fill in the key legend + add the stem attachment. Again, this means legends can never wear away, you can have shine-through legends without having painted transparent keycaps, etc. But it's also a much more complicated production process than pretty much any other way of adding legends to keycaps.
Posted on Reply
#15
amarthar
ChomiqIf you're in it for the looks the downside of Ducky keebs is that full layout has that extra media keys which never come with custom keycap sets (unless you buy the extra keys for $40+). Only sets that got you covered are those made by/for Ducky. Like the Horizon SA set I have for my MK Typist.
It's not only by/for Ducky. Just look at Akko. They had the media keys in their keycap sets long before any collab with Ducky and they still include them. And their keycaps are relatively inexpensive compared to other custom sets.
Posted on Reply
#16
Chomiq
amartharIt's not only by/for Ducky. Just look at Akko. They had the media keys in their keycap sets long before any collab with Ducky and they still include them. And their keycaps are relatively inexpensive compared to other custom sets.
I wasn't convinced by the AKKO renders as font spacing/thickness was all over the place on legends.
Posted on Reply
#17
amarthar
ChomiqI wasn't convinced by the AKKO renders as font spacing/thickness was all over the place on legends.
IRL they're pretty good though. Especially on newer sets:

That's Akko's Red & Blue Samurai ASA set released ~2 months ago (I'm using only the red keys though).
Posted on Reply
#18
bubbleawsome
Man I wanted clears so bad on my One 2, oh well. May upgrade for that.
Posted on Reply
#19
joemama
I love the blue of the daybreak model
Posted on Reply
#20
Unregistered
ValantarPBT is used for keycaps as it doesn't generally wear smooth and go shiny like ABS does, and thus holds up much better over time. Double shot refers to there being a two-step moulding process, where the outer keycap shell is one colour of plastic (with the key legend left as a void), to which a second layer of differently coloured plastic is added to fill in the key legend + add the stem attachment. Again, this means legends can never wear away, you can have shine-through legends without having painted transparent keycaps, etc. But it's also a much more complicated production process than pretty much any other way of adding legends to keycaps.
Imo the reason these keys are better is because they are layered instead of painted and are made of a softer material.

I would expect to see the same wear as ABS/pvc
I would expect dips and fingernail marks on the gaming keys just the same, albeit with clearer key symbols while it wears down.
Production isn't that complicated just about any injection press can be fitted with a 3 stage flashless mold.
Basically, this is a cheaper process that gives the end user a mild improvement.
Their PR sucks.
Double shot sounds dumb. Just explain why it functions better for what it is.
#21
Valantar
jmcslobImo the reason these keys are better is because they are layered instead of painted and are made of a softer material.

I would expect to see the same wear as ABS/pvc
I would expect dips and fingernail marks on the gaming keys just the same, albeit with clearer key symbols while it wears down.
Production isn't that complicated just about any injection press can be fitted with a 3 stage flashless mold.
Basically, this is a cheaper process that gives the end user a mild improvement.
Their PR sucks.
Double shot sounds dumb. Just explain why it functions better for what it is.
You are missing a major point here: doubleshot injection requires unique moulds for each letter, number, symbol, etc. as they are physically cast into the outer shell of the key. And mould creation is by far the most significant cost of injection moulding, after all. The two-step process also requires more tooling due to the multiple casting steps. Printed legends of whatever type can use identical moulds for each row of keys, just printing them differently, and you can use a simple two-layer mould and complete the cap in one operation. This means doubleshot keys (assuming they have legends, which they don't necessarily need to have, but it's quite rare find them without as it's rather pointless) are much, much more expensive to produce, as you need an exponentially higher number of unique moulds (with fine detailing that doesn't exist on blank keys for printing), and you have much less flexibility in the output of each moulding run. Lost an 'H' due to an air bubble? Too bad, you're now a full keycap set behind. With peThe cost of mould-making and the increased difficulty of producing different keys means the economies of scale are massively different between these methods of production, and not in favor of doubleshot moulds.

This is also why you generally don't find a large variety of doubleshot keycaps available outside of major (or especially interested) language/keyboard layout/demographics, as each would require unique moulds, which are far more expensive than a new set of printing stencils.


Also, you're misunderstanding what I said about wear: they obviously wear, but they do not wear smooth and shiny like ABS, which avoids the severe deterioration in key feel this brings with it. PBT does obviously also smooth out, but (whether this is due to the softness of the material making it wear less evenly or something else) it never gets as smooth and shiny as ABS.
Posted on Reply
#22
Unregistered
To reduce costs I'm sure they use a keyboard at a time mold.
Individual keys would drive up the cost too much in molds alone.

I only care about the process because I've run machines that make multiple material parts.

Nobody cares about the process they just want to know it's better..lol You do a better job than their PR

I think it's fascinating to talk to someone that knows the manufacturing process
#23
Valantar
jmcslobTo reduce costs I'm sure they use a keyboard at a time mold.
Individual keys would drive up the cost too much in molds alone.

I only care about the process because I've run machines that make multiple material parts.

Nobody cares about the process they just want to know it's better..lol You do a better job than their PR

I think it's fascinating to talk to someone that knows the manufacturing process
I would expect them to make one keyboard layout at a time as well, you're probably right there. That would also largely explain why localization is so difficult - either you make a new mould for just the different keys, which necessitates throwing out (or at least not selling) the keys replaced, or you make a whole new mould requiring a lot of redundant work reproducing keys that are common across most/all layouts, and likely for an expected lower sales volume than the first run The only way past this is to design the moulds as somewhat modular from the start, for example having a fixed block for characters common across most layouts and just replacing (or moulding separately) the caps that differ). Of course the variance in keyboard layouts across the globe makes that really difficult - ISO and ANSI are hard enough, and then there's all the local variations (QWERTY/AZERTY, UK, DE and Nordic ISO layouts, etc., each of which requires unique keys and might have different secondary key functions). All the while, if you're printing your legends you likely make one ISO and one ANSI mould, and churn out however many different legend print layouts you might want on top of these.

Of course, with blank, for-print caps you can scale things up massively at relatively low costs, as you could move away from full-keyboard moulds and instead reproduce keys much more freely - instead of one mould being a full layout it might be a couple of hundred row 1, 2, 3 or 4 keys, with another couple of smaller moulds covering various modifier keys and such across various layouts. The initial investment would of course be much higher, but it would allow for massive production scales if desired, with a lot of flexibility in the end product. That kind of production is mostly limited to the likes of major OEMs (Dell, HP, Logitech) or at least large specialty brands like Razer or Corsair though.

As for the PR, my impression is that this is pretty much conventional/established knowledge within the mech keyboard subculture, so there's little need for detail - mentioning the right key words is sufficient to get the message across. I agree that the production process is interesting - I don't really know anything about this other than what I've read online + witnessing first-hand how difficult it is to find a Norwegian/Nordic ISO keycap set that isn't some generic boring black OEM profile thing. I guess it's a somewhat classic case of an underserved public essentially being forced to educate themselves more on how and why they are underserved.
Posted on Reply
#24
MarsM4N
I am all for technological evolution (better switches, etc.), but the new casing is a nono for me. :shadedshu:

Absolutely love the minimalist industrial style of the v1, could live with the v2, but this one is just ugly.
Why loosing face & trying to copy other styles?
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