I don't know if these multiple sticking keys problems also happen on the "clicky" Z20 keyboards, or even other EVGA "Z-series" keyboards. If they do...the same fix MAY apply.
SYMPTOMS:I got my Z20 linear switch keyboard (811-W1-20US-KR) about 1 month ago.
BAD KEYS: Out of the box I had trouble with a sticking "4/$" key, endlessly "typing" 4/$'s across the screen.
A VERY TEMPORARY fix is to remove the keycap and re-install it. I suspect that after typing for awhile once the keycap is re-pressed back onto the switch, the keycap again becomes seated more completely and the interference starts up again.
There seems to be a point in the travel of just about ALL the keys where you can feel a TINY "bump" if you push a key off-center as you press it down. With the "4/$" key this "bump" is far more obvious than the other keys and occurs even if you press straight down on the key. It has started to happen often and is now very annoying as I use both $ and ^ symbols over 100's of times every day.
~7 days later "6/^" key started sticking
~30 days ANOTHER bad key= "0/)" key with same "sticking" symptom.
~40 days the "7/&" key sticks and STAYS down.
~41 days the "9/(" key sticking
I THINK I've found a permanent fix: Sanding-down by hand an interfering bit of plastic flashing or perhaps it's something that aids in releasing the keycaps from their moulds, that is located on one inside wall on each affected keycap.
LOCATION & ANALYSIS:On the underside/inside of all the keycaps, there is a "bar" or "ledge" near a corner of the white plastic "shell". Which corner this is located appears to vary depending on the keyboard "zone" in which the keycap sits.
This "bar" extends all the way from the bottom edge of the keycap to the bottom/inside surface of the top face of the keycap (
about 6mm inside depth). The "bar" is
about 3mm Wide x 6mm Deep x 0.2mm Thick.
It's the 0.2mm thick portion that sticks-out that appears to be causing the interference/sticking problem.
Note: this "bar" appears in different locations on different keys, so that seems to be why so far only my "number" keycaps are sticking. The thickness of the "bar" also varies in other keycap "zones" which likely also makes a difference. In one zone this "bar" is virtually flush with the keycaps in that zone and thus I believe it should not cause a sticking problem. FIX:I sanded down the "bar" a bit for about 30 seconds (did not have to make it flush) and it appeared to fix one key, so I did the rest and ALL THE STICKING KEYS STOPPED STICKING and
have remained problem free for a few days now.
I sanded the "bars" down by hand with a 10mm wide disposable fingernail file...the kind with a medium grit on it...I did not use a metal file. The disposable files cost something like $1.25 for a set of 5 at my nearby drugstore. I specifically used this type of file as it is quite forgiving as it would take a LOT of sanding with the fingernail file to sand all the way through an opaque section of a keycap...so no LED light will "leak" from this fix. Remember, even manually it only took me 20-30 seconds to sand down the "bar" on each keycap.
Regardless, exercise extreme care anytime you permanently modify something like this. Too little sanding can be fixed...too much sanding is either hard to fix or extremely hard to fix.
I strongly advise NOT using any electric tool (like a Dremel) to sand down the "bar".
post edited by jGecko - 2021/12/13 17:01:29