Breaking Down HMX's Latest Mold Improvements: What Keyboard Switch Enthusiasts Need to Know

In the world of mechanical keyboard switch, mold design and injection molding process heavily determine a switch's sound profile and typing feel. In HMX's case, their molding design plays a even more significant role in creating such a consolidated, high-pitched, and clacky sound profile. Today, we will further break down the history of HMX's mold sets, the modifications they had done to their molds, and how the modifications affect HMX's overall sound profile and feel.

The OG Mold

Implementation Time Frame: March 2023 to late November 2023

Typical switches that used the OG mold: Xinhai (early batch), Hyacinth V2/V2U (early batch), Macaron, Macchiato (early batch), Cloud (early batch), Swift (early batch), Cheese, etc

Switch Traits: 

1. Bottom-out Feel: Solid Bottom out feel

2. Sound Profile: High-pitched and loud sound profile even with softer materials. Some switches might sound thin with certain materials. Overall very clacky

3. Stem Wobble: Very minimum stem wobble

4. Syringe effect is prominent: The gap between the stem and top housing is too small leaving no room for movements. Keystroke feels a little bit sluggish

5. Leaf Ping: No leaf or spring ping. Sound is super clean

6. Relatively small bottom housing

Comment: The OG mold brought HMX all of its glory and fame. The traits listed above had HMX standout among the various switch manufacturers in the game. HMX switches made with the OG mold were high quality and fairly cheap which quickly made them one of enthusiasts' most favorite switch manufacturers. However, the switches were not perfect; The syringe effect was the biggest issue at the time especially for people who are more sensitive to it. This was a result of the top housing and stem mold design at the time.

The OG Mold 2.0

Implementation Time Frame: December 2023 to present

Typical switches that used the OG mold 2.0: Xinhai (new batch), Hyacinth V2/V2U (new batch), Macaron, Macchiato (new batch), Cloud (new batch), Swift (new batch), Cheese, etc. Basically, all og HMX switches manufactured after the end of 2023 used the OG mold 2.0. Some newer HMX switches such as Joker, Su Color, Twilight, Guava, and Mist were also manufactured using the OG mold 2.0.

Switch Traits: 

1. Bottom-out Feel: Solid Bottom out feel

2. Sound Profile: High-pitched and loud sound profile even with softer materials. Some switches might sound thin with certain materials. Overall very clacky

3. Stem Wobble: Minimum stem wobble and less tight than the OG mold

4. Syringe effect overall fixed: HMX made modifications to the top housing mold and stem mold, leaving a slightly larger gap between. This allows for a bit extra room for the stem to move. Keystroke initiation no longer feels sluggish and the overall key travel became smoother. 

5. Leaf Ping: No leaf or spring ping. Sound is super clean

6. Relatively small bottom housing

Comment: December 2023 is when HMX made the first modification to their molds. The main goal was to fix the syringe effect issue, and the newer batches of switches manufactured after the OG mold 2.0 was implemented got improved quite obviously. 

The New Mold

Implementation Time Frame: June 2024 to present

Typical switches that used the new mold: KD200, FJ400, Game 1989, Yogurt, Swift V2, Martini, Pink Pig, and Gulf, etc

Switch Traits: 

1. Bottom-out Feel: Solid Bottom out feel

2. Sound Profile: High-pitched, loud, and a fuller sound profile. Overall clacky. What changed is that switches manufactured using the new mold sound fuller; For example, KD200 switches have the same material spec as the Cheese switches, but KD200 sounds fuller. 

For switches that come with softer materials such as FJ400 and Game 1989, the new mold makes them sound quieter and thockier than the old mold would.

3. Stem Wobble: Minimum stem wobble 

4. Syringe effect overall fixed: Similar to OG mold 2.0, the new mold comes with improved top housing and stem design leaving a bit more gap. Switches made with the new mold are very smooth with no sluggish feeling.

5. Leaf Ping: No leaf or spring ping. Sound is super clean

6. Relatively larger bottom housing

Comment: HMX was aware that plenty of switches manufactured using the OG mold came out with similar sound profile, thus, they created the new mold set for further differentiation. The new mold also comes with features such as an enlarged bottom housing which allow switches to sit tighter in the plate.

Switches that were manufactured with special molding

1. HMX Snow Crash: Snow crash switches were manufactured using OG mold 2.0 housing and a brand new rail bottom-out stem mold

2. HMX Guava: Guava switches were manufactured using OG mold 2.0 housing and a brand new HDPE stem mold

3. HMX Mist: Mist switches were manufactured using OG mold 2.0 housing and a brand new H1 stem mold

 

THE Leaf Issue

As many is aware, there was a time when new HMX releases and restocks came with notorious leaf ping. This happened to all new HMX switches and restocks that were released between roughly May 2024 and July 2024. Switches that were affected included Gachapon, Ice Cendols, Su Color R1, Macchiato's May restock etc.

What caused this unfortunate event was HMX changed their leaf supplier in April 2024. The new leafs that came from the new supplier had design flaws and didn't work so well with HMX's molding design. As a result, no matter how they adjusted the factory lubing process, the leaf ping was always there and cannot be fixed. Later on, after trying all possible solutions, HMX realized the leaf itself was the root of the issue, and they changed the leaf supplier back to the original one in July 2024. 

All new HMX switches and restock that came after July 2024 no longer have the leaf ping problem.

 

How To Visually Tell The Differences Between OG/OG Mold 2.0 and New Mold

Stem:

1. Green New Mold VS Yellow OG/OG2.0 Mold

The new stem mold comes with an internal circle for better spring position control. The OG/OG 2.0 stem doesn't have it

2. Yellow OG/OG2.0 Mold VS Green New Mold

New stems come with the rail gap as shown on the green stem. OG/OG2.0 stem doesn't have the rail gap.

Bottom Housing

1. Green New Mold VS Yellow OG/OG2.0 Mold

New bottom housing mold has its number markings on top of the stem legs. OG/OG2.0 bottom housing has the number marking between the switch pins

Top Housing: The differences are too trivial and cannot be perceived visually.

 

 HMX's Switch Molds

At the moment, HMX has two active mold sets in use. One is the OG 2.0 mold set and the other one is the new mold set. People might ask if one of them is better than the other, and the answer here is NO. The OG 2.0 and the new mold set are both sophisticated yet come with some differences. To simplify it, if you like how OG HMX switches sound which is high-pitched, loud, and maybe sometimes thin, going with switches made with the OG 2.0 mold is going to be the right move. If you like high-pitched, loud, and clacky switches but want them to sound fuller, go with the switches that are made with the new mold.