Types of switches

[chimera15]

One of the questions I always have and even don't know the answer to some is what are the different feels of the different types of mechanical keys.  For instance everyone knows white alps are clickies, but what are pink, black, tan, green, ect???  There's a list somewhere..but when you factor in the clones like acer's and all the other types it gets really confusing.  So I'd like to compile a list.

Here's what I know:

Alps

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=ALPS+switches


Acer

white: clicky-tactile
After seeing an acer keyboard on ebay... it looked like to me there may be more than one kind of acer mechanical key..one had a top that didn't look like a typical acer/alps stem.  Anyone know of the other type and if it's clicky or not?
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-ACER-KEYBOARD-6511-WHITE-SLIDERS_W0QQitemZ250139895563QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item250139895563&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301%3A0|293%3A2|294%3A30

 I hadn't taken an acer keyboard switch apart before tonight.  I found that it uses an alps type switch which is self contained to actuate a membrane like in a rubber dome keyboard instead of electrically pushing two pieces of metal together.  Pretty interesting.


black- clicky-tactile

Cherry
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Cherry+switches
HHK

"Expo?"

I have a keyboard with the name Expo on it.  I thought originally it used alps sliders.  It has a very nice click and a very light feel to the keys.  I removed a keycap today and and found a little + inside a O, and a switch I can't figure out how to take the top off of.  Perhaps it's similar to an acer switch? Mechanical over membrane?  Not sure.

 What does the pro use? Is the pro clicky or not?

I'd also like to eventually add a list and cross reference of every keyboard to ever use each type of switch.

Ahhh after much searching I found the thread I found a long time ago but couldn't find when I started this article:

It only covers alps switches, but I want to reference that for alps info.
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=ALPS+switches

[xsphat]

Here's all you need Grasshopper: Click

[chimera15]

hmm, that's interesting, but seems incomplete?  For instance it doesn't mention the types of acer switches..and what keyboards they're in...

There is a lot on cherry I see...  So basically what I need is an acer keyboard and whatever other kinds of mechanical switches are missing from that.


 Also the hhk pro.. isn't listed?

[lowpoly]

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Switch+reference

The Acer is there, the HHKB as well (under capacitive).

[xyzzy]

I've got an Acer keyboard with black switches (see my sig.) and they're definitely clicky, more so than the blue Cherry for instance. And definitely more than black Alps.

Externally, they're identical to the Alps, as shown in the page referred in the wiki: http://kojiroh.a6.idv.tw/html/td_05.htm (with the only difference being the color). My keyboard is quite different from the one shown though, I'll have to take some photos once I dig it out from where it's stored

[lowpoly]

Here's my mini review of the 6312:

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?t=4411

[chimera15]

I have a keyboard with the name Expo on it. I thought originally it used alps sliders. It has a very nice click and a very light feel to the keys. I removed a keycap today and and found a little + inside a O, and a switch I can't figure out how to take the top off of. Perhaps it's similar to an acer switch? Mechanical over membrane? Not sure.

Here's a pic.

[IBI]

I have a keyboard with the name Expo on it. I thought originally it used alps sliders. It has a very nice click and a very light feel to the keys. I removed a keycap today and and found a little + inside a O, and a switch I can't figure out how to take the top off of. Perhaps it's similar to an acer switch? Mechanical over membrane? Not sure.

Here's a pic.

The + is obviously for cherry keycap compatibility, but I don't know what mechanism the rest of the switch uses.

[skriefal]

Check the images here.  Maybe a Futaba switch?

[sandy55]

Seems like SMK round slider

[chimera15]

Check the images here.  Maybe a Futaba switch?

Wow that's an amazing list.  It doesn't seem to be any of those.  Pretty amazing.  I guess I discovered a new type of switch? lol

[chimera15]

Seems like SMK round slider

Ahhh! That's looks like it! wow! Thanks!

[itlnstln]

The internals of the SMK switch look a little like Alps simplified.

[chimera15]

The internals of the SMK switch look a little like Alps simplified.

Any tips on getting one open? it completely stumped me.

[itlnstln]

I really don't have any clue.  I was just going off what the pics showed.

[bhtooefr]

I've got a board with SMKs, as well, but haven't opened it.

(What's the FCC ID on the Expo board, anyway? IFS80-2269-1?)

[chimera15]

I've got a board with SMKs, as well, but haven't opened it.

(What's the FCC ID on the Expo board, anyway? IFS80-2269-1?)

I found another keyboard with similar keys on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Laser-III-52226940-FCC-IFS80-2269-1-Tested-Works_W0QQitemZ200303207418QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item2ea30063fa&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301%3A0|293%3A3|294%3A30

[bhtooefr]

$63.99? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

(I paid $2 for the Laser board I've got.)

[chimera15]

$63.99? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

(I paid $2 for the Laser board I've got.)

That seller is a museum.  All the boards and things they have for sale are overpriced, but they're a good source of info for strange and rare computer items.  I'd never buy from them, but I've found the exact same things they have listed for 1/20th the prices they have them up for sale once I knew what I was looking for.  They usually are very good at showing what types of keys are in a keyboard and what model numbers it has, unlike other sellers that have no clue.

For instance,

 I found this keyboard for sale which appears to have white alps sliders:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Chicony-KB-5181-White-Sliders-Works_W0QQitemZ190239499308QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item2c4b28642c&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

Then did a search and found this, which has the same model number from a seller that didn't know what she had:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=370178873971

[sandy55]

Buying a Chicony board is a kind of a gamble unless clear pictures of a  switch are not provided.
Chicony used various types of key switches for their boards. type of switch used for a Chicony board can't be determined with a model number and FCC ID.  
For example, KB-5181 may come with fake SMK( blue square stem), complicated white ALPS,Cherry MX blue....and maybe more.
If you happen to get a MX board, you are lucky.  but you may be disappointed with its casing quality.

[chimera15]

Buying a Chicony board is a kind of a gamble unless clear pictures of a  switch are not provided.
Chicony used various types of key switches for their boards. type of switch used for a Chicony board can't be determined with a model number and FCC ID.  
For example, KB-5181 may come with fake SMK( blue square stem), complicated white ALPS,Cherry MX blue....and maybe more.
If you happen to get a MX board, you are lucky.  but you may be disappointed with its casing quality.

Yeah I know it's a bit of a risk, but the 5181 I bought was only $15, so not much of one.  I plan to rip it apart and use it's switches probably for the smk-85 I'm getting if it has black alps in it or some other kind of switch I don't want.  Either that or in one of my siig minitouch's or maybe to build a new mini keyboard.

[chimera15]

Can anyone describe, or take apart a pink and an orange alps slider and show what the exact difference is between them all?  Is it possible to make a pink/orange alps slider a clicky by replacing the spring from a white alps switch?  A pink/orange alps slider feels just like a white alps slider, but doesn't have an audible click?