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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Parak on Tue, 19 October 2010, 23:46:05

Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: Parak on Tue, 19 October 2010, 23:46:05
Does anyone know where I can find the specs on exactly how far apart the pole hole (heh heh) centers are supposed to be on cherry switches? In particular, this would be for a non-staggered matrix layout, so that the use of 1x2 and 2x2 keycaps would be possible.

I'm also assuming that there's a standard here so that keys for the tipro, cherry, and xkeys matrix boards as an example can be used interchangeably. I, of course, have none of those currently, and I can't find much information on this out there :(
Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: Parak on Tue, 19 October 2010, 23:55:28
And that applies to matrix boards/keycaps as well? So, in:

(http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/switches/key/images/mx_pcb_wpins.gif)

The distance from the center of that hole to the next one horizontally or vertically would be exactly 3/4"?
Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: msiegel on Wed, 20 October 2010, 00:11:35
hey... looks like this filco zero tenkeyless has 19mm centers

simplified alps, not cherries.

but still, the dimensions are clearly metric rather than imperial. which explains why the apple keycaps i put on here are a little tight around the periphery :)
Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: Lanx on Wed, 20 October 2010, 07:07:19
i measured my numpad area,
18.20mm
Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: Findecanor on Wed, 20 October 2010, 09:12:01
Quote from: Parak;236238
Show Image
(http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/switches/key/images/mx_pcb_wpins.gif)

I recognize that figure from Cherry's data sheet. It can be found in the Wiki.
The distance between each line in the figure is 1/20" of an inch, or 1.27 mm.

Unfortunately, you can not use prototyping boards with 1/10" inch hole spacing. You will need to get custom boards etched. The horizontal spacing between the pins is 5 steps in the figure.
Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: Parak on Wed, 20 October 2010, 09:41:12
Quote from: Findecanor;236331
I recognize that figure from Cherry's data sheet. It can be found in the Wiki.
The distance between each line in the figure is 1/20" of an inch, or 1.27 mm.

Unfortunately, you can not use prototyping boards with 1/10" inch hole spacing. You will need to get custom boards etched. The horizontal spacing between the pins is 5 steps in the figure.


I was actually looking for the switch to switch center pole distance, but actually this helps as well. Thanks!
Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: Parak on Wed, 20 October 2010, 09:48:33
Quote from: ripster;236306
Imperial MFs, do you speak it!!

Kinesis Blue Cherry Keypad
Show Image
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1261/5099539146_d907d3351b_z.jpg)

looks a little off on the right in the pic due to parallax.  I also measured the $10 RipOtester keypad and got 3/4" exactly.


Looks good, and hopefully all of the aforementioned adhere to this :p
Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: rantenki on Wed, 20 October 2010, 11:04:31
Quote from: msiegel;236244
hey... looks like this filco zero tenkeyless has 19mm centers

simplified alps, not cherries.

but still, the dimensions are clearly metric rather than imperial. which explains why the apple keycaps i put on here are a little tight around the periphery :)


19mm is only off by 0.002" : 0.748" instead of 0.750". I doubt you would notice the difference. The pcb mill/drill and etch has registration tolerances that big.
Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: zefrer on Thu, 21 October 2010, 08:30:49
When entire production lines are scrapped because you don't conform to ISO due to a 0.002" error, you would freak out too :)
Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: msiegel on Thu, 21 October 2010, 11:13:32
:) it starts making a difference when multiplied by 15, like the width of the area for the main alpha block
Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: keyb_gr on Thu, 21 October 2010, 15:14:33
Quote from: ripster;236811
And screw metric - it was invented by the French and look how they turned out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_system
Quote from: Wikipedia
The United States of America is the only industrialized country in the world that has been unable to or refused to use the metric system as its predominant system of measurement.
Look how they turned out. Dare I say "economy"? :P
Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: muchadoaboutnothing on Thu, 21 October 2010, 15:35:53
Quote from: keyb_gr;236931
Look how they turned out. Dare I say "economy"? :P


(http://imgur.com/lYQYt.jpg)
Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: keyboardlover on Thu, 21 October 2010, 19:37:56
Quote from: ripster

And as KeyboardLover points out the unemployed can move to Australia or New Zealand.


They can. I never said they had to. I still get emails & calls from recruiters daily with jobs. If you're in IT and on the east coast and can't get a job, drop me a line.

Ripster is busy spending his retirement funds on keyboards. When he's not napping.

(http://breathebetterair.com/older-man-napping-in-cha.jpg)
Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: keyboardlover on Thu, 21 October 2010, 20:15:06
Quote from: ripster
Somebody hired you?


Yes. Believe it or not, there are people in this world who contribute more to it than keyboard wikis.

Quote from: ripster

Have they heard your political/religious views?  Did they ask Welly for a reference?


Political/religious views are no one's business what it comes to employment. You did know that right? Because that comment made no sense and if it was a joke I don't get it.
Title: Cherry switch placement distance
Post by: SmallWalrus on Fri, 22 October 2010, 01:59:03
Quote from: ripster;236952

 Or China.   Internet access is censored but you can buy Ducky keyboards.


It is pretty sad if that's your only perk :)