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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: sixty on Thu, 23 December 2010, 11:08:52
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I had read about magnet switches on Wikipedia before, and they claimed they were very uncommon due to the high cost and therefore only used in equipment that absolutely needs to be fail-safe (such as airplane controls).
But yesterday I had the pleasure of trying my first keyboard with a switch type yet unknown to me: Magnetic sensors based on the Hall-IC effect! The board I tried uses RAFI RS 76C switches. Here is bit of info from their catalog on this switch:
The solid state Hall-IC integrated circuit technology guarantees bounce-free and wear-free switching and an extremely long service life of > 100 million operations. When the key is pressed, a permanent magnet changes its position relative to the Hall-IC and thereby produces an output signal. Advantages: Withstands hostile environment (dust, etc.) and provides smooth typing for continuous-duty professional applications.
I am absolutely stunned by how good this keyboard feels. Keep in mind that I am a linear switch lover, though. The switch feel on this what could best be described as a linear, smooth stroke similar to a very light Cherry MX black. Absolutely smooth, yet crisp and without any rattle. Even the keycaps are as tightly mounted as the Olsen twins. You guys know how retarded it can sound to describe what a keyboard feels like, so I'll stop here.
I was already gonna post yesterday, but figured I should give it a full day at the office before actually judging.
Anyone else ever tried a keyboard with these switches or similar? Magnetic sensor based keyboards seem extremely rare and I suppose I should not be surprised this one originally sold for over EUR 700.
I will be showing off and reviewing the actual board later. This post was just about the switch type. I guess by now I have seen it all - All types of ALPS, Cherry MX and most of the other obscure switches. So this was very refreshing, to say the least.
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I have used reed-relay switches a lot, but not sure about Hall effect.
My wallet hurts just thinking about individual sensors on each key ...
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Hmm, would be pretty cool keyboard, but likely never going to own one...
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(http://keyboardporn.com/images/hall_ic/3.jpg)
They look like this, btw. You can see the magnet on the left of the switch.
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So I assume it's a spring that provides the tactile feel of the switch?
There is a spring below, yes. But the switch is non tactile. The spring probably causes the linear curve to be progressively increasing on the way down. I would guess the first activation point on this around 30-40g, bottoming out at maybe 45-50g, which may be a bit harsh to some with only 4mm travel, if you are not trained to not bottom out.
I might take some detail pics of the switch tomorrow, since I plan to switch spacebar and enter key springs with a normal key. Space, Enter and for some reason Caps Lock take a way higher amount of force to trigger, so I plan to change those. I just hope I don't break anything.
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Good find. I want to visit you some day.
Here's my reed based switch:
http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=157832&postcount=39
Still waiting for my $1000! :wave: