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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: maximus20895 on Sat, 08 January 2011, 17:34:16

Title: How exactly do cherry switches work?
Post by: maximus20895 on Sat, 08 January 2011, 17:34:16

I am pretty new to mechanical keyboards in general and to be honest I have never even used one. I have read the mechanical switch guide and most other wikis, but I still don't know exactly how the switches work.

I don't know what they look like inside, or how it sends a signal, or how the brown, blue, black, white, etc differ physical from one another.

Is there a post that shows the ground work of switches or anything of the sort?

Thanks!

Title: How exactly do cherry switches work?
Post by: Pylon on Sat, 08 January 2011, 18:09:09

You could look through the Wiki.
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Cherry+switches+and+boards

This is how blues work apparently:
http://park16.wakwak.com/~ex4/kb/tech/cherry_mx_click.swf

The yellow parts are the electrical contacts. I can kind of see how it works, but I understand the Alps and buckling spring mechanisms  better.

Title: How exactly do cherry switches work?
Post by: Pylon on Sat, 08 January 2011, 18:09:41

Hmm we should start a "how switches work" wiki article.

Title: How exactly do cherry switches work?
Post by: msiegel on Sat, 08 January 2011, 18:12:59

with links to patents in it? that would be cool :)

Title: How exactly do cherry switches work?
Post by: laden3 on Sat, 08 January 2011, 18:33:02

Quote from: Pylon;275410

but I understand the Alps and buckling spring mechanisms work better.

Please elucidate. IIRC alps have shorter lifespan.

Title: How exactly do cherry switches work?
Post by: nanu on Sat, 08 January 2011, 18:34:22

They are simple switches. Normally open, and closed when you press a key down. If you dissemble a switch, removing the plunger, the circuit closes.

As mentioned by Pylon, the wiki page is useful. Linked there is Qwerter's Clinic, which in pictures explains it.
http://park16.wakwak.com/~ex4/kb/tech_cherry_mx.htm

Check out the graphic for how the Brown MX actuates, and the comparison of other switch profiles. The plungers determine the actuation characteristics, when combined with a certain spring.

Title: How exactly do cherry switches work?
Post by: Pylon on Sat, 08 January 2011, 18:40:49

Quote from: laden3;275420

Please elucidate. IIRC alps have shorter lifespan.

Stupid typo on my part (edited). I meant that I have a better understanding of how they work compared to Cherries.