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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: rootwyrm on Sun, 11 November 2012, 10:35:05
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This is a new keyswitch by me - never seen them before. They're tactile click switches, comparable to Cherry blues more than anything else, definitely. (Put 'em side by side.) But also quieter than MX Blues, though that could be wear. PCB mounted, not sure if they're EXACTLY Cherry mount points but they sure look it. The keyboard itself is NKRO, too - diodes, diodes everywhere. I thought they were SMKs, but I'm not sure - they look off to me. Also, just for giggles, I tried some genuine Cherry MX keycaps - perfect fit. Both ways.
The only information I have is that the FCC ID is IFS80-2269-1 - yup, same one used for the "Laser" OEM keyboards from Chicony, though this one says "Expo486." Same company, I believe, but it's been too many years for me to be sure. The LED cover is the OEM logo portion on these keyboards though. But it's definitely not the exact same as the "Laser" keyboards. I got three key NKRO, blocked by a faulty line that's affecting 8 keys. (I'm presuming it's line at least, since it's an odd key arrangement that's non-functioning. May be a faulty diode. Dis-assembly is a huge pain because there's a black fabric cover on the PCB.)
So here's a link to some mediocre photos, since I can't seem to upload them.
http://rootwyrm.us.to/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_0807.jpg
http://rootwyrm.us.to/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_0808.jpg
http://rootwyrm.us.to/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_0809.jpg
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Can't see any picture.
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Yah, upload error for some reason. (They are kinda big pictures.) Linked 'em instead.
Oh, and here's a crappy MS Paint edit to show which keys are dead. http://rootwyrm.us.to/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_0809_deadkeys.jpg
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Futabas with 'inverse' stems, I'd say. I have a Chicony with the same.
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Someone should start collecting these pictures and put them into the new wiki.
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Not Futabas. SMK or possibly clones.
If you desolder a switch, there should be a logo on the underside.
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Not Futabas. SMK or possibly clones.
If you desolder a switch, there should be a logo on the underside.
Yeah, no can desolder. But honestly, I don't think we need to go that far to know they're clones and not the real thing.
The confusing part is that it's not clear WHAT they're clones of. They are definitely not genuine SMKs. It's a bit hard to see, but the stem is actually very open and there's a thick spring inside with far too few coils to be SMK. But that's also where it gets really, really weird. The case of the switch itself? Is setup to be disassembled a la Cherry MX PCB mount with the lock tabs. Top of the case looks SMK, bottom looks Cherry, stem looks like it's on drugs. And it'd be the first time I've ever seen an SMK with a truly round stem that took Cherry MX switches. And I don't mean sort of, either. I have two genuine MX Black boards - keycaps swap perfectly in all directions. (Oh, and the expo486's are VERY nice double shots, too. BONUS!)
End result is that I'm thinking these may not be "clones" but in fact an actual production part I've not seen before. They look and feel like an attempt to combine aspects of desirable keyswitches in a cheaper package; specifically one that would let them use the same PCB + controller for no-rollover, partial NKRO, and full NKRO using 'cheap' switches (as we see here) or Cherry MX family depending on the specific product.
I had to put it back together and put it away while moving the office, but I should have the workbench set back up soon so I can get some photos of the back side hopefully. Part of the problem is that there's insulating fabric on the top and bottom sides of the keyboard, and it is VERY difficult to remove without damaging it. It's worse than the foil/cardboard cover on Wyse.
What I'm a lot more interested in at the moment is whether or not it's possible to <i>repair</i> those dead keys. As I said, I suspect it's a line, but I've never seen that specific behavior before. Any ideas where I should start looking? To be quite honest, despite being blatantly cheap switches, they feel REALLY good. Weight sits somewhere between MX Blue and IBM M, tactile feedback is superb, and the click is satisfying without being loud. Don't want to waste a lot of time with being delicate necessarily if it's not repairable.
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I've got an old Chicony board with those same switches. I think the conclusion we came to about a year ago, is that they are a cherry white/blue clone. Also known as SMK.
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I've got an old Chicony board with those same switches. I think the conclusion we came to about a year ago, is that they are a cherry white/blue clone. Also known as SMK.
Do you have photos, Bry? Every photo of the SMKs I've found has been different from these. Notably in that I've never seen them with the top of the plunger actually open. That's what's really throwing me - it seems like an insane design decision, since it'd let dust into the switch mechanism itself.