geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Zeal on Sun, 04 May 2014, 14:35:17
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(http://kiosktime.com/Metal_clip_image002.jpg)
I'm sure many GH'ers have used those standalone Kiosk keyboard/trackball computers before, but have any of you ever wondered what switches were used?
I'm not sure if there are different types with different switch feels, but the ones I've ever used were short, 2mm travel switches that were very smooth, but didn't really have an increasing force curve as you bottom out (is it due to the short travel that I wasn't able to notice much resistance?). They reminded me of MX reds, but I recall they were a tad stiffer.
I personally wouldn't mind having those switches replace current laptop keyboards/scissor switches. Am I the only one? :p
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There's a company (US Micro Products) that makes a metal kiosk KB with MX blacks in it.
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A year ago, I had a job interview at a company that made kiosks and got to try their equipment. They used MX Browns for the keys, and MX Blues for the trackball's buttons.
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I saw one of these at the airport last time I went. Felt like blacks.
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I saw one of these at the airport last time I went. Felt like blacks.
I would also guess mx blacks. Many commercial Cherry boards use them.
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You might find something of interest here:
http://www.dskeyboard.com/steel-keyboards
Their website is a bit light on switch information, and they'll only respond if they're in the mood — Kurk got some information out of them, but evidently they don't like me as they've ignored all my e-mails. (Sadly it's generally only Taiwanese companies who actually respond to anyone.)
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I personally wouldn't mind having those switches replace current laptop keyboards/scissor switches. Am I the only one? :p
Just because the keys are low profile, doesn't mean the switches are ;)
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There's a company (US Micro Products) that makes a metal kiosk KB with MX blacks in it.
Interesting. I guess the ones I felt had worn in MX Blacks.
A year ago, I had a job interview at a company that made kiosks and got to try their equipment. They used MX Browns for the keys, and MX Blues for the trackball's buttons.
Using MX Blues to simulate a mouse click -- interesting.
I saw one of these at the airport last time I went. Felt like blacks.
I would also guess mx blacks. Many commercial Cherry boards use them.
Could be very worn in Blacks.
You might find something of interest here:
http://www.dskeyboard.com/steel-keyboards
Their website is a bit light on switch information, and they'll only respond if they're in the mood — Kurk got some information out of them, but evidently they don't like me as they've ignored all my e-mails. (Sadly it's generally only Taiwanese companies who actually respond to anyone.)
Thanks for the link. I did some brief searching before making this topic, but I didn't find a company disclosing what switches were used in these industrial kiosk KBs. The company you linked claims that the keyboard uses "Carbon contact-technology". I've seen some other sources claiming "Carbon-Gold contact technology", which led me to think that it doesn't use Cherry MX switches, as the contact points are gold and silver.
Dug a bit further, and DL'ed the Spec sheet of one of the keyboards, and I found this:
(http://puu.sh/8zH0O/6154f299e1.png)
Anyone know of any switches that use a silicone switch pad with carbon contacts? Also, why carbon?
Just because the keys are low profile, doesn't mean the switches are ;)
You're telling me that the switches are already pre-depressed by ~1.5mm?
(http://i.imgur.com/j74SykU.gif)
Speaking of which, if some kiosk keyboards use Cherry MX switches, wouldn't that make the actuation at the very top of the keypress, due to the low profile?
It's been a while since I last touched a kiosk keyboard, but the ones I've used didn't seem to have the actuation at the very top. I guess the ones I've tried used "silicon switch pad with carbon contacts"
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zeal, where did you see these being used? locally?
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zeal, where did you see these being used? locally?
Vancouver Convention Centre (Bottom floor), BC Place Stadium (scattered around), etc. Always found some whenever there's a Vancouver Auto Show :P
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I don't know what you've done, Zeal, but you've created a post that cannot be quoted. Multi-quote fails to show your post, and Quote leaves a "Loading…" bar across the top of the page and nothing else happens.
Printec-DS made their own switches. The only one we have actually examined is the S7: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Printec-DS_S7
Their switch pages just all read "Diese Seite ist noch im Aufbau." (page under construction); I've asked Printec-DS several times for more details, and it appears that they responded by deleting all the pages. But yes, they make or at least made a variety of their own switches. Whether they still do is anyone's guess.
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You might find something of interest here:
http://www.dskeyboard.com/steel-keyboards
Their website is a bit light on switch information, and they'll only respond if they're in the mood � Kurk got some information out of them, but evidently they don't like me as they've ignored all my e-mails. (Sadly it's generally only Taiwanese companies who actually respond to anyone.)
usmp responded right away. They are pretty cool
As for your other questions/comments:
1. As far as I know, all of our keyboards use the full travel MX cherry switches. Please feel free to peruse our datasheets and drawings anytime you like.
2. We appreciate your input on the support email being down and are working to fix it right away.
3. It's nice to hear from someone who appreciates our products. Thank you for the kind words: I will pass them along. Check out our website, www.usmicroproducts.com, for more information on what we offer or to subscribe to our mailing list or social media outlets.
Take care,
About carbon contact switches: it's commonly used in rubber dome over PCB keyboards, also your average remote control, etc. The point is that carbon is conductive to close the switch.
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Here is what CHERRY offers in a vandeal-Proof Kiosk keyboard:
Tactile rubber mat switch
Typical operation force 130 gm
Key Travel 0.7mm