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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: ander on Sat, 10 October 2015, 16:01:29

Title: ID this strange switch?
Post by: ander on Sat, 10 October 2015, 16:01:29: Anyone have any idea what this switch could be? Note the distinctive keyhole-shaped base, and the spring in the cap. I couldn't find photos of it online.

[attach=1]

Thanks, A.
Title: Re: ID this strange switch?
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 10 October 2015, 16:55:42: Crappy pic, but based on similar looking switches I'm going with rubber dome or foam and foil.
Title: Re: ID this strange switch?
Post by: ander on Sat, 10 October 2015, 17:43:49: Nubb:

Quote from: nubbinator on Sat, 10 October 2015, 16:55:42
Crappy pic...

Really? Considering there's nothing embossed on the switch base, it seems to show all of the switch's detail quite clearly. Maybe your photography standards are just higher, which is fine. :?)

Quote from: nubbinator on Sat, 10 October 2015, 16:55:42
...but based on similar looking switches I'm going with rubber dome or foam and foil.

That's what I would've said too. However, it's from a Chicony 5390, which I thought were all mechanical.

Then again, since it doesn't appear in DT's switch guide or the guides it points to, maybe you're right.
Title: Re: ID this strange switch?
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 10 October 2015, 18:05:42: It's crappy for ID purposes because of heavy grain and a distinct lack of detail visible in the housing. You can only see the slider clearly. Housing shape and details like that are often what help you distinguish switches. Many Alps and MX clones are indistinguishable if you only see the slider.

I know most of the 53xx boards I've seen are rubber dome.
Title: Re: ID this strange switch?
Post by: ander on Sat, 10 October 2015, 18:26:15: Hmm, I can see the housing just fine... Did you click it to enlarge it?
Title: Re: ID this strange switch?
Post by: livingspeedbump on Sat, 10 October 2015, 18:29:00: hm
Title: Re: ID this strange switch?
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 10 October 2015, 18:30:19: Quote from: ander on Sat, 10 October 2015, 18:26:15
Hmm, I can see the housing just fine... Did you click it to enlarge it?

I see some edges and darkness.
Title: Re: ID this strange switch?
Post by: BrewCaps on Sat, 10 October 2015, 19:37:10: Hm
Title: Re: ID this strange switch?
Post by: Mattr567 on Sat, 10 October 2015, 19:53:15: I see you got the pic from this listing http://www.ebay.com/itm/171949624389

Chicony KB-5391

I just bought a Zenith from the same seller :)
Sadly sold my AEKII for it but I didnt like Dampened ALPS that much anyway. Still sad to see it go. Great boards they are.
Title: Re: ID this strange switch?
Post by: BrewCaps on Sat, 10 October 2015, 19:59:42: Ebay.

That explains the crappy pic.
Title: Re: ID this strange switch?
Post by: ander on Sun, 11 October 2015, 17:37:53: Guys, I'm sorry you don't like the photo, but:

(a.) It's the best available; and

(b.) The keyhole-shaped base has no further details to see (embossed characters, tabs, etc.). It's just a solid black shape. So as long as the outline was visible, I didn't think the overall clarity mattered.

I may just be assuming you can see it as well as I can, though. My graphics-development display may be showing it more clearly. In case it helps, here's a lightened version:

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: ID this strange switch?
Post by: SamirD on Sun, 11 October 2015, 22:04:39: I can see some detail now, but it's still like nothing I've seen. I wonder how it feels?
Title: Re: ID this strange switch?
Post by: ideus on Sun, 11 October 2015, 22:35:29: It is not a discrete switch, the housing is part of a full plastic plate; therefore, is very likely to have rubber domes under the clear slider. I have seen similar ones in generic old boards, that only use the Cherry style mount to allow thin cheap key caps, that by then, were available off the shelve.
Title: Re: ID this strange switch?
Post by: ander on Mon, 12 October 2015, 02:01:52: I didn't really think it was mechanical, despite the Cherry-style mount. I just thought it was interesting, as I'd never seen this switch this model no. anywhere.