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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: bmilcs on Sat, 21 May 2016, 18:24:43

Title: Keyboard Experiment: Are all Cherry MX Clears created equal?
Post by: bmilcs on Sat, 21 May 2016, 18:24:43
For centuries, the world's greatest minds have pondered:
Are all Cherry MX Clears created equal?

(http://i.imgur.com/pzlamxf.jpg)

Well... are they, Punk?

https://imgur.com/a/wgjp3#pzlamxf (https://imgur.com/a/wgjp3#pzlamxf)

^ I thought this might be of interest for some. ^

Let me know what you think :)
-bmilcs
Title: Re: Keyboard Experiment: Are all Cherry MX Clears created equal?
Post by: ideus on Sat, 21 May 2016, 19:11:03
The overall geometry of the springs in their free state is irrelevant, because they will work partially compressed all the time, what it is important is the actual module of the springs when they are compressed inside of the switch with the stem up and then when they are actuated when the user is typing on them with the stem down.
Title: Re: Keyboard Experiment: Are all Cherry MX Clears created equal?
Post by: bocahgundul on Sat, 21 May 2016, 19:39:55
your pic r the best mane!
Title: Re: Keyboard Experiment: Are all Cherry MX Clears created equal?
Post by: bmilcs on Sun, 22 May 2016, 10:51:54
Quote from: ideus on Sat, 21 May 2016, 19:11:03
The overall geometry of the springs in their free state is irrelevant, because they will work partially compressed all the time, what it is important is the actual module of the springs when they are compressed inside of the switch with the stem up and then when they are actuated when the user is typing on them with the stem down.

That makes sense.

I was just trying to show the variance of 2 switch springs purchased within a few months of each other.
Title: Re: Keyboard Experiment: Are all Cherry MX Clears created equal?
Post by: bmilcs on Sun, 22 May 2016, 10:54:12
Quote from: bocahgundul on Sat, 21 May 2016, 19:39:55
your pic r the best mane!

No man. I love YOU, man.

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8MLiHp2LH48/hqdefault.jpg)
Title: Re: Keyboard Experiment: Are all Cherry MX Clears created equal?
Post by: davkol on Mon, 23 May 2016, 05:27:39
Is this news? I've been seeing different springs (material/color-wise) in Cherry MX for years. It's only interesting, whether they fall in the specified tolerances, or the specs differ.
Title: Re: Keyboard Experiment: Are all Cherry MX Clears created equal?
Post by: bmilcs on Mon, 23 May 2016, 08:01:51
Quote from: davkol on Mon, 23 May 2016, 05:27:39
Is this news? I've been seeing different springs (material/color-wise) in Cherry MX for years. It's only interesting, whether they fall in the specified tolerances, or the specs differ.

I am sure there are many people, like myself, that didn't know this.  I was just trying to be helpful and provide visible proof.

I'm sorry ?
Title: Re: Keyboard Experiment: Are all Cherry MX Clears created equal?
Post by: davkol on Mon, 23 May 2016, 13:07:21
Quote
Is one a legit Cherry MX and another a knock off?
Sounds like an overreaction.

Regardless, typing "cherry mx spring material" into Google Image search shows a bunch of photos with springs of three or four colors. I looked up that, back when I noticed the differences between springs, and found the classic thread at DT (https://deskthority.net/photos-f62/cherry-mx-old-vs-new-t139.html), that confirmed changes in spring materials at one point. The product line has been around for ~30 years, and gradual changes have taken place (as visible on vintage variants as well).
Title: Re: Keyboard Experiment: Are all Cherry MX Clears created equal?
Post by: Keycap on Mon, 23 May 2016, 14:25:00
The batch of 100 Cherry Clears I got a while ago feel very consistent. But I highly believe that smoothness/tactility/weighting varies between batches. I've only ever experienced two different batches of switches being used in a Dell AT101W though.
Title: Re: Keyboard Experiment: Are all Cherry MX Clears created equal?
Post by: ideus on Mon, 23 May 2016, 14:37:11
Quote from: Keycap on Mon, 23 May 2016, 14:25:00
The batch of 100 Cherry Clears I got a while ago feel very consistent. But I highly believe that smoothness/tactility/weighting varies between batches. I've only ever experienced two different batches of switches being used in a Dell AT101W though.

Switches are know to be inspected for module/force variation over stem travel, but it is very unlikely that that characteristic could be accurately described by feeling and it is also well known that variations in an assembly, like the switch one, may be a source of differences in feeling, even if the switch is within specifications.