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Author Topic: source of inexpensive key switches?  (Read 3407 times)

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Offline zbigniew

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source of inexpensive key switches?
« on: Tue, 02 November 2010, 13:08:44 »
hi all. i'm looking for an inexpensive source for mechanical key switches for a custom keyboard project i'm working on. i'm a total n00b at keyboard hacking/geekery, and i already got burned once buying a keyboard with mechanical switches that turned out to be un-harvestable, so i was wondering if anyone had advice about promising places look-- keyboards that can be found cheap and are easy to dismantle for parts, or inexpensive sources for bulk orders on key switches (since i'm just prototyping stuff, cost is an issue, and i haven't seen cherry switches (for example) for less than about $1 per switch, which is more than i'd like to spend).

from what i've read here, it seems like dell at101's might be reasonable choice-- does anyone have experience taking these apart? i'm also a little unsure whether all at101's have the mechanical switches-- i've seen discussions about "old label" and "new label" and it is unclear to me whether there are difference other than the labels.

thanks for your advice!!

(ps: sorry if this has come up before-- i searched the forums, i promise, but i couldn't find the info i was looking for)
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Offline Pylon

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source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 02 November 2010, 13:44:27 »
Well, you could try looking at possibly some old mechanical Apple boards, like the AEK II.

Al AT101W's by the way are mechanical, though some of the earlier ones may have different switches. Dell's QuietKey line at the time are the rubber domes.
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Offline rantenki

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source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 02 November 2010, 13:49:27 »
Quote from: zbigniew;241665
...  inexpensive sources for bulk orders on key switches (since i'm just prototyping stuff, cost is an issue, and i haven't seen cherry switches (for example) for less than about $1 per switch, which is more than i'd like to spend).

I got blues from newark for $0.69/ea IIRC. You have to order in 100+ units though.

Correction, I think these are browns: http://www.newark.com/cherry/mx1a-c1nw/switch-tactile-spst-no-10ma-thd/dp/93B7074
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Offline Daniel Beaver

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source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 02 November 2010, 15:04:33 »
I've had good luck just buying donor boards off people here on Geekhack. There are a lot of old keyboards with unusable layouts or strange connectors which are a good source. I think ALPS boards are generally easier to find. The again, you would be using old keyswitches which may not be up to snuff.
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Offline Brian8bit

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source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 02 November 2010, 15:14:59 »
Anyone ever used http://www.mouser.com for switches?
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Offline keyb_gr

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source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 02 November 2010, 15:17:36 »
Quote from: zbigniew;241665
... and i already got burned once buying a keyboard with mechanical switches that turned out to be un-harvestable, ...

Just curious: What was the problem?
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Hardware in signatures clutters Google search results. There should be a field in the profile for that (again).

This message was probably typed on a vintage G80-3000 with blues. Double-shots, baby. :D

Offline Lanx

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source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 02 November 2010, 15:55:27 »
mouser is pretty awesome! they have great packaging, i tested out my nostromo n52 with blacks and blues with them like dollarish per key no min.
imo just buy a used board the compaq mx11800 whatever if you want browns or cherry g80's they usually go for 30-40bucks with shipping.

i just bought a g80-8200 and gonna get it in the mail for the browns for 35$ gonna see how that turns out. (doing a mod of my own taking out switches)
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Offline CeeSA

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source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 02 November 2010, 16:34:40 »
G80-8200 has browns? productpage cherry says black
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Offline Lanx

  • Posts: 1915
source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 02 November 2010, 17:50:02 »
Quote from: CeeSA;241764
G80-8200 has browns? productpage cherry says black


mine had browns
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Offline zbigniew

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source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 04 November 2010, 12:12:03 »
Quote from: keyb_gr;241735
Just curious: What was the problem?


i am playing around with different keyboard geometries and layouts, so i need self-contained switches-- the board i bought had mechanical switches, but they were all part of one large plastic part.
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Offline msiegel

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source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 04 November 2010, 12:17:18 »
how many switches do you need?
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Offline kriminal

  • Posts: 424
source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 04 November 2010, 12:24:51 »
Quote from: zbigniew;242562
i am playing around with different keyboard geometries and layouts, so i need self-contained switches-- the board i bought had mechanical switches, but they were all part of one large plastic part.


curious... sounds almost like model m..
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Offline keyb_gr

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source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 04 November 2010, 14:14:54 »
Sounds very much like a BS Model M or other "mechanics over membrane" type board indeed. Kinda suspected something like that. There are a few other variations around as well, like Cherry MY or the clicky Acers - check the wiki. BS Model Ms are very nice to type on, but of no use for what the OP wants to do.

zbigniew, where are you located? It shouldn't be too hard to hook you up with one or two Dell AT101Ws or Cherry G80s with blacks. I think sixty mentioned he still had a virtual truckload of G80-1800s.
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Hardware in signatures clutters Google search results. There should be a field in the profile for that (again).

This message was probably typed on a vintage G80-3000 with blues. Double-shots, baby. :D

Offline Lanx

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source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #13 on: Fri, 05 November 2010, 16:43:25 »
just got my second g80-8200 and it has browns.
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Offline CeeSA

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source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #14 on: Fri, 05 November 2010, 17:04:49 »
ModellNumber?
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Offline Lanx

  • Posts: 1915
source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #15 on: Fri, 05 November 2010, 17:34:21 »
traveling now but
g80-8200LxxUS

xx is unsure but it's the usb version.
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Offline keyb_gr

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source of inexpensive key switches?
« Reply #16 on: Fri, 05 November 2010, 21:42:11 »
Well, the XX would be the interesting part (or, knowing Cherry and their handling of POS board nomenclature, maybe not).

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Hardware in signatures clutters Google search results. There should be a field in the profile for that (again).

This message was probably typed on a vintage G80-3000 with blues. Double-shots, baby. :D
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