Are all Cherry MX boards keys interchangeable?

[TacticalCoder]

For example, can I take the key from a G8?-????H... and put them on a Cherry MX 5000?

Say I buy a G81-7910HPBUS with double-shot keys "white letters on black keys", would the keys fit an MX 5000?

In general (and for similar layouts) can all MX boards keys be swapped or do MX keys sometimes vary in "shape"?

[alaricljs]

The shape difference is purely between PCB mount and plate mount keys.  plate mount keys don't have the nubs you need to PCB mount, PCB mount have nubs that most plate mounted PCB's don't have the holes for.

Then there is whether the switch has a jumper lead, diode or LED installed.  The PCB you are installing into would need to support the same item or it would need to be left out, which is not difficult.

[gilgam]

you are talking abouyt kecaps aren't you ?

they are quite different but keycaps are interchangeable as far as they go on cherry mx switches. Size matters though, with some keycaps differents from others (i'm not talking about the rows)

[TacticalCoder]

The shape difference is purely between PCB mount and plate mount keys

Ah, I'm confused now : )

You mean that the shape of the keycaps depends on how the switch is attached to the keyboard?  If you see one "MX" keycap, you can tell which type of mount the keyboard has?

[TacticalCoder]

you are talking abouyt kecaps aren't you ?

 
You again! (I saw that our little "french" group buy is on its way, thanks!)

Yup, I'm talking about keycaps...

Damn, you type fast Gilgam, "about keycaps" became "abouyt kecaps" (the 'y' managed to appear in the wrong word! ; )

[alaricljs]

Ah, I'm confused now : )

Since I thought the keycap question was obvious, I assumed you meant the entire switch.  Ignore me

[TacticalCoder]

Since I thought the keycap question was obvious, I assumed you meant the entire switch.  Ignore me

nah, the information you gave is very interesting too.  My bad.

[alaricljs]

Well, in regard to keycaps as long as they are Cherry MX compatible and the same size then they are interchangeable except for spacebars.  There are differences in spacing of the levelling mechanism between some manufacturers (see Leopold).

[Parabellum]

Different keyboards use different methods of attaching and stabilizing bigger keycaps. As you can see in the picture below taken by.. ripster, the three spacebars are mounted differently and are not interchangable. Same goes for other larger keys.

[gilgam]

I saw that our little "french" group buy is on its way, thanks!

Good no email to send :-)



I switched to my cherry ghetto red and at the beginning i mistype a lot...

you can see in the wiki that there are some differences beetween keycaps for the same row. Some are taller, some wider and can't fit on some keyboards etc...

Edit : i forgot the space bars, it's very annoying to have to mod them...

[IvanIvanovich]

The other one that can be a nuisance on Cherry brand keycaps is off center stems on certain keys. I know capslock especially, but if I am not mistaken some others had them too on some modifiers.

[The Solutor]

The shape difference is purely between PCB mount and plate mount keys.  plate mount keys don't have the nubs you need to PCB mount, PCB mount have nubs that most plate mounted PCB's don't have the holes for.

Then there is whether the switch has a jumper lead, diode or LED installed.  The PCB you are installing into would need to support the same item or it would need to be left out, which is not difficult.

PCB mount switches can be easily mounted on plate mount keyboards (just cut/break the nubs, and remove the jumper), the opposite is a bit more difficult but still feasible.

BTW as the switch housings can be easily swapped there's no problem at all.