Author Topic: Cherry MX red sources and prices? (Read 6485 times)

Input Nirvana · « **on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 21:07:40 »

I think Taobao about $! each.

Are there any other Cherry red mx switch sources and prices? Mouser, Digikey...

I'm sorry if it's listed here, I'm not finding it.

Cata1yst · « **Reply #1 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 21:54:20 »

armygroup.tw

alaricljs · « **Reply #2 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 21:55:29 »

Don't count armygroup... the per-item shipping surcharge murders the pricetag.

kaiserreich · « **Reply #3 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 22:04:17 »

Get the PLUM G3000 with MX Red and cannibalize it, assuming you can find buyers for the rest of the switches

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #4 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 22:07:17 »

So Taobao is it? So much for competition. I think they were about $1 each 2 months ago when I followed a link someone here posted. It seems buying from there can be a hassle...is that true, or am I just spoiled by the likes of Amazon?

alaricljs · « **Reply #5 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 22:10:22 »

Feiyu Studio on Taobao claims to have 9k in stock at 2.50 RMB each.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=12275912030

Translation seems to indicate these are desoldered but unused... wtf ?

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #6 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 22:15:53 »

Sounds a lot different than what I think I saw before, might have been a different seller. I don't know if they were new or not.

Going to link now, brutal.

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #7 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 22:47:23 »

I didn't catch the desoldered but unused (lol) but I also want plate mounted. I'll try a couple different translators. In the end, I haven't bought through Taobao before so I'll need to have someone fluent in Chinese to ultimately make certain I'm doing the right things. I don't want to get stuck with 500 metric tons of steel pipe being delivered to my neighborhood.

litster · « **Reply #8 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 22:53:36 »

I can check out the taobao link when I get a chance. I am traveling and have been out all day. I can read Chinese :-)

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #9 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 22:58:05 »

Right on dude! See? I'm on it! I told you not to worry! And, what's best, is I just put my best man on the job! lol

You remember what we're getting right?

I'd be open to buying several hundred if anyone else might want them in the next 2-4 months. I don't mind holding some stock for a while.

I'm typing on reds now...nice stuff.

litster · « **Reply #10 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 23:01:03 »

Well, I read the page. There is not much to it. switches were removed from keyboards, but doesn't say they are PCB mount or plate mount model. Taobao agent fees should be minimal. But not sure about shipping to the US.

I can also email army group to see if they can fix the shipping. The insane shipping charge i think is because they use one calculation for everything, regardless of actually weight.

sordna · « **Reply #11 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 23:02:06 »

What will you use so many red switches for?

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #12 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 23:13:59 »

Oops. I'm caught. Trashing reds in one thread as just "ok" now I'm in this thread trying to buy a thousand internationally...I'm such a goob. These are great switches, the more I type, the more I like. I'm thinking that there might be red switches in all the Contoured project boards, now. I can probably buy keywells with switches, but I need more than that and I want more options. I can buy more if someone else wants some too.

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #13 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 23:17:07 »

Quote from: litster;391386

Well, I read the page. There is not much to it. switches were removed from keyboards, but doesn't say they are PCB mount or plate mount model. Taobao agent fees should be minimal. But not sure about shipping to the US.

I can also email army group to see if they can fix the shipping. The insane shipping charge i think is because they use one calculation for everything, regardless of actually weight.

Need that type of switch info for sure, maybe if you can get a pic. We'll need to get serious about the quantity question too.

sordna · « **Reply #14 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 23:25:39 »

I was going to say, since you can get keywells, you shouldn't need more than 2 dozen switches per keyboard for F keys and extras. Maybe it's easier to get a cheap keyboard with reds and desolder them. Oops, before I forget, the red switch variant the Kinesis uses is the MX1AL-1DW (with pins, with diodes).

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #15 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 23:34:23 »

Right, we need those exact switches. Thanks for the part number, I like the "L" in the prefix

I'm not sure how it's going to work yet, but I'm not buying 20 from China, waiting a month, and possibly have some bad product, wrong product, or whateva. I'll make it count. I'll divide up the cost and see if anyone else wants them as well. No reason for a bunch of people to go through the hassle.

litster · « **Reply #16 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 23:40:45 »

The picture from that link looks like a PCB-mount keyboard. But there isn't a picture of the actual red switches it is selling. If these switches came off of keyboards, then very likely they come from cheaper keyboards that were PCB mounted. The good news is that if you want plate-mount switches, PCB-mount switches can be converted to plate-mount switches by clipping the two plastic poles off for each switch. The bad news is if you do that, that is a lot of switches to modify.

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #17 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 23:51:50 »

Armygroup or Taobao?

litster · « **Reply #18 on:** Mon, 01 August 2011, 23:54:55 »

Quote from: input nirvana;391412

Armygroup or Taobao?

Oops, sorry. That was from taobao. I have yet to look at army group's picture yet. Let me search for it.

litster · « **Reply #19 on:** Tue, 02 August 2011, 00:02:03 »

Army group link: http://www.armygroup.com.tw/shop/goods.php?id=6135

Amry group provides the Model number as MX1A-R1NN.

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #20 on:** Tue, 02 August 2011, 00:10:20 »

Hmmm...no diode, no pins...crap I need with diode and with pins, or diode and no pins, but I need diode.

Do you need diode, pins?

What's the "R" for?

kaiserreich · « **Reply #21 on:** Tue, 02 August 2011, 00:18:41 »

I bought some switches from Armygroup, they are plain plate mounted switches without stablizers

sordna · « **Reply #22 on:** Tue, 02 August 2011, 00:24:00 »

Quote from: input nirvana;391420

Hmmm...no diode, no pins...crap I need with diode and with pins, or diode and no pins, but I need diode.

Do you need diode, pins?

What's the "R" for?

They probably mean L but wrote it in Engrish.

The character after MX1A is the switch model (1 for black, E for blue, L for red, G for brown, etc). There's no R that I'm aware of.

litster · « **Reply #23 on:** Tue, 02 August 2011, 00:36:47 »

I don't need diodes. So anything should work for me as long as it has the red stem and spring. I just need 6 of them.

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #24 on:** Tue, 02 August 2011, 01:27:42 »

I'd like to try to get reds with diodes and pins, but I won't hold up the process. I guess I can get diodes and pop them in, or maybe steal them from other switches (browns), need to find out the diode that is used and buy those separate if need be from a source.

Keep in mind, we have a thread on a project controller that will do what a Kinesis does, and hopefully more. Switches will need diodes

alaricljs · « **Reply #25 on:** Tue, 02 August 2011, 09:00:16 »

litster, it would be amazingly awesome if you could get shipping on switches from armygroup to a more reasonable rate. I was trying to figure out if they had a retail presence so that I could determine whether it was worth locating a co-worker in that area to do me a favor.

litster · « **Reply #26 on:** Tue, 02 August 2011, 09:40:01 »

@alaricljs, I sent a mail to army group to see if they could fix their shipping calucation for small items. I will let you know if/when they reply.

@input narvana, I only need 6 red switches. You need to buy a lot. I just piggyback to your order. So take your time to find the right switch model you need. Keep us posted with your search.

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #27 on:** Tue, 02 August 2011, 11:07:58 »

I'm not sure yet what to do for quantity. I'm thinking I'll keep it easy and perhaps get about 40. I need pins, but if I can add diodes I'm good with that. Do the Taobao switches have diodes? If they have pins AND can be plate mounted, I'm good.

alaricljs · « **Reply #28 on:** Tue, 02 August 2011, 11:19:59 »

PCB switches can be plate mounted whether you remove the extra pins or not. Keeping the pins means you'll need a rather accurate PCB and plate. There's no issue in adding diodes as the switch casing is the same whether they stick diodes in it or not. Adding diodes will be a bit time consuming as you'll have to crack all the switches.

squarebox · « **Reply #29 on:** Tue, 02 August 2011, 11:21:24 »

I have a small amount of extra red springs and stem...

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #30 on:** Tue, 02 August 2011, 12:08:33 »

Quote from: alaricljs;391586

PCB switches can be plate mounted whether you remove the extra pins or not. Keeping the pins means you'll need a rather accurate PCB and plate. There's no issue in adding diodes as the switch casing is the same whether they stick diodes in it or not. Adding diodes will be a bit time consuming as you'll have to crack all the switches.

I'm good with adding the diodes if I need to. More work, more expense, but in the big picture, it's a pretty small problem that has a solution. I may be able to get away without the pins on some switches, after reviewing this morning, I should be able to plate mount most, but the thumb clusters on the Kinesis are pcb mounted, which is a problem.

REDS:
1- with pins with diodes
2- with pins no diodes
3- no pins no diodes

1 and 2 are viable for me and anyone else that would want some. Need to see what Taobao has asap.

If it's a problem, may need to locate a keyboard and desolder.

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #31 on:** Tue, 02 August 2011, 12:09:17 »

Quote from: squarebox;391588

I have a small amount of extra red springs and stem...

How many...Litster needs 6....

litster · « **Reply #32 on:** Wed, 03 August 2011, 09:28:45 »

Square box has 11.

I haven't heard back from army group yet. So the other option would be taobao, especially if you need a large number of them and if that model works for you.

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #33 on:** Wed, 03 August 2011, 09:59:38 »

Input Nirvana minimum quantity and requirements to complete Kinesis Split project:
26 with pins
2 no pins

That gives me 2 extra with pins.
I can add diodes if necessary. I prefer all with pins and diodes.

I have a dozen cherry black clones, but the Kinesis deserves better

That's total needed 34 with yours. Can always buy more later I suppose.

litster · « **Reply #34 on:** Thu, 04 August 2011, 09:15:31 »

Army group replied. We can order first, and then leave a note to tell them to adjust shipping before paying with paypal. But actual shipping cost is not mentioned. So we would have to find out how much it would cost after submitting the order. So if the part numb is good, we can do that. I am going to be out all day today though so won't be able to help until late tonight.

kaiserreich · « **Reply #35 on:** Thu, 04 August 2011, 20:08:52 »

Please tell how much the shipping cost end up to be

Input Nirvana · « **Reply #36 on:** Sat, 06 August 2011, 10:04:19 »

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litster · « **Reply #37 on:** Sat, 06 August 2011, 22:38:24 »

Quote from: kaiserreich;393233

Please tell how much the shipping cost end up to be

I haven't done any ordering yet. If you are ready to order, you can create an account (if you haven't already), create an order and use paypal, add note to the order to ask for a shipping adjustment, and don't pay with paypal before the updated price. That is what I would do if I end up ordering from them.

bpiphany · « **Reply #38 on:** Sun, 07 August 2011, 05:46:56 »

These are the diodes I have been using for my keyboard projects. I later discovered they are the exact same Filco uses. They also fit without trouble into the cherry switch. It's not too much work adding them to some switches. Not a whole lot of fun either though.

foliolio · « **Reply #39 on:** Sun, 07 August 2011, 07:47:30 »

I'm about to purchase some reds as well, to convert my Raptor K1 from blacks to reds (since there are no ISO-layout keyboards with red switches available, have to make one myself). I could buy a bag of switches from TaoBao and hope I get the correct kind, OR I could buy the cheapest full size board (PLUM, at the moment) and go harvesting... The PLUMs must be pcb-mounted, am I correct?

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Author Topic: Cherry MX red sources and prices? (Read 6485 times)