How much beating can the metal inside switch take until it deforms?

[Hyde]

I think generally when you press down the switch the metal deforms and make contact and sends the signal to notify the computer that the key switch is pressed.  And when you let go it bounce back to original shape.

Just recently I try to do a switch swap on my g/f's keyboard going from Matias' Tactile Switch to Quiet Switch.  At the time it didn't occur to me that when I dissemble the switches and let it sit on the table, some of the switches were left in a "depressed" position.  Now that I think back I wonder if it would deform the "tactile leaf" since it's sitting in a depressed position for maybe 3 hours (as oppose to when we type which probably deforms it for 1/5 of a second).

What do you guys think?  Or does the metal should be flexible enough that it shouldn't effect it for too much?  I'm kinda paranoid now  >____>

My g/f claims that it feels the same but I think it feels less tactile now.  Here are some pictures to illustrate what happened:





On a side note, Matias uses a Costar-Like stabilizers for those that are interested.  All the large keys use their own type of stabilizers except spacebar which uses another different type that is actually closer to Costar design but not the same.

[Halverson]

I don't think it would deform in only 3 hours. I remember someone asking this question at the meetup actually, maybe you can fully explore the deformation

[Hyde]

This reminds me I do have 4 extra switches from the tour, maybe I can try to replicate the test by leaving 1 switch under stress for 3 hours then compare it to another regular switch 

But yes I definitely hope 3 hours won't be enough to deform it because it's a pain in the butt to swap all 109 switches  =______=

Oh a random note how's it going Halverson, haven't see you post all that much lately what have you been up to?

[limmy]

I personally conjecture that it would not deform that quickly. Metal springs(including plate springs as seen in your photo) are pretty sturdy. Of course, if you put excessive force to bend it, then it would deform, but I think it would be fine if it stayed in a switch.

I am interested to learn your blind test results nevertheless.

[tp4tissue]

Fvk... maybe you' went super saiyan for like all of 10secs and didn't even know it.

in which case, I'd say SSJ for less than 0.00001 second would be enough to deform a switch.. cuz it's way.. way.. over 9000

[Hyde]

Lol I suppose in that case it might not only deform the metal spring.  It will probably deform the entire switch along with keyboard, my desk, and probably my house too 

[Hyde]

So I did a test last night.  I compressed one of the extra switches I had for 3 hours before I go to sleep.

And I gotta say it felt almost exactly the same, since I don't have any accurate measuring device I kinda went by "feel".  I'd say it feels almost identical or even if it does deform it slightly I think it would be within a 5% difference.

Now I can relax and not worry about this case anymore 

[tricheboars]

so you mentioned the gf didnt think the keyboard felt any different. but does she like the board with the new quiet switches?

[Hyde]

Oh I meant she think it didn't feel any different compare to my PC Quiet Pro.  So I guess that counts as a successful mod 

And yes she likes the quiet switches a lot better than the Tactile Pro switches since it's quieter and require less force to press down.  I really think Matias should release a limited edition white case Mac Quiet Pro.  Sort of like how they had a limited edition silver case Tactile Pro before.