ALPS: Servicing, but can't open switches

[ihasmario]

Hello, I want to replace the springs and possibly leafs in an ALPS keyboard, but I cant open the switch. Screwdrivers just slide off.... Pls respond

[Tarzan]

Are those actually Alps switches?  I was expecting to see something with stems more like these:

Hello, I want to replace the springs and possibly leafs in an ALPS keyboard, but I cant open the switch. Screwdrivers just slide off.... Pls respond

[ihasmario]

They are ALPS plate spring switches on IBM 5576s

[Tarzan]

Probably explains why I've never seen examples of these in real life, that's a pretty rare keyboard!   

It may be that instructions for opening Alps switches are geared towards Alps CM, I'll have to defer to someone more experienced for a substantive answer.

They are ALPS plate spring switches on IBM 5576s

[ihasmario]

The switch casing itself seems fairly similar, but I just cant get it open with two screw drivers, as they slide off.

Some more info for onlookers: they are plate mounted, I am trying to replace some of the springs, and hope to increase the actuation force (because pianist fingers)

[CPTBadAss]

Try this link.

[ihasmario]

Great, thanks. Will try later.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Are those actually Alps switches?

Alps Electric made a lot of different switches; the SKCL/SKCM/SK??/???? types ("Alps CM", or just "Alps") are by far the most common. The next most common may be their corned beef tin linears (some Atari 800XL, some old Toshiba laptops etc). Those Alps plate spring switches are not one of the common ones.

Their switches include metal contact, conductive dome inside discrete switches, spring over membrane, and plain old rubber domes.

Most of the ones I know of are listed here: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Category:Alps_switches

My favourite is probably this one that Sandy just discovered recently:

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_ultra_low_profile