Author Topic: Help figure out what switch is used with this keyboard. (Read 4225 times)

Dizon248 · « **on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 18:42:02 »

I use this keyboard at work and really liked the way it feels but do not know what kind of mechanical switch it uses.

It is a keyboard used on the Siemens Dimension RXL Chemistry Analyzer.

Photekq · « **Reply #1 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 18:43:22 »

Cherry MX. You can tell from the pins on the bottom of the PCB.

Dizon248 · « **Reply #2 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 18:45:26 »

Hmm.... I'd have to play with it some more at work. Didn't feel like any Cherry MX switch I knew of.

1pq · « **Reply #3 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 18:45:54 »

Could you take a picture with a key cap removed? Then you could probably identify which mx switch...

Pacifist · « **Reply #4 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 18:46:08 »

Quote from: Photekq on Sun, 29 December 2013, 18:43:22

Cherry MX. You can tell from the pins on the bottom of the PCB.

+1

Also looks sorta like a 1800, most likely blacks

Dizon248 · « **Reply #5 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 19:50:05 »

Hmmm, I'll give removing one of the keycaps a shot. Thanks guys.

Pacifist · « **Reply #6 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 20:04:42 »

pretty sure its a 1800, one of the various versions

Findecanor · « **Reply #7 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 20:29:55 »

The manufacturer's name is also in the second picture: TG3.

They have also made a custom keyboard for policecar use, with backlight and a rubber sheet to protect the switches from liquids.
On the consumer side, they are the manufacturer behind Deck Keyboards.

IvanIvanovich · « **Reply #8 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 20:36:16 »

TG3 use black, or clears so it will have one or the other. Will have DCS doubleshots from Signature Plastics on there. It will be solid made keyboard, but only 2KRO.

jabar · « **Reply #9 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 21:45:09 »

That rubber cover will sure make the keys feel a lot different than normal MX.

Pacifist · « **Reply #10 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 21:49:25 »

these may be vintage blacks so gl finding a recently made board with them

1pq · « **Reply #11 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 21:53:59 »

Can you describe the feel? Is it linear? Tactile/audio feedback?

Dizon248 · « **Reply #12 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 23:30:33 »

It is tactile for sure. It seems to have a short travel distance when striking the keys. It felt like old mechanical keyboards I've used when I was a kid. I actually like these switches a lot more than the tactile ones from Cherry. Maybe they are clears like someone suggested. I haven't had a chance to try clears yet so I might be wrong and they are really Cherry's. It almost feels like a blue, but not quite. Again, it honestly feels like the old mechanical keyboards used back in the 90s. Someone else mentioned vintage blacks. I'm not sure how those feel, but it did have a somewhat stiff force tension. Definitely stiffer than browns, but what isn't stiffer than browns, right?

This thing is a chemistry analyzer, you wouldn't want to use the keyboard without that rubber covering. Urine and blood samples are ran on this analyzer all day so you could imagine the mess and damage the keyboard would endure if that plastic covering wasn't on there.

Hak Foo · « **Reply #13 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 23:40:11 »

The rubber "spill guard" TG3 uses may add a layer of tactility, since it's basically adding a rubber done on top of your mechanical switch.

1pq · « **Reply #14 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 23:46:45 »

Quote from: Dizon248 on Sun, 29 December 2013, 23:30:33

It is tactile for sure. It seems to have a short travel distance when striking the keys. It felt like old mechanical keyboards I've used when I was a kid. I actually like these switches a lot more than the tactile ones from Cherry. Maybe they are clears like someone suggested. I haven't had a chance to try clears yet so I might be wrong and they are really Cherry's. It almost feels like a blue, but not quite. Again, it honestly feels like the old mechanical keyboards used back in the 90s. Someone else mentioned vintage blacks. I'm not sure how those feel, but it did have a somewhat stiff force tension. Definitely stiffer than browns, but what isn't stiffer than browns, right?

This thing is a chemistry analyzer, you wouldn't want to use the keyboard without that rubber covering. Urine and blood samples are ran on this analyzer all day so you could imagine the mess and damage the keyboard would endure if that plastic covering wasn't on there.

Stiff and tactile sounds like clears to me. Vintage blacks are stiff, but they're linear.

Pacifist · « **Reply #15 on:** Sun, 29 December 2013, 23:58:04 »

def clears on some 1800

Fullcream · « **Reply #16 on:** Mon, 30 December 2013, 06:48:40 »

Key cap puller.

IvanIvanovich · « **Reply #17 on:** Mon, 30 December 2013, 12:39:41 »

I have seen these come up for sale a few times... so you can always keep an eye out and get one for home

) Or you could get a TG3 BL82 with clears they come up frequent enough on ebay for low prices, same feel but still a departure from being reminded of work. Cherry G80-3000LQCEU would be another good choice if you wanted something more standard.

tp4tissue · « **Reply #18 on:** Mon, 30 December 2013, 13:05:28 »

Quote from: Hak Foo on Sun, 29 December 2013, 23:40:11

The rubber "spill guard" TG3 uses may add a layer of tactility, since it's basically adding a rubber done on top of your mechanical switch.

exprain spill guard...

Dizon248 · « **Reply #19 on:** Mon, 30 December 2013, 15:56:08 »

Well now it is time to go hunt for a keyboard with MX clears... As I understand it, these switches are impossible to find. Not only that, I want it in TKL keyboard with PBT caps.

tp4tissue · « **Reply #20 on:** Mon, 30 December 2013, 15:59:03 »

Quote from: Dizon248 on Mon, 30 December 2013, 15:56:08

Well now it is time to go hunt for a keyboard with MX clears... As I understand it, these switches are impossible to find. Not only that, I want it in TKL keyboard with PBT caps.

No...? u can buy 100 of these switches for $50...

1pq · « **Reply #21 on:** Mon, 30 December 2013, 15:59:58 »

Quote from: Dizon248 on Mon, 30 December 2013, 15:56:08

Well now it is time to go hunt for a keyboard with MX clears... As I understand it, these switches are impossible to find. Not only that, I want it in TKL keyboard with PBT caps.

You can get a pcb mounted keyboard and easily remove the switches and swap them with clears. Won't be worn down like the old clears at your work, but that will happen with time.
You can buy good quality cherry caps from IMSTO (they're pretty expensive though, usually ~$90 for a set).

1pq · « **Reply #22 on:** Mon, 30 December 2013, 16:00:53 »

Quote from: tp4tissue on Mon, 30 December 2013, 15:59:03

Quote from: Dizon248 on Mon, 30 December 2013, 15:56:08
Well now it is time to go hunt for a keyboard with MX clears... As I understand it, these switches are impossible to find. Not only that, I want it in TKL keyboard with PBT caps.

No...? u can buy 100 of these switches for $50...

I believe he meant a keyboard that comes prebuilt with clears.
I'd recommend buying the swithces from mechanicalkeyboards.com.

Dizon248 · « **Reply #23 on:** Mon, 30 December 2013, 16:16:48 »

Hmmm I guess I can do that. I already have a Poker 2 and can just swap out the browns in there for clears.

1pq · « **Reply #24 on:** Mon, 30 December 2013, 16:19:53 »

Quote from: Dizon248 on Mon, 30 December 2013, 16:16:48

Hmmm I guess I can do that. I already have a Poker 2 and can just swap out the browns in there for clears.

Original Poker is PCB mounted, but unfortunately, the Poker II is not.
Once you have 60 posts, though, you should post a wtb in the classifieds for a g80-3000.

Dizon248 · « **Reply #25 on:** Mon, 30 December 2013, 16:36:43 »

Well damn.... I'll just have to hold onto my Poker 2 for awhile then. That Code keyboard seems really nice, but they said they're not going to have stock with MX clears for another year or so.

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Author Topic: Help figure out what switch is used with this keyboard. (Read 4225 times)