Keyboard Switch Testing Machine In Action!

[QWERTim]

Hello Everyone!

Each actuation is recorded via test software so we can determine the point of failure of the switch.

The machine is testing the following...

3x single sized keys with the actuator striking dead centre 1x 1x1.75 key with the actuator striking as far off centre as possible 1x 1x2 key with levelling mech being struck as far off centre as possible

Striking the wider keys off centre tests the switch with side loading as well as testing the levelling mech itself.

Switches being tested are MX1A-G1DN soft-tactile (brown stem).

The test will run 24/7 to the point of failure with inspection at 1,000,000 intervals


This machine has been used to prove how durable Cherry MX switches are - in one case, a batch of MX reds lasted well over their 20 Million key stroke life! (they stopped the test at 30 Million).

[CPTBadAss]

How did those caps look after the testing? And could you run a test on Cherry switches up to 50 million cycles?

Also does your machine give force measurements? That's pretty cool.

[0100010]

Begs the question - after how many cycles do the test actuators have to be replaced?

[ideus]

Mm, my old Poker X with reds is gonna get more love now. It may outlast my life span then. 

[SpAmRaY]

Someone needs to design one of these connected to the web where we could input things for it to type and then watch it in action.

[badboybry9000]

Are you developing your own switch?

[QWERTim]

How did those caps look after the testing? And could you run a test on Cherry switches up to 50 million cycles?

Also does your machine give force measurements? That's pretty cool.

I'll have to ask the engineer - I just asked for a video because I know you guys like this stuff!

Are you developing your own switch?

Alas no!

[CPTBadAss]

How did those caps look after the testing? And could you run a test on Cherry switches up to 50 million cycles?

Also does your machine give force measurements? That's pretty cool.

I'll have to ask the engineer - I just asked for a video because I know you guys like this stuff!

Yes, I love this...it's almost as good as machining porn.

[Folio]

Someone needs to design one of these connected to the web where we could input things for it to type and then watch it in action.

Almost like Twitch Plays Pokemon

[UnlikeAny]

These actuators. All of them combined must of cost a fortune. I once wanted to get a few for other reasons, but the price made my eyeballs come out of their sockets.

It's not me, but it looked very similar:

[strict]

I've seriously wanted a device like this to use on a whole keyboard that I could use to break-in new or scratchy switches. I thought about trying to rig something up with knex but never got motivated enough to actually look into it.

[berserkfan]

I agree with the commentators; the actuators and keycaps will probably die before the switches do.

That said, whatever happened to the 50 million keypress claim? Stopping the test at 30m isn't a complete test especially when you haven't seen a substantial number eg 5-10% of keys failing.

All the same, I don't really believe the 30m failure claim for blue/ green/ white switches. Too many people have complained of a loss of clickiness less than 1 year into a keyboard's life. I think once we get more than 5 failures to click on a standard 104-key tactile board, that's a bad sign.

[Razor Lotus]

wow looks brutal man..

looks like it's harsh on those switches