Futaba clicky switch love?

[Touch_It]

I have a keyboard (unknown brand) at least to me that has clicky switches.  Unfortunately Im missing enter and right shift so it does make it hard to type on but I'm loving it.  While it certainly doesn't trump IBM M or especially F it is probably my 3rd (or maybe 4th) favorite switch.  I have by no means tried everything out there  I am impressed with them.  Have a great clicky sound imo (super loud).  Much different from Cherry mx or alps plasticy sound and different from M and F ping sound.  Also the switches feel refreshingly light.  Definite tactile bump but not overwhelming and not unnoticeable or gritty like MX Brown.  I don't see a lot of talk about them and just feel like they might be under appreciated.  Hopefully there isn't a thread about love for these already out there (I didn't search).  Really just wanted to see if there is anyone else out there that feels my love for these switches. 

Edit:  Forgot I made a thread on my keyboard. Here is the link https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=65339.0

[hwood34]

Nice, finally someone else is talking about these things. The tacitilty in them is really nice, albeit somewhat loud. And the nice thing about my FK-8000 is that it has the MX-compatible version, so I can swap in some different sets, though the layout makes it near impossible to fully swap a set

[chyros]

Hmmm, I've been wondering recently how these feel. How do these compare to Alps and Cherries?

[hwood34]

Hmmm, I've been wondering recently how these feel. How do these compare to Alps and Cherries?

Well, I think the main difference is in the tactile bump. I can't really explain it, but it feels different from other tactile switches

[Touch_It]

I have to agree with hwood.  An interesting thing about these switches is that they don't make the click till the upstroke.   Certainly different than cherry or alps.  Imo the sound they make really helps to enhance the switch (at least for me).  The feel maybe loosely resembles black alps from a dell at101w.  But I don't feel it is a very accurate description.  It honestly feels like you get a small tactile bump on the way down and more tactile action on the way up.

[hwood34]

I have to agree with hwood.  An interesting thing about these switches is that they don't make the click till the upstroke.   Certainly different than cherry or alps.  Imo the sound they make really helps to enhance the switch (at least for me).  The feel maybe loosely resembles black alps from a dell at101w.  But I don't feel it is a very accurate description.                                           

Aha, that's definitely part of it. I think the best way to describe it is the bump, whereas in Cherry or Alps, it feels like the bump is a piece that extends outward like driving over a speedbump, the futaba's bump feels like the bump shifts it to a whole new level in a way, like driving over a bump up to a higher road. I can really explain it very well, but hope that helps a little.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

I have just the one switch, but it definitely clicks when you press it. The jury is still out on whether a linear version exists, and whether that's just a misconception based on keyboards where the clicker has gone wrong, and given their very smooth tactility.

What's confusing though … is that they don't have clickers. There's a flat spring that's held bent, and inverted when the key is pressed. This is also what transfers the force to the switch contacts. I don't know what would have to happen to one of these switches to stop it from clicking — especially if it clicks when released. The click sound and actuation should occur at the exact same instant.

The trouble is that they're sealed shut, so you can't easily open one up to see what's gone wrong with it.

[Touch_It]

Real bummer on being sealed shut.  I just realized a keycap stem is broke off on my numpad - key.  Also I'm missing stabalizers and stabs on numpad + and enter, as well as right shift enter.  In addition I'm missing my enter key and right shift, and my numpad - key.  I would really like to track down replacements.  Using my * key for enter and numpad 0 key for right shift won't cut it forever lol.  But hey, I picked up the board locally for $5.00 so not too bad.



Edit FWIW  Several keys were very sticky as in soda or something was spilled in it (got it that way).  I put a small amount of rubbing alcohol on the stem to fix the issue.  Before it all evaporated, the keys I did this on lost their click.  (cant remember if they felt linear or not.)

[hwood34]

I have just the one switch, but it definitely clicks when you press it.

I think what he was trying to say was that it has the tactile bump, but makes the click noise at the start of the return

[shut up]

Futabawhat?

[hwood34]

Futabawhat?

These. Not very common, but certainly a great tactile switch

[Daniel Beardsmore]

I have just the one switch, but it definitely clicks when you press it.

I think what he was trying to say was that it has the tactile bump, but makes the click noise at the start of the return

That's still not what I meant. Mine clicks when you press it and, as I recall, clicks again when you release it. It should click in both directions, since you're inverting a plate spring.

[hwood34]

I have just the one switch, but it definitely clicks when you press it.

I think what he was trying to say was that it has the tactile bump, but makes the click noise at the start of the return

That's still not what I meant. Mine clicks when you press it and, as I recall, clicks again when you release it. It should click in both directions, since you're inverting a plate spring.

oh. I guess mine might be a bit different, I have the MX-compatible version, though there wasn't a separate page on them so I just assumed they were the same. Though now that I think about it, the click I here at the end might just be the extra plate reverb on the return.

[Touch_It]

It is certainly tactile on the way down and some noise but for whatever reason I can say without a doubt the main sound comes in the upstroke.  Almost like the spring is reverberating.  I have the inverse t mount sliders.  I'll see if I can get an audio clip tomorrow.  I left mine at the office today.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

These switches seem to have a strange failure mode where the click goes away, which might be why some people report linear ones. What confuses me is when a site describes them as neither clicky nor tactile having presumably received a shipment of brand new ones. The only way to be sure is to get a keyboard where the owner swears blind that the switches are linear, and drill open a switch and see what's inside. We know what's inside the clicky ones, but not what's inside the apparently linear ones.

[Shayde]

I have a (non-working) FK-6000 with Cherry MX compatible stems and, yeah, mine click more on the up-stroke, though there's definitely a click on the down-stroke as well.  It's just the up-stroke click is louder and more noticeable.

[davkol]

I have two chiconys (5182 and 5192) with clicky futabas up for sale at Deskthority.

The switch is slightly tactile (a very simple bump similar to clicky complicated Alps, but less pronounced) with a miniscule click (a bit like Cherry MX Brown/Clear, if you listen closely) on the downstroke. The actual "click" happens on upstroke, and it sounds like a leaf returning to its default position, accompanied by a tactile bump (perhaps somewhat stronger than on downstroke, but it could be simply bias caused by the more audible click).

[CPTBadAss]

I tried a board out with Futaba clicky switches at a friend's house. I thought they were a lot of fun. Wonderfully clicky in both feeling and sound. I would have loved to have bought it off him...now I've gotta hunt my own or check out davkol's listing.

[hwood34]

I tried a board out with Futaba clicky switches at a friend's house. I thought they were a lot of fun. Wonderfully clicky in both feeling and sound. I would have loved to have bought it off him...now I've gotta hunt my own or check out davkol's listing.

This is where I got mine. I know some have white alps, but I'm assuming that these all are the same model and, in that case, have MX-compatible futaba.

[Jokrik]

Well this get's me excited since I love clicky switch and trying to move away from the boring cherry click

but how's the keyboard built quality on most Futaba? I know for a fact that I was so in love with monterey blues
but the case quality was so much of a let down I dont even wanna use it anymore

[Touch_It]

Having both and using both I can say that the case on my futaba switch keyboard is much sturdier.  I won't go out and say ZOMG best case ever, or anything but it is miles ahead of chicony cases.  nice and solid with no creaking.  The keyboard isn't overly heavy but not a letdown.  I really do enjoy the switches as a nice change of pace I will say I doubt they are for everyone as I think it would likely be a love or hate switch but they are certainly interesting and I do enjoy mine.

[hwood34]

Well this get's me excited since I love clicky switch and trying to move away from the boring cherry click

but how's the keyboard built quality on most Futaba? I know for a fact that I was so in love with monterey blues
but the case quality was so much of a let down I dont even wanna use it anymore

my fk-8000 is built pretty averagely. Plastic case held together with clips with a nice feeling plate