Author Topic: Help me identify this switch - Expo 486 Keyboard  (Read 2451 times)

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Offline harlw

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Help me identify this switch - Expo 486 Keyboard
« on: Thu, 28 May 2015, 15:05:05 »
Dug a couple of boards up from a second hand store in town here and I've come up short googling for info on this keyboard specifically nor the switches themselves. It's an "Expo 486" with AT connector.

Edit: some more detail: they are board mounted with no plate. I paid $2 for it :D
 
Edit 2: Managed to google this - Ad in 1994 PC Magazine for VTech expotech series computers
Google Books link http://j.mp/1J9FC6p
screenshot of that page: 101900-0

Switches are tactile and clicky, they feel similar to MX blues but I don't have my mine in front of me to compare right now.
The stem is MX compatible though the fit isn't snug - not loose or wobbly but some keys would come off with a modern MX set and some upside down shaking and wacking.

Imgur: http://imgur.com/a/aUKeF

Embedded:
101880-1101882-2101884-3
« Last Edit: Thu, 28 May 2015, 15:32:15 by harlw »
Ergodox (x2), V.EA Clone, Tada68, Atreus XL, Planck, Model M 70% Mod


Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: Help me identify this switch - Expo 486 Keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 28 May 2015, 15:06:44 »
Ugh I was going to say Futaba clicky but I don't think so now. These always trip me up.

Offline harlw

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Re: Help me identify this switch - Expo 486 Keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 28 May 2015, 15:14:52 »
Ugh I was going to say Futaba clicky but I don't think so now. These always trip me up.

Hehe - yea, that's real close.
Ergodox (x2), V.EA Clone, Tada68, Atreus XL, Planck, Model M 70% Mod


Offline nubbinator

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Re: Help me identify this switch - Expo 486 Keyboard
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 28 May 2015, 15:34:25 »
Ugh I was going to say Futaba clicky but I don't think so now. These always trip me up.

Pretty sure they're SMK switches.

Offline harlw

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Re: Help me identify this switch - Expo 486 Keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 28 May 2015, 15:50:05 »
Ugh I was going to say Futaba clicky but I don't think so now. These always trip me up.

Pretty sure they're SMK switches.

I believe you've got it! http://deskthority.net/wiki/SMK_Cherry_MX_mount

Everything checks out from what I see–housing is exactly right.

I will likely tear it down for cleaning and further documentation.

Thanks!
Ergodox (x2), V.EA Clone, Tada68, Atreus XL, Planck, Model M 70% Mod


Offline Blaise170

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Re: Help me identify this switch - Expo 486 Keyboard
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 28 May 2015, 22:22:24 »
I'm pretty sure they are SMK judging by the bases but there is a tiny possibility it might be a BTC style switch.

http://deskthority.net/wiki/BTC_dome_with_slider
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Offline Findecanor

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Re: Help me identify this switch - Expo 486 Keyboard
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 29 May 2015, 02:40:19 »
The first post says they are clicky, and if they are clicky it must be a mechanical switch, not a dome with slider.
There is a drawing of the switch on the DT wiki page that matches this switch.

Clicky SMK switches with Alps mount feel a lot like Cherry MX Blues but with sharper tactility and with no hysteresis. Those blue ones are often much liked, often called "Monterey switch" because they were found mostly in Monterey-branded keyboards before they were identified as SMK switches.
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