Help in trying to replicate Matias Quiet Click feeling through a MX type switch

[getf]

I am trying to find a way to replicate the feeling from my:
Matias Quiet Click switches:

• Activation Force: 60g +/- 5g
• Tactile Feedback
• Rubber sound dampeners on the downstroke and upstroke

My idea is to use Cherry MX Clear (Actuation Force 55cN(g), Tactile bump) With some rubber O rings installed to prevent the sound on atleast the downstroke. 


Does this logic make sense? Is there another brand switch (MX Style Mount) that would better suit my needs?

Heres a pic of my sexy switches for your time

[jbondeson]

So a Matias Quiet Click has a total travel of 3.5mm (Cherry is 4mm), so an O-ring would help you get that reduction in travel as well as dampen the bottom out sound.

The real issue is where in the travel the tactile elements are. On an MX Clear your peak force is around 1.0-1.2mm, on a Matias quiet click it's around 1.75-1.9mm. That's a big enough difference to notice.

An O-ring'ed MX Blue is actually going to be a closer match as far as that is concerned. To match the force profiles and sound you'd need a stiffer spring and to do a jailhouse mod to the click element. Though I don't know if anyone has done any work at looking how different the force profiles are with jailhouse blues.

It would definitely be an interesting exercise to see how close you could get an MX to feel like the MQCs.

Notes:
Matias Specs: http://matias.ca/switches/quiet/
HaTaa's Force Measurement on a MQC: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=54183.msg1292347#msg1292347
Cherry MX Force Graphs: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/mechanical-keyboard-guide#comparison

[nubbinator]

You can't really replicate the feel.  For one, the tactile point is higher on Alps than MX.  Secondly, the click is caused by a tactile leaf and not integrated into the slider, so you don't get the same hysteresis issue with Alps.

And jbondeson, o-rings don't affect travel.  They go between the cap and stem.  They affect the feel of bottoming out (they feel like craps to me), but switch throw is unchanged.

The closest you could probably get is lubed vintage Blues or Whites.  If you really want to get adventurous, you can try putting a thin layer of liquid latex on top of the slider and seeing how that affects the sound and feel.

[jbondeson]

The thicker the o-ring the more it should reduce the overall travel of the key. Even WASD lists a 0.4mm reduction from their 40A-R[1] o-rings. Of course this is all predicated on the keycaps as well, since different profiles will have different stem lengths (SA has almost double the length of DSA).

[1] http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/cherry-mx-rubber-o-ring-switch-dampeners-125pcs.html

[chyros]

The tactility on Alps design switches is way sharper and cleaner than on Cherries. Simply put, the device that imparts tactility in Cherry switches is, at least the way I see it, completely incapable of imparting the same level of tactility, it's just too linear in nature.

[nubbinator]

The thicker the o-ring the more it should reduce the overall travel of the key. Even WASD lists a 0.4mm reduction from their 40A-R[1] o-rings. Of course this is all predicated on the keycaps as well, since different profiles will have different stem lengths (SA has almost double the length of DSA).

[1] http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/cherry-mx-rubber-o-ring-switch-dampeners-125pcs.html

You know, I forgot that it hits the housing.  They still make it feel horrible, IMO, and nothing like a dampened Alps.

[Blaise170]

Would a trampoline mod make it feel closer at least? It does reduce travel distance.

[nubbinator]

Would a trampoline mod make it feel closer at least? It does reduce travel distance.

The little silicone balls might help and the latex mod I suggested might help, but you'd need vintage Blues or Whites to help.  There won't be avoiding the hysteresis of those switches, something the Alps don't really have, and the switches just aren't as tactile as clicky Alps either.

[getf]

Sheesh - sounds like there is no short term solution for this.  Every type of Jailhouse mod seems a little too tedious for my likes (creditcard, wire, o ring). 

Thank you guys for making it clear to me what I like about the MQC (high actuation point and shorter travel distance).

Going to keep my eyes peeled for a well used board with Cherry MX Blues (Or possibly still some MX Clears with tall O rings )


 

[False_Dmitry_II]

What even is that thing, and where did the caps come from?

[getf]

What even is that thing, and where did the caps come from?

[False_Dmitry_II]

Where did you buy the Tai-Hao keys?

Did you just like all those over what keys came with it more?

[getf]

Where did you buy the Tai-Hao keys?

Did you just like all those over what keys came with it more?

A little more info about the Tai Hao board here: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=71836.msg1744496#msg1744496

Yes - the board came with ABS engraved black keycaps that I had a hard time seeing in a dark room.  Ideally I would want them to all be the same color or atleast similar colors, but its hard to find compatible spacebars for this board/switch type.

[Zukoi]

What even is that thing, and where did the caps come from?

(Attachment Link)

That picture perfectly describes the struggle of finding alps replacement caps.

[False_Dmitry_II]

No kidding, that's why I asked what it was. If I had to guess, it seems like the stuff on the alpha block was acquired through luck.

This is what my AT101 looks like. I couldn't stand the shiny keys on it, so I removed them. At least, those that I could. The spacebar I painted to get rid of the shine, and I intend to repaint it with a textured rustoleum on top so that it'd be better.

The obviously nonstandard keys are from some dome board that was trashed, and I bought the keys from the person who did it and he was in malaysia IIRC. (could look it up) So they were definitely gotten by luck. I had no idea when, or even if, I was going to use them when I bought them. They are ABS doubleshot fairly thin, and with lots of texture left on the keys.

[getf]

This is what my AT101 looks like.

Kindred spirits.

If you are interested in any of the caps on my board(s) let me know and we can work out a deal.
ALPS love hate relationship!