Is It Possible For Cherry to do Silent Tactiles?

[TheNamesTy45]

I have been using Topre and Silent Reds recently almost exclusively except for one board that has Zealios. As great as the Topre switches are, I really enjoy all of the variety in the world that MX switches offer (keycaps, PCBs, cases, etc).

Soooo, this got me thinking, I absolutely love Cherry's silent switches, but sometimes I want something tactile that is quiet enough to use in the office without having to use silencing clips or o-rings. Is it possible for a manufacturer to do a tactile switch like a clear with the same implementation of silencing that Cherry is using on their silents. I don't see why not, but my imagination isn't vast in the "what could go wrong." realm of things.

TL;DR - Silent tactile MX style switches would be sweet. Anyone else agree?

[SpAmRaY]

I'd buy it.

[Hyde]

I think it's very doable, like MX Clear stem + Silent Red damping mechanism + MX Blue/Brown/Red spring.

But just off my head I'm thinking wouldn't the closest right now is just Matias Quiet Pro switch?

Though I've owned one and it's actually not that quiet LOL.

[zslane]

I'd be really interested in such a switch too.

I mean, I'm quite happy with my RealForce RGB. I get the Topre experience but with all my favorite MX-stemmed keycap sets. But the lack of case options is a small problem.

I don't know how noisy Kailh speed Coppers are in terms of bottoming out and upstroke noise, but if I were to lobby for silencing a tactile MX switch, that would be the one I'd go for (rather than any Cherry tactile switch).

[TheNamesTy45]

I'd be really interested in such a switch too.

I mean, I'm quite happy with my RealForce RGB. I get the Topre experience but with all my favorite MX-stemmed keycap sets. But the lack of case options is a small problem.

I don't know how noisy Kailh speed Coppers are in terms of bottoming out and upstroke noise, but if I were to lobby for silencing a tactile MX switch, that would be the one I'd go for (rather than any Cherry tactile switch).

Yeah, I was having that same thought about a switch other than Cherry manufacture. I would be in heaven if Zealios were able to do this, but, at this point, I'd just be happy if Cherry was willing to expand the current process to their clears.

[ygor]

I've been mucking about with Ergo Clears lately and had the same thought. I'm sure they're on their way at some point. Clear stems with them bumpy bumpers. Bang, bang. Oh my godddddd, lean in my Sprite can.

[Findecanor]

I think Topre or some Topre-clone manufacturer would be better equipped to do a silent switch feeling like a smoother Cherry MX Clear if they just wanted to.
Use a rubber dome and a coiled spring in tandem. Realforce Space Bars already do have a coiled spring in-between the switch and keycap. Only the shape of the domes and the weight of the spring would have to be adjusted so that the resistance of the spring takes over after the dip after the tactile bump.
(In tandem is pressing both at once. This is different from a a spring on top of a rubber dome like the  Fujitsu Peerless, which is too stiff and has a different force curve depending on how fast you press a key)

But yes, I think that Cherry MX Clear, Brown and Blue should also be available in "silent" versions even if they would not be perfect.
The click of Cherry MX Blue has a purpose of signalling actuation - but it competes with the clack of bottoming out and the sound of topping up. Myself, I have O-rings (of different types) in my keyboards with Cherry MX Blue.

[teraflame]

No just buy Matias Quiet Clicks.

[TheNamesTy45]

No just buy Matias Quiet Clicks.

Loses MX compatibility. Misses the point.

[SpAmRaY]

No just buy Matias Quiet Clicks.

But there aren't any decent Alps caps or boards.

[Blazestorm]

No just buy Matias Quiet Clicks.

But there aren't any decent Alps caps or boards.

www.lfkeyboards.com has PCBs that fit common cases (Filco TKL style and VA68 style, as well as he provides some sandwich style cases). SP has DSA Granite and Lightcycle just shipped (so you could find it on the markets)

But yea, it is harder. I still think that Matias Quiet Click (w and w/o the dampeners) are nicer than any Cherry style tactile. The main issue now is finding keycaps...

[davkol]

No just buy Matias Quiet Clicks.

But there aren't any decent Alps caps or boards.

www.lfkeyboards.com has PCBs that fit common cases (Filco TKL style and VA68 style, as well as he provides some sandwich style cases). SP has DSA Granite and Lightcycle just shipped (so you could find it on the markets)

Yes, so you just confirmed what spam said.

[Blazestorm]

No just buy Matias Quiet Clicks.

But there aren't any decent Alps caps or boards.

www.lfkeyboards.com has PCBs that fit common cases (Filco TKL style and VA68 style, as well as he provides some sandwich style cases). SP has DSA Granite and Lightcycle just shipped (so you could find it on the markets)

Yes, so you just confirmed what spam said.

Half of what he said, I did show multiple good, readily available, Alps boards. VE.A was available w/ Alps, There's a 96% Alps board in the works, Minivan had an Alps version, etc.

Remaining issue is keycaps, which is still tough. Someone should convince Taihao to do a run of their Cubic keycaps with Alps stems

[merlin64]

Have you tried lubing your switches? That should dampen it somewhat.

If you scour around here, you'll find a post where someone tried using the compound that movie makeup artists used to make facial features to work as dampeners on the stem. Unfortunately they don't last. It might be possible with a more long lasting solution.

[davkol]

Oobly's latex mod.

[dante]

No just buy Matias Quiet Clicks.

But there aren't any decent Alps caps or boards.

Matias will have PBT sets in 2020.