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Hike News

【IC】Low-Profile Switch Tester with Standard MX Stem

类型: IC
作者: vim_commando
发布时间: 2017-06-26 20:43:16
更新时间: 2017-06-26 20:43:16
原链接: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=90285.0


Wait, a low-profile switch that fits standard keycaps?
A couple weeks ago I snagged samples of this low-profile mechanical switch design from Greetech. What really caught my attention was what looked like a standard Cherry MX stem for the keycaps.
At first I thought the switches didn’t work with MX keycaps, but this week I figured they do fit. If you don’t force the keycap on too far, or you use an o-ring to reduce the stem length, they’ll work.
Since there is some great potential here for a low-profile keyboard kit that can accept (some) standard keycaps, I want to know who else might be interested in checking them out.
So I’m strongly considering ordering a small batch (a few hundred) of switches and making some tester kits like this prototype:

The switch on the right is a standard-sized switch. Here is a better shot of the height difference, both keys are in the “UP” position:

And one without keycaps:

These low-profile switches are PCB mount only and use the same mounting pins as the standard Cherry switches. There is one electrical pin out of place, so they are not entirely a drop-in replacement. Any PCB designs will need to move one hole.

Here is a switch teardown:

It has a very generous opening for mounting LEDs too.
The Interest Check
For around $10 I could put together switch tester kits with:

  • 1x Low-profile blue ‘clicky’ switch
  • 1x Low-profile red ‘soft-tactile’ switch
  • 1x Low-profile black ‘linear’ switch
  • 1x Bent acrylic switch tester for 3x PCB mount switches (fits standard-sized switches too)
  • 3x Black rubber o-rings
  • 3x Blank keycaps
    Or I could just discount the kit ($7-ish) and go without keycaps and o-rings.
    Between the lead time on getting the switches and a couple weeks I’ll be out of town in July, these probably wouldn’t be ready until early August.
    Thanks!
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