Echopraxia Posted October 7, 2007 Report Share Posted October 7, 2007 Any one interested in this switch? They seem like very good quality and are about $50 with caps but without leds from digikey for 50 qty. I am trying to find another seller that can do the ones with LEDs. The ones I would like to get are soft-tactile pcb mount with red leds. What is the preference on soft-tactile and regular tactile? I don't know the difference between the two? Any info on these would be appreciated. One more question. Does anybody know if these can be mounted to the same pcb/board as smash's encoders and get an even/balanced height? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukas412 Posted October 8, 2007 Report Share Posted October 8, 2007 Does anybody know if these can be mounted to the same pcb/board as smash's encoders and get an even/balanced height?I'm using non-led cherry mx switches for my sequencer, and I have found I need to custom make my pcb to mount these switches securely. I'm using the non-tactile version of the switchs. I prefer them to the soft tact switch which has just a little bit of a click, if you even want to call it a click. They are very nice durable looking/feeling switches.Luke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stryd_one Posted October 8, 2007 Report Share Posted October 8, 2007 Heya Echo....I'll want to try them out first, and I would prefer different actuation (caps), but I might be in for a few hundred of these.The soft tactile are like normal keyboard switches (If you've used a Maltron then you've felt them), the normal tactile are clicky ones. Personally I HATE tact switches so the clicky ones are not the ones I would want.Have you considered keyboard switches from other manufacturers? Why'd you settle on these?As for the heights, I'll leave it to you to read the datasheet ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echopraxia Posted October 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2007 I haven't settled on anything. They talk the talk but samples would be good. Some where I read life expectancy is very high. I think these are the same type as in the deck keyboards that sell for $99 but I am not 100% sure on that. I don't like clicky buttons either so I think samples of soft tactile and regular are in order. I can't find a picture of these keys with the led on. For caps I think the best would be the flat ones in the datasheet. I am alittle behind on my project right now and short on cash to organize the order but between both of us I thuink we can do it and get a good deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echopraxia Posted October 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2007 I emailed cherry for some samples. I hope they actualy do it. I requested 1 of each led color for the linear and soft-tactile switches pcb mount. They have green, red and yellow. I also requested some standard 8mm caps (not the angled ones).They did not specify what color are the caps but I asked if they can do black. I will let you know if I get them and I will post pics when and if that happens. I am still not sure how the leds light the caps up so I asked them how that works aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echopraxia Posted October 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2007 I just checked my email and got a reply form the deck keyboard company http://www.deckkeyboards.comThey told me they do use cherry mx switches for there keyboards. part number is MX1A-11NW. This part number indicates that their switches don't come with the leds stock but they put them on themselves. I belive its because they have their own diy community that likes to switch leds out on certain keys because people like their keyboards so much. Deck keyboards have a good reputation from what I hear. the part number would also indicate that they use the linear type. They other thing is they sell a bag of blank keycaps at their site which they say "The blank keycaps are not clear but let the light shine through" whatever that means? But they are probably not the standard 8mm caps and probably the angled ones. I will ask this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goblinz Posted October 8, 2007 Report Share Posted October 8, 2007 I just checked my email and got a reply form the deck keyboard company http://www.deckkeyboards.comThey told me they do use cherry mx switches for there keyboards. part number is MX1A-11NW. This part number indicates that their switches don't come with the leds stock but they put them on themselves. I belive its because they have their own diy community that likes to switch leds out on certain keys because people like their keyboards so much. Deck keyboards have a good reputation from what I hear. the part number would also indicate that they use the linear type. They other thing is they sell a bag of blank keycaps at their site which they say "The blank keycaps are not clear but let the light shine through" whatever that means? But they are probably not the standard 8mm caps and probably the angled ones. I will ask this. I'm not happy with you Echopraxia, I havent got anywhere near buying all the bits for my SID and you go posting links to sexy hardware that I haven't seen before ;D G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echopraxia Posted October 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 Deck keyboards emailed me again and told me the blank caps they have are like the type "E" cylindrical ones on cherry's mx page. They are not really angled but do have a ramp towards the front. Here is the pic of the differnet angles. I think these would make a good combination to the switches because the company actually wants you to customize the blank caps and its only $20 for 80 qty caps. I.E paint the blank caps or whatever you can come up with. Deck also told me that the on the blank caps the led is going to shine mostly in the center of the cap. Sounds good to me. We just have to find a good/cheap distributor. SO far I found a place where you can get 250 qty of the soft tactile for $81 which comes out to about $0.33 a piece but NO LED and no caps. http://www.shopblt.com/index.shtml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echopraxia Posted October 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 I alos noticed this one.http://www.sequentix.com/build/cnst-switches.htmThe guy will also sell you laser engraved caps with 1-16 on them. If he can do differnt color caps that would be awsome. I might not even care if the led is in the switch. Just thought I''d metion these. I may or may not go with these becasue I wanted to paint my caps. Thes caps also look like the same height as the type "E" deck was talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stryd_one Posted October 9, 2007 Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 Yeh, I want caps that don't look like they were recycled from a PC keyboard... I don't think they're available here, so I'm out, sorry dude :(BTW, I don't wanna go on and on about it, but you haven't mentioned it since I told you so.... you really oughtta check out the maltron if you are serious about your keyboard.... Ignoring the cherry switch thing, you might like the typematrix boards too.... Staggered keys are so 1800's man, why do that to your fingers?! Don't be fooled by a bunch of blingy lights, think about your health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAncientOne Posted October 9, 2007 Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 I alos noticed this one.http://www.sequentix.com/build/cnst-switches.htmThe guy will also sell you laser engraved caps with 1-16 on them. If he can do differnt color caps that would be awsome. I might not even care if the led is in the switch. Just thought I''d metion these. I may or may not go with these becasue I wanted to paint my caps. Thes caps also look like the same height as the type "E" deck was talking about.The guy used to sell them - the P3 is now out of production. I got one of his last sets of bare boards, but the keycaps would seem to have run out. Good news however: Cherry do a two part legendable keycap. The only snag for my P3 is that they are smaller than original, and need one hole per key, not large mass cutouts. I got them in black, (well, charcoal), with a clear top. They have a hole aligning with the LED aperture in the switch. The Cherry MX key mech does come with a hole for an LED as standard. RS stock them in the UK www.rswww.com]http://www.sequentix.com/build/cnst-switches.htmThe guy will also sell you laser engraved caps with 1-16 on them. If he can do differnt color caps that would be awsome. I might not even care if the led is in the switch. Just thought I''d metion these. I may or may not go with these becasue I wanted to paint my caps. Thes caps also look like the same height as the type "E" deck was talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echopraxia Posted October 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 If you want to get them to line up nicely, you're going to have to do a custom PCB, because they have usually have alignment pegs, as well as connector pins.So these switches won't mount to regular breadboard? If thats the case back to the drawing board. :-\I might try sasha's very cool 3 piece acrylic button. It doesn't sound to hard. You just need acrylic cut to shape and sanded down,drilled and glued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stryd_one Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 So these switches won't mount to regular breadboard? There are two types, one will and one won't. The model you showed won't because it has those big mounting pinsHave you considered keyboard switches from other manufacturers? Why'd you settle on these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stryd_one Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 Have some cap links:http://www.umd.com.au/itd/products/ksi_kc124.htmlhttp://www.contech.co.uk/pages/products/caps.htmAn extensive range of Cherry MX compatible cap sizes and colours are available, both blank and with characters. We specialise in creating customer specific legends for the customers specific application. Small quantity requirements are a Contech specialityhttp://mykeyboard.co.uk/keycaps/http://xkeys.com/accessories/keycaps.phphttp://www.tg3electronics.com/products/pointofsale/tg136mc.php?PHPSESSID=94f96d3f43a44c1c6df883153170249f I LIKE those ones on the top row!http://solutionsinplastic.com/keytops.html Hmmmmmmmmm ;)http://www.customkeys.com/custom_relegend.htmlhttp://www.synctronics.com/http://www.barcoding.com/prodpages/Cherry/628-17329.shtmlhttp://www.barcoding.com/prodpages/Cherry/0628-7379.shtmlhttp://www.thermal-barcode.com/en/catalog/list.php?step1=Cherry&step2=Keyboards&step3=Cherry%20Key%20Caps&multiplicator=1.25http://www.manuf-apps.com/Cherry/CHERRY_Parts.htmFYI I realised... the switch itself is 15mm, so the cap needs to be at most that width, or else you can't fit 5 across a 2x20 LCD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echopraxia Posted October 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 You really do your homework stryd! Thanks for all your input! I am probably going for tact switches instead because I am getting some homemade caps. Good info for all boxers though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stryd_one Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 I've found a couple of other interesting switches in the last few days, stay tuned ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBunsen Posted October 14, 2007 Report Share Posted October 14, 2007 http://mykeyboard.co.uk/keycaps/http://xkeys.com/accessories/keycaps.php[img width=200 height=200]http://mykeyboard.co.uk/keycaps/graphics/keycaps_xkeys.jpg X-Keys keycaps / These keycaps look like they would work well with backlighting or keyboard LEDs.A little pricey, but a nice looking solution to my FBLM.(Yes, stryd, I think the POS keyboard I got for you has Cherry switches) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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