IDENTIFY THE KEYSWITCH thread

[ArtyomTheMetroHopper]

SMK vintage linear, I think. They’re okay, quite like Cherry M7, the ancestor of MX.

Those caps look pretty nice, I’d consider getting that board.

Thanks for the info! I have thrown the seller an offer and hopefully they will accept. Just on the looks alone I quite like the board, reminds me of keymacs

[John Doe]

Anyone recognize these switches? They are off a "Model 970" that I have found a listing for and considering if if it is worth $150 dollars and if I should buy it. Obviously I want to make sure I am not buying a board with switches in the same tier of Datalux's MEI switches


s-l1600 (4).jpg


Thank you all in advance!

wiki/TeleVideo_950

[jsheradin]

Anyone recognize these switches? They are off a "Model 970" that I have found a listing for and considering if if it is worth $150 dollars and if I should buy it. Obviously I want to make sure I am not buying a board with switches in the same tier of Datalux's MEI switches

They're Futaba linears; pretty awful feeling in my experience. It's also extremely difficult to disassemble and reassemble them without damaging the foil contact inside. It's a great looking board though.

[Muirium]

John Doe’s keyboard looks a match to me, so they probably are Futabas. Make that definitely: they have the oblong platform around the stem.




How exactly are those switches pretty awful? I only know them from a couple of loose switches in my collection.

[jsheradin]

I've come across them a few times. Once is in a TI-99/4A in great shape, another is a 900 series Televideo board in poor shape, and finally a bag of NOS switches.

All the switches I have do work so they're at least reliable and definitely not the worst feeling switches out there. They remind me of Cherry MY with a pretty significant weight change throughout the press. My Televideo board binds badly and the complexity and fragility of the switches means it's a big effort to clean/lube.

If that board is in good shape it could definitely be enjoyable to use.

[zrrion]

not even close to SMK vint linear lol, you have to use your eyes when identifying switches. Those are Futaba MD (or ML, they look similar, especially when you can only see what's above the plate)

[Muirium]

Yeah, I know, I’ve a few of both in my collection, but don’t remember their names, evidently! I searched DT wiki for SMK and when I saw the pic, I fixated on the notches, overlooking the bit in the middle around the mount.

[John Doe]

Anyone ever seen this switch?

863127BE-0468-4525-82B2-AC93DBB9BA12.jpeg (2.1 MiB) Viewed 18366 times

[SOTGO]

I'm not sure what board this is from so I can't confirm, but the slider looks a lot like Keytronic foam and foil, the low profile variant. I don't see a bar across the center like I do in most of the examples, but the mount is pretty distinctive and the keycaps look like they'd be compatible if the bar were there. Also, is the circular cutout in the top left a result of damage or are all the switches like that?

[Lalaland124]

Does anyone have an idea what switch that could be? Seems like a weird microswitch version..

[inozenz]

Does anyone have an idea what switch that could be? Seems like a weird microswitch version..

I have these, it's made in Auerbach, but ain't cherry imo. Those were made from a company who made all switches for robotron for example. Maybe it's the father of cherry don't know tbh. The switch is clicky satisfying but super wobbly.

[dmiguel]

Hi!


I never seen this before.

[inozenz]

Hi!


I never seen this before.

spring over membrane, should not feel good, since u have 2 different springs. most likely feels like cherry my switches

[guidemetothelight]

Somebody has a clue ?
At first I thought wiki/Fujitsu_Peerless but it doesnt look like that at second glance
Model: Sanyo MBC-16LT

2.jpg (220.85 KiB) Viewed 17995 times

1.jpg (252.54 KiB) Viewed 17995 times

[inozenz]

Somebody has a clue ?
At first I thought wiki/Fujitsu_Peerless but it doesnt look like that at second glance
Model: Sanyo MBC-16LT
2.jpg
1.jpg

leafe spring, got that keyboard aswell

[EibeAxxt]

Got this keyboard for 8$, although the keyboard would be impossible to find, i guess that the switch would be easier to find. They are linear, got no clue what they are.

[Muirium]

I was thinking RAFI but nope…

wiki/Square_post_mount_recognition

[DavidCDN]

Please what switch is this, and is there a wiki I could read abou tit?

https://i.imgur.com/HNcMqye.jpg

Kinda looks like Fujitsu Peerless but the hole is nearly square, not narrow like the alps cap mount, not round like the other Peerless I've seen

album of the board: https://imgur.com/a/qCCJwC9

It's an Epson PCKB9 that came with a 486HA Epson-branded computer from around 1990

[Findecanor]

Looks like a typical Fujitsu rubber dome.

[CoolPenguin1]

Please what switch is this, and is there a wiki I could read abou tit?

https://i.imgur.com/HNcMqye.jpg

Kinda looks like Fujitsu Peerless but the hole is nearly square, not narrow like the alps cap mount, not round like the other Peerless I've seen

album of the board: https://imgur.com/a/qCCJwC9

It's an Epson PCKB9 that came with a 486HA Epson-branded computer from around 1990

That's Fujitsu Dome with Slider.

[DavidCDN]

Thanks guys, i was lost on that one!

[dovenyi]

Could you guys identify these linear switches? Some early RAFI like this one? They are from a 1976 Videoton keyboard, part of the VT-340 display terminal. Manufacturing started in 1972 (Hungary). The switches are these big blocky ones, four long pins in a row on the PCB side. Unfortunately I can't get closer to them without desoldering:



More photos: https://imgur.com/a/zeLBbCl (some really nsfw)

[jsheradin]

Some early RAFI like this one?

Four pins per switch usually means contactless. Your board has TKI stickers on the inside which tracks with Rafi of some sort. They're definitely not RS74/76 and don't look like any of the RC72 examples that I've seen. Rafi magnetoresistive should only have 3 pins, 5 if they're an illuminated switch.

I say desolder one and hope there's some writing on the side. Whatever they are, they're not common.

[dovenyi]

I say desolder one and hope there's some writing on the side.

I'll give it a try but first I'll have to manufacture some tools to even disassemble the core part which holds the switches together.

[akkk44]

It was found on a Copam K-455 keyboard, but according to my search, K-455 should have dome and slider switches and not this kind of switch.

I have also looked into the Alps clone list but didn't find anything similar.

Does anyone has any clue what this switch is?

[akkk44]

Another that's on the tip of tongue but I just can't pin down what it is:



Looks a little like Mistumi's, but a lot bigger and a little more alps-y. Some interesting nubs on the top of the stem too.

It's a (bad) rubber dome with slider and Alps mount

It did look a lot like that might just be one big plastic faceplate... tragic

It seems to be this..

[dcopellino]

lambo_keys.JPG (525.97 KiB) Viewed 4292 times

What key switches use Lambos? after all.... even these are keypads, aren't they?

[hellothere]

I have Omron switches in my trackball.

If there's a repair manual out there for Lambo cars, not Lambo tractors, it might list the part numbers and manufacturer.

[jsheradin]

What key switches use Lambos? after all.... even these are keypads, aren't they?

preh.PNG (389.18 KiB) Viewed 4237 times

Based on this sticker they're made by Preh which indeed make keyboards. I have an old one kicking around; certainly unique construction.

[hellothere]

I know we have a Preh evangelist somewhere ...