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What is this switch?
Posted: 26 Aug 2020, 16:29
by quaker
- IBM Keypad 1.jpg (2.39 MiB) Viewed 1775 times
- IBM Keypad 2.jpg (2.4 MiB) Viewed 1775 times
Switch
- IBM Keypad 3.jpg (2.41 MiB) Viewed 1775 times
- IBM Keypad 4.jpg (2.39 MiB) Viewed 1775 times
Exterior
Got this on ebay, thought it would be an another UltraNav switch but I found completely different one. What do you think it is?
Re: What is this switch?
Posted: 26 Aug 2020, 18:01
by zrrion
It appears to be a switch used in laptops of the time. My
Nickelodeon keyboard also uses that sort of switch, and I've seen a few laptops with the same layout as this keyboard that I'm willing to bet use the same switch as well. I don't know if the switch has a name or anything.
The switch isn't a rubber dome switch, but rather a rubber sleeve switch. The slider presses against the membrane and the sleeve serves as a tactile and return element. It you wanted you could replace the sleeve with a spring and get a simple linear switch. Not really sure why you would do that but the option is these.
Re: What is this switch?
Posted: 27 Aug 2020, 05:29
by sharktastica
As zrrion said, these (IBM KeyPad III) use sleeves. Given the Alps-titled electronics inside and the fact it says it's made in Japan on the back of the device, they're probably Alps-made switches too but I have no idea what the switches' internal/marketing name is (or if there are any).
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