[IC] Cherry MX LOCK switches

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Muirium
µ

23 Mar 2014, 12:08

Markov chains, you say?
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Randomness actually improves Garfield.
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Especially when Jon's drunk.
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Screen Shot 2014-03-23 at 11.00.44 am.png (985.96 KiB) Viewed 6596 times
http://joshmillard.com/garkov/

weilung

23 Mar 2014, 19:04

interested in 10-20, depending on shipping cost to Malaysia. =D

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CeeSA

23 Mar 2014, 23:14

Vierax wrote:As Muirium or Laser said, my goal is to create a layer lock (Fn Lock) because Tipro programming soft (ChangeMe.exe) doesn't provide this functionality, only "switch up/down to the next layer" which is enough for two layers but not much (you can program 4 with the software)
Not true....
ChangeMe supports "shift" to Layer [1,2,3,4] and "switch" to Layer [1,2,3,4].

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Vierax

23 Mar 2014, 23:51

CeeSA wrote: Not true....
ChangeMe supports "shift" to Layer [1,2,3,4] and "switch" to Layer [1,2,3,4].
Well, the switch to layer is an option that I wasn't able to find : I'll check that again, thanks.

Even if I'm successful to program it correctly, I'm still in for 3 or 4 switches. :)

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PhineasRex

24 Mar 2014, 00:44

I am definitely in for some number of MX Lock switches (tentatively 12).

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scottc

24 Mar 2014, 00:57

List updated.

We're now at 27: That means that we're now at 148.148148148148148 (recurring) switches each, which is convenient coincidence!

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CeeSA

24 Mar 2014, 10:54

@Vierax

click a key, menu 'function' there is shift and lock to layer.
with lock to layer you actviate (switch) the layer.

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Grendel

24 Mar 2014, 18:45

Someone at GH claims the MOQ is 1000 at ~$1.50 each ?

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scottc

24 Mar 2014, 18:50

That would be a nice surprise...

My price figures are from 7bit and MOQ figures from Muirium (but the original figure was from 7bit).

I'd have no idea where to seek solid figures, anybody have any ideas?
Last edited by scottc on 24 Mar 2014, 19:08, edited 1 time in total.

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Muirium
µ

24 Mar 2014, 18:59

Both figures are 7bit's. (We have discussed this idea many times.) But the art of ordering from a manufacturer like Cherry is a tactful one. I wouldn't rule the other guy's number out.

7bit used to sell them when the MOQ was lower. Or the MOQ his supplier could negotiate…

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7bit

24 Mar 2014, 19:16

I will get a new price quote. But please notice that I don't have the funds to pay for 4000 switches. I need the money first.

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scottc

24 Mar 2014, 19:55

Completely reasonable. Would you be interested in buying some of them to keep them in stock, 7bit?

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Muirium
µ

24 Mar 2014, 20:04

He trouble is that "some" of 4000 is quite a lot of switches! We're going to need hundreds of people to make a fair split.

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scottc

24 Mar 2014, 20:07

Yeah, definitely. But if 7bit wants even 100, for example, it lessens the load somewhat! I can't imagine anyone else wanting 100 MXLOCKs.

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Muirium
µ

24 Mar 2014, 21:05

Besides yourself! I remember your plans for a keyboard full of them…

If we do manage to order up 4000, or even 1000 switches, the end game will be the mother of all proxies! I recently chased postage on and sent out a dozen envelopes, and although hardly the biggest task in the world it just boggles my mind to think what that times 100 would be like!

Clearly, I ain't no 7bit.

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scottc

24 Mar 2014, 21:16

Maybe not at €3 a switch!

I can't imagine sorting several thousand switches either...

noesc

25 Mar 2014, 08:34

Hey Everyone,

I have been lurking @ DT for a while now and I'm creating a startup company that will aim towards providing the community with a stable and cheap supply of; switches, controllers and other DIY supplies. My goal is not to make a lot of money, but rather finance my own new-found addiction to keyboard-modding! The aim is to spread the joy of DIY/keyboard-modding to a wider audience and doing that mainly by providing HowTo's, Guides and Open-Source/Hardware.

7-bit is doing a great job and been very helpful for this community. Alternatives are good though and the pre-order wait is sometimes very very long.

Cherry has fulfilled their orders until 2016 (according to their sale-staff), so I am trying to source from distributers and wholesalers to a reasonable prices and timeframe. Since Cherrys patent has expired I'm also trying out alternative manufacturers/brands. I haven't tried out the "new" Kailh switches yet, but I have another brand that I personally like better then the original Cherry ones. For example, the blue switch is really clickity-click!

I have found a manufacturer that makes copies of the "MX LOCK" switch and the MOQ is 1000 switches. I haven't confirmed details but I don't think it will be a problem to get a hold of 1000pcs @ ~$1-2USD ea.

They have offered me 10pcs for the price of shipping to Sweden and I will get a quote soon, and then I can provide more details for things such as quality, feel etc. I might even offer them to those who are interested so that the quality can be independently verified by you guys.

Is anyone interested even if it's not the Cherry brand, and if the quality is high enough?
If so, then we wouldn't need to spend that much money each to get just a small amount of switches and don't need to stock 4000+ of them!

Best regards and thank you all for inspiring me to start this journey!
//Jerker

tinnie

25 Mar 2014, 08:49

^I don't think we want clone switches,

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Muirium
µ

25 Mar 2014, 08:56

Generally, no. But I'd like to compare these clones side by side with my own authentic MXLOCKs to see what they've done.

The ultimate test of a switch is its lifespan. Not easy to test in accelerated time without a robot of some sort. But I'm still curious…

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7bit

25 Mar 2014, 09:58

scottc wrote:Maybe not at €3 a switch!

I can't imagine sorting several thousand switches either...
Switches are an easy task!
:-)

noesc

25 Mar 2014, 10:23

@ tinne, Murium
I am contemplating how to make a robot-presser contraption that can take one original and one copy, side by side and a counter for each. The whole thing would be recorded with a camera until one of them fails.

It's just a concept in my head at this point. But this is exactly for the reasons mentioned above. I'm always weary with copies and low quality and do not want to peddle crap.

I have also seen where people have broken the stems on cheap copies and intend to do a video comparison of that too somehow.

If anyone can design testcases that would be "community standard for quality" I would be more then happy to participate in this endeavour!

The reasoning goes: If it's a copy, available and roughly eaqual quality, is that an issue?

Ofc, I hope to be able to stock both original and copies so that people have more choice. Choice = Freedom = Benefitial for everyone!

Most of the time people will change switches / keyboards before any switch will fail mechanically.

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Muirium
µ

25 Mar 2014, 10:35

noesc wrote:Most of the time people will change switches / keyboards before any switch will fail mechanically.
Very true. (And one of the things we teased Razer for with their recent propaganda about Kaihua switches.)

But MXLOCKs are quite different from every other MX. The latching mechanism is their obvious point of failure. I wouldn't be surprised if they are 10-100 times shorter lived than other MX in practice because of those extra moving parts. This makes clones more of a risk than usual.

Besides, if there's one switch we are going to harvest from retired boards and keep in constant action: it's the lock.

tinnie

25 Mar 2014, 10:53

Also - quality isn't teh biggest matter. There was a good quality clone of CherryMX. However - it never became popular and the company gone bankrupt eventually.

noesc

25 Mar 2014, 11:13

Muirium:

That is a very valid point. But if we can make them obiquitous and cheaper, then that would not matter as much anymore.
I do not own a real Cherry MX Lock so I can not test comparative quality at this point.

tinnie:
I don't know much about the history of keyswitches etc. and I am amazed about the indepth knowledge people seem to be able to dig up with just a couple of letters or a logo. The wiki here is fantastic and the community even more so!

Even if the manufacturer goes bankrupt for any reason, if we manage to get a hold of enough switches before that, we're fine ;)

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scottc

25 Mar 2014, 11:47

Noesc: I'd certainly be interested in trying out the clone switch, if nothing else. I have a real MXLOCK to compare it too as well. My only hesitation would be:

Image

Welcome to Kailh-land...

tinnie

25 Mar 2014, 12:15

noesc wrote:
tinnie:
I don't know much about the history of keyswitches etc. and I am amazed about the indepth knowledge people seem to be able to dig up with just a couple of letters or a logo. The wiki here is fantastic and the community even more so!

Even if the manufacturer goes bankrupt for any reason, if we manage to get a hold of enough switches before that, we're fine ;)
What I really want to say - keyboard enthusiasts don't like clone swithces.

noesc

25 Mar 2014, 12:40

scottc:
I have seen that picture before and I intend to test against this and a couple of other "quality measurements". I have in mind a "DT seal of approval" stamp for switches that are tested and proven to be of good enough quality.

I also intend to supply _plenty_ of pictures of internals, measurements etc. for any and all switches I can get my hands on. Then it's up to each and everyone what they want to do.

tinnie:
I hear your point, but that is usually because of lack-of-quality. Sure, there will _always_ be fan-boys/girls that won't touch anything that doesn't have the right brand on them, and I will cater to that group too.

I want everyone to be able to get any kind of model they so desire, even if this means that we need to deviate from the original Cherry switches, especially since Cherry doesn't produce enough of them! :D

I have a confirmation from the manufacturer and got some details. If we can go together and make a GB/Pre-order, this is the numbers:
500pcs @ $1,5USD
300pcs @ $1,75USD
200pcs @ $2USD

I have also been promised 10pcs for 40USD including shipping to me. Very expensive per switch, but worth for checking them out and destroying a couple. I am very willing to split this with anyone who's interested in trying these things out, and I would love for anyone else to verify what ever quality they turn out to be.

Sample Pack:
3 - Me, for destroying.
7 - up for grabs

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Muirium
µ

25 Mar 2014, 12:54

I'd take a couple, depending on cost. Swedish shipping is quite expensive I gather!

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BlueBär

25 Mar 2014, 12:55

I'd like one for pentesting. I will break it though, that is a promise :D

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Ekaros

25 Mar 2014, 13:02

Regular mail shouldn't be too bad...

Still just how many presses an locking switch needs to last? ;D

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