I had previously posted looking for Cherry M84 switches and MEI switches, but I can not find them in the volume I need so looks like I will need to make entire new circuit boards. I am trying to find a new switch that is in current production to support an old product and I am hoping someone can recommend a switch to use. Unfortunately, the Cherry M84 are too tall and with the ML I can only find low profile keys that make it too short. The keys project through a front bezel so height is important
Ideally I would like a button with the cruciform shape so I can reuse the old keys, but I will buy new keys if I have to. I need mostly keys that are about 15mm square and some that are about 18mm square.
Any recommendations on switches I should look at? I think I have looked online at every pushbutton I can get from Digikey and Mouset.
Recommendation for switches
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
You're out of luck. So many vintage switches died out long ago. M84s are some of the shortest switches I know, and they're not even made any more. I think you'd be better moving other things around to make your spec compatible with what's available: MX and its clones.
- seebart
- Offtopicthority Instigator
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: Rotation
- Main mouse: Steelseries Sensei
- Favorite switch: IBM capacitive buckling spring
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True, it seems unpractical to search for M84s and MEI are horrible. Seeing that you are in FL you might be able to find some old keyboards for desoldering.
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- Location: Jacksonville, FL
- DT Pro Member: -
Desoldering old keyboards is easy enough, but the problem is that I need a reliable source for thousands of switches. I would like to redesign the circuit board once to use a switch that is in current production.
The problem I have with the MX switches is that the PCB is in a housing that places it where the buttons are just too tall.
The problem I have with the MX switches is that the PCB is in a housing that places it where the buttons are just too tall.