Alps SKCM Ivory
 | |
| Manufacturer | Alps Electric |
|---|---|
| Family | Alps SKCL/SKCM series |
| Product code | SKCMBB |
| Discontinued | 1994 or later |
| Precedes | Alps SKCM White Damped |
| Switch type | Tactile, damped |
| Sense method | Metal leaf |
| Actuation force | 70 gf |
| Keycap mount | Alps mount |
| Switch mount | Plate mount |
Alps SKCM Ivory, or damped tactile Cream Alps / Damped Cream Alps (colloquially), is a damped tactile switch in the Alps SKCL/SKCM series. It should not be mistaken for the earlier Alps SKCM Cream, which was not damped. If the switch has no Alps logo on the top then it is likely to be the latter.
Description
Ivory Alps switches have small black rubber dampers fitted into grooves on either side of the slider; these quieten the switch by cushioning the impact of the slider against the inside of the switch both when bottoming out and on its return. The damper does not reach to the bottom of the slider, so the stops moulded into the base of the shell have been widened to accommodate.
Variants of the switch exist both with slits and without, with slits being the significantly more common variety. The model was followed by SKCM White Damped, which differs in that the sliders are made from a different plastic and the switch weighting is slightly heavier, though is otherwise identical to Ivory without slits.
It appears that the tactile leaf was modified during its production run, with the hole removed, and small indentations introduced. Initally, they used either very similar, or exacly the same tactile leaves as Alps SKCM Salmon. They were replaced later by the kind most commonly found in Alps SKCM Black and Alps SKCM White Damped switches.
Early switches were lubricated.
Variants
Known variants include:
| Switchplate Color | Switchplate Length | Alps Logo | Generation |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | Short | Logo | Pine (with slits) |
| White | Short | Logo | Bamboo (without slits) |
Keyboards
- Some Apple Extended Keyboard II (M3501/M0312)
- Some Apple Macintosh Portable keyboards (M5126)
- Most SGI Bigfoot series
Gallery
Top view
Ivory Alps switch keyboard
Ivory Alps switches
Opened, with original tactile leaf removed
Detail, with later tactile leaf
Slider stop comparison with SKCM White
Damped Matias and Alps sliders
Without slits
Tactile leaves from an SKCM Salmon, Early SKCM Ivory, and Late SKCM Ivory switches. The leaf from the early one, and the leaf from the salmon appear to be the same.
See also
- Matias quiet click — an Alps clone that forms a cross between the SKCM Ivory and SKBM Black.
