Cherry MX Black

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Cherry MX Black
Cherry MX Black.jpg
Manufacturer Cherry
Family Cherry MX
Product code MX1A-11xx
Introduced 1984
Switch type Linear
Sense method Metal leaf
Actuation force 60 cN
Cherry MX Black Illustration

The Cherry MX Black switch is a medium stiff, linear, non-clicky mechanical keyboard switch in the Cherry MX family.

Keyboards with these switches often have the stiffer Cherry MX Linear Grey switch for the space bar.

History

The Cherry MX Black switch was one of the very first mechanical keyboard switches available to the mass market. Introduced in 1984, it first came in an open housing variant and was later introduced in a design very similar to the current one. Over the years there have been several slight adjustments to the Cherry MX Black switch. Earlier variants are reported to feel smoother and less stiff. Material tests have shown that Cherry indeed seemed to have changed the material of the Cherry MX Black switch. This is assumed to have happened sometime between 1994 and 1995, when Cherry also changed some data of their other MX switches in their product catalogs.

Keyfeel

Linear, medium-stiff.

Some keyboard enthusiasts claim that older ("vintage") MX Blacks feel smoother than newer ones, but other enthusiasts dispute this.

Availability

Cherry MX Black switches are widely available as parts or assembled in hundreds of keyboards. Being the preferred switch of most POS and industrial keyboard manufacturers, it is widely available in all variants.

Product numbers

  • MX1A-11NN no diode, plate mount
  • MX1A-11DN with diode, plate mount
  • MX1A-11NW no diode, PCB mount
  • MX1A-11DW with diode, PCB mount

Variants

Nixie

"Nixie" refers to an unusual and rare MX Black variant only known in Nixdorf keyboards, such as the Nixdorf CT06-CT07/2 M Softkeys. The switch top is translucent instead of opaque black.

Clear-Top

On 2022-11-03 Cherry announced a reproduction of the original "Nixie" switch, the Cherry MX Black Clear-Top. It has an actuation force of 63.5 cN.[1] The top housing carries a more modern Cherry logo and is slightly milkier and less transparent than on the original switches.[2]

Keyboards

Keypads

Nixies

Gallery

  • Original design switch contacts

  • Factory-LED shell MX Black switch with LED active

  • Factory-LED version detail

Nixie

  • Nixie switches in a Nixdorf CT06-CT07/2 M Softkeys keyboard

  • Nixie switches

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cherry World — CherryMX Blog—CHERRY MX Black Clear-Top: New edition of a legendary MX switch. Dated 2022-11-03. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  2. ↑ ThereminGoat's Switches — Cherry MX 'New Nixie' Switch Review. Dated 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  3. ↑ Deskthority - Cherry Blaupunkt BTX Posted 2014-04-23.
  4. ↑ Deskthority - British Telecom M1500 Posted 2024-09-02.
  5. ↑ Instagram - IAS G80-0536 Posted 2024-07-26.
  6. ↑ YouTube — Cherry G80-0689H Keyboard Typing Demo Dated 2022-07-02. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Deskthority — NCR Cherry g80-0577H in Damonskv's collection Posted 2020-12-31. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  8. ↑ YouTube — Cherry G80-2515HAG Keyboard Typing Demo Dated 2022-07-12. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  9. ↑ Imgur — Found in my basement. Vintage cherry blacks. Can you tell me more about it? Dated 2018-06-25. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  10. ↑ YouTube — Deko Fast Action Keyboard review (Cherry MX Black) Dated 2018-12-01. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  11. ↑ Geekhack - The Aluminum Battle Station Posted 2015-10-31.
  12. ↑ Deskthority — OLIVETTI WS 685 Posted 2022-02-08. Retrievec 2024-04-12.
  13. ↑ Imgur — Olivetti Wyse WS 785 (Cherry MX Black) Dated 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  14. ↑ Deskthority — Siemens F500 Posted 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  15. ↑ Imgur — Tatum 6075 (Cherry MX Black) Dated 2022-04-02. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  16. ↑ Imgur — Gallery Dated 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  17. ↑ Nitter — @wuzhangwu Posted 2021-10-17.
  18. ↑ Geekhack - Triad Keyboard Posted 2014-07-17.
  19. ↑ Deskthority — Unitek K-155 Keyboard by Redmaus. Posted 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  20. ↑ Deskthority — Unitech K-973 IBM I aint battle ship keyboard Posted 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  21. ↑ Deskthority - VPE-151 Posted 2015-08-17.
  22. ↑ Imgur - Zenith ZFL-171 (Cherry MX Black) Uploaded 2024-09-17.
  23. ↑ Imgur - MK K-4255A Remote Control Keypad (Cherry MX Black) Uploaded 2024-10-08.
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