Matias switch
 |
This article requires additional photographic illustration — disassembly shots of the remaining types and variants |
 | |
| Manufacturer | Gaote and other companies |
|---|---|
| Product code |
PG155B01, KS101Q (quiet click) PG155B02, KS101 (click) KS102Q (linear) |
| Switch type | Clicky; tactile/dampened; linear/dampened |
| Sense method | Metal leaf |
| Actuation force |
60±5 gf (quiet click, click) 35±5 gf (linear) |
| Pretravel | 2.2±0.2 mm |
| Total travel | 3.5 mm |
| Keycap mount | Alps mount |
| Switch mount | Plate mount |
| Website | matias.ca/switches/ |
Matias switches are clones of the Alps SKBM White and Alps SKBM Black switches, designed by Matias Corporation. These switches were introduced by Matias as replacements for the Alps SKBL/SKBM series upon its discontinuation by Forward Electronics; design and development took two years[1] and was instigated upon threats from Forward of termination of production of their switches, and a lack of suitable products on the market.[2]
Contents
Description
Matias switches are based heavily on the simplified Alps design. The shell is completely transparent, allowing for LEDs to be mounted directly underneath the switch. Alps-type switches with tactile and click leaves do not have room for an integrated LED, and having the switch lit from below is Matias's alternative to using linear switches with integrated LEDs for lock keys. The major reason for this is customer complaints and returns arising from misunderstanding over the linear lock keys on the Matias Tactile Pro keyboards, which are by design and necessity, not a defect. Lock keys are thus able to have the same sound and keyfeel as the other keys on the keyboard.
Unlike typical Alps clone switches, Matias switches are externally an exact replica of Alps switches including the four wing-shaped plate retention clips.
The ping ("chorus of springs") which plagued SKBL/SKBM switches is reported to be eliminated;[1] the cause of this is given as excessively thin springs that pick up vibrations from other switches.[3]
Matias switches are used in Matias keyboards and can be ordered separately. Possibly intended for the Tactile Pro 4, they were first introduced in the Tactile Pro 3 when stocks of Forward SKBM White switches ran out, which were discontinued by Forward in early 2012.
Final assembly is done by Gaote.[2] The switches are shown on the Gaote website and available from their Alibaba store.
Initially, the switches were manufactured unbranded; this has been reported to be an oversight. Branding has subsequently been added, but to the front of the switch above the mounting plate, instead of the top.
Variants
Click
The click switch (part no. KS101, previously PG155B02) is a clone of the Alps SKBM White switch and is intended as a direct replacement for it.
Quiet click
The quiet click switch (part no. KS101Q, previously PG155B01) is a clone of the Alps SKBM Black switch, with the damped slider from the Alps SKCM Cream Damped switch. The quiet click switch is a tactile switch designed to make as little noise as possible, and the term "quiet click" is a misnomer: the switch does not click.
The slider has two rubber bumpers that cushion both the down-stroke and the up-stroke. The bumpers dampen the clack noise on bottoming out, as well as the noise when a key is released, thus making keyboards with this switch quieter. Unlike cream Alps, the rubber bumpers are white instead of black.
Matias first intended to make the switch with an orange slider, but had to change the colour to white because the pigment used in test batches interfered with the plastic's properties.[1] The slider colour has subsequently been changed to grey; the shade of grey has also changed.
Quiet linear
The quiet linear switch (part no. KS102Q) has a red slider with rubber bumpers that dampen the sound both on the down-stroke and up-stroke. The helical spring is identical to that used in the Quiet Click. Unlike linear Alps SKCL switches, there is an additional leaf spring as in tactile switches but it lacks any tactile bump. [4]
Gallery
Matias switches; the quiet click switches have their original white sliders
Matias switches
Branding added to the moulds ca. 2017
Matias (left) and Alps (right) damped sliders
Quiet click switch evolution
Click switch evolution
.jpg)
Click switch (original)
Click leaf visible through shell
Contact mechanism visible through shell
Internals visible through shell
Fully disassembled, top views of components
Fully disassembled, bottom views of components
Switch contacts comparison with Alps SKBM Grey (left), front view
Switch contacts comparison with SKBM Grey, rear view
Tactile Pro 2 switches
Strong Man was the OEM for the Matias Tactile Pro 2.0, and they claimed that the switches used were their own product. Matias referred to these switches as "Matias switches", to provide a more professional name than "Strong Man switches". The switches have since been found to be the same Forward SKBM Grey switches that were used in late-issue original Tactile Pro keyboards (de-branded Alps SKBM Grey).
See also
- Matias Quiet Pro — the first keyboard model with the quiet switch.
External links
- Matias — Quiet Click Mechanical Keyswitches Retrieved 2015-07-28.
- Matias — Click Mechanical Keyswitches Retrieved 2015-07-28.
- Flickr — Matias Quiet Pro Keyboard — detailed switch close-ups. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Geekhack — New switches from Matias -- 2 years in the making — Matias vendor thread. Posted 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Deskthority — Dongguan Gaote and Matias
- ↑ Geekhack — Another quiet mechanical keyboard thread Posted 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
- ↑ Geekhack — Matias 60% ALPS keyboard with Cherry-compatible PCB — post by Edgar Matias. Posted 2014-11-10. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
