Parts per switch

The 11 parts that give complicated Alps its moniker

The 7 parts to a clicky Cherry MX switch

The number of parts in a switch varies greatly. The following table includes the switch shell in the part count. The part counts do not include extremely small parts that are permanently embedded inside other parts, primarily contact prisms (in part because one cannot be certain about the construction of these elements); larger parts that are clearly understood but cannot be non-destructively separated (e.g. plastic parts appearing to be moulded around metal parts) are counted separately.

Switch	Introduced	Type	Parts
Futaba complicated linear	≤ 1981	Linear	16
Futaba linear lock	≤ 1981	Latching	15 or 16
Futaba simplified linear	≤ 1981	Linear	9
Futaba low-profile linear	≤ 1983	Linear	7
Alps SKCL Yellow	—	Linear	10
Alps SKCM White	—	Tactile	11
Alps SKCM Orange	—	Tactile	11
Alps SKCM Cream Damped	—	Tactile (damped)	13
Alps ultra low profile	—	Clicky	8+
Matias click switch	2012	Clicky	7
Matias quiet switch	2012	Tactile (damped)	9
Cherry M8 (SPST open)		Linear	5
Cherry M8 (SPST enclosed)		Linear	6
Cherry MX Black	1984	Linear	6
Cherry MX White (Type A)	1987	Clicky	7
Cherry MY	1987	Linear	6
SMK second generation	—	Clicky, tactile	7
Hi-Tek Series 725 black/blue	—	Clicky	6
Hi-Tek Series 725 white/beige/grey/green	—	Linear, tactile	5
RAFI RS 74 M SPDT latching	-	SPDT latching	10