BTC foam and foil
 | |
| Manufacturer | BTC |
|---|---|
| Switch type | Linear, tactile |
| Sense method | Capacitive |
| Keycap mount |
Cherry MX mount Key Tronic or similar |
BTC foam and foil is a foam and foil switch from BTC.
Contents
Description
As the capacitive mechanism provides no force, a spring or buckling rubber sleeve is placed under the keycap. BTC keyboards are generally readily identifiable by the rear label and the use of a 1.25 unit escape key. However, the discrete foam and foil modules are (typically, if not always) BTC branded on the top.
Variants
Force curve
Bothy linear and tactile versions exist. As with Key Tronic foam and foil, the linear version uses a helical spring under the keycap, while the tactile version uses a buckling rubber sleeve.
Keycap mount
These switches are most commonly found with Cherry MX mount sliders, but Key Tronic–shape sliders were also used.[1] Whether these sliders are compatible with Key Tronic keycaps is not confirmed. The Cherry MX mount sliders are externally identical to those of the more common BTC dome with slider switch.
Switch mount
Some BTC foam and foil keyboards use discrete slider modules along with a mounting plate, while others have the slider guide shafts moulded into the top case.
Colour
The sliders come in various colours including white, pink, and cyan.[2] At least two slider colours may be found within the same keyboard, distributed at random.[3]
Keyboards
- BTC 53 series (linear and tactile; Cherry MX mount)
- BTC 5060 (linear; Cherry MX and Key Tronic–like/compatible mount)
- BTC 5100 (tactile; Cherry MX mount)
- BTC 5151 (linear; Key Tronic–like/compatible mount)
Gallery
Discrete
The BTC 5151 PCB has exposed pads, so the foam discs in theory will be insulated. This is a linear example with helical springs.
Circuit board top, with exposed pads
Top of key switch with spring
Switch module viewed from below, showing the foam pads and foil discs
Switch with spring removed
Keycap mount, keycap aspect
The BTC 5060 PCB does however have solder mask over the pads. The design of the slider modules is different to those in the BTC 5151.
Sense pads on the PCB are covered with solder mask, insulating them
Foil discs
Switch components
Non-discrete
The following pictures are from a BTC 5100. This example is tactile and uses buckling rubber sleeves.
Sliders with buckling rubber sleeves
Sliders with foil layers
Slider detail
Top of PCB with capacitive pads
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References
- ↑ Geekhack — Blue Chip BTC-5060 vs non-branded version? Posted 2014-09-13. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
- ↑ Telcontar.net — Keyboard reference photos
- ↑ Deskthority — NIB BTC Keyboards [Swedish doubleshots - MX compatible]
