Cherry M8
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This article requires photographic illustration — clear, cropped photos illustrating a selection of the Hirose Cherry and (German) Cherry variants (from above and below) |
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| Manufacturer | Cherry, Hirose |
|---|---|
| Product code | M8xx-xxxx |
| Discontinued | 2013 |
| Switch type | Linear, tactile |
| Sense method | Metal leaf |
| Rated lifetime | 10M |
| Bounce time | 2 ms |
| Total travel | 2.5 mm |
| Switch mount | PCB mount |
Cherry M8 refers to several switch families that predated Cherry MX switches. They are rare, low profile switches that were made in a multitude of variants. Cherry issued a final-buy notification for the M8 series in October 2013; it is now discontinued.
Contents
Mechanism
Cherry M8 switches use a gold-silver contact mechanism. When at rest, the slider separates the two contacts, with one bent outward against the slider, under tension. As the slider enters the housing, the contact under tension approaches the second contact, following the grooves on the upper portion of the slider. When pressure has been removed from the switch, the spring pushes upwards, overcoming the force provided by the contact and returning the slider to its start position.
The contact mechanism is the same as that of the Cherry M9 switch.
Variants
In part numbers, the first character after M8 indicates the switch's rating, including the contact plating material and its permissible loads. The switches are sometimes divided into sub-series based on rating:
| Characteristic | M81 | M82 | M84 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voltage min/max | 28 V AC/DC | 60 V AC/DC | 12 V AC/DC max |
| Current min/max | 100 mA max | 100 mA max | 10 mA max |
| Contacts material | AuAg26Ni3 | AgPd30 | AuAg10 |
Other variations include:
- LED
- Optional fitment of an integrated LED
- DPST
- Double-pole, single-throw operation
- Tactile operation
- The switches could be ordered with linear, tactile or German Postal Service tactile specification force curves
- Cover
- Covered and uncovered versions were available; covered switches are significantly rarer than the uncovered versions
- Keycap mount
- Multiple keycap mounts were available
Typically, switches in European keyboards are SPST but have a DPST slider, and have space for an integrated LED. Japanese keyboards have all been sighted with a variant design, using an SPST-only slider and no LED space. This variant design has also been used in a German keyboard.[1]
Covered switches are largely identical to uncovered switches. The cover adds to the height, and requires a taller keystem on the slider. The cover from a covered switch fits on an uncovered switch, but the keystem does not protrude through its hole.
Cherry M85
The Cherry Keymodule M8 brochure includes a section on the M85 sub-series. M85 switches have a hollow slider designed to support a central LED. The shell is visibly different from other M8 switches, but the internals are assumed to be largely the same. M85 switches are not intended for use in computer or typewriter keyboards.
Hirose Cherry M8
Hirose in Japan manufactured a variant of this switch, branded HIROSE CHERRY on the base.[Citation needed] All Hirose Cherry M8 switches found to date have been of the SPST-only, uncovered (open) type.
It is not clear whether the Hirose Cherry M8 is Hirose Cherry mount.
Recognition
Typical uncovered switch
SPST-only switch
Keyboards
- Some Atari 800 keyboards (covered version with bar mount slider)[2]
- Basis 108 keyboard (uncovered; standard white, and black SPST-only)
- Bondwell 8T portable (semi-Cherry MX-compatible sliders; uncovered; used for the numeric keypad)[3]
- Cherry G80-0431
- Cherry G80-0662 (uncovered)
- Epson HC-20 / HX-20 (white stems)[4]
- Epson PX-8 keyboard (white and black stems)
- Genest Technologies Numerikeys (uncovered)[5]
Gallery
Various
A diagram of a Cherry M81 switch
G80-0662 switches #1
G80-0662 switches #2
Open-top DPST-capable design switch
Open-top switch with LED fitted
SPST-only design with black slider, from a German keyboard
SPST-only version in a Japanese keyboard
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M84A-0100
The depicted switches are from Cherry's last ever batch of M8 switches, made in late 2013 or early 2014.
Assorted switches
DPST-ready base, with provision for dual contacts and terminals
Top, angled
Top, front
Rear, angled
Top, side
Disassembled; top views of components
Disassembled; bottom views of components
Covered
The switches depicted are NOS from AliExpress, of unknown part number.
Assorted
Base detail
Slider comparison with uncovered switch
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_--_base.jpg)
References
- ↑ Deskthority — Basis 108 - Cherry M8 low profile Posted 2016-06-08. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ↑ AtariAge Forums — 600/800XL Keyboard variants (some pictures gone) Thread started 2007-04-10. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ↑ Geekhack — SKCL (complicated linear) with cream colored sliders? Posted 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ↑ MouseFan — EPSON HC-20 '83 JAPAN (Japanese) Dated 2004-01-06. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ↑ ちゃたりたいね — GENEST TECHNOLOGIES NUMERIKEYS EFX6BBNUMKEY Cherry M8 (Japanese) (Wayback Machine) Dated 2014-08-25. Archived 2015-02-16.
