Kailh Cherry ML Inspired low profile switches

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matt3o
-[°_°]-

12 Dec 2016, 22:44

how do you use them without keycaps?

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scottc

12 Dec 2016, 23:01

matt3o wrote: how do you use them without keycaps?
You could try typing really carefully on the stems :o

davkol

12 Dec 2016, 23:05

Or make own custom keycaps. Remember, that's kurplop...

Kurplop

13 Dec 2016, 00:20

davkol wrote: Or make own custom keycaps. Remember, that's kurplop...
Yes, but I think that these switches could become a hit and it won't be long before there will be custom group buys as well as manufacturer available caps. What do you think?

jacobolus

13 Dec 2016, 03:39

I want someone to make keycaps for these which just barely cover the switch footprint, so they can be used with different spacing.

Kurplop

13 Dec 2016, 04:01

jacobolus wrote: I want someone to make keycaps for these which just barely cover the switch footprint, so they can be used with different spacing.
+1 Well, we can at least agree about keyboards. :)

One of the pictures made it appear as if the Kailh switch occupies a bigger footprint than the Cherry. Is that true?

Kurplop

13 Dec 2016, 04:13

Kurplop wrote:
jacobolus wrote: I want someone to make keycaps for these which just barely cover the switch footprint, so they can be used with different spacing.
+1 Well, we can at least agree about keyboards. :)

One of the pictures made it appear as if the Kailh switch occupies a bigger footprint than the Cherry. Is that true?
I answered my own question. I measured an ML and it is 11.39mm x 12.14mm. The data sheet says that the Kailh is 15mm square or 0.593". Since they are PCB mountable, they could be set right next to each other. So a 0.6" pitch would be doable in either direction.

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

13 Dec 2016, 08:59

I should get 100-ish of them that I will use to build a test keyboard (most likely a 60%). In the meantime I told Kailh that I won't settle for anything lower than PBT keycaps and they seemed interested. Consider that we are a very (very) small market for them... it will take some time.

jacobolus

14 Dec 2016, 02:31

Definitely a bigger footprint than ML. My son is 4 months old... his hands are still a bit small to start typing on any of the above. But when he gets to be 5 or whatever, and wants to start learning to code, it would be great to have a more appropriate keyboard size. ML is probably the best bet for very tiny hands, but these Kaihua switches should be good for a kids in the 8–10 range I think.

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Chyros

14 Dec 2016, 03:13

jacobolus wrote: Definitely a bigger footprint than ML. My son is 4 months old... his hands are still a bit small to start typing on any of the above. But when he gets to be 5 or whatever, and wants to start learning to code, it would be great to have a more appropriate keyboard size. ML is probably the best bet for very tiny hands, but these Kaihua switches should be good for a kids in the 8–10 range I think.
Strange, I was under the impression that kids benefited from large rather than small keys. Why not go for a BigKeys or something?

jacobolus

14 Dec 2016, 04:17

Big keys are awful, unless you’re trying to press them with your fist or something. For a 1 year old, probably easier, but a 1 year old isn’t going to be typing regardless.

People give kids keyboards with large buttons because they dramatically underestimate kids’ abilities. Consider: It’s possible to train a 3–4 year old to play the violin.

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PollandAkuma

15 Dec 2016, 09:52

What plates can they use? Just normal ones? Or special thin ones?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

15 Dec 2016, 10:22

technically I believe it should be slightly thinner than cherry mx. I seem to recall it's 1.3mm (instead of 1.5).

I just got the tracking for a new batch of switches heading my way! :)

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

05 Jan 2017, 13:26

Teaser

Image

Image

currently displayed at CES

User avatar
Wodan
ISO Advocate

05 Jan 2017, 13:31

Wait YOU'RE at the CES?

Please bring some MX Silent Red :)

User avatar
Elrick

05 Jan 2017, 13:33

matt3o wrote: Teaser

Image

currently at CES
This looks exactly like the next new release by Apple as either an expanded iPhone with keyboard or some keyboard for a new range of iMacs.

Don't tell me you have deserted us poor PC people for the high life of Apple, what did Tim Cook offer you?

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

05 Jan 2017, 13:35

Wodan wrote: Wait YOU'RE at the CES?

Please bring some MX Silent Red :)
the keyboard is, my butt is comfortably on the couch :D

I just talked to Ian from Kailih who showed me some pictures of a keyboard they are working on featuring the low profile switch.
Elrick wrote: This looks exactly like the next new release by them as either an expanded iPhone with keyboard or some keyboard for a new range of iMacs.

Don't tell me you have deserted us poor PC people for the high life of Apple, what did Tim Cook offer you?
I really don't know what you are talking about. The keyboard has the new low profile switches we are talking about. It's a keyboard made by Kailh not by me.

User avatar
Menuhin

05 Jan 2017, 14:39

Perhaps related.

In this "Tesoro Gram Spectrum Gaming Mechanical Keyboard", there are some low profile switches also produced by Kailh, but these switches are sporting some MX compatible stems.
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/7863/t ... index.html

User avatar
Wodan
ISO Advocate

05 Jan 2017, 14:44

The Tesoro switches look like they have standard MX dimensions, it's the keycaps that make it slim ...

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

05 Jan 2017, 14:52

Wodan wrote: The Tesoro switches look like they have standard MX dimensions, it's the keycaps that make it slim ...
the switches are actually a tad smaller than cherry MX, but kailh are even thinner.

User avatar
Menuhin

05 Jan 2017, 16:32

jacobolus wrote: ... But when he gets to be 5 or whatever, and wants to start learning to code ...
A family with coding education, cool! :shock:

If you don't like BigKeys, perhaps "LittleFingers" from DataDesk Tech will also work? (Have they already run out of business?)
http://www.datadesktech.com/education_base.html

I hope the low profile switches still sculpted caps to a certain degree. Will the new XDA profile caps work on it?

Hking0036

05 Jan 2017, 17:48

Looks pretty neat. I like a decent travel myself but it's cool to see it take off, will probably give them a try once either way when they make it out.

User avatar
TyGuy83

14 Jan 2017, 23:00

I believe Tesoro has already created a desktop keyboard using these new switches also shown off at CES this year:

Image
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Image

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

14 Jan 2017, 23:44

those are not from Kailh, I'd like to test them anyway

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TyGuy83

15 Jan 2017, 00:30

@matt3o Do you know who is supplying those switches? I thought they worked with Kaihua to develop the Tesoro Agile switch in the gram spectrum.

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

15 Jan 2017, 08:41

I have no idea, but I asked Kailh and they say they don't supply the switches for that tesoro board.

also looking at the picture the switch looks completely different.

variable

15 Jan 2017, 15:39

According to Tom's Hardware they are gateron switches.
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/tesoro ... 33395.html

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Ail

15 Jan 2017, 15:44

I hope they offer that board in Bluetooth. If so I will probably buy one to replace my Logitech tablet keyboard I use with my Surface Pro. 75/60% boards are still too bulky for my liking to tote around. The form factor is nice on that. Looks sleek, too.

User avatar
matt3o
-[°_°]-

15 Jan 2017, 17:51

I got back from Kailh again and they are so kind to provide some custom keycaps together with the switches... very excited about it :)

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TyGuy83

21 Jan 2017, 08:17

@matt3o Is Kailh still planning to keep these switches on laptops only?

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