deskthority

The keyboard circuit board is marked as ALPs with script logo.I really like the feel of the keys and have been searching online for reference but could not find another set.The keys are only held on by the metal bracket directly above the circuit board which appears to have gold plated terminals.Each key has 2 pins on the metal spring foil which short out the the terminals on the circuit board when depressed.The switch makes a click and then a clack.

Click Clack? I'd like to see Clack Factory branch out a bit, but beamsprings first, please!

Great find. Don't think I've ever seen anything like this before. Nice.

Here are photos of the keys

Muirium wrote: ↑Click Clack? I'd like to see Clack Factory branch out a bit, but beamsprings first, please!

It is not a beamspring switch.It sounds and works more like a click clack toy Here is a link to a youtube video of the click clack toys I was referring to https://youtu.be/7hs2qioZUco

Photo of how switches are placed from back

Neat, I've never seen these before.

It's a sort of dome switch. And I've never seen this before
Are there any numbers on the pcb to identify it? Usually Alps has at least one or two.

Here is a video of the switch https://youtu.be/gXmMrqt4-O4

HaaTa wrote: ↑Neat, I've never seen these before.

It's a sort of dome switch. And I've never seen this before
Are there any numbers on the pcb to identify it? Usually Alps has at least one or two.

I have tried searching all the numbers but could not find any reference
TA655 TA030 P001 264077A-S-BO on board and 676794B 4N000535 stickers on metal pan

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXmMrqt4-O4[/youtube]

Looks like an earlier version of this:
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_plate_spring

That's what I thought of, too, but it looks very different. The activation mechanism seems similar, though.

Here is a link to a YouTube video of the switch.It is larger and quite different from the early Alps plate switch.It is a very simple switch that works unbelievably well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXmMrqt4-O4

That's a pretty neat switch. Likely has a nice sharp tactile point.

Alps probably stopped making them because of reliability issues with the contact mechanism (as it keeps striking the pcb contacts). And,

<Over^Kill> Debounce is prolly high as snoop dog

Regardless, a really cool find.

Question, would you be willing at some point to lend me a single switch so I can measure a force curve?

It strikes the pcb with quite a bit of force.There is no way to control the pressure as it builds up and snaps down .
Here is a video of the snap action https://youtu.be/o7blSSOU9Y0