Kaihua vs Cherry MX, in the words of Kaihua themselves

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Came across this:

http://www.kailh.com/gb/Newsdetail.asp?Newsid=37

Detailed disassembly and comparison by Kaihua (Kailh) of Cherry MX vs their own PG1511 series. Better disassembly shots than those of any keyboard enthusiasts!

This page also goes into discussion of Cherry MX switches:

http://www.kailh.com/gb/Newsdetail.asp?Newsid=38

A Chinese speaker may be able to get an accurate idea about what they're saying and why they're so bold about this.

[7bit]

To me, it seems the latches are at the under-shell, so it is quite easy to hook into them and open the plate mounted switch without special requirements by the mount plate.


MXYELLOW in the middle.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Middle one is Kaihua PG1511, not MX yellow. There actually is a Cherry MX Yellow, which is linear; no reason for its existence is known.

yab8433408 has a lot of rare Cherry switches with no known specification:

http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8 ... t2149.html

Known clone ranges so far are [wiki]Kaihua PG1511 series[/wiki] (PG1511/Kailh) and [wiki]Aristotle Cherry MX clone[/wiki] (the unbranded translucent white ones used by Chicony). Aristotle's are discontinued, and they were not able or willing to offer me any information on them.

[1839cc]

Hmm no pictures of an opened PG1511.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

First link in my original post — complete disassembly of all three switches in 7bit's photo. Middle one in each photograph is a Kaihua PG1511.

I don't think they can be opened when plate mounted; Kaihua just appear to have made them easier to open when desoldered, removing the need to lever open separate clips along each side (the clips are all joined by a bar).

TL;DR:

Kaihua PG1511 does not have gold crosspoints on the contacts — the contacts are the same design, but have standard dimples instead of crosspoints.

[1839cc]

Oops. Missed that one.

[Jmneuv]

Bold copying indeed, a little disturbing.

[gmjhowe]

This looks to be using those switches -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rapoo-V7-87-k ... 33773e95a6

Not a bad price for a programmable keyboard. If the switches were really bad, you would still have a decent board if you swapped them for cherry switches (now we know they are compatible).

[Jmneuv]

Oh wow, apart from the colors this design isn't half bad.

[Bullveyr]

So the spring is pretty much in the middle of black and reds?

[Daniel Beardsmore]

So the spring is pretty much in the middle of black and reds?

What do you mean? In all Cherry MX switches and the clones, the return spring is in the centre. The contacts are at the back. Unlike most other switches, the base has extensive mouldings to support the contacts.

Cherry MX clones are far closer to the the real thing than most Alps clones ever were! That may be that the Cherry MX switch is what you'd call a "simplified" design in Alps terminology — no complex part assemblies to avoid replicating :)

[Bullveyr]

I meant that the "spring strength" of the Kailh/Kaihuha is right between the strength of MX black and red springs.
So it might be an option for someone who thinks black are too stiff and reds too light.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Well …

Someone suggested that their popularity would soar if they made our ergo clears for us!

However, we would need to feel certain that their manufacturing standards are adequate first. Someone thinks the yellow switches are fragile, but they could not be sure which yellow one, as there are several. Popular colour for clones.

But then, you're probably suggesting just buying them to harvest the springs from :-) i.e. open PG1511 and MX red, exchange springs.

[Bullveyr]

Harvesting the springs would at least be an option if the the rest of the switch is sub par.

[laffindude]

Came across this:

http://www.kailh.com/gb/Newsdetail.asp?Newsid=37

Detailed disassembly and comparison by Kaihua (Kailh) of Cherry MX vs their own PG1511 series. Better disassembly shots than those of any keyboard enthusiasts!

This page also goes into discussion of Cherry MX switches:

http://www.kailh.com/gb/Newsdetail.asp?Newsid=38

A Chinese speaker may be able to get an accurate idea about what they're saying and why they're so bold about this.

Those are reviews by hardware review portals. It is half review, half paid advertisement.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

這是我所有的希臘

[chimborazo]

Bold copying indeed, a little disturbing.

Just somewhat out of topic.

Isn't the rate of opportunism slightly higher in China than elsewhere?

p. s. thank you to brilliant mathematicians like Shing-Tung Yau, Xi-Ping Zhu and Huai-Dong for setting such low standards.