Cherry MX

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Cherry MX
Cherry MX.jpg
Family Cherry MX
Introduced 1983-11-07
Sense method Metal contact
Rated lifetime 20 M (1985)
500 k/20 M/50 M (1994)
50 M (2017)
50 M/100 M (2020)
Bounce time 5 ms (1985)
1 ms (Nov 2019)
Keycap mount Cherry MX mount
Hirose mount
Cherry M8 mount
Switch mount PCB mount
Plate mount
Patents US4467160 (1983)
Website www.cherrymx.de/en
Variants of the Cherry MX switch
Cherry MX shipping boxes
A keyboard with MX Blue switches
MX switches with Hirose Cherry branding and keycap mount

Cherry MX is the most popular line of keyswitches used in mechanical computer keyboards.

History

Designed by Cherry, they were introduced on 7 November 1983[1] and were initially available only in a linear (smooth), light-resistance version.[Citation needed] An entire family of Cherry MX variants was subsequently developed with combinations of these characteristics:

  • Light to heavy force
  • With or without tactile feedback (a "bump" the typist can feel on actuation)
  • With or without auditory feedback (clicky/non-clicky)

These variants are generally referred to by stem colour. Cherry officially refers to most switch types by article number, but their newest switch types are indeed referred to by community-style monikers on their website.

The exact history of the product line is not yet clear. In July 1985, the series officially comprised MX Black, MX Linear Grey (for space bars in MX Black keyboards), MX White, and MX Click Grey (for space bars in MX White keyboards). MX Lock appears to have already existed at this point (found in a Xerox keyboard made by Hirose Cherry), but it was not included in the 1985 German MX datasheet.

The part numbers were divided into linear and tactile, with the model character being numeric for linear switches (MX1A-11__ and MX1A-21__) and alphabetic for tactile switches (MX1A-A1__ and MX1A-B1__). MX Lock was identified as "3", but MX Red was strangely identified as "L" (with "H", "I", "J" and "K" currently unaccounted for), with the much later MX Nature White getting "4" following on from MX Lock.

The patent, filed in 1983, describes the hysteresis mechanism, but says nothing about audible feedback. It would appear that the click sound was originally suppressed with grease; MX Blue was a later addition to the series after MX Clear, and it was permitted to emit a click sound.

The 1985 MX datasheet lists a rated lifetime of 20 million keystrokes for both linear and tactile types. The 1994 MX brochure lists the lifetimes as 500 k (MX Lock), 20 M ("soft" and "click" types, where "soft" may refer to MX Clear), and 50 M for "linear" and "ergonomic" types (where "ergonomic" is MX Brown). From 2017, the whole series got rated for 50 M keystrokes, with MX Lock having gone end of life.

From November 1st, 2019 all variants are supposed to be manufactured with a different leaf spring and contacts, supposed to lead to a bounce time of less than 1 ms. In 2020, linear MX variants and MX Brown got modified stems (and possibly housing), with a new rating of 100 M keystrokes. [2]

The "MX2A" revision was announced in Aug 2023 for MX Black, Brown, Red, Blue, Speed Silver and Silent Red. [3] These have a new barrel-shaped spring with lubrication which supposedly "mirrors the performance of the Krytox GPL 205 Grade 0").[4] The label on the top housing of the RGB variants is now rotated 180°[5] whereas it is not on the non-RGB variants.[6] It is unclear whether or when the MX2A will replace the previous MX1A/MX3A switches.


Design

Cherry MX switches have gold crosspoint contacts. The contact mechanism has one small static terminal, and a movable leaf that is folded against itself at the top. At least two designs of contact mechanism are known. As of 2013, the current system has a very narrow "neck" where it folds back on itself. One known previous design uses more metal and appears to be more complicated; this design has been found in the Hirose Cherry MX Orange[7] and Hirose Cherry MX Clear, as well as Cherry MX Black.[8]

All German Cherry MX switches, and some Japanese-made Hirose MX switches, are branded "CHERRY" on the top; the exact logo used has varied over time. Hirose MX switches were also branded "HCP" (Hirose Cherry Precision).

The shell's design is based on the Cherry M9. The upper shell cannot be removed while the switch is mounted in a plate; it must first be de-soldered and removed, as the plate prevents the shell's four retention clips from moving outward. For modification, PCB-mount keyboards are preferred, or enthusiast-created plates with four small cutouts that allow the switches to be opened in-place.

Clicky MX switches use a special two-piece slider with a movable contact that fires the "click collar" downwards on passing the actuation point. When the switch is released, the click collar is pulled back upwards by the slider itself and held in place by the movable contact.

The keycap mount is only 180° rotationally symmetrical. The horizontal (E and W) arms of the cross are around 1.25–1.30 mm thick, while the vertical (N and S) arms are 1.05–1.10 mm thick. Keycaps do not always fit sideways. The stem is around 3.7 mm tall and sits on a platform that descends inside the switch, allowing the full travel to be greater than the stem's height.

Variants

Force-travel diagram (CN/mm) of the downstrokes of the most common Cherry MX switches

Common variants

The most common Cherry MX variants are Black and Red for linear switches; and Clear, Brown and Blue for tactile switches. Keyboards based on the clicky MX Green and tactile MX Grey variants also exist; but due to their heavier resistance, these variants are usually reserved for space bars.

Hirose Cherry

Hirose Cherry Precision ("Cherry Japan") manufactured a version of the MX switch with the Hirose Cherry keycap mount. Hirose Cherry MX switches accept standard Cherry MX keycaps, but Hirose keycaps do not fit standard switches.

Other variants

Some rarer Cherry MX variants have transparent switch housings, and allegedly the earliest MX switches all had clear stems.[9]

Old versions of MX Blue switches exist. Because no dye was added to their stems, these switches are called Whites.[Citation needed]

Observed variants

Name Product code Type Key feel Actuation Mount Stem cam Production
Cherry MX Black.jpg Cherry MX Black MX1A-11xx Normal Linear 60 cN MX No Yes
Nixie.jpg Nixie ? Normal Linear 60 cN MX No No
Cherry MX Nixdorf White.png Nixie Spacebar ? Space Bar Linear ? MX No No
No photograph.svg Cherry MX Linear Clear ? Normal Linear ? MX No No
No photograph.svg Cherry MX Olympia Linear Clear ? Normal Linear ? Revised MX No No
Cherry MX Linear Grey.jpg Cherry MX Linear Grey MX1A-21xx Space bar Linear 80 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX Lock (grey).jpg Cherry MX Lock MX1A-31xx Alternate action Linear 60 cN MX No No
No photograph.svg Cherry MX Black Clear-Top MX1A-61NW Normal Linear 63,5 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX white.jpg Cherry MX White MX1A-A1xx Normal Clicky 80 cN MX Yes Yes
No photograph.svg Cherry MX Soft Click Clear ? Normal Clicky 50 cN MX No No
No photograph.svg Cherry MX Click Grey MX1A-B1xx Space bar Clicky 105 cN MX Yes No
Cherry MX clear.jpg Cherry MX Clear MX1A-C1xx Normal Tactile 65 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX Tactile Grey.jpg Cherry MX Tactile Grey MX1A-D1xx Space bar Tactile 80 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX Blue.jpg Cherry MX Blue MX1A-E1xx Normal Clicky 60 cN MX Yes Yes
Cherry MX Green.jpg Cherry MX Green MX1A-F1xx Space bar Clicky 80 cN MX Yes Yes
Cherry MX Brown.jpg Cherry MX Brown MX1A-G1xx Normal Tactile 55 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX clear.jpg Cherry MX Ergo Clear MX1A-H1xx Normal Tactile 55 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX red.jpg Cherry MX Red MX1A-L1xx Normal Linear 45 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX Silent Red -- infobox.jpg Cherry MX Silent Red MX3A-L1xx Normal Linear 45 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX Silent Black -- infobox.jpg Cherry MX Silent Black MX3A-11xx Normal Linear 60 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX RGB Black.jpg Cherry MX RGB Black MX1A-11xx Normal Linear 60 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX RGB Blue.jpg Cherry MX RGB Blue MX1A-E1xx Normal Clicky 60 cN MX Yes Yes
Cherry MX RGB Brown.jpg Cherry MX RGB Brown MX1A-G1xx Normal Tactile 55 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX RGB Red.jpg Cherry MX RGB Red MX1A-L1xx Normal Linear 45 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX Silent RGB Red.jpg Cherry MX Silent RGB Red MX3A-L1xx Normal Linear 45 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX Silent RGB Black.jpg Cherry MX Silent RGB Black MX3A-11xx Normal Linear 60 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX Speed Silver -- infobox.jpg Cherry MX Speed Silver MX1A-51xx Normal Linear 45 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX Speed RGB Silver.jpg Cherry MX Speed RGB Silver MX1A-51xx Normal Linear 45 cN MX No Yes
Cherry MX RGB Nature White -- infobox.jpg Cherry MX RGB Nature White MX1A-41NA Normal Linear 55 cN MX No Yes
Mxsuperblacksmall.png Cherry MX Super Black ? Special Linear 150 cN MX No No
Cherry MX-M8 Adapter.jpg Cherry MX-M8 Adapter ? Normal Linear ? M8 ? No
Hirosecherrymxpaleyellowsmall.png Hirose Cherry MX Pale Yellow ? Normal Linear ? Hirose No No
Cherrymxlineargreygreensmall.png Hirose Cherry MX Grey Green ? Normal Linear ? Hirose No No
Hirose Cherry MX Orange.jpg Hirose Cherry MX Orange ? Normal Linear ? Hirose No No
MXPaleBlue.jpg Cherry MX Pale Blue ? Normal Clicky ? MX Yes No
Cherry MX Dark Blue -- infobox.jpg Cherry MX Dark Blue ? Normal Clicky 50 cN MX Yes No
Hiroseclearsmall.png Hirose Cherry MX Clear ? Normal Linear ? Hirose No No

MX2A revision

Name Product code Key feel Actuation
Cherry MX2A Black MX2A-11Nx Linear 60 cN
Cherry MX2A Speed Silver MX2A-51Nx Linear 45 cN
Cherry MX2A Silent Red MX2A-71Nx Linear 45 cN
Cherry MX2A Brown MX2A-G1Nx Tactile 55 cN
Cherry MX2A Red MX2A-L1Nx Linear 45 cN
Cherry MX Purple Tactile <50 cN

The last letter in the product code:

  • N: 3-pin
  • W: 5-pin
  • A: 3-pin RGB
  • B: 5-pin RGB

Country-specific types

Position six in product codes is "1" for a Cherry MX keystem, and a country-specific letter otherwise. The only known example of this is "G" for Germany; these switches are listed by a number of stockists and other sites, but in all cases appear to be false stock levels and no parts are available for sale. Cherry Americas have three of the products on record, as obsolete parts (two of which with meaningful descriptions), and examples of three of the types in their offices (MX1A-1GBR, MX1A-EGEQ and MX1A-1GCL); the remainder of the product codes below remain entirely unconfirmed. The three examples where parts have been retained are all Cherry MX mount, and the only apparent difference in all cases is customisation of the return spring weight.[10]

Product code Source Description
MX1A-1GAP Cherry "MX1A-1GAP" [sic] (database record only)
MX1A-1GBR Cherry Derived from MX Black, PCB mount, 179 cN according to the database record ("179 CN PCB MOUNT N/O")
MX1A-1GCX Cherry "350CN W/PINS" (database record only)
MX1A-1GCL Cherry Derived from MX Black; PCB mount; the bag states “lowest force possible”, but it seems to be only slightly lower in force than standard MX Black; the bag is dated 8-26-94
MX1A-EGEQ Cherry Derived from MX Blue; PCB mount, 180 cN
MX1A-1GER Surplus sites None
MX1A-1GFD Surplus sites None
MX1A-1GRE Surplus sites None

Unconfirmed variants

"Cherry MX Yellow" (Aristotle Yellow) is now officially determined to not be a Cherry product. As such, the following switches—not yet sighted in any keyboard at the time of writing—are not verified Cherry products. They are Cherry-branded, but they may be counterfeit.

Name Product code Type Key feel Actuation Mount Stem cam Production
No photograph.svg Cherry MX Alps Click ? ? Clicky ? Alps N/A No
No photograph.svg Cherry MX Alps Linear ? ? Linear ? Alps N/A No
No photograph.svg Cherry MX Pale Grey ? ? Linear ? MX ? No

Recombination variants

There are several custom Cherry MX Switches that can be created by merging together two different switches.

Features (as advertised by Cherry)

  • Desktop profile, 0.60 inch (15.2 mm) from PCB (no keycap)
  • Choice of feel: linear, soft tactile, click tactile
  • PCB or frame mount
  • Long life of 50 million operations (previously also 20 million and 500 thousand depending on model and age)
  • 4 mm travel
  • LED, diode or jumper option
  • 12V maximum AC/DC
  • Current Rating: 10 mA
  • Insulation Resistance: < 100 MΩ at 100V DC

Mounting options

A PCB mountable Cherry MX switch
Comparison between plate and PCB mount switches

Cherry MX switches are available with additional mounting options for either a wire bridge, an LED or a diode.

They are also available for either PCB or plate mounting. Switches for PCB mounting have two additional plastic pins to secure and stabilize them (although plate-mounted switches do not necessarily need these extra pins, as they are stabilized by the metal backplate). PCB-mounted switches can easily be converted for back-plate mounting by cutting off the extra stems.

Mounting designs are specified by the last two digits of the switches' product numbers (see below).

Product numbers

The Cherry MX series follows an eight-digit naming convention: M X [1,3,5] [A,C] - [0-9, A-Z] [1] [N,R,G,Y,D,J] [N,W,A,B]

  • M: Keyswitch module
  • X: Cherry MX family
  • [1,3,5]
    • 1: Material: AuAg10, 10mA, max. 12V
    • 3: Silenced slider
    • 5: Special
  • [A,C]
    • A: SPST NO (single pole, single throw, normally open)
    • C: Special
  • [0-9, A-Z] — Operating characteristics, actuation force and key style (switch 'color'):
  • [1,A-Z]
    • 1: Standard straight, cross-shaped keystem for standard Cherry MX mount caps
    • G: Special (Germany) with D and H reserved for future use
    • W: Special (USA) with C and F reserved for future use (yet to be observed)
    • U: Special (UK) with K and E reserved for future use (yet to be observed)
    • N: Special (Japan) with J and L reserved for future use (yet to be observed)
    • A: Special (Australia) with Q and M reserved for future use (yet to be observed)
    • B: Special (Brazil) with S and P reserved for future use (yet to be observed)
  • [N,R,G,Y,D,J] - Integrated components
    • N: No additional, integrated components
    • R: Red LED
    • G: Green LED
    • Y: Yellow LED
    • D: Diode
    • J: Jumper wire
  • [N,W] - Mounting configuration / case color
    • N: No plastic mounting pins (plate mount) / black case
    • W: With plastic mounting pins (PCB mount) / black case
    • A: No plastic mounting pins (plate mount) / clear case
    • B: With plastic mounting pins (PCB mount) / clear case

Examples of Cherry MX product numbers and their descriptions:

  • MX1A-11NN - Cherry MX Black/linear, no diode, plate mount (no fixing pins)
  • MX1A-E1DN - Cherry MX Blue/tactile clicky, with diode, plate mount (no fixing pins)
  • MX1A-L1RW - Cherry MX Red/low-force linear, red LED, PCB mount (with fixing pins)
  • MX1A-G1JW - Cherry MX Brown/tactile non-clicky, with jumper wire, PCB mount (with fixing pins)

Disassembly

The Cherry MX switch shell is based on Cherry's previous low-profile M9 switch ("low-profile" in the '80s being standard profile from the '90s onward).

The switch has four retention tabs: two on the left and two on the right. A loose switch can be opened by prying these tabs either from the top or from the bottom. Enthusiasts have developed special tools for both methods, but narrow flat screwdrivers are also often used. The screwdrivers are inserted into two opposite holes; then the side retention tabs are pried away from the switch body.

PCB-mounted MX switches can be opened in-place from the top. Most plate-mounted switches must be removed to be opened, as the plate prevents their side tabs from moving outward to clear the retaining lugs. Some DIY keyboard kits have cutouts for the retention tabs, allowing them to be opened in place. Other keyboards, primarily for enthusiasts, have hot-swapping sockets allowing switches to be removed and replaced without de/soldering.

Gallery

Accessories

Design

Construction

Silencing

To provide damping, Cherry revised the slider to contain an integral, fully moulded-in-place damper. The damped switches use softer colours for the sliders.

See also

External links

References

  1. Deskthority — 7 November 1983-2013 | 30 Years Cherry MX!
  2. Cherry MX Blog—100 MIO. Dated 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2020-07-08
  3. Cherry MX Blog—CHERRY MX2A:Exceeding expectations - The Ultimate in Mechanical Switch Design. Attributed to Holger Dassler. Dated 2023-08-24. Retrieved 2023-08-25
  4. CherryMX web site—CHERRY MX2A: Welcome to the New Era. No dating. Retrieved 2023-08-24
  5. Theremingoat.com—Cherry MX2A RGB Black Switch Review. Dated 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-08-27
  6. Ars Technica—Hands-on with Cherry MX2A switches: A lot less wobble, a little more confusion. Dated 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-08-26
  7. ちゃたりたいね — Yamaha QX3 Sequencer keyboard
  8. geekhack — This cherry switch
  9. Deskthority — Hirose Cherry switches and the Xerox 1109
  10. Correspondence with Cherry Americas, 2017-10-02 to 10