Cherry Keys

[1KWeb]

Hello all 

 

I am after some advise - I am in the process of making some toys for local hospital. These will be tactile toys like clickers etc to help the kids keep calm etc and take there mind off things. 

 

I am planning on using the CherryMX key in the clicker for the sound, and the feel of the click - but I don't know which ones would give the loudest click along with the best tactile feel of the click. 

 

Could anyone with more experience than me (which would be anyone) Let me know which are the best to use. I am based in the UK so would be using Amazon.co.uk for my order. 

 

Thank you 

[PDifolco]

Not sure what you intend to do - use caps and Cherry *switches* ? But they need a kb board to work...

[Poinkachu]

3 minutes ago, PDifolco said:

Not sure what you intend to do - use caps and Cherry *switches* ? But they need a kb board to work...

He probably just gonna mount the switch into a DIY enclosure, then put (hopefully unremovable) caps on it

[Cringe_Master245]

21 minutes ago, 1KWeb said:

Hello all 

 

I am after some advise - I am in the process of making some toys for local hospital. These will be tactile toys like clickers etc to help the kids keep calm etc and take there mind off things. 

 

I am planning on using the CherryMX key in the clicker for the sound, and the feel of the click - but I don't know which ones would give the loudest click along with the best tactile feel of the click. 

 

Could anyone with more experience than me (which would be anyone) Let me know which are the best to use. I am based in the UK so would be using Amazon.co.uk for my order. 

 

Thank you 

I believe you would be looking for the Green switch.

A list of switches can be found here

https://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX#Common_variants

[saintlouisbagels]

Kailh Box Jade is extremely satisfyingly loud and clicky
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DB4NN4YG/

 

I'm not sure if using keyboard switches is the best option since I'm sure the OEMs (like OMRON) that supply micro switches for mice (and many other electronics) would have better and cheaper solutions.

 

Although if it were me, I was also gravitate towards the simplicity of keyboard mechanical switches and MX stems too lol.

[FlyingPotato_is_taken]

50 minutes ago, 1KWeb said:

but I don't know which ones would give the loudest click along with the best tactile feel of the click. 

Cherry MX green but there are better options:

Kail Navy:

https://www.kailh.net/collections/best-sellers/products/kailh-box-thick-clicky-switch-set

 

They use a "click bar" which gives them a very noticeable tactile bump and also a loud click due to the clickbar.

[ie-techtip]

Cherry MX Blue

Outemu Blue <- very cheap

Outemu Golden <- very cheap

 

All these are very satisfying and clicky.

 

 

You can buy a "switch tester" in AliExpress and place these switches there adding some keycaps.

 

[1KWeb]

11 hours ago, Poinkachu said:

He probably just gonna mount the switch into a DIY enclosure, then put (hopefully unremovable) caps on it

Correct - sorry should have made this clear in my original post

[1KWeb]

11 hours ago, FlyingPotato_is_taken said:

Cherry MX green but there are better options:

Kail Navy:

https://www.kailh.net/collections/best-sellers/products/kailh-box-thick-clicky-switch-set

 

They use a "click bar" which gives them a very noticeable tactile bump and also a loud click due to the clickbar.

Thank you for the reply - I will order some and give them ago. Thank you for taking the time to reply. 

[1KWeb]

12 hours ago, PDifolco said:

Not sure what you intend to do - use caps and Cherry *switches* ? But they need a kb board to work...

They wont be used as keys - I will be cutting off the contacts and putting them into clickable toys / fidgets for kids to click etc keeps them buys mind occupied and fingers busy and can help with distractions.  

[GarlicDeliverySystem]

Kailh Jade or navy, maybe also try the whites. They have different actuation weights, so that might be a factory or could be interesting in itself.

 

Cherry Blue switches are not the loudest ones, nor do they have a reputation for the clickiest/tactile either. If you only need a few for now, have a look at:

• Gateron Melodic, uses a tiny click leaf
• Zeal clickies, very expensive but have a loud click and large click leaf. Can be modified to tactile only
• Gazzew U4 and U4T, they are tactile, not clicky, with the U4 being semi silent while the U4T is pretty loud
• novelkeys cream clickie switches, which are linear but have one of these snapping little metal sheets in them, so they do click but have no tactile bump for it afaik.

Going really off the rails would be to look for old/broken keyboards with Alp switches, they are supposedly superior in the clicky department. They are no longer produced though, and make sure you get the right type of switch from them.

 

Another funny one would be either old IBM beamspring switches or buckling spring switches. But those are not easy or near impossible to source alone. There is a company that makes new Model F keyboards though. Maybe contact him?