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Alps SKCC Cream LED

Alps SKCC Cream LED
Two desoldered Alps SKCC Cream LED switches with different LED spring lengths
Manufacturer Alps Electric
Family Alps SKCC series
Switch Type Linear
Travel 3.5mm
Sense method Metal contact
Mount Plate mount
Rated lifetime 10 million cycles

Alps SKCC Cream LED is a linear switch in the Alps SKCC Series.

Characteristics

The switch follows the general characteristics of the SKCC family, consisting of an upper and lower housing, contact module, stem, and spring. The switch has housing that differs from regular SKCC switches such that it allows for a bent metal contact to be inserted over the top of the switch. Two springs are welded or soldered to the contact and the LED is suspended between them. These springs allow the LED to be positioned inside the keycap so that the light from the LED does not change as the switch is pressed.

The stem, which is a cream color, is always lubricated and is likely made of a nylon blend1).

Alps SKCC Cream, like all SKCC series switches, uses a contact module to register the keypress. This sits in the middle of the housing opposite the spring.

Additional Information

The external LED design has the downsides of making the switch fragile as many kinds of keycap puller will catch on the springs and bend them out of shape if one is not careful and of requiring a different length of spring for different keycap heights.

1)
supposition based on materials in first generation SKCM/SKCL