Alps SKCL Cream
| Alps SKCL Cream | |
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| Manufacturer | Alps Electric |
| Family | Alps SKCM/SKCL series |
| Part Number | SKCLAD |
| Switch Type | Linear |
| Travel | 3.5mm |
| Sense method | Metal contact |
| Mount | Plate mount |
| Rated lifetime | 20 million cycles |
| Quoted operating force | Unknown, prob. 70gf |
Alps SKCL Cream is a linear switch in the first generation of the Alps SKCM/SKCL Series.
Characteristics
The switch follows the general characteristics of the SKCL family, consisting of an upper and lower housing, contact module, stem, and spring. The upper housing has a hole for an LED, but the bottom housing will only have holes for the LED legs to pass through in switches ordered with an LED.
As a first generation switch, SKCL Cream will always have slits in the upper housing.
The stem, which is a cream color, is almost always lubricated and is likely made of a nylon blend1). Unlike all other stems in the family, first generation SKCL stems do not have a notch on one side and are symmetrical.
Alps SKCL Cream, like all SKCM/SKCL series switches, uses a contact module to register the keypress. This sits in the housing on the side without the LED cutout.
Additional Information
The switch was likely in production from 19832) to around 19893). The switch was replaced for the second generation by SKCL Gray.
The switch was most commonly used as a spacebar switch in keyboards using SKCL Green, though it has also been used as a main switch in a considerably smaller number of keyboards.
There is a heavier variant requiring significantly higher force to actuate that is marked with black marker, similar to other heavy switches in the line. It is doubtful that this is a catalog switch.
1)
tested on SKCM Blue via burn test