Alps SKCM Black
Manufacturer	Alps Electric
Family	Alps SKCM/SKCL series
Part Number	SKCMAP
Switch Type	Tactile
Travel	3.5mm
Sense method	Metal contact
Mount	Plate mount
Rated lifetime	20 million cycles
Quoted operating force	70gf

Alps SKCM Black is a tactile switch in the second and third generations of the Alps SKCM/SKCL Series.

The switch follows the general characteristics of the SKCM family, consisting of an upper and lower housing, contact module, stem, spring and a leaf spring for generating the tactile event.

The earlier, second generation version of the switch has slits in the upper housing (“pine” version), and the third generation has no slits (“bamboo” version). At some point during the switch lifetime, the tactile leaf spring was replaced with the “dimple” leaf type. Based on the part numbers for SKCM White, it is possible that the third generation part number is “SKCMCP” but this is speculation.

The stem, which is a black color, is almost always unlubricated.

The tactile feedback is generated with a leaf spring that is situated on the opposite side of the housing to the contact module. There were at least two variations of this leaf spring. Alps SKCM Black, like all SKCM/SKCL series switches, uses a contact module to register the keypress. This sits in the housing on the side with visible notches.

The switch was likely in production from 1989 to around 2000 in some form or another. The switch replaced the first generation switch Alps SKCM Beige, with SKCM Black switches sometimes appearing in keyboards with SKCM Beige, possibly as a later service part.

Third generation SKCM Black also replaced SKCM Salmon after its discontinuation, despite no obvious direct relation to that switch.

The leaf spring that generates the tactile event had at least one revision. The original form of this leaf spring was identical to that of SKCM Beige. The later form is the “dimple” leaf most commonly associated with late SKCM Ivory and all SKCM White Ivory.