Alps SKFL series

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Alps SKFL series
Manufacturer Alps Electric
Product code SKFL or SKFLxx
Switch type Linear
Sense method Metal leaf
Total travel ca. 3.7 mm
Keycap mount Alps mount (variation)
Switch mount PCB mount

Alps SKFL<ref name="TT-name" /> (formerly Alps low-profile oval slider) is a fairly low-profile Alps switch. It uses a variation of Alps mount in that it features a peg that fits inside the larger peg in the keycap (which limits the available keycaps that fit it).

Description[edit | edit source]

Alps SKFL switches are around 25% shorter than SKCL/SKCM switches, at circa 8.6–8.8 mm tall, instead of 11.6 mm tall. Depth is approximately 13 mm, and width is approximately 15 mm (approximately 14 mm excluding the legs, which protrude from the sides). The slider has around 3.7 mm of travel.

The switch is PCB mount only. The base of the switch is grey moulded plastic (which is sometimes mistaken for metal), above which is a sheet steel lid with folded-down sides. The Alps logo is stamped into the lid. The sides of the lid lock into place into the plastic base with small lugs stamped into the metal. The ends of the sides then protrude through the PCB and are soldered alongside the legs from the electrical contacts. It is likely that the switch can only be opened when de-soldered, and even then opening the switch without causing damage is extremely difficult. The electrical contact legs protrude sideways from holes in the side of the switch, instead of from the bottom of the switch.

The switch contains an internal recess for an LED, which is covered by the lid. The LED version of the switch has a different lid with a hole for the LED. The base of the switch contains a slot for the LED, with a retention clip to hold the LED in place. There are also two further holes present, possibly intended for a jumper or diode; there is also a bay under the rear of the switch to allow for a diode or jumper to be placed beneath the switch instead of outside. There is no difference between the normal and LED versions of the switch apart from the cutout in the lid to accommodate the LED.

The switch has a compact-sized companion, Alps SKFL Compact, which is not keycap-compatible.

Contact mechanism[edit | edit source]

The switch contacts are held by a plastic frame that appears to be moulded around them. A flat sheet is mounted onto the front of the contact frame, into which a leaf spring is cut, with a curled portion at the top. A ramp on the slider presses against this curled portion of the spring, which in turn pushes the movable contact away from the stationary contact. When the slider is depressed, the leaf spring returns to its rest position and the movable contact connects with the stationary contact.

Variants[edit | edit source]

Switch Model Notes
Alps SKFL Standard weight; slider is pale grey, not white; the LED hole may be present but left empty
Alps SKFL LED Slider is pale grey
File:No photograph.svg Alps SKFL Cyan Pale cyan slider;<ref name="Heavy_Pale_Cyan" /> heavier weight[Citation needed]
Alps SKFL Lock
File:No photograph.svg Alps SKFL dummy Apparent stabiliser dummy switch; dark green slider<ref>Deskthority — my biggest keyboard shipment receiving..</ref>

Keyboards[edit | edit source]

Jump up↑</ref>

  • Kyocera Kyotronic 85 (& Re-Brands:)<ref name="TRS_80_100" />
    • NEC PC-8201 & PC-8300
    • Olivetti M10<ref name="DT_Olivetti_M10" />
    • Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100
  • Mitsubishi MP286L portable
  • Sharp MZ-1K03
  • Toshiba Home Computer HX-10D keyboard<ref name="MF-HX-10D"/>
  • Toshiba T1100 Plus Portable<ref name="T3100-TRS80"/>
  • Toshiba T3100 portable<ref name="T3100-TRS80"/>
  • Toshiba T3200 portable<ref name="DT_T3200"/>
  • Tosword JW-1 <ref name="tosword"/>
  • Xerox 855JWP<ref name="xerox"/>
  • Zenith ZFL-181-93

Other Equipment[edit | edit source]

  • Roland TR-909<ref name="Roland_TR909" />
  • Texas Instruments TI Silent 700<ref name="Silent"/>

Gallery[edit | edit source]

The loose switches below were part of a Technology Transplant Roland TR-909 Red Switch Set purchased from Musikhaus Korn in Germany.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

<references> <ref name="Heavy_Pale_Cyan">Imgur — Picture of heavy weight Alps switch with pale cyan slider Retrieved 2015-07-22.</ref> <ref name="TRS_80_100">Wikipedia — TRS-80 Model 100 Last updated 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2015-07-22.</ref> <ref name="DT_Olivetti_M10">Deskthority — Vintage laptop with old Alps switches & double-shot keycaps[Broken Link]</ref> <ref name="TT-name">Technology Transplant — Alps SKFL Full Switch Set (2 + 17 RED LED) [TR-909] [X7RQ1]</ref> <ref name="T3100-TRS80">Deskthority — Toshiba T3100 & T5200</ref> <ref name="DT_T3200">Deskthority — Toshiba T3200 Keyboard</ref> <ref name="MF-HX-10D">MouseFan — TOSHIBA HX-10D MSX Retrieved 2015-07-22.</ref> <ref name="Roland_TR909">Musikhaus Korn — Technology Transplant Roland TR-909 Red Switch Set [Volatile reference] Retrieved 2019-09-10.</ref> <ref name="Silent">Deskthority — Various resto-mods Posted 2021-05-06.</ref> <ref name="xerox">Twitter — [1] Posted 2020-03-15.</ref> <ref name="tosword">Twitter — [2] Posted 2022-05-22.</ref> </references>