Cherry M11

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Cherry M11

Manufacturer	Cherry
Product code	M11-0101
Introduced	1979? ≤ x ≤ 1984?
Discontinued	Yes
Supersedes	Cherry M10?
Switch type	Linear
Sense method	Metal leaf
Actuation force	?
Peak force	?
Keycap mount	?
Switch mount	Plate mount

Cherry M11 is a family of linear switches manufactured by Cherry. This switch has only been found on the HP 4953A protocol analyzer keyboard<ref name="HP4953A"/>. The heat sealing used to attach the shell to the base is very weak and is prone to tearing off when pulling a keycap. This is likely the reason the switch is so rare, because when the heat seal fails the switch falls apart.

The M11-0101 schematic<ref name="M11-0101"/> indicates that the initial switch design was completed late 1979. Modifications were done in 1980 and was marked complete in 1981. The HP 4953A keyboard was introduced sometime 1984<ref name="hpcompmuseum"/>. The switch does not appear in the 1982 Keyboards and Switches catalogue.<ref name="Cherry_catalogue" />

The M11 switch used different slider colours to represent weightings. Black for (TODO weight) and white for (TODO weight).

The switch's identity is not proven. The M11-0101 schematic does not cite the family name, and based on other Cherry switch part numbers it stands to reason that "M11" means "M1, subtype 1". However, based on the dates found on the schematic, and the clear similarity to Cherry M8 and M9, which were not listed in the 1973 and 1974 catalogues, it could be considered reasonable to assume that "M11" does in fact mean "M-eleven". The confirmed switch types introduced after M9, are MX, MY, and ML, which sidestep the issue of dealing with two digit series numbers.

Description

TODO

Parts

The switch consists of 6 parts:

• Shell
• Slider
• Return spring
• Solid metal contact
• Contact leaf spring
• Base

Operation

TODO

Design

TODO

Keycap mounts

TODO

Gallery

• 
  Parts view shell
• 
  Parts view, shell reversed
• 
  Base and leaf spring, notice the gold cross point
• 
  Gold cross point
• 
  Spring comparison, notice the extra loop
• 
  PCB mounting, notice the two small black pegs that secure each switch
• 
  Open switch with slider
• 
  Open switch no slider
• 
  Slider comparison
• 
  Switch bottom
• 
  Switch top
• 
  Switch, side view
• 
  Switch, side view

References

<references> <ref name="HP4953A">HaaTa @ Flickr — HP 4953A Keyboard Retrieved 2015-07-23.</ref> <ref name="M11-0101">Cherry — M11-0101 (File:Cherry M11-0101.pdf)</ref> <ref name="hpcompmuseum">HP Museum — 4953A Protocol Analyzer Retrieved 2015-07-23.</ref> <ref name="Cherry_catalogue">File:Cherry Keyboards and Switches Catalogue 1982.pdf</ref> </references>