SMK inverse cross mount

SMK inverse cross mount

Manufacturer	SMK
Family	SMK second generation
Switch type	Clicky, tactile
Sense method	Metal leaf
Total travel	3.8 mm
Keycap mount	Custom
Switch mount	Plate mount

SMK inverse cross is a member of the SMK second generation family with a characteristic negative cruciform mount. The cross is taller than it is wide, requiring custom keycaps. Keycap removal and insertion is unusually easy; keycaps can be removed using finger pressure alone.

Unique among SMK switches, the characteristic inverse cross variant supports diodes and jumpers by way of holes in the base. The shell also makes room for an LED.<ref name="HaaTa-TCMK-81X" />

The inverse cross variants are branded "SMK" on the base.

Keyfeel

The tactile switches are smooth, with a fairly precise tactile point; the feel is similar to Alps SKCM Blue but with reduced tactility. The switch is lighter than Alps SKCM Salmon, and far smoother than bamboo Alps SKCM Black. The switch feels comparatively light, but is likely to be in the region of 60 g.

Colours

The colours below are not all confirmed; due the similarities in tone, some apparent colours may be the result of aging plastics. Also, multiple hues and shades can be found in the same keyboard, so the colours may have little meaning.

	White: Tactile
	No description
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Keyboards

The Sony and Tulip keyboards appear to be a standard SMK design, based on the SMK part numbers found on the PCBs.

• Canon Cat (White, ???)
• Datadesk Mac 101 60420-7 II (White, ???)<ref name="Datadesk"/>
• Epson PCKB6 (White, Tactile)<ref name="MouseFan-Epson" />
• Unbranded SMK OEM (same layout as Sony PCY-333) (Various Colors, Tactile)<ref name="PCY-333U" />
• Sony PCY-333 (Yellow, Tactile)<ref name="PCY-333" /><ref name="PCY-333S" />
• Tulip ATK 03.01.44 (White, Tactile)
• Tulip ATK 02.01.01 (Grey-Brown, Clicky)

Gallery

White (tactile)

From a Tulip ATK 03.01.44 keyboard:

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  White tactile switches
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  White tactile switches on mounting plate
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  Close-up
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  Rear view
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  Keycap
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  Single, de-soldered switch
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  Rear view
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  Base
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  Insert thin implement and prise clip open
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  Upper shell fully clear
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  Switch opened up
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  Static contact wire in its recess
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  Static contact wire removed
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  Tactile leaf removed
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  Lower shell, with differing front and back heights (photo is from SMK Alps mount variant, but the design is the same)
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  Fully disassembled
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  Partially reassembled with both contacts in place

Brown (clicky)

From a Tulip ATK 02.01.01 keyboard:

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  Brown clicky switches
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  Closer view on mounting plate

Tortoiseshell (tactile)

Random colour assortment in a tactile keyboard:<ref name="PCY-333U" />

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Yellow

Spotted on an ebay listing, keyboard seems to be a KB3000 SMK keyboard, a rebranded Tulip SMK series

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References

<references> <ref name="PCY-333U">MouseFan — SONY ? PCY-333 ? PS/2 Taiwan (Japanese) Dated 2004-02-02. Retrieved 2015-08-01.</ref> <ref name="DT-Brown">Deskthority — New name for SMK "clicky" switches Posted 2013-05-19. Retrieved 2015-08-01.</ref> <ref name="PCY-333">kaineko2 — SONY PCY-333 (Japanese) Retrieved 2015-08-01.</ref> <ref name="PCY-333S">Atelier Silencium — メカニカル キーボード (Japanese) Dated 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2015-08-01.</ref> <ref name="MouseFan-Epson">MouseFan — EPSON PCKB6 '90 (Japanese) Dated 2004-02-02. Retrieved 2015-08-01.</ref> <ref name="HaaTa-TCMK-81X">Google+ — SMK TCMK-81X Dated 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2015-08-01.</ref> <ref name="DT-Blue">Deskthority — Alps Appreciation Dated 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2019-05-31.</ref> <ref name="Datadesk">Imgur — Datadesk International Mac 101 60420-7 II (SMK Inverse Cross Mount - White) Posted 2022-04-09.</ref> </references>