Editing Alps SKCL/SKCM series (section)

==Variants==
Official information on Alps keyboard switches is extremely scarce. The years in the table below are mostly the result of observations by MouseFan,<ref name="MouseFan" /> and only indicate the earliest and latest known instances of the switches in question. Many of the part numbers were obtained by Sandy from a paper copy of the 1994 Alps catalogue that circulated in the Japanese keyboard community, of which the original version and the scanned PDF are now lost. Specific information relating to each switch can be found on its respective page.

In some instances, heavier weight switches have been marked with black paint across the top of the slider, instead of a separate plastic colour.<ref name="MouseFan_8801" /><ref name="DT_greenteardown" />

The switches all have a basic six-letter model, of which the first four letters are either "SKCL" (linear) or "SKCM" (tactile, including clicky). Two further letters identify the model of switch; the first letter provides categorisation, such as undamped (A) vs damped (B), or LED (F) vs no LED (A). Additional numbers and letters are appended to provide the specific part number, presumably to indicate revisions in the design; their meaning is not understood. Some model numbers have been obtained and are listed in the table below; most part numbers remain unknown.

A useful mnemonic for dealing with Alps part numbers, is "'''L'''" for "linear" (SKCL and SKBL), and to imagine that the "'''C'''" in SKCL/SKCM stands for "complicated" (and possibly  "'''B'''" for "basic" in SKBL/SKBM).

{| class="wikitable sortable variants-table"
! !! Switch !! Type !! Key feel !! Force !! Years found !! Logo !! Part numbers !! Notes
|-
| [[File:Alps SKCL Green -- variants table.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCL Green]] 
| Normal
| Linear
| 50 gf
| 1983–1989
| 
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:Alps SKCL Yellow -- variants table.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCL Yellow]]
| Normal
| Linear
| 60 gf (1994)
| 1988–1998
| Later switches
| SKCLAR<br>SKCLFQ<br>SKCLFM
| Present in 1994 catalogue
|-
| [[File:Alps SKCL Cream thumbnail.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCL Cream]]
| Normal
| Linear
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-

| [[File:Alps_SKCL_Heavy_Cream.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCL Heavy Cream]]
| Special
| Stiff linear
| 120 gf
|
|
|
|
|-

| [[File:Alps SKCM Amber -- variants table.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCM Amber]]<br>"Taxi yellow"
| Normal
| Clicky
| 
| 1986–1988<ref name="DT-IIc" />
|
|
|
|-
| [[File:Closestriped.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCL Striped Amber]]
| Normal
| Linear
| 55 gf
|
|
|
|
|-
| [[File:Skclamberclose.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCL Amber]]
| Spacebar
| Stiff linear
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| [[File:Alps SKCL Grey -- infobox.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCL Grey]]
| Space bar
| Stiff linear
| 90 gf (1994)
| 
| Some
| SKCLAQ
| Present in 1994 catalogue
|-
| [[File:Alps_SKCL_Heavy_Grey.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCL Heavy Grey]]
| Special
| Stiff linear
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:Alps_SKCL_Brown.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCL Brown]]
| Normal
| Linear
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:Alps SKCM Brown -- infobox.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCM Brown]]
| Normal
| Tactile
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:Alps SKCM Blue -- infobox.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCM Blue]]
| Normal
| Clicky
| 70 gf
| 1985–1988
| No
| SKCMAG
| 
|-
| [[File:Skcmcream.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCM Cream]]
| Normal
| Tactile
| 70 gf
| 
| 
| SKCMAF
| 
|-
| [[ File:Alps SKCM Orange -- variants table.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCM Orange]]
| Normal
| Tactile
| 
| 1987–1991
| Later switches
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:Alps lock infobox.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCL Lock]]
| Latching action
| Tactile
| 150 gf
| 
| Grey: yes
| SKCLJC
| Present in 1994 catalogue; found with both cream and grey sliders
|-
| [[File:Alps SKCM White -- variants table.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCM White]]
| Normal
| Clicky
| 70 gf
| 1988–1996
| Normally
| SKCMAQ<br>SKCMCQ?
| SKCMAQ is from the 1994 catalogue; SKCMCQ is from the specification listed below, which appears to be the same
|-
| [[File:Alps SKCM Salmon -- infobox.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCM Salmon]]
| Normal
| Tactile
| 
| 1988–1992
| Yes
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:Alps SKCM Black -- infobox.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCM Black]]
| Normal
| Tactile
| 70 gf
| 1988–1996
| Yes
| SKCMAP
| Present in 1994 catalogue
|-
| [[File:Alps SKCM Cream Damped -- variants table.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCM Ivory]]
| Normal
| Damped tactile
| 70 gf
| 1988–1994
| 
| SKCMBB
| Known colloquially as "cream damped" despite little correlation; the exact shade appears to vary and can even be white
|-
| [[File:Alps SKCM Green -- top.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCM Green]]
| Normal
| Tactile
| 70 gf
| 
| 
| SKCMAT
| Present in 1994 catalogue
|-
| [[File:No photograph.svg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCL Double Action]]
| Double Action
| 
| 
| 
| 
| SKCLKB
| Present in 1994 catalogue
|-
| [[File:Alps SKCM White Damped -- top.jpg|125px]]
| [[Alps SKCM White Damped]]
| Normal
| Damped tactile
| 
| ca. 1995
| Yes
| 
| 
|}